Pick Your Best Team - Round 1, 2014

[bergholt]

We're a long way out. The list isn't finalised yet, preseason has to happen. Players will get injured or recover or be in or out of form between now and then. The new coach will have different favourites than the old coach. All these things are true.

But on the other hand, we've had some serious list changes already this off-season, so I want to try to get a sense of where we are. Here's how they could run out in Round 1 as far as I'm concerned.

FB: Geary, Delaney, Roberton
HB: Dempster, Fisher, Gilbert
C: Montagna, Hayes, Savage
HF: Milera, Riewoldt, Schneider
FF: Siposs, Stanley, Saunders
R: Hickey, Armitage, Steven
IC: Curren, Newnes, Jones, Wright
Others: Bruce, Dunell, Gwilt, Lee, Longer, Maister, Murdoch, Ray, Ross, Simpkin, Webster, Billings?

Backline looks solid. Plenty more can go through there - Bruce, Gwilt, Simpkin, Webster not in the side. This is probably the best part of the team now, probably because it's mostly old guys.

Midfield looks weak. Steven's the reigning B&F, Joey's still an A-grade player and Armo's going along OK. But apart from that Hayes is aging, Savage is a solid hope but no more than that, Jones is honest and the rest are kids - Curren, Newnes, Wright, Saunders. Just not enough numbers through there, we'll be beaten here more often than not in 2014.

Rucks look OK if unproven, a lot of work for all three of Hickey, Longer and Stanley to do over this year. This far out it's a toss-up as to who plays in round one.

Forward line looks threadbare without Milne and even Saad and Kosi. Roo will kick some goals, hopefully Schneids stays fit and finds form, and the rest have a really long way to go from their 2013 form to be productive goal-kickers. Not a huge amount of support in the emergency list either. I reckon we'll have trouble kicking a score too often in 2014, unless something magical happens to Siposs or Stanley.

It's going to be a tough year.

[dragit]

I think Lee has to start on the ground if fit...

Markworth will be in front of Siposs IMO...

Ross and our pick 3 should be in ahead of Jones & Saunders too.

I think Longer will be the #1 ruckmen.

[dragit]

Mine at this stage would look something like:

FB: Geary, Delaney, Roberton
HB: Dempster, Fisher, Wright
C: Montagna, Hayes, Gilbert
HF: Billings, Riewoldt, Schneider
FF: Savage, Lee, Stanley
R: Hickey, Armitage, Steven
IC: Curren, Newnes, Ross,
Sub: Markworth

Emg Gwilt, Hickey, Webster

[dragit]

*edit - longer replace hickey.

[spert]

Mine at this stage would look something like:

FB: Geary, Delaney, Roberton
HB: Dempster, Fisher, Wright
C: Montagna, Hayes, Gilbert
HF: Billings, Riewoldt, Schneider
FF: Savage, Lee, Stanley
R: Hickey, Armitage, Steven
IC: Curren, Newnes, Ross,
Sub: Markworth

Emg Gwilt, Hickey, Webster

The FF line sounds like an outlaw movie cowboy :Savage Lee Stanley

[White Winmar]

Mine at this stage would look something like:

FB: Geary, Delaney, Roberton
HB: Dempster, Fisher, Wright
C: Montagna, Hayes, Gilbert
HF: Billings, Riewoldt, Schneider
FF: Savage, Lee, Stanley
R: Hickey, Armitage, Steven
IC: Curren, Newnes, Ross,
Sub: Markworth

Emg Gwilt, Hickey, Webster

Spot on, dragit. I might also be tempted to play Longer ahead of Hickey or Markworth.

[saint6709]

Mine at this stage would look something like:

FB: Geary, Delaney, Roberton
HB: Dempster, Fisher, Wright
C: Montagna, Hayes, Gilbert
HF: Billings, Riewoldt, Schneider
FF: Savage, Lee, Stanley
R: Hickey, Armitage, Steven
IC: Curren, Newnes, Ross,
Sub: Markworth

Emg Gwilt, Hickey, Webster

Spot on, dragit. I might also be tempted to play Longer ahead of Hickey or Markworth.

No sign of Siposs, simpkin,milera jones, bruce, ..... I think our list is a lot stronger than the media would like you to believe

[plugger66]

Mine at this stage would look something like:

FB: Geary, Delaney, Roberton
HB: Dempster, Fisher, Wright
C: Montagna, Hayes, Gilbert
HF: Billings, Riewoldt, Schneider
FF: Savage, Lee, Stanley
R: Hickey, Armitage, Steven
IC: Curren, Newnes, Ross,
Sub: Markworth

Emg Gwilt, Hickey, Webster

Spot on, dragit. I might also be tempted to play Longer ahead of Hickey or Markworth.

No sign of Siposs, simpkin,milera jones, bruce, ..... I think our list is a lot stronger than the media would like you to believe

Why? None of them are really anything but fringe players at any club at the moment.

[White Winmar]

I forgot Josh Bruce. I think he'll be a gun in a couple of years.

[bergholt]

Markworth will be in front of Siposs IMO...

Really? He hasn't played a game yet, though I want him to be a star!

This year is obviously crucial for Siposs. Richo's supposed to be good at development; if he can help Siposs and Stanley realise their potential then it'll be worth every bit of aggro we've attracted by sacking Watters so late. More likely they'll both be on the verge of delisting at the end of 2014 though.

[saint6709]

Mine at this stage would look something like:



No sign of Siposs, simpkin,milera jones, bruce, ..... I think our list is a lot stronger than the media would like you to believe

Why? None of them are really anything but fringe players at any club at the moment.

Last year siposs was being touted as the next goddard - the year before that most on this forum were saying we don't need recruit a full back we have tom simpkin .... a few short memories I think -- these are guys who should and I hope can - bounce back to being top performers for our club - and as for Bruce he looks like he could be very good

[plugger66]

Why? None of them are really anything but fringe players at any club at the moment.

Last year siposs was being touted as the next goddard - the year before that most on this forum were saying we don't need recruit a full back we have tom simpkin .... a few short memories I think -- these are guys who should and I hope can - bounce back to being top performers for our club - and as for Bruce he looks like he could be very good

Doesnt matter what was said on here. Its how they played. At the moment they are all fringe players at any club in the AFL including ours. That doesnt mean they wont improve but to say we have some depth because of them isnt really right IMO. Well not yet anyway. Same thing is written every year.

[dragit]

Markworth will be in front of Siposs IMO...

Really? He hasn't played a game yet, though I want him to be a star!

This year is obviously crucial for Siposs. Richo's supposed to be good at development; if he can help Siposs and Stanley realise their potential then it'll be worth every bit of aggro we've attracted by sacking Watters so late. More likely they'll both be on the verge of delisting at the end of 2014 though.

Attitude, fitness, speed & ability puts him ahead IMO.

Siposs has been a big disappointment this year for mine, he'll have to pull a rabbit out of a hat to remain on the list.

I think Markworth would have played plenty of games this year if his knee had let him.

[spot on]

Geary Delaney dempster
Fisher gwilt wright
Monty Ross savage
Gilbert roo curren
Billings* maister lee
Hickey armo Steven

Hayes ray newnes roberton longer markworth sippos Bruce
I think either gwilt or Gilbert should be tried in the forward line. Seems we have to many similar players in the back half but they are all good enough to be in the starting 22

[spot on]

Markworth is certainly a bonus player this year, a lot of the big footy phantom drafts had him going either that the pick we got him. 190 cm mid/fwd is gonna be exciting to see how he goes. I'm sure he would of been played a lot last year if fit

[mad saint guy]

This is the team I'd put on the park in round 1

B: Dempster, Delaney, Geary
HB: Fisher, Bruce, Roberton
C: Curren, Hayes, Gilbert
HF: Siposs, Riewoldt, Savage
F: Schneider, Lee, Stanley

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Armitage
Int: Newnes, Wright, Ross
Sub: Billings

In contention: Gwilt, Ray, Webster, Longer, Dunell, Markworth, Simpkin

Jones, Maister, Milera purely emergency depth. Saunders, Murdoch, White, Minchington all need to build VFL form before they deserve a spot.

[saintsRrising]

Geary (Wright) Delaney Dempster
Fisher Bruce Roberton
Joey Hayes Ray
Savage Roo Stanley (Sipposs/Markworth)
Curren (Saunders) Lee (Wilkes) Schneider

Hickey
Armo
Savage

Longer Gilbert Jones Newnes

[saint6709]

This is the team I'd put on the park in round 1

B: Dempster, Delaney, Geary
HB: Fisher, Bruce, Roberton
C: Curren, Hayes, Gilbert
HF: Siposs, Riewoldt, Savage
F: Schneider, Lee, Stanley

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Armitage
Int: Newnes, Wright, Ross
Sub: Billings

In contention: Gwilt, Ray, Webster, Longer, Dunell, Markworth, Simpkin

Jones, Maister, Milera purely emergency depth. Saunders, Murdoch, White, Minchington all need to build VFL form before they deserve a spot.

This getting closer to what I would think - I don't think Dempster will be best 22 by year end and I think Longer will be above Hickey by then as well... Hoping Milera can be an x factor player - team needs to be up and about him to be really damaging I think

[PJ]

I think the love for Sipposs atm is wishful thinking. He may go well next year but not based on anything he has done so far. He's equal in line with about 3 or 4 others

backs

Gwilt Delaney Dempster
Fisher Bruce Roberton

Mid line

Gilbert, Hayes, Wright

forwards
Monty Stanley Schneider
Curran Riewoldt Lee/Markworth/Sipposs/Maister

rucks

Longer, Steven, Armo

inter

Newnes, Savage, Geary

sub

Saunders

emerg

Ross, Hickey, Murdoch

[saint6709]

I think the love for Sipposs atm is wishful thinking. He may go well next year but not based on anything he has done so far. He's equal in line with about 3 or 4 others

backs

Gwilt Delaney Dempster
Fisher Bruce Roberton

Mid line

Gilbert, Hayes, Wright

forwards
Monty Stanley Schneider
Curran Riewoldt Lee/Markworth/Sipposs/Maister

rucks
Pretty cool but have you just create an extra line in the forward line .??
Longer, Steven, Armo

inter

Newnes, Savage, Geary

sub

Saunders

emerg

Ross, Hickey, Murdoch

[Jacks Back]

Geary (Wright) Delaney Dempster
Fisher Bruce Roberton
Joey Hayes Ray
Savage Roo Stanley (Sipposs/Markworth)
Curren (Saunders) Lee (Wilkes) Schneider

Hickey
Armo
Savage

Longer Gilbert Jones Newnes

You wouldn't play Steven?

[Beekay]

It's not too wishful thinking to expect Savage and Longer to play the bulk of the season.

If we could top that off with Newnes, Wright & Curren becoming regulars, the rebuild would be in full steam.

The real cherry on the cake would be if one of Siposs, Markworth or Milera started to light it up.

[boneless23]

B:     Fisher     Delaney  Geary 
HB:  Wright.     Bruce.    Dempster
C:     Newnes.   Hayes.   Joey 
HF:  Billings.    Roo.      Savage
F:     Stanley    Lee         Schneider 
R:    Longer.     Armo.     Steven 
Int:  Hickey (ruck), Curran (mid/high half forward),  Gilbert (defensive mid), Roberton (medium defender) 

Emerg: Gwilt (medium defender).   Ross (inside mid),  Webster (HB)

A team like this is how I would start 2014 if I were Richo.

Gilbert's role is of real interest to me as I wonder if he could play a Ryan Crowley type role of a big bodied stopper who can keep his man accoutable by pushing forward at times. He played well on Juddy in 2012 in this role.

I think a great deal hangs on Wright, Newnes, Curren and Webster as I think all can develop into high quality players if we give them as much exposure to the big time as possible.

[bergholt]

Int:  Hickey (ruck), Curran (mid/high half forward),  Gilbert (defensive mid), Roberton (medium defender)

I like your team but you've made the same mistake as a few others with the bench. No AFL side starts a ruckman on the bench, because it kills their midfield rotations. Having Roberton on there as well makes that worse, even if I believed that Gilbert can play as a true mid (which I'm dubious about).

Basically every team these days needs five mids starting on the ball (ruck-rover, rover, wings), two to four more kicking in from the half-back and half-forward lines, three on the bench and usually one as sub. Ten in the side as a minimum. For us those numbers come from:

Hayes, Montagna, Steven (A-grade true mids)
Armitage, Jones, Curren, Savage (B-grade true mids with potential)
Ray, Schneider, Geary, Gilbert (solid players who aren't quite true mids)
Newnes, Wright, Milera, Ross, Webster, Saunders, Murdoch, Billings? (kids who might improve)

Every week our team should have ten or twelve of these, which means there aren't many spots for talls and specialist forwards/defenders. Two ruckmen, four at each end, that's about it. None on the bench.

[SemperFidelis]

The real cherry on the cake would be if one of Siposs, Markworth or Milera started to light it up.

I'm really hopeful that with a new coach, two out of three will turn their raw talent into a permanent spot. 3/3 is wishful thinking, but I'm a Saints supporter ...

Of course, our last coach was supposed to be a development coach too, but something tells me that the combination of a fresh face and oodles of experience in this area might just prove the catalyst for these guys.

I have not given up on Sippa yet. Noone who can kick the ball that well should be written off when they've barely blown out the 21st birthday candles.

1 I/2 hours until first full team training. Wish I could be there, and looking forward to some reports from those who are.

Go Saints!