Recruiting not so bad now??

[saintbrat]

Brooks is excellent
M.Clarke is excellent
McGough is excellent
Rix is excellent
Watts is excellent
Lovett is excellent
Ackland is excellent
Pattison is exellent


Point is....

Rix took a good mark for Subiaco yesterday.

Patto had a reasonable game today....

[Animal Enclosure]

most criticism is that our under 23's are sub par. probably still holds.
dunno if ive read anyone baggin ray? the guy is awesome. still young. totally under-rated. you are right. but dont reackon hes been bagged at all. i sure as hell reckon hes an awesome player and still improving.

i still would not want to be saints coach in 5 years. but who gives a flog. we are the premiership zone right now.

I totally disagree. What's your definition of sub-par? Compared to young players at other clubs or compared to young kids that were drafted at similar stages of the draft?

We have a group of very good kids that are developing nicely (even if that may be at Sandy).

Just because they are not demanding a spot yet doesn't mean they won't be very very good senior players by the time that Roo & co are entering their twilight years.

We may dip a bit but we won't be a basketcase (which may not be a great thing if we need to get to the best young talent circa 2015).

[SainterK]

People are concerned that we will bottom out after this current challenge, and that we will bottom out within 5 years. However our next core group of potential leaders (some like Mini and Gilbert already) are between the age of 23-25 aren't so bad.

Goddard 25
Raph 25
Mini 24
Farren 24
Gilbert 23
Gwilt 23

Couple that together with kids (22 and under) like Geary, Eddy, Armo, McEvoy, Stanley, Steven, Heyne all able to hold their own in the seniors this year, with plenty of other guys hovering for a debut, the future is not too bad IMO.

[BigMart]

B: GAERTNER -- JOHNSON -- *****

HB: SIMPKIN -- WALSH -- GEARY

C: WINMAR -- ARMITAGE -- A.SMITH

HF: HEYNE -- LYNCH -- EDDY

F: STANLEY -- CAHILL -- *****

FOLL: McEVOY -- HUTCHINGS -- STEVEN

INT: McGRATH -- ARCHER

[rodgerfox]

People are concerned that we will bottom out after this current challenge, and that we will bottom out within 5 years. However our next core group of potential leaders (some like Mini and Gilbert already) are between the age of 23-25 aren't so bad.

Goddard 25
Raph 25
Mini 24
Farren 24
Gilbert 23
Gwilt 23

Couple that together with kids (22 and under) like Geary, Eddy, Armo, McEvoy, Stanley, Steven, Heyne all able to hold their own in the seniors this year, with plenty of other guys hovering for a debut, the future is not too bad IMO.

We're going to need a better 'top 6' than that to be a finals team.

[bigred]

2 picks from 2009 most likely never going to boot up for us...

That isnt good drafting....

in HINDSIGHT.

[BAM! (shhhh)]

TIP: Next time the Saints play...take the time to actually watch Ray...watch what he does and how hard he runs and presents...

He is undervalued and under-recognised for his work.

Ray's an interesting one. I agree he has to be watched to be appreciated.

However, on review of the stats the next day, had really let himself down giving away free kicks. Turned what could have been an excellent game from him into a decent one. He's done the same in the past through lazy disposal.

His overhead work is so valuable in transition (they may be uncontested marks, but I've no doubt most players wouldn't take them), and in retaining control of the ball. He's quick, 2 sided and a pretty good user. Much harder at the contest than I'd ever have expected when we acquired him.

He's won me over with all the hard stuff, just needs to have a bit more care and he's knocking on the door of stardom.

[SainterK]

People are concerned that we will bottom out after this current challenge, and that we will bottom out within 5 years. However our next core group of potential leaders (some like Mini and Gilbert already) are between the age of 23-25 aren't so bad.

Goddard 25
Raph 25
Mini 24
Farren 24
Gilbert 23
Gwilt 23

Couple that together with kids (22 and under) like Geary, Eddy, Armo, McEvoy, Stanley, Steven, Heyne all able to hold their own in the seniors this year, with plenty of other guys hovering for a debut, the future is not too bad IMO.

We're going to need a better 'top 6' than that to be a finals team.

Top 6, you're not going to bring that up again are you?

I never said they are going to be the 'top 6' though, more that they are a good crop of potential leaders in a few years...

[SainterK]

TIP: Next time the Saints play...take the time to actually watch Ray...watch what he does and how hard he runs and presents...

He is undervalued and under-recognised for his work.

Ray's an interesting one. I agree he has to be watched to be appreciated.

However, on review of the stats the next day, had really let himself down giving away free kicks. Turned what could have been an excellent game from him into a decent one. He's done the same in the past through lazy disposal.

His overhead work is so valuable in transition (they may be uncontested marks, but I've no doubt most players wouldn't take them), and in retaining control of the ball. He's quick, 2 sided and a pretty good user. Much harder at the contest than I'd ever have expected when we acquired him.

He's won me over with all the hard stuff, just needs to have a bit more care and he's knocking on the door of stardom.

I watched the replay last night, and at least two or three of those free's seemed to be when he attempted to tackle Selwood, I could both see and appreciate Farren's frustration....

[Solar]

TIP: Next time the Saints play...take the time to actually watch Ray...watch what he does and how hard he runs and presents...

He is undervalued and under-recognised for his work.

Ray's an interesting one. I agree he has to be watched to be appreciated.

However, on review of the stats the next day, had really let himself down giving away free kicks. Turned what could have been an excellent game from him into a decent one. He's done the same in the past through lazy disposal.

His overhead work is so valuable in transition (they may be uncontested marks, but I've no doubt most players wouldn't take them), and in retaining control of the ball. He's quick, 2 sided and a pretty good user. Much harder at the contest than I'd ever have expected when we acquired him.

He's won me over with all the hard stuff, just needs to have a bit more care and he's knocking on the door of stardom.

I watched the replay last night, and at least two or three of those free's seemed to be when he attempted to tackle Selwood, I could both see and appreciate Farren's frustration....

agree, must be the most fustrating player to tackle because he ducks his head, no secret there..... they just never call it..... it's also clever that he ducks his head and doesn't try to break the tackle thus more reason to pay the over the shoulder free....