A star is born. Who takes the big leap in 2022

[saynta]

From heraldsun.com.au

ST KILDA

Max King

In round 19, 2021, Max King arrived. Booting six goals – in a loss, no less – and taking a record eight contested marks inside 50, the highly rated but injury-troubled prospect delivered on the lofty expectations that had hung over him since being drafted with pick No.4 in 2018. King’s strong form continued in the last few games of the season – booting eight goals in three games - despite a groin injury which ultimately caused the 21-year-old to miss the final game of the season. Everything came together for King late last year, and if he can pick up where he left off, King is set to become a bona fide star of the competition in 2022. - Sophie Welsh

[tony74]

Coff

[B.M]

Hunter Clark

[Munga]

We have a bottleneck of young guns ready to fly, I couldn't choose one

[MC Gusto]

Coff

Has bulked up

[skeptic]

Coff

Has bulked up

Really!? Hate to see Coff get bigger. Kid needs to be leaner and fitter.

[cwrcyn]

needs to get harder in the contest....might help him

[B.M]

Hardness is mental, not physical

I’ve seen big weak guys and tiny hard pricks!!!

Nothing to do with Bulk

Geary and Long are both skinny - probably in the toughest few on the list (and of course Steele)

Remember Josh Hunt from Geelong
100kg Soft c**k!

[Impatient Sainter]

Hardness is mental, not physical

I’ve seen big weak guys and tiny hard pricks!!!

Nothing to do with Bulk

Geary and Long are both skinny - probably in the toughest few on the list (and of course Steele)

Remember Josh Hunt from Geelong
100kg Soft c**k!

Exactly.

I played with an indigenous kid in Darwin who would have been 60kg wringing wet nicknamed 'stinger' from his boxing days. But for his size he was one of the hardest players going around. Some of the things he did on the ground had to be seen to be believed he was a freak. There have been plenty who have proven you dont have to be huge to be a hard tough footballer.

[minneapolis]

Coff

*cough*

[cwrcyn]

Ryan Byrnes will become a consistent and influential midfielder in 2022

[bigcarl]

Coff

I hope so, too, Tony. A few things I’ve seen in him suggest he can be an exceptional player. We need both he and Hunter Clark to really come next season. Let’s hope the injury gods are kinder this time

[Banger9798]

Coff

I hope so, too, Tony. A few things I’ve seen in him suggest he can be an exceptional player. We need both he and Hunter Clark to really come next season. Let’s hope the injury gods are kinder this time

He started to get his MOJO back in the last few rounds.

Not the toughest competitor out there but has had to sit in the hole a lot for a young player, and I reckon his confidence copped a bit of a blow .

His kicking in 2020 was a string feature, and that abandoned him last year.

If Coff and Clark can both step up , we play finals

[Sanctorum]

Coff

I hope so, too, Tony. A few things I’ve seen in him suggest he can be an exceptional player. We need both he and Hunter Clark to really come next season. Let’s hope the injury gods are kinder this time

He started to get his MOJO back in the last few rounds.

Not the toughest competitor out there but has had to sit in the hole a lot for a young player, and I reckon his confidence copped a bit of a blow .

His kicking in 2020 was a string feature, and that abandoned him last year.

If Coff and Clark can both step up , we play finals

I go along with that, 2022 should be a defining season for both blokes. I don't mind Coff bulking up providing it's all muscle....

Bytel and Byrnes need to step up as well, all the more so now that there are another handful of young kids brought in last month to fight for mid-field spots.

[cwrcyn]

The second rate pre-season last year may have had a more detrimental effect on some players compared to others. That improved fitness alone should see our underperformers from 2021 lift their game

[older saint]

Max King to move to A grade

[spert]

What happens if they all step up and take a big leap?

[freely]

What happens if they all step up and take a big leap?

Hanners would land badly and be out for the season?

[CQ SAINT]

Jones and Gresham delivering A grade years would be exciting.

[Bernard Shakey]

Coff

Would help if he wore a mask in the supermarket!

[spert]

I reckon one of our big problems this season was consistency, or lack of by too many players. Lots of skills and toughness, but just as we were doing well in games, a few go missing for a quarter and we lose the advantage. We need to straighten the line on performance- too many peaks and troughs cost us badly this year.

[Big John]

Cooper Sharman will take a big step forward.

[saynta]

Cooper Sharman will take a big step forward.

Maybe.Anyway hope so.

[Saintmatt]

Hunter Clark

I hope so. He's the one who could utterly transform our midfield group in the way the Pendlebury did at Collingwood once he found his feet. It's a time a space thing - but Hunter really needs a tank first. I hope he's working like hell on that.

[B.M]

Wouldn’t be surprised if Cooper had second year blues