Goddard on SEN just then

[Jimmy1972]

Only got half but talked about Lynch. He has a 2nd grade hammy injury because he had a knee reco at a young age and that he didn't have a problem in the juniors but the heavy workload has now caused the hammy to twing

Also said hard for Armo because of Ball and Hayes. Has to work harder due to this but will be a great player.

[jays]

good news about armo hope he does become great

[doppler effect]

Only got half but talked about Lynch. He has a 2nd grade hammy injury because he had a knee reco at a young age and that he didn't have a problem in the juniors but the heavy workload has now caused the hammy to twing

So does this mean that Lynch will miss the NAB Cup?

How bad is a grade 2 Hamstring strain?

[saintsRrising]

Also said hard for Armo because of Ball and Hayes. Has to work harder due to this but will be a great player.

Sorry to disagree with BJ... BUT Ball and Hayes will be arounda long time.

Armo is not after their spot....but needs to play WITH them.

Harvey retiring us opened upa slot.....

...and quite frankly we need some young mids to step up and play good football to displace the like of McQualter.


Our 2008 midfield simply was not classy enough...and we need Armo, Steven etc to STEP up to become good mids to play with Ball, Hayes and Dal.

[Saints Premiers 2008]

Also said hard for Armo because of Ball and Hayes. Has to work harder due to this but will be a great player.

Sorry to disagree with BJ... BUT Ball and Hayes will be arounda long time.

Armo is not after their spot....but needs to play WITH them.

Harvey retiring us opened upa slot.....

...and quite frankly we need some young mids to step up and play good football to displace the like of McQualter.


Our 2008 midfield simply was not classy enough...and we need Armo, Steven etc to STEP up to become good mids to play with Ball, Hayes and Dal.

why does the midfield have to be classy???

i dont see a need

we have two of the best clearance players in the league at our disposal, when fit they win a mountain of ball

what we need now is a few more players capable of getting the pill out to our outside mids who still arent classy...apart from dal...they seem to be hard head i.e goddard...

[esaint66]

Only got half but talked about Lynch. He has a 2nd grade hammy injury because he had a knee reco at a young age and that he didn't have a problem in the juniors but the heavy workload has now caused the hammy to twing

Not good news i'll have to ask a mate of mine whos best mates with him about how Lynchys travelling and when i get the response i let you all know first hand.

He certainly hasn't had the best luck with injuries as a junior. A blood clot in his head the size of a tennis ball due to a golf ball hitting him and the knee reco.

[Batnoe]

Lynch is going to be one of those players that has a tonne of talent that can never get on the field, he had a hamstring strain at the gold coast function back in mid December, that is 2 hamstring strains just from training

[plugger66]

Lynch is going to be one of those players that has a tonne of talent that can never get on the field, he had a hamstring strain at the gold coast function back in mid December, that is 2 hamstring strains just from training

He is a young player and this can happen to them. In the long run it shouldnt matter at all afterall he wasnt going to win us any games off his own boot this year.

[Batnoe]

Lynch is going to be one of those players that has a tonne of talent that can never get on the field, he had a hamstring strain at the gold coast function back in mid December, that is 2 hamstring strains just from training

He is a young player and this can happen to them. In the long run it shouldnt matter at all afterall he wasnt going to win us any games off his own boot this year.

why wouldnt it matter? he was our first round draft pick and the more games we get into him the better. So although he wont win any games off his own boot this year the more games he gets and genuine experience it may help him win a few for us next year..

a bad pick up if the case, he had better play 8-10 games this year or will be a dissappointing pick

[Saints Premiers 2008]

Lynch is going to be one of those players that has a tonne of talent that can never get on the field, he had a hamstring strain at the gold coast function back in mid December, that is 2 hamstring strains just from training

He is a young player and this can happen to them. In the long run it shouldnt matter at all afterall he wasnt going to win us any games off his own boot this year.

why wouldnt it matter? he was our first round draft pick and the more games we get into him the better. So although he wont win any games off his own boot this year the more games he gets and genuine experience it may help him win a few for us next year..

a bad pick up if the case, he had better play 8-10 games this year or will be a dissappointing pick

i would imagine minor type injuries are part and parcel of being a youngen espeically in your first pre-season...having this whole afl caper as your professions, training your ass off

dont stress batnoe...i look forward to wetting myself over goddard as much as you asap

[saintspremiers]

Doesn't a grade 2 tear mean an extra few weeks over a grade 1 (strain) tear to the hammy, ie 4 weeks rather than 2 or 3??

[saintbrat]

Lynch is going to be one of those players that has a tonne of talent that can never get on the field, he had a hamstring strain at the gold coast function back in mid December, that is 2 hamstring strains just from training

to clarify what BJ said- that is the strain he had- overdid it coming into the club- as players can do- BJ's words

But is now back on track- has not re done it.

[Saint Bev]

Also said hard for Armo because of Ball and Hayes. Has to work harder due to this but will be a great player.

Sorry to disagree with BJ... BUT Ball and Hayes will be arounda long time.

Armo is not after their spot....but needs to play WITH them.

Harvey retiring us opened upa slot.....

...and quite frankly we need some young mids to step up and play good football to displace the like of McQualter.


Our 2008 midfield simply was not classy enough...and we need Armo, Steven etc to STEP up to become good mids to play with Ball, Hayes and Dal.

I agree, this is an odd comment to make in my book.

[Teflon]

Also said hard for Armo because of Ball and Hayes. Has to work harder due to this but will be a great player.

Sorry to disagree with BJ... BUT Ball and Hayes will be arounda long time.

Armo is not after their spot....but needs to play WITH them.

Harvey retiring us opened upa slot.....

...and quite frankly we need some young mids to step up and play good football to displace the like of McQualter.


Our 2008 midfield simply was not classy enough...and we need Armo, Steven etc to STEP up to become good mids to play with Ball, Hayes and Dal.

I agree, this is an odd comment to make in my book.

Not really Bev.

IMO Goddard is simply referring to the obvious that we have two gun inside mids in our line up - Armo is a similar type who will find it tough competing for a similar spot (Armo doesnt appear an outside mid to me) which IMHO we could do with another of....Harvey retiring opens a spot for a similar gut run/outside mid...not necessarily Armo....more a Cousins type with some ball carrying ability......(I cant let go)

This doesnt mean he cant make the side or that he cant be played with Ball/Hayes.....it may mean given his style is similar its going to be harder for him.

[PJ]

Fair bit of stress about Lynchy. I wouldn't even be worried about a first year guy, it's gonna take them all a bit of time.

In the mean time chill out and watch Sam Gilbert having a crack at the forward line...or armo getting a run in the mids - that's what we lacked in the finals accountable grunt mids. If he's not getting the ball he can be putting blocks on players. Or Steven pack ferrett number 2.

Don't worry be happy....this Saturday we get to see some of the other hopefulls running around....and if we lose - who cares. I just want to see something different from the saints personel and structure wise.

[plugger66]

Lynch is going to be one of those players that has a tonne of talent that can never get on the field, he had a hamstring strain at the gold coast function back in mid December, that is 2 hamstring strains just from training

He is a young player and this can happen to them. In the long run it shouldnt matter at all afterall he wasnt going to win us any games off his own boot this year.

why wouldnt it matter? he was our first round draft pick and the more games we get into him the better. So although he wont win any games off his own boot this year the more games he gets and genuine experience it may help him win a few for us next year..

a bad pick up if the case, he had better play 8-10 games this year or will be a dissappointing pick

You must have been disappointed in Rooy, Armo and big Ben then.

[saint66au]

Did he mention anything about whether he is playing Sat night?

There was an article in todays H-S about him winning his local golf clubs pennant QF..and that he was playing in the Semi this sat arvo

Would indicate that he isnt playing Id say

[saintsRrising]

why does the midfield have to be classy???

i dont see a need

...

By classy I mean very "good".....and not "stylish".

Our midfield simply was not "good" enough in 2008.

Why does our midfield need to be very good? Because if they are not then I cannot see us getting past the Hawks and Cats.

[saintsRrising]

IMO Goddard is simply referring to the obvious that we have two gun inside mids in our line up - Armo is a similar type who will find it tough competing for a similar spot .

I see Hayes as more than an inside mid.

Also from what I have seen Armo has the ability to be quite damaging when "resting" in the forward line. He looks like the type who has the knack of kicking goals.


Each playing at their best....a midfield of say Hayes, Ball, Dal, Armo, Ray, Gram and Joey could be awesome with a good mix of grunt, skill and pace. All supported with Sam and BJ acting as "quarterbacks" seeting up the play out of defence.

[mick13]

Is Steven an inside or outside mid?

He was listed as emergency a couple times last year. Could see a few games from him hopefully! Along with Armo that is. Not sure who to make 'my man' at this stage. Tough choice.

[chook23]

Only heard bits and pieces
but BJ also mentioned injury issues with Cahill on arrival

I am sure he said something about Cahill having both hips operated on

ie scrape of both hip joints

anyone else hear that bit?

many an under 18 being recruited at all clubs with injury concerns

[Saints Premiers 2008]

why does the midfield have to be classy???

i dont see a need

...

By classy I mean very "good".....and not "stylish".

Our midfield simply was not "good" enough in 2008.

Why does our midfield need to be very good? Because if they are not then I cannot see us getting past the Hawks and Cats.

point taken

our strengths imo are our clearance work and the run and carry of players who can play in the back half however are natural attackers

apart from nds i doubt we are ever going to be classified as having classy mids

[SainterK]

In a side note, it's great that Goddard was on SEN. I think he comes across well in the media, and it's nice for the club to mix it up sometimes.

[Teflon]

IMO Goddard is simply referring to the obvious that we have two gun inside mids in our line up - Armo is a similar type who will find it tough competing for a similar spot .

I see Hayes as more than an inside mid.

Also from what I have seen Armo has the ability to be quite damaging when "resting" in the forward line. He looks like the type who has the knack of kicking goals.


Each playing at their best....a midfield of say Hayes, Ball, Dal, Armo, Ray, Gram and Joey could be awesome with a good mix of grunt, skill and pace. All supported with Sam and BJ acting as "quarterbacks" seeting up the play out of defence.

Id disagree re Hayes. He's no goal kicker, doesnt run and burst from packs aka Judd/Kerr and IMO does his best work as an inside mid, tough in the clinches with quick hands and an awesome tackle. He's not a run and carry mid in the mould of Harvey/Cousins and hes not a sublime outside mid aka Dal Santo.

[Teflon]

why does the midfield have to be classy???

i dont see a need

...

By classy I mean very "good".....and not "stylish".

Our midfield simply was not "good" enough in 2008.

Why does our midfield need to be very good? Because if they are not then I cannot see us getting past the Hawks and Cats.

point taken

our strengths imo are our clearance work and the run and carry of players who can play in the back half however are natural attackers

apart from nds i doubt we are ever going to be classified as having classy mids

Id agree with that but note that in 2005 I didnt class Sydneys mids as classy....but very effective at what they did.