Can the saints deliver super coach gold

[saynta]

Excellent article from herald sun.com.au

"The Saints are marching in to a new era under Brett Ratten but can they deliver us SuperCoach gold in 2020?

Anything that could’ve gone wrong in 2019 did for the Saints but after a monster offseason that included a new coach, a batch of new recruits and the improved health and fitness of existing players, this is very different looking Saints team heading into 2020.
PAIGE CARDONA, FOX SPORTS

Anything that could’ve gone wrong in 2019 did for the Saints. The irregularity in Dylan Roberton’s heart put a line through his season, Paddy McCartin’s season was wiped out due to another concussion, soldier Jarryn Geary almost had his leg amputated, Jake Carlisle had back surgery, Max King couldn’t get on the park, so too star pick-up Dan Hannebery and Jack Steven’s season was on ice as he dealt with personal problems. Ball use was horrid, Alan Richardson was sacked … you get the point.

Under new coach Brett Ratten, the Saints were the busiest club during the trade period, adding an array of players to help propel them up the ladder. The pick of the bunch, Brad Hill, will be well-suited to the wings of Marvel Stadium, Dougal Howard will slot into the back six as a key defender, and no-nonsense defender Zak Jones will provide a hard-nosed edge in the back six with stints through the middle. Journeyman Paddy Ryder’s position in the team remains intriguing given Rowan Marshall’s breakout season while Dan Butler adds to the small forward stocks, but is this a top 8 side? It’s a very different looking St Kilda outfit if anything.

The Saints made big inroads to their defensive structure in 2019; Josh Battle stamped himself a player of the future as an intercept possession-winning machine, mature-age pick-up Callum Wilkie grew in confidence in each game he played, and top pick Hunter Clark looms as a star in the making.

There were breakout years for a number of players – Marshall being the biggest improver of the lot. The forward / ruck was a colossal and went toe-to-toe with the most feared rucks in the competition and rarely ever had his colours lowered. With the arrival of Ryder, who’ll help shoulder the ruck load, and the retirement of McCartin, it seems that the Saints will be looking for a one-two punch up forward combining Marshall / Ryder and young gun King who could hold down the St Kilda forward line for the next decade and some.

Throw in the return of Roberton, Geary and Jimmy Webster and a full season expected from Hannebery – the Saints should make a shift in 2020.

THE PREMO: ROWAN MARSHALL | $598,700 | RUC | 110.3

Since making his way into the Saints team in Round 2 as a 13-gamer, Marshall dominated. The 24-year old has only played 33 games to date, but before he played 20 games in 2019 – his seismic rise to the elite bracket could never have been predicted by even the best of football analysts so quickly. Marshall had no less than 14 SuperCoach tons last season; in fact he recorded an average of 118.7 during the second half of the year. Marshall was a nightmare for opposition teams, floating between the ruck where his hit-outs to advantage and follow up work saw his points tally quickly, while up forward he reeled in contested marks and hit the scoreboard with such frequence that he became the Saints’ most important player despite being barely 30 games into what looms as long career. By seasons end Marshall ranked 13th for average SuperCoach points per game. To put that into perspective, that had him ahead of premium types such as Clayton Oliver, Lachie Whitfield and Scott Pendlebury week on week.
e

THE BREAKOUT CONTENDER: HUNTER CLARK | $402,200 | DEF | 74.1

As soon as Brett Ratten took the reins of the Saints, Hunter Clark took lift-off. In the final six games of the 2019 season, Clark averaged 24 disposals per game in the post-Alan Richardson era. He broke lines out of the backline and moved with ease and composure through the centre of the ground to become a real eye-catcher with the footy in hand. On three occasions Clark broke through for the century but his scores still remained a bit wobbly which is to be expected of young players. But, with another pre-season under his belt, a clearly defined role and a licence to find the footy and use it by foot under Ratten, there’s huge upside for Clark in 2020 as he comes into his third year in the system.
Dylan Roberton is back at Saints training
Dylan Roberton is back at Saints training

BOOM OR BUST: DYLAN ROBERTON | $260,400 | DEF | DNP

If you can believe that price, then you can believe that Dylan Roberton is every bit the biggest value option available, across just about any line in SuperCoach. Roberton succumbed to a freak heart issue with shocking footage showing him collapsing against the Cats in Round 4 in 2018. A mainstay in St Kilda’s defence, Roberton had a breakout year in 2017, culminating in an average score of 92 from 22 games. He recorded no less than eight SuperCoach centuries that year, with five of those triple-figure scores 115 points or above. He is unquestionably a sublime user of the footy, he racks up loads of uncontested possessions for the Saints across halfback, and can work his way up the ground to get involved in links of play. A known intercept player, Roberton loves to kick the footy, and that’s what makes good SuperCoach players. Lock and load, folks.

THE ROOKIE: MAX KING | $123,900 | FWD | DNP

Is there set to be a new King at Moorabbin in the new decade? We’ll spare you the terrible puns but after succumbing to an anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2018, the No. 4 pick made a successful return to the VFL in 2019 and played five games before subsequent ankle surgery ruled out his rookie year in 2019. Max King is ready to be unleashed according to Saints insiders. He is an unstoppable force in the air given his height and reach alone, but the mobile and athletic big-man is a deadeye in front of the sticks. Sure, SuperCoach isn’t made for key forwards at the best of times, but at such a bargain basement price, stash him on your bench. He’ll get plenty of service from the Saints’ midfield."

[Nick_BlueNRG]

It sounds all very positive. Lets hope it pans out this way.

[SaintPav]

Very Freudian phraseology this bloke uses to describe some of the players last season. Interesting...

[saynta]

Very Freudian phraseology this bloke uses to describe some of the players last season. Interesting...

I'm betting 'PAIGE CARDONA' is more likely to be a member of what was once called 'the fairer sex', than a bloke.

[SaintPav]

Who would really know these days..

[whiskers3614]

Very Freudian phraseology this bloke uses to describe some of the players last season. Interesting...

I'm betting 'PAIGE CARDONA' is more likely to be a member of what was once called 'the fairer sex', than a bloke.

How dare you presume gender is binary!
Next thing you'll be disagreeing with the unisex toilets.

[saynta]

Very Freudian phraseology this bloke uses to describe some of the players last season. Interesting...

I'm betting 'PAIGE CARDONA' is more likely to be a member of what was once called 'the fairer sex', than a bloke.

How dare you presume gender is binary!
Next thing you'll be disagreeing with the unisex toilets.

f*** yes.

[saynta]

Girl alright and a beer swilling filth supporter to boot.