Changes Vs Western Bulldogs

[SaintBot]

In: Steven Baker, Xavier Clarke
Out: Jarryn Geary, ??


Steven Baker is a must. We still need his aggression and his ability to stop players.
Xavier has also become one of those players you should play when fit. However we have the luxury of making sure he is 100% before bringing him back.

Geary, very stiff. He is one of my favorite young players and I would've been loathable had he been dropped for this game and despite not doing much wrong he is the inexperienced player who will make way for the experience of Xavier/Baker. He did a fair job on Wonamiri when Dempster had a break and his rebounding was reasonable however I think he would benefit from more game time at Casey.

The second exclusion will be an extremely tough decision. The players who may be considered:
Sean Dempster - Had a very solid game today on Austin Wonamiri. Tackled and spoiled well all day and kicked an excellent goal.
Jason Blake - Had a brilliant game today. Not one mistake and should matchup well on Will Minson when he goes forward.
Matthew Ferguson - Would be shocked if he gets the chop. Made our forward line look really potent. Has excellent hands and I can see some very promising signs from his game today.
David Armitage - Should never have been dropped. Looks a real part of the team. Will be a leader in a few years.
Shane Birss - Consistently doing his job. Would be one of the number one options to drop for Baker however he has had a good few weeks of football. Would be really really stiff to be dropped against his former side.
Clinton Jones - His game, especially first quarter was fantastic. Skills looked a lot better and he was picking up the possessions and pressuring brilliantly. Deserves to stay.


Wouldn't be too worried to give Xavier and/or Baker another week to recover and leave the team virtually unchanged.

[The Saintsational Man]

In - Baker
Out - Geary

I cant see X coming back in just yet.

The side looked ok today.....very hard to judge against Melbourne though.

Ferg maybe a must at forward for the rest of the year? Great set of hands.

[matrix]

baker in geary out

[Jaz]

Pretty much spot on with your post.

After today's effort it would be very hard to drop anyone for X Clarke. Maybe he has to come through Casey?

[esaint66]

baker in geary out

Yeah agree, pace and pressence needed Bakes provides that

[bigcarl]

Jason Blake - Had a brilliant game today. Not one mistake and should matchup well on Will Minson when he goes forward.

agree. he and bj were rock solid in defence. granted it was only melbourne but the same can be said for anyone else as well

[BigMart]

No change....

X and Bakes to play at Casey...

[saintsRrising]

I think Baker is very underdone at present and may not be quite fully fit either.

[fonz_#15]

geary towled his opponent up today, why would you drop him?

[plugger66]

No change. Bakes didnt play this week and no one did badly enough to be dropped.

[AlpineStars]

Baker for Birss

[plugger66]

Baker for Birss

Please watch the game.

[AlpineStars]

my opinion is my opinion p nut, baker does the same job but is better and I did watch the game and don't slag me again.

[plugger66]

my opinion is my opinion p nut, baker does the same job but is better and I did watch the game and don't slag me again.

Please watch the game.

[midas_touch]

Agree on X being told to play at Casey, since the players he is likely to replace (Birss, Ferguson, Jones) have shown enough to retain their spots. As for Baker, whilst he may not be fully fit, he would perhaps give more to the side than Geary at the moment (no disrespect to Geary, he will be a gun in 2-3 years).

[AlpineStars]

So I can't have an opinion mr High and Mighty?

[plugger66]

So I can't have an opinion mr High and Mighty?

Please watch the game.

[Lucky Saint]

No change

[maverick]

Geary would be stiff, have to give the bloke a run at it don't you?

Dempster was OK in an easy day for the backs, but I still wouldn't have him in there....

Probably agree on no change.

[Ghost Like]

No change, tough though if X is available but a week at Casey should make sure his hammies could stand up to a full AFL game.

[cwrcyn]

No change.

Schneider saved his arse today, but his goals were cheapies.

.

[maverick]

No change.

Schneider saved his arse today, but his goals were cheapies.

.

Maybe, but he kicked them, more than most have done all year.
Schneider laid a couple of big tackles today as well.
Thought he really put in today, from the first bounce as well...

[hotdish]

Reward a good performance and play the kids...

NO CHANGE

[johnpeterbudgefanclub]

Birss goes ok in my opinion. Schneider always pulls out the big ones against lesser opposition......watch him in the big games.

[Goose is king]

I agree. Alpine watch the game.

X shouldn't come straight back IMO.