Stanley

[fugazi]

On a positive side...reckon he's improving each week, was ok in ruck. When he starts clunking all those marks he gets his hands to, he'll be great

[battye]

Yeah, very promising. Guys like Stanley will be a core part of the next tilt IMO.

[clarky449]

Poor tonight.

[BigMart]

Average tonight..... But not hopeless, had moments

[dragit]

Handball not his strong suite. Still improving.

[whiskers3614]

Just on that handball area I reckon blokes should never handball over their shoulder behind themselves ,it looks awful has no power or direction and seldom advantages the side.I would prefer blokes pinned against the boundary fumbling it over the line and creating a new 50/50.

[BackFromUSA]

Thought he was very good in the ruck even against Sandilands by leaping over the top.

From memory kicked 1.1 and set up 2 goals.

Good return for a forward / resting ruck.

[saintspremiers]

Thought he was very good in the ruck even against Sandilands by leaping over the top.

From memory kicked 1.1 and set up 2 goals.

Good return for a forward / resting ruck.

Agree Sandi is a freak.

If only they had a height limit on the AFL

Stanley will be much better against any other normal ruckman!

Credit to Sandilands - an amazing player.

[Junction Oval]

If Rhys can hold more of the marks that he gets clear hands on, he will have a much greater impact on the game.

[SydneySainter]

Stanley was did some nice things, without being amazing.

If he can come of age, will be a very exciting player for us.

Needs continued development.

[desertsaint]

Thought he was very good in the ruck even against Sandilands by leaping over the top.

From memory kicked 1.1 and set up 2 goals.

Good return for a forward / resting ruck.

Agree Sandi is a freak.

If only they had a height limit on the AFL

Stanley will be much better against any other normal ruckman!

Credit to Sandilands - an amazing player.

If Sandilands was an amazing player Freo would be unbeatable. Luckily he is very average. His height is amazing and if he could jump and punch and tap decently we would have been creamed in the clearances. He wins almost very hit out due to height advantage. But most of his hit out go nowhere. Let's hope he doesn't become more than average.

[Sick Nal Danto]

That moment when he pushed a Freo player and sprinted towards the 50, and had the composure to kick it lace out to Gilbert is what will come with time.

I was super proud when he did that because it required a thoughtful and skillful approach, I expected him to try and shoot for goal and possibly miss.

Once he plays another 30-50 games the confidence will grow, and he will be more consistent

[SaintSimmo]

Next year is the year Stanley will make a name for himself in the league, 1 full year playing at the elite level is exactly what he needs.

He has a great booming kick, pace to burn, just needs to improve his contested marking which will come with increased body strength, and his decision making under pressure which will improve week after week with every game he plays.

And I'm confident the Scotty knows this and will give him a real crack at it this year, and could play every game this year if he stays fit.

The only concern of mine is that if Roo retires at the end of this year or next then we will need Stanley to replace him, and if Stanley doesn't come on then who else have we got?

Archer? - I don't rate him, too slow
Ferguson? - I havent seen him play so not entitled to a opinion
Staley? - see above

[skeptic]

you'd be happy with his progress so far... I certainly am

What I would do now is put back to Sandy for 2 weeks with the view of working on his contested marking + maybe give him a bit of a rest.

Would like to see Wilkes up forward and c how he goes

[PJ]

Stanley should be unstoppable in a couple of years with incremental progression - he's already looking freakish for his height. This guy will be gold for St.Kilda if we manage him right.

[gringo]

Next year is the year Stanley will make a name for himself in the league, 1 full year playing at the elite level is exactly what he needs.

He has a great booming kick, pace to burn, just needs to improve his contested marking which will come with increased body strength, and his decision making under pressure which will improve week after week with every game he plays.

And I'm confident the Scotty knows this and will give him a real crack at it this year, and could play every game this year if he stays fit.

The only concern of mine is that if Roo retires at the end of this year or next then we will need Stanley to replace him, and if Stanley doesn't come on then who else have we got?

Archer? - I don't rate him, too slow
Ferguson? - I havent seen him play so not entitled to a opinion
Staley? - see above

All of the above have ability but none could be considered a replacement. Sometimes you don't need to though. I would love to see Archer or Wilkes even getting a go forward with Kos, big lumps of marking forwards would suit our collingwood inspired style. Running the boundary looks better when there is a big lummox there to jag a mark.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

Held his marks and presented really well in the first quarter tonight (before the rain came). Was a really terrific quarter of footy from him and it was a shame the rain came when it did, as he was looking really ominous.

Just looking forward to the day he really explodes and rips a game to shreds!

[Junction Oval]

It's good to see how much he is improving with every game. As others have said, he needs to hold his marks when he gets his hands to the ball. More games, confidence and practice will help. It's good to see and watch a few players coming through and being given regular game time.

[ralphsmith]

Stanley should be unstoppable in a couple of years with incremental progression - he's already looking freakish for his height. This guy will be gold for St.Kilda if we manage him right.

his speed is frightening

i love him in the team right now an think its worth keeping him there to get more experience

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

As others have said, he needs to hold his marks when he gets his hands to the ball. More games, confidence and practice will help.

You didn't think he did that last night? He didn't look like dropping one early (before it got wet) and held at least two really strong ones in the hands in that time. He might have dropped a couple late, but he was visibly tired by that stage and it was slippery and hardly anyone was marking overhead by then.
Was another good step forward last night.

[Dr Spaceman]

As others have said, he needs to hold his marks when he gets his hands to the ball. More games, confidence and practice will help.

You didn't think he did that last night? He didn't look like dropping one early (before it got wet) and held at least two really strong ones in the hands in that time. He might have dropped a couple late, but he was visibly tired by that stage and it was slippery and hardly anyone was marking overhead by then.
Was another good step forward last night.

+1

[defacto]

Last night he looked like he belonged there and it was in the wet!!!!! Most people couldn't hold onto the pill. He did.

Huge steph forward.

[Old Mate]

I think Stanley's output this year has been extremely underrated. Comparing him with other young forwards he's been close to the best - Darling and Cameron look like stars and are the youngest from the group. One thing that really caught my eye from these stats was inside 50's. He has become a very good link up player.

Yearly averages

Kicks - Handballs - Disposals - Marks - Goals - Tackles - Inside 50's - Goal Assists

Rhys Stanley
9 - 3.6 - 12.6 - 5.8 - 1.2 - 2.4 - 4.6 - 0.6

Ben Reid
6.2 - 5.5 - 11.8 - 3.5 - 1 - 1.8 - 1.8 - 0.2

Chris Dawes
6.6 - 6.6 - 13.2 - 4.8 - 0.4 - 2.4 - 2.6 - 0.4

Charlie Dixon
7 - 4 - 11 - 3 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 0

Liam Jones
7.6 - 2.8 - 10.4 - 4.4 - 1.2 - 1.2 - 3.2 - 0.4

John Butcher
5 - 3 - 8 - 2.5 - 1.5 - 0.5 - 2 - 0

Jeremy Cameron
5.2 - 3.2 - 8.5 - 5.2 - 2.2 - 2 - 0.8 - 0.2

Jack Darling
8.5 - 3.2 - 11.8 - 6 - 2 - 4.8 - 2.8 - 0.5

Taylor Walker
9.2 - 4 - 13.2 - 5 - 2.2 - 1.5 - 2.8 - 1

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

Very interesting stats! Loved Rhys's bullet 50m pass over the top to Roo in the pocket last night. His long kicking is a real weapon kicking forward, especially if we have someone over the back.

[Russman]

Also loved the way he was paddling the ball in front of him on the run into the forward line in the last quarter.
The big man was travelling pretty fast , but unfortunately the ball never sat for him, otherwise it could have resulted in a goal , or a setup for a goal.