So what's our best 22 next season?

[Myron Gaines]

B: GEARY - BROWN - DEMPSTER
HB: MONTAGNA - CARLISLE - GILBERT
C: ACRES - ROSS - NEWNES
HF: MEMBREY - RIEWOLDT - BILLINGS
F: WELLER - MCCARTIN - BRUCE
R: HICKEY - ARMITAGE - STEVEN
I: GRESHAM - DUNSTAN - STEELE - STEVENS

E: MCKENZIE - ROBERTON - SAVAGE

[To the top]

MG, my contribution would be that the last line of defence consists of exclusively negating players when the structure can include a KPP negating player on the last line (given a match up) but with the support of players who can defend, spread, run and deliver with long and accurate to position kicking skills turning defence into attack.

Hence I would include Roberton and, albeit on one game but I thought he showed what we need from a mid sized defender, White.

[ace]

7 Defence (1 on bench), 12 Midfield (3 on bench, 3 on forward flank or pocket), 3 Forwards


Defence 10 into 7
Geary, Dempster, Roberton, Brown, Carlisle, Savage, Gilbert, McKenzie, Webster, Goddard,

Midfield, Forward flanks & pockets, Bench 15 into 12
Hickey, Ross, Armitage, Steven, Joey, Riewoldt,
Newnes, Stevens, Steele, Freeman, Dunstan, Acres,
Weller, Billings, Gresham,

Forwards 3 into 3
Bruce, Membrey, McCartin

Sandy 12
Longer, Pierce, Holmes, Lonie, Minchington, Sinclair, Wright, White, Rice, Pick 23, Pick 36, Pick 61

Rookies 5
O’Kearney, Coughlan, Rookie pick 10, Connelan, Joyce

Sadly Additional Delisted 5
Fisher, Lee, Murdoch, Shenton, Templeton

[Con Gorozidis]

No point doing a 22 because mostly mine will be the same.
Points of interest will be:
1. Savage v Webster, DMac, White.
2. Can Dempster keep on keeping on or we he finally start to struggle?
3. Freeman? Will he ever play?
4. Is Gilbo just depth now?
5. Our ant brigade. Lonie and Sinclair - just depth now?
6. Star power. - Are Ross, Acres, Billings and Paddy ready to take another step. Ross is probably already almost there.
7. Carlisle and Steele. Both could be anything.

Overall - Very happy with our depth.

[Scollop]

Defence
Geary, Dempster, Roberton, Brown, Carlisle, Savage, McKenzie,Webster, Goddard

Midfield, Forward flanks & pockets, Bench
Hickey, Ross, Armitage, Steven, Joey, Riewoldt,
Newnes, Stevens, Gilbert, Steele, Freeman, Dunstan,
Acres, Weller, Billings, Gresham,

Forwards
Bruce, Membrey, McCartin

Sandy
Longer, Pierce, Holmes, Lonie, Minchington, Sinclair, Wright, White, Rice, Pick 23, Pick 36, Pick 61

Rookies
O’Kearney, Coughlan, Rookie pick 10, Connelan, Joyce

Sadly Additional Delisted
Fisher, Lee, Murdoch, Shenton, Templeton

A lot of fans love their fantasy footy and make believe supercoach sort of competitions but as far as planning your season the above is a more realistic way of looking at your list. My interpretation is that Ace is suggesting we've got about 30-34 players on our senior list who should be able to perform a role and do it well.

It's a long year and there are always injuries and I'm sure there'll also be players who surprise us and hopefully catapult our team into September action. A real AFL team is one where you may not have your best starting 22 winning you a grand final ( just like the Dogs in 2016). I think for our coaching staff there's nothing to be gained trying to work out our best starting 22. It's their job to assess who is worthy of retaining their spot in the team

I have no doubt that Acres, Ross, Steven, Newnes, JB, Dunny and Gresh will keep improving. With the additions of Stevens, Steele, and perhaps Sinclair and Lonie stepping up or further improvement from Wright and Minchy we have so many that could share the midfield workload. With Roo, Bruce, Membrey and Hickey we also have big guys that can win contested footy and run all day in the middle.

How would you be if you told Bevo in round 1 that Stringer wouldn't be in good form leading into finals or he wouldn't have Wallis and Murphy for the whole final series or Matt Suckling in the 2 most important finals of all? What about contrasting the form of Tom Boyd versus Redpath half way through the year? Or what if Bevo was told that he'd lose one of his best in form tall defenders in Marcus Adams and that a recycled DFA from Geelong would step up?!!

I wouldn't be assuming that anyone has a stranglehold on their position in the Saints team and that's healthy if we want to play finals. Sure there are some that have reliably done the job and performed at a level which earns them the right to have a few bad games but we can't afford to carry anyone if we aspire to be finalists.

The Bulldogs list management at the end of 2015 had strengths which they knew about, especially a midfield that batted deep (to use jaxons phrase) and it was a matter of filling some holes. They already had Hamling from the year before but they recruited another strong tall in Adams. Again - we've emulated that somewhat with Brown as an addition to Carlisle. I hope Brown won't be replacing Robbo because I feel like he's buliding towards a big year in 2017.

Anyway, it's always the form of the players and injuries that determine who stays in and who drops out.

[samoht]

Great post, Scollop.
If any of our players have as much as a niggle, a sniffle, general soreness or are not quite right, they get to rest. Such is our depth.
I more or less agree with MG's notionally best 22 side -
Roberton and McKenzie need to be in the side. Maybe Brown in only when we have 2 gorilla forwards to worry about?
What about Goddard, Łonie and Webster?

injuries aside - some of our players will need to get used to the idea of playing 6-15 games per season, and be OK with it.

[Goose is king]

Looking at the side I get a feeling that our bad losses will be a thing of the past.

[stkfc1]

Looking at the side I get a feeling that our bad losses will be a thing of the past.

This and a few interstate wins would be great to see.

[jaxons]

B: Geary Brown Dempster

HB: Roberton Carlisle Savage

C: Newnes Ross Riewoldt

HF: Billings Bruce Membrey

F: Gresham McCarten Weller

R: Hickey Armitage Steven

IC: Montagna Steele Dunstan Acres

Emerg: Webster, Gilbert, Freeman, Goddard, Longer, Lonie, Sinclair, Koby Stevens, Mckenzie, Brandon White, Rice, Nathan Wright, Pierce, Minchington, Holmes

Eerily similar.....!

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-10-24/y ... 2-for-2017

[loris]

Did I read somewhere after we got Jack Steele that the Club said he won't be ready for the first round, due to a restricted pre season because of his foot injury?
I can't find any mention of it on the Saints.com site now, so it must have been a link a poster put on this site to another source.
Or am I dreaming I read this????

[White Winmar]

B: Geary Brown Dempster

HB: Roberton Carlisle Savage

C: Newnes Ross Riewoldt

HF: Billings Bruce Membrey

F: Gresham McCarten Weller

R: Hickey Armitage Steven

IC: Montagna Steele Dunstan Acres

Emerg: Webster, Gilbert, Freeman, Goddard, Longer, Lonie, Sinclair, Koby Stevens, Mckenzie, Brandon White, Rice, Nathan Wright, Pierce, Minchington, Holmes

Eerily similar.....!

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-10-24/y ... 2-for-2017

Hard to disagree with that. Maybe McKenzie in for Savage.

[jaxons]

B: Geary Brown Dempster

HB: Roberton Carlisle Savage

C: Newnes Ross Riewoldt

HF: Billings Bruce Membrey

F: Gresham McCarten Weller

R: Hickey Armitage Steven

IC: Montagna Steele Dunstan Acres

Emerg: Webster, Gilbert, Freeman, Goddard, Longer, Lonie, Sinclair, Koby Stevens, Mckenzie, Brandon White, Rice, Nathan Wright, Pierce, Minchington, Holmes

Eerily similar.....!

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-10-24/y ... 2-for-2017

Hard to disagree with that. Maybe McKenzie in for Savage.

Not sure if you picked up that the team I picked was exactly replicated by the afl.com journos player for player in identical positions.

[supersaints]

Mmmm our best 22 are the best 22...

[ace]

B: Geary Brown Dempster

HB: Roberton Carlisle Savage

C: Newnes Ross Riewoldt

HF: Billings Bruce Membrey

F: Gresham McCarten Weller

R: Hickey Armitage Steven

IC: Montagna Steele Dunstan Acres

Emerg: Webster, Gilbert, Freeman, Goddard, Longer, Lonie, Sinclair, Koby Stevens, Mckenzie, Brandon White, Rice, Nathan Wright, Pierce, Minchington, Holmes

So that means delisting
Fisher, Lee, Murdoch, Shenton, Templeton
And picks 23, 36 and 61 to be activated.

[ace]

B: Geary Brown Dempster

HB: Roberton Carlisle Savage

C: Newnes Ross Riewoldt

HF: Billings Bruce Membrey

F: Gresham McCarten Weller

R: Hickey Armitage Steven

IC: Montagna Steele Dunstan Acres

Emerg: Webster, Gilbert, Freeman, Goddard, Longer, Lonie, Sinclair, Koby Stevens, Mckenzie, Brandon White, Rice, Nathan Wright, Pierce, Minchington, Holmes

Eerily similar.....!

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-10-24/y ... 2-for-2017

Hi, Ashley Browne of AFL.com.au

[bigcarl]

Good thing he managed to sneak Acres in on the bench

[st.byron]

B: Geary Brown Dempster

HB: Roberton Carlisle Savage

C: Newnes Ross Riewoldt

HF: Billings Bruce Membrey

F: Gresham McCarten Weller

R: Hickey Armitage Steven

IC: Montagna Steele Dunstan Acres

Emerg: Webster, Gilbert, Freeman, Goddard, Longer, Lonie, Sinclair, Koby Stevens, Mckenzie, Brandon White, Rice, Nathan Wright, Pierce, Minchington, Holmes

Eerily similar.....!

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-10-24/y ... 2-for-2017

Now add Josh Kelly / Dylan Shiel and Dusty.

[White Winmar]

B: Geary Brown Dempster

HB: Roberton Carlisle Savage

C: Newnes Ross Riewoldt

HF: Billings Bruce Membrey

F: Gresham McCarten Weller

R: Hickey Armitage Steven

IC: Montagna Steele Dunstan Acres

Emerg: Webster, Gilbert, Freeman, Goddard, Longer, Lonie, Sinclair, Koby Stevens, Mckenzie, Brandon White, Rice, Nathan Wright, Pierce, Minchington, Holmes

Eerily similar.....!

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-10-24/y ... 2-for-2017

Now add Josh Kelly / Dylan Shiel and Dusty.

One can only dream. Make it happen, Ameet!

[Zed]

Sadly Additional Delisted 5
Fisher, Lee, Murdoch, Shenton, Templeton

I think you're right for the first 4. For me it's a toss up between Eli and Holmes for the 5th delisting.
I'd be happy if the club made a commitment to re-draft either with pick 61 if there wasn't anyone left in the draft they liked. Or re-draft with the rookie selection. Holmes might get picked up by another club as ruck depth, which wouldn't be the end of the world for us. Eli may still have some improvement left but it's going to be a tough midfield to crack into next year.

[damienc]

B: Geary - Brown - Dempster

HB: Roberton - Carlisle - Newnes

C: Acres - Armitage - Riewoldt

HF: Billings - Bruce - Steele

F: Weller - McCartin - Membrey

R: Hickey - Steven - Ross

INT: Dunstan, Montagna, Savage, K Stevens

EMG: Sinclair, McKenzie, Lonie

Very very tricky.

Is it tricky or what?

That side has no Brandon White who deserves more game time on the basis of his debut.

No Jimmy Webster who is a shoe in to play when he is fit.

No Jade Gresham, surely you couldn't leave him out.

Mackenzie, Sinclair and Lonie all playing for Sandy.

I guess it is nice to have a bunch of players competing for their spots. A rare thing indeed.

[saintsRrising]

So that means delisting
Fisher, Lee, Murdoch, Shenton, Templeton
And picks 23, 36 and 61 to be activated.

Cox has indicated that we will be using our first three picks this year on younger players. so 4 if they stick to taking Holmes as has been indicated.

So either yes as you have listed.

OR:
- Saints instead elect to have one less rookie and to then increase senior list by one to 40= One stays
- Saints backflip on Holmes. Seems unlikely but personally I do not think we need all of Hickey, Longer, Pierce and Holmes. Though having said that ruckmen do seem to be an injury prone group.

So do they do delist all 5 do they they then rookie one?
Do they keep Fisher as a KDF back-up, or for a finals tilt in 2017 (Of the group of 5 he is the only star, but an injury prone one).
Of the 5 Templeton would be the one most likely still to bloom.

Shenton: Great VFL year mainly playing forward, but not picked at all with the Saints. Membrey and weller both having great years across HF in the seniors. With Steele and Stevens both being big mids of the same height that can play across HF it would seem that Shenton would be off.