Sippos and simpkin

[BigMart]

Siposs being 6'2" gives him real flexibility, to go with his ability..... He is equally adept at ground level as he is overhead. He has X-Factor so I think he is the perfect size. Could play as a tall HFF, HBF or a third forward or a winger in time even as a Ruck Rover with more tank.

Simpkin yes... He is an old fashion Full Back, without the size. He will still be competitive, but will struggle to contain monsters that can catch it. Will just get out bodied. Max was a special player, like Simpkin he was a courageous, desperate competitor who made life hard for his opponents. The difference was probably Max's speed, he had exceptional pace, and would easily nullify leading forwards. Big power Fwds occasionally got him (Nietz, Lloyd, Tredrea)

Simpkin will be a good FB with that one deficiency, that he can get exposed by Power Fwds

[saintsRrising]

Simpkin will be a good FB with that one deficiency, that he can get exposed by Power Fwds

That is a bit like saying that a tagger can be good except against elites mids.

Good teams will normally have a power forward.

We need a team structure for playing against good teams if we want to 1. make finals and then 2/ go well in finals.

Simpkin however may well be the best available option this year.

Expect Ben to drift back when we play teams with good big forwards.

[bigcarl]

Siposs being 6'2" gives him real flexibility, to go with his ability.

Perhaps may be judged by some as a little short for a modern key forward but he has a bit of size about him across the shoulders and may be clever enough to compensate in other ways.

He knows where to run and how to lose an opponent for instance.

[saintsRrising]

Simpkin look set to become a rock solid defender...

Siposs however has that something special about him. Physically he is a lot bigger unit this year. Last season he as skinny and easily pushed off the ball at senior level. He is now starting to hold his own, and with another pre-season for his size looks like becoming quite a unit.

Will be both a "target" as well as a "creator" of play. Can takea mark, or rove a ball.

His kicking is already good, and often "smart". As he gains experience he will become like BJ in his ability to set up play with his kicking.


For 2013 IMO the Saints are building an impressive unit.

* Steven and Armo have arrived this year.
* Siposs, Saad, Simpkin, Stanley ( The "S'ss have are coming!!!!!!!!!!!) will all be better again in 2013

* Milera will be thereabouts.

* ..Newnes has shown great promise...and Ross is a maybe once he gets bigger.

*As smokies I like Dunnell, Curren and Markworth....and Ferg (though he may be more 2014)


Hopefully Pelchen can work his magic and secure a mature age FB, and another competitive ruck in this years draft/trade.

[BigMart]

And about 12 core players will be the wrong side of 29 SR

SIMPKIN would be well served to play the role of Hudghton in 97 alongside Shanahan, 99 alongside S.Wakelin, 2004 alongside Penny

Or

Blake in 2009-2011 alongside Zac Dawson

I think he would be a brilliant Back Pocket, Gwilt a Half Back, Fisher at CHB, Geary BP, Dempster HB..... We really do need a Full Back of Size.

[vacuous space]

Simpkin isn't too small. He's within a couple of centimetres and a few kilos of most recent AA key backs. He's got a high football IQ and I'd back him in against guys who are much bigger than him as a result. Matching centimetre for centimetre is far more important to fans than it is to coaches. The important thing is that he can play the role.

If our opponents allow him, Ben should always be dropping into the hole anyway. I expect that will be highlighted and Ben won't have nearly as much space after the bounce this week.

[BigMart]

VS

Simpkin is NOT even close to the sizes of

Glass, Rutten, Carlisle, Jamieson, Brown, Reid, Lonergan, Grundy, Lake, Dawson, McPharlin, Frawley
Don't worry about cm too much or listed sizes... Most of those guys top 100kg and would have 10kg on Tommy easily
Or they are around 6'5" or more

Thompson, Rance, Platful, Bower etc are all similar sizes to Tommy and all struggle with Power Fwds.

Also what happens when Bens opponent starts winning the footy inside 50 because Ben has sagged off to Help the deep fwd.... Coaches will wake up to the McEvoy tactic as early as today.

[saintbrat]

and to think one has played 12 games and one has played 13