Who am I?

[Con Gorozidis]

Date of birth: 8/8/90
Height: 184cm
Weight: 79kg
Club: Perth
Debut: Round 1, 2011
AFL NAB Rising Star winner: 2011
Games 2011: 21

[saintbrat]

I know But I cheated

[derby Street]

I reckon A.S - we only have a couple who have not debuted and around that age.

[BallBanger]

If its Alistair Smith, what have you seen to suggest such a big yr?

He surely is the type we need as we do not have many mid/running players in reserve and will continue to be held back playing 32 + 40 who surely would struggle for a game in any afl side.

[Bernard Shakey]

The Dribbler.

[SainterK]

The Dribbler.

Will be forever known as...

[Bernard Shakey]

Made Acker look like the dill he is.

[SainterK]

Made Acker look like the dill he is.

That he is, I enjoyed noticing his book in the clearance bin at Target the other day...$4.91

[bergholt]

That he is, I enjoyed noticing his book in the clearance bin at Target the other day...$4.91

man i hope your dempster tribute works as well as your gwilt tribute did.

[Con Gorozidis]

If its Alistair Smith, what have you seen to suggest such a big yr?

He surely is the type we need as we do not have many mid/running players in reserve and will continue to be held back playing 32 + 40 who surely would struggle for a game in any afl side.

gut feel. its the year of the dribbler!
32 and 40 have wasted enough time.

[SainterK]

That he is, I enjoyed noticing his book in the clearance bin at Target the other day...$4.91

man i hope your dempster tribute works as well as your gwilt tribute did.

So do I...

He blossomed in the latter half of 2010, I think he acutely felt (and he said as much when interviewed) who he was keeping out of the side though.

I hope that in 2011 he feels like it's his spot, and he is going to own it regardless of who he may of felt it 'belonged' to, veteran or otherwise.

[maverick]

If its Alistair Smith, what have you seen to suggest such a big yr?

He surely is the type we need as we do not have many mid/running players in reserve and will continue to be held back playing 32 + 40 who surely would struggle for a game in any afl side.

gut feel. its the year of the dribbler!
32 and 40 have wasted enough time.

Gee I hope you are right.

[Dr Spaceman]

That he is, I enjoyed noticing his book in the clearance bin at Target the other day...$4.91

man i hope your dempster tribute works as well as your gwilt tribute did.

So do I...

He blossomed in the latter half of 2010, I think he acutely felt (and he said as much when interviewed) who he was keeping out of the side though.

I hope that in 2011 he feels like it's his spot, and he is going to own it regardless of who he may of felt it 'belonged' to, veteran or otherwise.

But can you get him to smile SainterK?

[ace]

You are a Con, Man

[SainterK]

That he is, I enjoyed noticing his book in the clearance bin at Target the other day...$4.91

man i hope your dempster tribute works as well as your gwilt tribute did.

So do I...

He blossomed in the latter half of 2010, I think he acutely felt (and he said as much when interviewed) who he was keeping out of the side though.

I hope that in 2011 he feels like it's his spot, and he is going to own it regardless of who he may of felt it 'belonged' to, veteran or otherwise.

But can you get him to smile SainterK?

I think one will lead to the other Doc

[Saintersss]

David Swallow already has the rising star wrapped up.

[kosifantutti23]

Who am I?

Born 20 September 1961
Height 183cm
Weight 86kg
Played 29 games for StKilda over 3 seasons
Scored 64 goals
Debut Round 8 1980

[Quixote]

Has a lot going for him. Great pair of feet, decent tank, quick and a super kick. Not sure about over head but I guess that's a Saints thing - we're either flying high or nadda!

Really hope he comes on and agree there's a role for him. For mine, 32 desperately needs to be replaced, but I think the call on 40 is one season too early. There are a few other numbers under pressure before his, I'd hope.

[bergholt]

David Swallow already has the rising star wrapped up.

yep, just like naitanui did in 2010.

[Con Gorozidis]

David Swallow already has the rising star wrapped up.

yep, just like naitanui did in 2010.

good call. bookies werent even taking bets on the nat man in about round 3.

[Saintersss]

David Swallow already has the rising star wrapped up.

yep, just like naitanui did in 2010.

good call. bookies werent even taking bets on the nat man in about round 3.

I don't think that is even relevant. Nik Nat was overated for a while, its just the media always take a while to realise it.
If you have seen Swallow play, you wouldn't doubt it.
4th best player in the VFL as a 17 year old.
I doubt A. Smith would have been in the top 100 as a 20 year old.

[bergholt]

David Swallow already has the rising star wrapped up.

yep, just like naitanui did in 2010.

good call. bookies werent even taking bets on the nat man in about round 3.

I don't think that is even relevant. Nik Nat was overated for a while, its just the media always take a while to realise it.
If you have seen Swallow play, you wouldn't doubt it.
4th best player in the VFL as a 17 year old.

i haven't seen swallow play, and i don't expect alistair smith to win the rising star. but you have to admit that many, many players in the past have underperformed in the afl after looking good at a lower level. swallow may well be a good player in the long run, he may well have a good year in 2011, he may well even win the rising star award - but my point was that there's a lot of water to pass under the bridge until that happens.

[Saintersss]

David Swallow already has the rising star wrapped up.

yep, just like naitanui did in 2010.

good call. bookies werent even taking bets on the nat man in about round 3.

I don't think that is even relevant. Nik Nat was overated for a while, its just the media always take a while to realise it.
If you have seen Swallow play, you wouldn't doubt it.
4th best player in the VFL as a 17 year old.

i haven't seen swallow play, and i don't expect alistair smith to win the rising star. but you have to admit that many, many players in the past have underperformed in the afl after looking good at a lower level. swallow may well be a good player in the long run, he may well have a good year in 2011, he may well even win the rising star award - but my point was that there's a lot of water to pass under the bridge until that happens.

Well obviously it's not a dead set certainty, but if I had to choose someone from the past 5 years to win the rising star from the start of the season it would be him.
West Coast would be absolutely shattered that they lose him to the Gold Coast.

[Con Gorozidis]

lets wait and see. a lot happens. i dont doubt hes a good player and he seems really sensible/professional. so hes every chance of making it.
froma saints perspective we really need an al smith to make it good. hes the type of player we need and that the pies have about 10 of. young and quick. good kick , tough and doesnt panic in traffic.

kind of the opposite of a few of our younger players...

im not saying we give up on 32 and 40. they are too young for the scrap heap just yet. im just saying they ARENT 20 game a year players. they arent automatics. there should be more opportunities for smith + armo + heyne in particular. and if that means 32 and 40 play only 10 games a year each well i dont think that would be unfair and i dont think the side will lose anything at all.

the standard rebuke/defence is that the 3 i mentioned arent dominating at vfl level but i reckon there is a crap culture of reward/incentive for the young players at the saints in the last few years. its like the aussie cricket team. once youre in youre in and its harder to get in than to get out. so not sure how motivating that is for some guys to step up at vfl every week.