'04 and '07 team comparison

[DK27]

Not sure if this has been done, probably has, but I was just thinking about our '04 team, and particularly the first ten game streak team, and our current list. In early '04 we were arguably the best team going around, then we lost a few players, have been doing a mini rebuild, and now, a few who post on here think we are back with a chance.

PLAYER COMPARISON.

Players gone from '04 best team. REPLACED BY
Peckett running mid Goddard
Hamill tough forward
Thompson solid mid Montagna
Jones running back Gram
Black outside mid Fiora
Voss solid back L. Fisher
Powell tough mid Baker
Penny tall back S. Fisher
Knobel ruck King/M. Gardiner
Guerra small forward Schneider

From '04 to now (apart from injuries) we have NOT been able to replace Hamill and back up midfielders adequately. Also, the players who have gone, on the whole, were pretty tough and loved to tackle hard. We have not been able to replace that intensity.

The opportunity is there for C. Gardiner or Allen to step up and play regular footy as the third tall forward with a defensive focus. If these 2 don't want the job, C. Jones and Blake played OK early last year in a defensive forward role. This would be a backward step, but lets see who steps up. There is still a need for 1 or 2 backup midfielders. Please, please Armitage, X. Clarke, Howard, Birss, Steven, anyone, take the opportunity tonight to show us you are up to the job. Tonight, if King and M. Gardiner can show enough in the ruck that Kossie can play forward most of the time, it makes our forward line look very imposing for the regular season. A lot to keep an eye on tonight.

Looking forward to tonight and the up coming season. We just need a couple to step up like '04, and have a good run with injuries to give the flag a real shake.

GO SAINTS!!!

[hAyES]

In all honesty, there is no comparison between the two teams. The '04 team was so much better this last years it's not funny. The biggest difference between the '04 and the '07 team is winning the contested ball. In '04 and '05 we were either first or top 3 in winning the contested ball, and Geelong showed last year how important it is to get first hands on the ball. Players like Powell, Thompson and Hamill are huge losses for that reason.

[saintsRrising]

Not sure if this has been done, probably has, but I was just thinking about our '04 team, and particularly the first ten game streak team, and our current list.

See http://saintsational.com/forum/viewtopi ... c&start=25