Roberton eyes full pre season

[saynta]

https://www.saints.com.au/news/2019-11- ... -preseason

[stkfc1]

This bloke would be more than useful next year. My first hope is his health is sound, my next is he plays, as it opens up a bunch of possibilities. We'll have one of the best intercept marking defences in the league as Roberton, Wilkie, Carlise, Battle and Howard are all excellent in the air. Obviously to many talls but having Roberton in means we can be flexible with Battle, Howard and Wilkie playing up the ground more and provides us with plenty of options with matchups and creating mismatches of our own.

[8bloggs]

Would love to see Robbo back in full flight, let's hope it happens.
Wilkie was one of the few shining lights for us last season, but I don't see how he fits into the backline if Robbo comes back.
Agree we seem to be OK now with tall backs but apart from Battle I am yet to be convinced any 'excess' tall backs will be OK as key forwards, where we are now vulnerable in 2020. I know a lot is being expected from Max King but he is only a second year player and will take time to get going.....
I am more concerned with who of our smaller backmen is going to provide line breaking speed and long penetrating kicking.

[Secret Kiel]

Before going out of the team he was crucial to our good performances in 2016 and 2017. Fortunately there are others that have come in and filled the void, Wilkie probably being the player who is a very like-for-like replacement so his return to the side now is more about depth and backup for players in that part of the ground.

As far as smaller backmen with line breaking speed and long penetrating kicks are concerned, there's a bloke called Savage that goes very well, and then there is another bloke who is underrated and is crucial to how our backline operates and his name is Webster.

[damienc]

This is just fantastic news. For the club, for Robbo and for all of us.

He is an awesome rebound defender whose presence we have sadly missed.

If he can get himself back to where he was, we will be a very different footy team in 2020.

I'm hoping we are already.

[Sanctorum]

As far as smaller backmen with line breaking speed and long penetrating kicks are concerned, there's a bloke called Savage that goes very well, and then there is another bloke who is underrated and is crucial to how our backline operates and his name is Webster.

Said with TiC: what about the Saints skipper, isn't he an automatic selection in that role??

[Secret Kiel]

As far as smaller backmen with line breaking speed and long penetrating kicks are concerned, there's a bloke called Savage that goes very well, and then there is another bloke who is underrated and is crucial to how our backline operates and his name is Webster.

Said with TiC: what about the Saints skipper, isn't he an automatic selection in that role??

Another very underrated player from that perspective although I'm not sure about long penetrating kicks, but agree he is very important to the teams endeavours in 2020

[skeptic]

Always found Savage to be amongst the most overrated players on the list...
His number of good to excellent games considering he has one of the easier roles in the team is not what it should be. He’s in the team for his offensive capability but he’s simply not damaging enough. No Aussie Jones that’s for sure.

The flip side is that he’s no Geary either who for all his faults is a defensive beast.

Webster is another one we hear about year in and out. Apparently he is an excellent player but how many really good seasons has he actually had?

[stkfc1]

Always found Savage to be amongst the most overrated players on the list...
His number of good to excellent games considering he has one of the easier roles in the team is not what it should be. He’s in the team for his offensive capability but he’s simply not damaging enough. No Aussie Jones that’s for sure.

The flip side is that he’s no Geary either who for all his faults is a defensive beast.

Webster is another one we hear about year in and out. Apparently he is an excellent player but how many really good seasons has he actually had?

Enter Coffield. He'll take one of their starting spots by the end of the year,if their not careful. Ratts has made it clear that all spots are up for grabs.on day 1.

[Viscount Jeremiah]

Always found Savage to be amongst the most overrated players on the list...
His number of good to excellent games considering he has one of the easier roles in the team is not what it should be. He’s in the team for his offensive capability but he’s simply not damaging enough. No Aussie Jones that’s for sure.

The flip side is that he’s no Geary either who for all his faults is a defensive beast.

Webster is another one we hear about year in and out. Apparently he is an excellent player but how many really good seasons has he actually had?

The problem with Savage for mine is he doesn't actually aim his long penetrating kick anywhere, he just plays in straight lines. We need someone who will play the angles aggressively to open the ground a bit as Hurn and Jetta do for WCE with their kicking.

Savage also doesn't really use his speed, you don't see him run and carry often.

[skeptic]

Always found Savage to be amongst the most overrated players on the list...
His number of good to excellent games considering he has one of the easier roles in the team is not what it should be. He’s in the team for his offensive capability but he’s simply not damaging enough. No Aussie Jones that’s for sure.

The flip side is that he’s no Geary either who for all his faults is a defensive beast.

Webster is another one we hear about year in and out. Apparently he is an excellent player but how many really good seasons has he actually had?

The problem with Savage for mine is he doesn't actually aim his long penetrating kick anywhere, he just plays in straight lines. We need someone who will play the angles aggressively to open the ground a bit as Hurn and Jetta do for WCE with their kicking.

Savage also doesn't really use his speed, you don't see him run and carry often.

The harsh reality is that based on his talent, experience and position... he should be one of our most consistent match winners. A guy who every week is in the top 2-3.
He hits that standard a few times a year at best.

Good enough to be on the list for sure but exactly the type of player that needs to step up or be squeezed out if we’re going to take the next step.

[Enrico_Misso]

This is just fantastic news. For the club, for Robbo and for all of us.

He is an awesome rebound defender whose presence we have sadly missed.

If he can get himself back to where he was, we will be a very different footy team in 2020.

I'm hoping we are already.

Totally agree.
His absence last (ie this) year really impacted us and altered our whole defensive structure.