Jaxons come on down

[saintsRrising]

Jax can you please tell the team to abort the Stevens idea… it's a stinker.

Perhaps think along the Moneyball lines.

Koby I assume will cost us little pick-wise. $ wise I understand he does not have an offer from the Dogs and so that will be reasonable as well.



Don't get me wrong, I would love more cream too. But remember that we are building a team, and we certainly did not bat deep enough in the midfield this year. Koby might well be a "value", rather than "valuable" piece of the puzzle.

[Con Gorozidis]

Jax can you please tell the team to abort the Stevens idea… it's a stinker.

In your opinion.

That's what we're here for… I hope the rumoured 450K is miles off the mark in any case, he's obviously not a bad player but he's certainly not elite.

Hopefully we take another mid with 10 and start getting games into Freeman & Steele which would make someone like Stevens a waste of our huge cash surplus (IMO) > meanwhile Prestia, Mitchell & O'meara are finding new homes at other clubs.

Surely 250 would be more accurate?

[jonesy]

He's capable and has played some really good games. I'm sure we aren't selling the farm for him, he'll almost come for free or a throw away pick. Our midfield is very shallow, he'll be a nice extra.

[The OtherThommo]

He's capable and has played some really good games. I'm sure we aren't selling the farm for him, he'll almost come for free or a throw away pick. Our midfield is very shallow, he'll be a nice extra.

It's worthwhile looking at how the Dog's built their premiership side, Jonesy, e.g.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/t ... fb1bbbf594

Then, a coupla weeks later;

http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/te ... a91e029231

[st.rick]

aren't most 25yo's on around 350-450k nowdays its not like he's a polo etc..

[The Recruit]

Can tell you we are getting close to getting Koby Stevens.

This makes me think maybe i should have something to do with the recruiting...what a stinker....Kobey Stevens is a dud
Has played good games against a hapless saints in 2015 and a terrible Carlton side....

[The OtherThommo]

aren't most 25yo's on around 350-450k nowdays its not like he's a polo etc..

I believe the average salary across the whole lot is circa $320K+ p.a., rick.

[The Recruit]

Man I am pleased with Jack Steele. And we still have pick 10 up our sleeve.

Imagine a midfield with Ross, Steven, Acres and Steele running around out there bullying opposition sides. If Freeman ever comes on then goodness me.

+1 great midfield to watch for the next 5-6 years

[Thesaint127]

Jaxons bruddah please please can u tell me if the saints are making a play for Gardiner and ahern,?

[saintsRrising]

If the rumour is true that the Dogs have not offered Koby a contract, does that mean we will be able to get him as a DFA? And if the Dogs play nice swapped for a very late pick so that he can start training with us earlier?

[Jacks Back]

Jax can you please tell the team to abort the Stevens idea… it's a stinker.

Perhaps think along the Moneyball lines.

Koby I assume will cost us little pick-wise. $ wise I understand he does not have an offer from the Dogs and so that will be reasonable as well.



Don't get me wrong, I would love more cream too. But remember that we are building a team, and we certainly did not bat deep enough in the midfield this year. Koby might well be a "value", rather than "valuable" piece of the puzzle.

While our midfield IS shallow and doesn't bat deep it didn't help that Richo only rotated 4 guys in there virtually all year (Steven, Ross, Armitage & Dunstan). If we're ever going to go somewhere then the likes of Acres, Billings, Newnes, Sinclair, Gresham, etc, had to spend more time in there than just a cameo appearance every now and then. It's about building a team and giving the newer players more midfield time and experience instead of trying to rely on 4 blokes.

[st.byron]

Without being certain, I think you'll find Stevens got injured in '16 at the wrong time, spent a while out, and couldn't break back into the premiers late on.

What I am certain about is he had an excellent turnaround from an ex-Kanga inside-outside mid, to about the best clamp down inside mid in '15. Hard, very hard, and did many a job on almost all, including our very own Jack (not the plural), but also got it going the other way.

I wouldn't count it out, and if the price is right, and don't forget the Doggies will have cap pressure looming (e.g. Boyd's contract, which does have performance bonuses), then he might just be a useful addition. The same recruitment mob at our joint did have interest before he went to the Dogs - and I don't rate Ameet et al as twits at their caper.

In the wash up, I would like to see blokes who are hard in the middle, and can cover ground, provide a bit of protection for the likes of Jack - he needs some help, and those who sacrifice for the greater good.

Happy to leave it to wise men, me (well, wiser than me, anyway).

According to the Dogs website he was excellent in 2015 up to round 15 before a stress fracture in the foot ended his season. Responding to both you and Con,
I can see the value if what you're saying is true. If he is a hard inside mid who can also play outside and spread, then there's something to like there. Also 189cm so has height for a mid as well. I wasn't aware he was of interest to us before going to the Dogs. Maybe he's a versatile player who will add depth and run.
Looks like I'm just displaying ignorance I guess or I've fallen for the "dream of picking up cream" rather than understanding the nuts and bolts of building a list with depth and versatility.
Looking at his stats for 2016, they're not much different to his reportedly excellent 2015.

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_p ... fopt2=2015

So like you TOT, I leave it to wiser heads whose actual job it is to recruit players to judge whether or not he's worth chasing.
Perhaps similar to Steele as in a good player who can't get a regular spot in an A grade mid-field.

[sunsaint]

Im not sold on Stevens
at best I think the club is buying depth and more importantly IP intelligence from the dogs
but he doesnt come to close to what collingwod bought in Luke Ball

[The Recruit]

Cant see who Koby replaces in the best 22....the ONLY reason he would be drafted would be for depth and if the dogs have not offered him a contract then he is worth having in the twos....averaged

Disposals
17 - 2014
20 - 2015
22 - 2016

but hasnt played heaps of games in the last two years....better than Curren so goes in front of him
For me though, adding Koby Stevens to the list says more about the Saints change of mindset in 2017 on where 'the window' is at...cleary it is slowly opening in their opinion

[Spinner]

Jax can you please tell the team to abort the Stevens idea… it's a stinker.

In your opinion.

That's what we're here for… I hope the rumoured 450K is miles off the mark in any case, he's obviously not a bad player but he's certainly not elite.

Hopefully we take another mid with 10 and start getting games into Freeman & Steele which would make someone like Stevens a waste of our huge cash surplus (IMO) > meanwhile Prestia, Mitchell & O'meara are finding new homes at other clubs.

Surely 250 would be more accurate?

250 is no where near the mark. He would stay at the WB in that case.

Kobe is very similar to a lot of our mids already but the thing is he was in very fine form at one stage early this year and showed in the BL. Shows he has the ability to be in the best handful on the ground - that's a start! Not bad for a fringe

[ace]

Cant see who Koby replaces in the best 22....the ONLY reason he would be drafted would be for depth and if the dogs have not offered him a contract then he is worth having in the twos....averaged

Disposals
17 - 2014
20 - 2015
22 - 2016

but hasnt played heaps of games in the last two years....better than Curren so goes in front of him
For me though, adding Koby Stevens to the list says more about the Saints change of mindset in 2017 on where 'the window' is at...cleary it is slowly opening in their opinion

But we have already delisted Curren so that means in front of Curren means in front of nothing.

[jaxons]

Jaxons bruddah please please can u tell me if the saints are making a play for Gardiner and ahern,?

These two haven't been spoken about by us.

[The Recruit]

If this is true it is brilliant!!



get Mitchell or not...at least we have stuck it up 'the all conquering' hawks...will force them to trade their pick 14 as a well as a future second round to match us...

well-done saints. One big f*** you to the brown and gold...love it....

[st.rick]

not many on here thought much of bruce, membrey, dempster, roberton even hickey
before they where signed by us.
As TOT said the recruiters would probably know more about him than we do.

[Impatient Sainter]

Jaxons bruddah please please can u tell me if the saints are making a play for Gardiner and ahern,?

These two haven't been spoken about by us.

I thought Darcy Gardiner would be high on the want list?

[st.rick]

Jaxons bruddah please please can u tell me if the saints are making a play for Gardiner and ahern,?

These two haven't been spoken about by us.

I thought Darcy Gardiner would be high on the want list?

This from the Afl site
Ahern, 2014's No.7 draft pick, is contracted for 2017 but is unlikely to play next year after last month rupturing his right anterior cruciate ligament for the second time this year.

I don't think we need more injured players sitting out a year

[Jacks Back]

All these names getting bandied about is just confusing. If their first name isn't Jack then I don't want to know about them unless they change their name by deed poll (whatever that is).

[Devilhead]

As pointed out previously K. Stevens has had some exceptional games with the Bulldogs in the last few years (6 Brownlow votes this year) and some quieter ones as well - he has also been hampered by a few freak injuries recently as well (Broken ribs/Lung, Abdominal and a Foot injury )

Sure he is a no frills player but at 189cm/ 87 kg he is a super size to play inside mid and has shown continual improvement of the course of his career - he is only 25 so surely has his best years ahead

He might not be your no 1 go to mid and he might not necessarily be in our picked 22 every week but we add depth and mature grunt on the inside which we desperately need - we probably wont lose anything if he comes in to replace some one like Dunstan if he gets injured

He went pick 44 to Bulldogs from West Coast so if we can get him for a 3rd or 4th rounder we have done ok - whilst no superstar he will add even more hardness to the squad as well

Probably better than a speculative no 50 pick on an 18 year old which is unlikely to make it and if they do wont impact for another 5 years anyway - and yes this guy form shows up a lot better than Polo, Birss, McGough, Callaghan or any other shitty top ups we've traded for

The Dogs were very happy with his form earlier this season when they were flying - why he struggled to force his way back into their side after injury and why they are letting him go? ...... I don't know

[Impatient Sainter]

Jaxons bruddah please please can u tell me if the saints are making a play for Gardiner and ahern,?

These two haven't been spoken about by us.

I thought Darcy Gardiner would be high on the want list?

[CarlTaughtMeEnglish]

Just spit balling trying to tie things together...

Saints are into Stevens from Dogs
Freo are into Hamling from Dogs
We have the family connection suggestion for Weller from Freo

Saints have picks 10, 49, 67 ...
Freo have 7, 34, 42, 60 ....
Dogs have 18, 39, 62 ...

Trying to do the math
Stevens is worth a pick 45 - 55
Hamling is worth a pick 35 - 45 (kept Buddy quiet in the grand final but WA go home factor)
Weller is worth a pick 10 - 25

Throwing some saints names around
Billy Longer - 35 - 45
Tom Lee 45 - 55
Mystery Player 35 - 45 (top 25ish on list)

This is where the spit balling comes in...

Freo loose Weller and gain Tom, Hamley and future round 2 pick (~39) (Both big bodied WA boys boys)

Dogs loose Stevens and Hamley and gain Billy and Saints mystery player (Billy would be an upgrade on Minson not sure who else they might need but it has to be someone for this to work)

Saints loose Billy, Tom, future round 2 pick and Mystery Player but gain Weller and Stevens