Recruiting priorities

spert · Post: # 469506Post **spert** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 10:14am

RL has said he is after a small forward and a midfielder - just who is out there to chase? I expect he wants someone with a little bit of experience, but I think the stocks are pretty thin...within the club Armitage may develop, I think McQ is at the crossroads, possibly Jones may fit in the forward/ onball category as there's no doubt he should improve when he fully gets over his shoulder injury from this season.

Oh When the Saints · Thu 04 Oct 2007 10:23am

Kayne Pettifer's name was thrown around.

Justin Sherman is another one to look at.

SaintBot · Post: # 469514Post **SaintBot** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 10:33am

Possible Small Forwards
Leigh Harding
Russell Robertson (untill he signed)
Kayne Pettifer
Mark Williams
Alan Didak
Aaron Davey
Ash McGrath
Andrew Krakouer
Adam Schneider (dont know if he has been linked to any trades)
Steven Armstrong (delisted)
Ben Ross (Trained with us before being picked up by the kangaroos in the psd)
Mitch Hahn
Rhan Hooper
Andrew Lovett

Krakouer is proabably the easiest of all of them to get, apart from Armstrong whos been delisted i think.

Would love it if we got Mark Williams as long as his knees have life in them

Oh When the Saints · Thu 04 Oct 2007 10:36am

Williams' knees are stuffed ... he will be lucky to add to his career games tally.

jill · Post: # 469517Post **jill** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 10:38am

Hasn't Krakour got a court case coming up in WA soon? What position does Geary play ? - they're expecting he'll be a real improver in 2008

rodgerfox · Post: # 469520Post **rodgerfox** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 10:45am

It depends on what is meant by 'small forward'.

Milne is a small forward.

Mark Williams is a small forward.

Ryan O'Keefe is a small forward.

Nick Davis is a small forward.

Alan Didak is a small forward.

Daniel Chick can play as a small forward.

However, all of these guys play differently. Some are 'lead and mark' small forwards, some are 'defensive' small forwards, some are 'crumbing' small forwards.

The term 'small forward' is very broad, and doesn't really relate to the physical stature of the player.

It sickens me to say it, but Paul Chapman is as rounded as a small forward can get.
His chronic staging aside, he plays the 'mark and lead' role well, plays the 'crumbing' role well and his defensive pressure is fantastic.

Of the 'small forwards' listed above, only Harding and Didak are any good.

The problem with Harding, is that his goal kicking is horrible - and he may lose pace due to his reco although these days that doesn't seem to be a problem in knee recoveries.

You know who I think would make a fantastic small forward?

Steven Baker.

The problem is that he has too much value up the ground.

plumtire · Post: # 469546Post **plumtire** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 11:21am

How about Jack from Zenium mortgages?

SaintBot · Post: # 469548Post **SaintBot** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 11:23am

or alternativly we take Cyril Rioli with our first pick

trouble is we cant be relying on Rioli to make it to pick 9, especially considering Essendon has a pick in front of us

wildgoose · Post: # 469553Post **wildgoose** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 11:27am

I agree with Rodger, Baker could be a good small forward, in that he applies great pressure, I suppose in a similar way that Matthew Bode did at Adelaide when he was fit.

Perhaps a rotation of Baker, Armitage, and X.Clark through the midfield and as small forwards could be an option if we are unable to get a target that we want during trade week.

SaintBot · Post: # 469603Post **SaintBot** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 12:17pm

could you imagine the backpockets of everyside dreading playing stkilda if they had to line up on the brothers, Baker and Milne

Solar · Post: # 469613Post **Solar** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 12:35pm

jill wrote: Hasn't Krakour got a court case coming up in WA soon? What position does Geary play ? - they're expecting he'll be a real improver in 2008

geary will play half back if he gets a game. Good skills and pace, can read the play very well.

cwrcyn · Post: # 469622Post **cwrcyn** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 12:53pm

Not much quality out there at a reasonable price.

Trading for a small forward is fraught with danger.

Can anybody name any recent trades wher a club has picked up a small forward and has done well out of the deal?

I can't think of any.

SaintBot · Post: # 469629Post **SaintBot** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 1:02pm

cwrcyn wrote:Can anybody name any recent trades wher a club has picked up a small forward and has done well out of the deal?

I can't think of any.

collingwood would say they have with medhurst even though he is a hack

Sydney with nick davis was worthwhile

WinnersOnly · Thu 04 Oct 2007 1:06pm

rodgerfox wrote:
You know who I think would make a fantastic small forward?

Steven Baker.

The problem is that he has too much value up the ground.

IMO Bakes would be the perfect FP for our forward line. He could bring the hardness and tackling pressure that we lack up forward as well as release pressure of other small forwards...just needs a bit of creative thinking ion behalf of our coaches and not 'pidgeon holing' players to set positions.

Attard/L.Fisher/McQualter/Birss can fill Bakers tagging position.

Goddard/Fergusson & the Clarkes should be developed as our lacking HFF goal kickers...

The other thing I would like to see with soemone with a bit of mongrel get hold of ROO and have him start imposing himself on backlines...

saintsRrising · Thu 04 Oct 2007 1:13pm

By "small" forward I don't think the club means another Milne...as we javae Milne..

They actually probably mean a medium type to replace Hamill and Voss (and Sweeney).

More of a HF thana small FP....

in 2008....

Midfielder ... Roo .... HalfForward we do not have??

Allen .... Kosi .... Milne

I think allen is a likely type as he is lot more mobile that Watts or Brooks...and if Kosi is to play at FF then you do not want 2 big lumbering types with the amount of run in the game these days.

Perhaps Gram could become the HF that we need and crave..????

He has dash and flash...and is a booming kick.....GET the ball to him anywhere inside of 65 m and he can havea ping.

Hs pace will allow him to create space to run into for the mids to pass to him...

So

L Fisher Max Gilbert

S Fisher Goose BJ

Fiora Hayes Joey

Gram Roo X (Midfielder on rotation)

Allen Kosi Milne

Gardiner Dal Ball

Harvey Raph Armo Rix(or recruited ruck)

Baker to come in post suspension.

Draft/ trades...to be mainly for our future...but with say one ready to play player picked up.... Wood? Sherman?

barks4eva · Post: # 469646Post **barks4eva** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 1:13pm

Oh When the Saints wrote:Justin Sherman is another one to look at.

Sherman is definitely worth getting, wants to come home and imho he will be a great pickup if we can get him

Definitely not for pick 9 but anything after that and I'd say welcome

plugger66 · Post: # 469653Post **plugger66** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 1:20pm

barks4eva wrote:
Oh When the Saints wrote:Justin Sherman is another one to look at.

Sherman is definitely worth getting, wants to come home and imho he will be a great pickup if we can get him

Definitely not for pick 9 but anything after that and I'd say welcome

If he wants to come home he will have to play in the VFL for Tasmania or Hawthorn 3 times a year.

barks4eva · Post: # 469672Post **barks4eva** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 1:34pm

saintsRrising wrote:Perhaps Gram could become the HF that we need and crave..????

Gram should be played as a wingman and playing him anywhere else is neglecful numbnut nuffyism

he gets exposed overhead in defence

we need his run, but it would be better served from the wing

that's just they way it is, not even worthy of a imho

If Lyon can't figure this out then I might have to do a letter drop

thehandbrake · Thu 04 Oct 2007 1:42pm

A Steve Johnson type of forward is exactly what we need. That size between a Roo/Kosi and a Milne, difficult to match up on as he has some size and pace, and can bob up with 4+ goals a game as he did in the GF.

Obviously Steve Johnson is off limits, but that kind of player is what we desperately need- even more so now Hamill, Voss et al are gone...

Beej · Post: # 469689Post **Beej** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 1:52pm

barks4eva wrote:
saintsRrising wrote:Perhaps Gram could become the HF that we need and crave..????

Gram should be played as a wingman and playing him anywhere else is neglecful numbnut nuffyism

he gets exposed overhead in defence

we need his run, but it would be better served from the wing

that's just they way it is, not even worthy of a imho

If Lyon can't figure this out then I might have to do a letter drop

saintsRrising · Thu 04 Oct 2007 2:32pm

barks4eva wrote:

Gram should be played as a wingman and playing him anywhere else is neglecful numbnut nuffyism

he gets exposed overhead in defence

we need his run, but it would be better served from the wing

that's just they way it is, not even worthy of a imho

If Lyon can't figure this out then I might have to do a letter drop

Only trouble is.....no club really plays anyone as a wingman these days...

The wings are really just extra mids....and have to run all over the place....and even take there time at some inside work...ie have athink of how and where Fiora played in 2007.

gosaints · Post: # 469719Post **gosaints** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 2:40pm

Kayne Pettifer is the one I'd like to see us look at. He is that in between size, is moblie, can take a mark and kick a goal. Only problem in the Tigers would want the world for him.

Rickabee · Post: # 469963Post **Rickabee** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 8:27pm

Johnson is the new model (a good one) and Ryan O'Keefe is another variation. Pettifer would also have been good. I'd just like to see Ferguson TRIED as a HFF as he is the right (in-between) size, can mark and can kick goals. Just for gods sake give him a trial in the pre-season games at least. He was an U/18 AA forward when we recruited him and all they have tried him as is as a HBF - go figure!

Agree with B4E on moving Gram to the mid-field so we can have his run and get some goals kicked by mid-fielders more often.

Eastern · Post: # 470034Post **Eastern** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 10:33pm

rodgerfox wrote:It depends on what is meant by 'small forward'.

Ryan O'Keefe is a small forward.

rodger ?????????????

I'd rarely, if ever disagree with you but Ryan O'Keefe is somewhere between 6'2" and 6'3"

!!

crowjelly · Post: # 470056Post **crowjelly** » Thu 04 Oct 2007 11:22pm

rodgerfox wrote:It depends on what is meant by 'small forward'.

Ryan O'Keefe is a small forward.

Of the 'small forwards' listed above, only Harding and Didak are any good.
.

Rodgerfox if you don't rate Ryan O'Keefe as a good player then you're off with the pixies my friend.

He would be a perfect foil/alternate for Riewoldt on the half forward line. Ask RL, he I'm sure would give his left nut to have him at playing his home games at the sheltered workshop.