A good team performance, but individuals worthy of talk

[Otiman]

Overall the team played well, I think we look a more structured and disciplined side with Milne and Schneider out of the side.

On the debutants


Allen: Will be disappointed with not bothering the scorers, but played a solid game and presented well. However, it's apparent he is quite slow and is not a modern day leading full forward. 7 marks is a good first out effort for him, should play more games this year.

Eddy: Found space, pressured well, and got more of the ball than I expected him to (17 disposals). A solid performance. Reminds me of one Frankie J. Peckett. Will play 100 games.

McEvoy: Outmuscled easily in the ruck, but now knows why he needs to build strength. Is a great overhead mark, looks like a young Michael Gardiner.


Go the G's

Goddard: The only player who didn't lay a tackle, but was still in our bests.

Gram: Permanent midfield/wingman

Geary: Is struggling at the moment, I'm not sure who his direct opponent was, but he hardly got any touches himself. Will probably battle with Attard for his spot. A real tough nut though, not afraid to go in head first.

Gilbert: Looks a likely target up forward, and can play back quite well. Still unsure if he is suited for a key position despite having the height for it. Probably needs some more bulk on him still.


Belligerent Backmen

Max: Never beaten within 25m of goal. Is relieved well by Dempster who can follow anyone who tries to run him around. Still our best defender.

Chips: Battles well and defends with grace. Would like to see him play on a 3rd tall and provide some run rather than having to match up on guys like Pavlich.

Dempster: Is playing well, unworthy of the flak he cops on here most weeks.

Blake: Could be the CHB we've been crying out for, has really fit into the role well. Can play on anyone from a tall mid, to a resting ruckman, Mr. Versatile.

Gwilt: Servicable defender who has a good left hoof, should play the role Gram has played.

Mids

Ball: After a quiet week, bounced back in the best possible way. Really filled in for Hayes after his injury.

Montagna: Another quiet week, but towed the team line with a huge 8 tackles. Still needs to make his tackles more damaging, but a good defensive game which threw the out freos balance in the midfield.

McQualter: Another good game, it's a tough choice between he and Birss. Birss is undoubtedly the better asset to the side, but should Mini be given the chance to develop? I say no, has too many flaws including lack of penetration of disposal, and weak overhead.

Hayes: Brilliant quarter of footy, in one quarter had more stats than half the team did in four quarters.

King: We would have been gone today without him. Sandilands and Warnock are a decent combination now, and King's strength and positioning at the clearances was fantastic.

Frollicking Forwards

Yep, our forwards didn't do much today, but as to be expected when 6 of your top 7 goalkickers are out of the side.

Riewoldt: A five star Captain's effort. If it was Franklin or Brown, the commentators would have been creaming their pants.

C. Gardiner: Quite quiet, given his 3 goals last week. It's a toss up between he and Ferguson, but at least he can keep his body right.

[The OtherThommo]

You seem to have forgotten someone.

[Saint Mik]

118th game with 30+

One more season surley

[Otiman]

You seem to have forgotten someone.

The great man speaks for himself. It would be a disservice to analyse his game.

[The OtherThommo]

Just a fair dinkum footballing superstar freak. Roll on '09 and 400 games.

[SaintWodonga]

Just a fair dinkum footballing superstar freak. Roll on '09 and 400 games.

I agree. Let's hope he plays the most finals than any other Saint too..

[The OtherThommo]

Oti's, I tweren't callin' for analysis, just acknowledgement. Just a nod would do.

[Enrico_Misso]

Gwilt: Servicable defender who has a good left hoof, should play the role Gram has played.

I'm still not convinced.
At times he looks disinterested and lets his man get too far away from him.
When we have possession he won't make a lead, leaves it to others.
Looks slow.
His decision making is always suspect.
And when he disposes the ball I always grimace.

[spiral2]

Looks slow.

his biggest problem I reckon. not sure you can get away with it in this day and age, he's almost always trailing his man to the ball...makes life very hard when you're a defender

[matrix]

if harvey doesnt go on and play 400 i will be very surprised
i mean, whats one more year when u have endured over twenty.

30+ touches
paaalease
what a friggin legend

[Saints43]

if harvey doesnt go on and play 400 i will be very surprised
i mean, whats one more year when u have endured over twenty.

30+ touches
paaalease
what a friggin legend

He came down to the Victory Room tonight.

Bruce Eva interviewed him and pumped him up about next year.

Said he was surprised at how good the body was going.

Didn't get anyone too excited about next year... but he was the same last year.

Before the game some tosspot in the Great Western was declaring that we were a sh!t club because Harves was still our best player (which isn't true - #7 has been our best player for six years) but they don't appreciate just how good he is.

[The OtherThommo]

On Jimmy Gwilt's pace - twice he went with Tarrant on long leads and was ball high with him at contest time. He's not slow. He went O.K. Don't write him off. Just wish he the extendos when Ball's handball went wide late in the second.

[Otiman]

On Jimmy Gwilt's pace - twice he went with Tarrant on long leads and was ball high with him at contest time. He's not slow. He went O.K. Don't write him off. Just wish he the extendos when Ball's handball went wide late in the second.

Yep, is a good defensive option as a rebounder. Strong overhead and a kick that can clear packs.

If he can improve on his current form (even slightly), then I'd keep him on the list for next year.

Also hasn't been injured from what I remember, so having a body that can hold up to AFL football is a big plus for us (compare with Ferguson who is injured every other week)

[spiral2]

On Jimmy Gwilt's pace - twice he went with Tarrant on long leads and was ball high with him at contest time. He's not slow. He went O.K. Don't write him off. Just wish he the extendos when Ball's handball went wide late in the second.

wasn't at the game so can't comment but I saw him trail his man to a contest on many occasions. thought he did ok, not knocking his effort, but I still think he is slow. also saw him a couple of times during pre season in longer competitive runs and was always struggling. maybe he missed some weeks and was behind the group fitness wise or maybe he just doesn't have much of a tank.

ps - felt sorry for gilbo tonight, looked to be really 'sucking em in' tonight, looks down on match fitness. made a few blunders but I like his style, particularly up forward, he just seems awkward and unpredictable. play him forward I reckon

[ThomasR]

I have Rob Harvey pegged around 9391 career disposals. If he stays fit and plays another year, he could become the first to break 10000 - now that would be some effort. Reflexes look to have slowed a little but still easily in the best 22 - he must go on!

[pluggernaut]

I"ve never been a huge wrap for Gwilt when he seems to be able to think too much. His skills seem pretty good by hand and foot, he just seems to stuff up when he has more than one option. (From memory he has a pretty good kick for goal) & he is still pretty young, so keep him on and get a wily ol' veteran like Max to teach him a few tricks

[Ice Wolf]

I"ve never been a huge wrap for Gwilt when he seems to be able to think too much. His skills seem pretty good by hand and foot, he just seems to stuff up when he has more than one option. (From memory he has a pretty good kick for goal) & he is still pretty young, so keep him on and get a wily ol' veteran like Max to teach him a few tricks

Maybe have Goddard talk to the players who think too much according to him that used to be his problem "over thinking"

[The_Dud]

anyone got Dermie's number...?

[Otiman]

anyone got Dermie's number...?

23.

[spert]

Apart from great games from Harvs and Ball (and Lenny's one quarter) I liked the efforts of Goddard and Gwilt especially in the second half and Dempster put Farmer out of the game. Gilbert's foot skills are terrible and needs a run in Scorps to get back up to scratch. McEvoy should be parked at FF and Allen at CHF to allow Roo to move around more. Birss should come in for Geary who isn't doing much, but I would leave the side largely unchanged for next week. I think Armo will be a gun onballer in the next couple of years.

[Batnoe]

Apart from great games from Harvs and Ball (and Lenny's one quarter) I liked the efforts of Goddard and Gwilt especially in the second half and Dempster put Farmer out of the game. Gilbert's foot skills are terrible and needs a run in Scorps to get back up to scratch. McEvoy should be parked at FF and Allen at CHF to allow Roo to move around more. Birss should come in for Geary who isn't doing much, but I would leave the side largely unchanged for next week. I think Armo will be a gun onballer in the next couple of years.

So who does Dal Santo and Milne come in for?

Geary for one....Hayes injured

[supersaints]

anyone got Dermie's number...?

23.

[Otiman]

Apart from great games from Harvs and Ball (and Lenny's one quarter) I liked the efforts of Goddard and Gwilt especially in the second half and Dempster put Farmer out of the game. Gilbert's foot skills are terrible and needs a run in Scorps to get back up to scratch. McEvoy should be parked at FF and Allen at CHF to allow Roo to move around more. Birss should come in for Geary who isn't doing much, but I would leave the side largely unchanged for next week. I think Armo will be a gun onballer in the next couple of years.

So who does Dal Santo and Milne come in for?

Geary for one....Hayes injured

Agreed. Who will come out of the side if Hayes plays? I'd suggest maybe Milne stays in the 2's. (See what happens tomorrow in Coburg)

[suss]

So who does Dal Santo and Milne come in for?

Geary for one....Hayes injured

Not so fast there...Geary was very tough and harassed all night. He may not have got the touches but he, Eddy, Armo and MacQualter were defensively very good.

[saintbob]

So who does Dal Santo and Milne come in for?

As long as Dal starts doing the one percenters he's a walk up starter next week, if not I'm sure Ross will leave him there until he does.

While Eddy continues to provide the sort of forward pressure he did last night, then Milney might have a sustained stint at the Scorpions.