who doesn't get a regular game next year.

[saynta]

With Carlyle, Freeman, Steele, Stevens, McCartin and Brown likely regulars next year, which 4 or 5 regulars this year are going to make way for them?

[SMS]

Armitage.

Followers. Steven Ross
Centre. Acres
Emg/Bench. Dunstan. Steele Stevens
Wings. Billings. Gresham Reiwoldt

Where does armo fit in??
Possibly ahwad of kstevens but so? Thats still emergency.

[Con Gorozidis]

Armitage.

Followers. Steven Ross
Centre. Acres
Emg/Bench. Dunstan. Steele Stevens
Wings. Billings. Gresham Reiwoldt

Where does armo fit in??
Possibly ahwad of kstevens but so? Thats still emergency.

If Ross, Steven, Steele and Acres are fit and firing it is hard to see how BOTH Dunstan and Armo get in.
Obviously one of them gets in but they cant play fwd or back.

[dragit]

Steele averages 15 touches a game at this stage, so will probably need to force his way into the side rather than be a walk up…

Freeman is going to Europe to get his hammy looked at isn't he?

Armo is a much better player than Stevens IMO

Carlisle takes Fishers place

Brown is just not that good a footballer… he can be back-up if either of Dempster or Carlisle miss.

Paddy stills need to work his way into the side… he's showed some promising signs but at the end of the day - with 14 goals form 11 games last year, he's getting a game on potential. Bruce will need to re-gain some form to hold his spot.

[The Recruit]

With Carlyle, Freeman, Steele, Stevens, McCartin and Brown likely regulars next year, which 4 or 5 regulars this year are going to make way for them?

Freeman wont be a regular
Brown takes Fishers place
Carlysle in for a tall (Roberton. Gilbert, Bruce) (who may be traded, rested, not inform or injured)

Crazy saying a fit Armitage doesn't play...heaps in front of Minchington, Montagna and Steele at this stage...Armitage is a leader..fully fit second picked behind Jack S in the midfield.

[mad saint guy]

B: Dempster, Brown, Geary
HB: Roberton, Carlisle, Webster
C: Acres, Armitage, Riewoldt
HF: Weller, Bruce, Billings
F: Membrey, McCartin, Gresham

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Ross
Int: Montagna, Newnes, Steele, McKenzie


Reserves (assuming Fisher, Murdoch, Shenton and Lee are cut)

B: White, Goddard, Rice
HB: Savage, Coughlan, Gilbert
C: Templeton, Stevens, Freeman
HF: Minchington, Pierce, O'Kearney
F: Lonie, Holmes, Wright

Foll: Longer, Sinclair, Dunstan

Looking at that team right now I think we've got pretty good depth all over the field excluding key forwards. Clearly one too many specialist ruckmen as well. Wonder if WC would consider Tom Lamb for Holmes.

[Joffa Burns]

B: Dempster, Brown, Geary
HB: Roberton, Carlisle, Webster
C: Acres, Armitage, Riewoldt
HF: Weller, Bruce, Billings
F: Membrey, McCartin, Gresham

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Ross
Int: Montagna, Newnes, Steele, McKenzie


Reserves (assuming Fisher, Murdoch, Shenton and Lee are cut)

B: White, Goddard, Rice
HB: Savage, Coughlan, Gilbert
C: Templeton, Stevens, Freeman
HF: Minchington, Pierce, O'Kearney
F: Lonie, Holmes, Wright

Foll: Longer, Sinclair, Dunstan

Looking at that team right now I think we've got pretty good depth all over the field excluding key forwards. Clearly one too many specialist ruckmen as well. Wonder if WC would consider Tom Lamb for Holmes.

Darn fine effort mad saint guy.

I think Savage plays for his foot skills, long delivery to the forward 50 and run off half back at the expense of Roberton of Dempster and I think the coach likes Gilbert for his versatility in that he can play tall or mid defender plus forward and mid.

[White Winmar]

B: Dempster, Brown, Geary
HB: Roberton, Carlisle, Webster
C: Acres, Armitage, Riewoldt
HF: Weller, Bruce, Billings
F: Membrey, McCartin, Gresham

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Ross
Int: Montagna, Newnes, Steele, McKenzie


Reserves (assuming Fisher, Murdoch, Shenton and Lee are cut)

B: White, Goddard, Rice
HB: Savage, Coughlan, Gilbert
C: Templeton, Stevens, Freeman
HF: Minchington, Pierce, O'Kearney
F: Lonie, Holmes, Wright
Foll: Longer, Sinclair, Dunstan



Looking at that team right now I think we've got pretty good depth all over the field excluding key forwards. Clearly one too many specialist ruckmen as well. Wonder if WC would consider Tom Lamb for Holmes.

I'm excited by those lineups, msg!

[fugazi]

B: Dempster, Brown, Geary
HB: Roberton, Carlisle, Webster
C: Acres, Armitage, Riewoldt
HF: Weller, Bruce, Billings
F: Membrey, McCartin, Gresham

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Ross
Int: Montagna, Newnes, Steele, McKenzie


Reserves (assuming Fisher, Murdoch, Shenton and Lee are cut)

B: White, Goddard, Rice
HB: Savage, Coughlan, Gilbert
C: Templeton, Stevens, Freeman
HF: Minchington, Pierce, O'Kearney
F: Lonie, Holmes, Wright

Foll: Longer, Sinclair, Dunstan

Looking at that team right now I think we've got pretty good depth all over the field excluding key forwards. Clearly one too many specialist ruckmen as well. Wonder if WC would consider Tom Lamb for Holmes.

Darn fine effort mad saint guy.

I think Savage plays for his foot skills, long delivery to the forward 50 and run off half back at the expense of Roberton of Dempster and I think the coach likes Gilbert for his versatility in that he can play tall or mid defender plus forward and mid.

Agree with Savage, but Gilbert is a funny one...I reckon we need to replace him with a more skilled player, even though he sill has value. Prefer games into D-Mac Steele and White ahead of Gilbert.

[fugazi]

At what point do we start dropping the likes of Dempster, Gilbert and Monty to give more experience to the new batch (even if they are still better than the young ones)???

Coming into 2018, you would prefer to have had White, Goddard, Steele, Sinclair and Freeman (if he makes it), with 20-30 games under their belt, rather than 20 more to those senior players.

[Schillaci]

At what point do we start dropping the likes of Dempster, Gilbert and Monty to give more experience to the new batch (even if they are still better than the young ones)???

Coming into 2018, you would prefer to have had White, Goddard, Steele, Sinclair and Freeman (if he makes it), with 20-30 games under their belt, rather than 20 more to those senior players.

Gilbert gets dropped R1.

[bergsone]

Can see Roo,Joey ,Dempster being rested more often,

[Zed]

Can see Roo,Joey ,Dempster being rested more often,

I hope you are right. We have some depth now and assuming we don't get a bad run with injuries, I really hope we lead the way by managing some of our older players and players that play in the midfield. Not because I want to gift the younger guys games, but because I want our older guys not carrying injuries into the back end of the season when we are hopefully making our charge into the finals. Think about the bulldogs in the last couple of rounds vs what they were like after the week 1 finals bye. If it wasn't for that week off they would have been out after their first final.

By the way, as much as I want to get games into DMac, White, Gresh and others, they all need to earn their spots - and need to perform at a level equivalent of the likes of Gilbert, Joey etc

[WellardSaint]

I want Savage, Meatball, Dunstan and Wright in the 22, but I cannot see how they keep their spots. Dunstan could be the certainty, along with Savage, however they would be really fighting to keep their spots week-in-week-out

[stkfc1]

B: Dempster, Brown, Geary
HB: Roberton, Carlisle, Webster
C: Acres, Armitage, Riewoldt
HF: Weller, Bruce, Billings
F: Membrey, McCartin, Gresham

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Ross
Int: Montagna, Newnes, Steele, McKenzie


Reserves (assuming Fisher, Murdoch, Shenton and Lee are cut)

B: White, Goddard, Rice
HB: Savage, Coughlan, Gilbert
C: Templeton, Stevens, Freeman
HF: Minchington, Pierce, O'Kearney
F: Lonie, Holmes, Wright

Foll: Longer, Sinclair, Dunstan

Looking at that team right now I think we've got pretty good depth all over the field excluding key forwards. Clearly one too many specialist ruckmen as well. Wonder if WC would consider Tom Lamb for Holmes.

Geez how much better does that back six look with a couple of talls!! We'll probably see career best performances from Dempster and Roberton as they can finally play the roles that they're meant for. Wouldn't be surprised to see Roberton and Webster used in a more attacking rolls. We'll be a 3-4 goal better side next year without doubt.

[Teflon]

What a difference a season or 2 makes...
Really building depth and competition for spots that successful sides have
Just need to inject some elite talent in now for mine.... have midfield depth but need an R Harvey, M Voss or Buckley..or player of that potential for mine or 2 would be lovely...

[older saint]

i suppose the starting point is to pick the best 22 based on where players are at in career, what they have shown so far and potential. Here is my guess:

B: Geary, Brown, Webster
HB: Roberton Carlisle, Dempster
C: Newnes, Steven, Roo
HF: Acres, Bruce, Membrey
F: Billings, McCartin, Gresham
Foll: Hickey, Armo , Ross

Int: Monty, Weller, Gilbert, Dunstan

Emerg: Steel, Savage, Stevens

Guys under pressure to me on this list are : Gilbert, Billings, Webster

Guys pushing up not mentioned: McKenzie, White, Minchington, Wright,
Would like to see work some exposure: Goddard ( back form injury) , Rice, Freeman, Sinclair

[prwilkinson]

i suppose the starting point is to pick the best 22 based on where players are at in career, what they have shown so far and potential. Here is my guess:

B: Geary, Brown, Webster
HB: Roberton Carlisle, Dempster
C: Newnes, Steven, Roo
HF: Acres, Bruce, Membrey
F: Billings, McCartin, Gresham
Foll: Hickey, Armo , Ross

Int: Monty, Weller, Gilbert, Dunstan

Emerg: Steel, Savage, Stevens

Guys under pressure to me on this list are : Gilbert, Billings, Webster

Guys pushing up not mentioned: McKenzie, White, Minchington, Wright,
Would like to see work some exposure: Goddard ( back form injury) , Rice, Freeman, Sinclair

Going to be a pretty competitive side to break into... hope that they push each other hard all pre season.

[st.byron]

B: Dempster, Brown, Geary
HB: Roberton, Carlisle, Webster
C: Acres, Armitage, Riewoldt
HF: Weller, Bruce, Billings
F: Membrey, McCartin, Gresham

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Ross
Int: Montagna, Newnes, Steele, McKenzie


Reserves (assuming Fisher, Murdoch, Shenton and Lee are cut)

B: White, Goddard, Rice
HB: Savage, Coughlan, Gilbert
C: Templeton, Stevens, Freeman
HF: Minchington, Pierce, O'Kearney
F: Lonie, Holmes, Wright

Foll: Longer, Sinclair, Dunstan

Looking at that team right now I think we've got pretty good depth all over the field excluding key forwards. Clearly one too many specialist ruckmen as well. Wonder if WC would consider Tom Lamb for Holmes.

Reckon Luke Dunstan is a sure thing for best 22. In that team for DMac at least.
Billings needs to start delivering on his talent.

[Scollop]

Any one who comes back with poor skinfolds; out!!

Any one who goes backward with their running times; out!!

Any one who thinks they deserve their spot in the team more than anyone else; out!!

Any one who breathes a word of negativity regarding their team mates or our finals chances; out!!

Anyone who doesn't think that they can contribute to the team being a finalist; out!!

[bigcarl]

Let's see who shows outstanding form in the preseason.

I don't like the idea that additions to the team ... Steele, Stevens ... AUTOMATICALLY displace someone who was playing well and getting a regular game last season.

These things have to be decided on merit.

It is a fantastic sign that there is going to be immense pressure to get and keep a spot. This is the hallmark of a great side.

[borderbarry]

We will have the whole pre-season to see who will be picked for the first match, including the interclub game and the NAB games. Cant wait.

[saintbob]

[quote="dragit"]

Freeman is going to Europe to get his hammy looked at isn't he?[quote]


Is this true???

[saintsRrising]

Freeman is going to Europe to get his hammy looked at isn't he?

Is this true???

I heard Richo say that it was being considered. But I have not yet seen it confirmed that this was progressed with.

[supersaints]

How about those that don't play well enough !!! sounds simple to me.
We pick the best who perform pre season and nab cup and go from there. I'm sure some of our players will step up to the plate, some will not, some recruits may not do enough to push others out.
If I were coach I would be making sure the new players earn thier spot.... It's simple really