McKenzie, Webster, Long and Dunstan.

[saynta]

Four of our more maligned players who gave copped buckets of s*** from some of our forum brethern over the years and who have all played a part in our resurgence.

Dunstan. a favorite of mine and the forum whipping boy, or one of them at least, has been responsible in no little part for our past three wins.

It was mentioned on Fox last night that Dunstan requested a meeting in March to ascertain where he stood. He was told that he wouldn't be playing seniors in 2021.

Just shows how much character he has to fight back to where he is now. Pity he will be long gone come seasons end and who could blame him. Not I.

Interesting to note that none of the 4 would be getting a game if not for injuries to more favoured players.

Same could be said for our young 'uns, Connelly and Highmore. Think Byrnes would be playing as his skills are too f****** obvious to ignore

So I guess there might be something in it when posters say that the Saints brain trust doesn't have a f****** clue.

Even I knew Dunny could play.

[Moods]

Didn’t realise that Webster was maligned? I’ve always liked him.

The other 3 have surprised me (pleasantly)
And I agree that Dunstan has shown incredible resilience and character to turn it around.

[saynta]

Didn’t realise that Webster was maligned? I’ve always liked him.

The other 3 have surprised me (pleasantly)
And I agree that Dunstan has shown incredible resilience and character to turn it around.

Take your point on Jimmy.

[Saintmatt]

I think the only knock on Webster was that he coughed it up by foot. But it was only because he was the only player we had behind the ball who had a modicum of skill to try and hit the 45 kick off half back. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t. No one could have questioned his bravery though.

As for Dunstan - yep, can’t say I’ve ever been a fan but, whilst he’s had a good month (remember there was the Sydney stinker in there too) he’s also done this before when he was in he final year of his contract. I just wish he’d shown this more regularly and consistently over the years.

[magnifisaint]

I think the only knock on Webster was that he coughed it up by foot. But it was only because he was the only player we had behind the ball who had a modicum of skill to try and hit the 45 kick off half back. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t. No one could have questioned his bravery though.

As for Dunstan - yep, can’t say I’ve ever been a fan but, whilst he’s had a good month (remember there was the Sydney stinker in there too) he’s also done this before when he was in he final year of his contract. I just wish he’d shown this more regularly and consistently over the years.

f*** just be happy that hes killing the pig at the moment. Stop trying to justify yourself!

[skeptic]

I’ve always found posts like this to be so weird

Is the argument here that people were wrong to criticise?

Dunstan has ‘proved’ the knockers wrong since he started playing better over 4-5 weeks.
Does the last 5 years suddenly not count?

By all accounts even Ratten had put a line through his name until he forced his way back… the criticism has 100% been warranted and it’s easing now that he’s stepped up

What’s the scandal there?

Even more so, I’m miffed at the inference that he’s going to leave at years end and your ok with that Saynta!!!
There’s a thread on this board where you call Dawson a mercenary for wanting more than rookie salary… but your ok with Dunstan leaving after the club has supported him +++ for 7 odd years then chooses to leave when he starts to play well?
It’s mind boggling logic

Same deal with Dmac… looked promising early and didn’t come on until this year.

Long and Webster are a bit different in that they’ve been more polarising… have had a lot of support on this forum and a lot of detractors too so in their case I guess it’s fair enough

[The_Dud]

Maybe they’re just blossoming out from Richo’s shadow?

Or getting extended runs in the team, that always helps.

[skeptic]

Maybe they’re just blossoming out from Richo’s shadow?

Or getting extended runs in the team, that always helps.

Indeed… I think this is what many of us were concerned with when the notion that Richo’s continued presence at the club was actively harmful to development

Ironically enough the OP whose righteous boasting of supporting Dunstan was a tireless defender of
-Richo’s coaching
- The Hannebery deal
- Newnes and Weller
- Joyce needing to be top 22
- Paddy McCartin being a better pick then Petracca

In fact this may be the one right call I’ve read here in 5 years

[saynta]

Maybe they’re just blossoming out from Richo’s shadow?

Or getting extended runs in the team, that always helps.

Your second sentence is more on the ball.

[magnifisaint]

I’ve always found posts like this to be so weird

Is the argument here that people were wrong to criticise?

Dunstan has ‘proved’ the knockers wrong since he started playing better over 4-5 weeks.
Does the last 5 years suddenly not count?

By all accounts even Ratten had put a line through his name until he forced his way back… the criticism has 100% been warranted and it’s easing now that he’s stepped up

What’s the scandal there?

Even more so, I’m miffed at the inference that he’s going to leave at years end and your ok with that Saynta!!!
There’s a thread on this board where you call Dawson a mercenary for wanting more than rookie salary… but your ok with Dunstan leaving after the club has supported him +++ for 7 odd years then chooses to leave when he starts to play well?
It’s mind boggling logic

Same deal with Dmac… looked promising early and didn’t come on until this year.

Long and Webster are a bit different in that they’ve been more polarising… have had a lot of support on this forum and a lot of detractors too so in their case I guess it’s fair enough

It's not wrong to criticize. It's the belligerence, self righteousness and excessive quoting that is the Achilles heal of this forum. So f*** all the foruminites who think they are forever right in the face of the tidal wave of contrary evidence.

[saynta]

Despite the criticism of my post seems some agree with me.

by freely » Sun 11 Jul 3:05 pm

"Agree with the op 100%. Dunstan has always been team first but has been treated very shabbily and I wouldn't blame him if he gave us the two fingers now. We nearly played the life out of him when he first got to us. Has never dropped his head sidelined to the twos game after game. Rotten obviously didn't want to play him -only brought him back, despite that great first round game (was it last season?), as an absolute last resort. Will be classic st k to trade him now and us all have to watch him star elsewhere.

This complaint about having the wrong sort of mids and keep going on about how we must trade in this type or that type - well, I think it's bulls***. I think what's happening at the moment is that we're playing to our strengths. Getting the best out of the players we've got instead of playing as if they're what the coach wishes they were. We've got some hard bodies out there and with a fair bit of nous. Good. Let's hang on to this one."

Great post from a fellow forumite.

[Scollop]

Maybe they’re just blossoming out from Richo’s shadow?

Or getting extended runs in the team, that always helps.

Indeed… I think this is what many of us were concerned with when the notion that Richo’s continued presence at the club was actively harmful to development

When the wheels fell off in 2018, one of the strangest calls from a coach that I’d ever heard in my life was when Cho said the team was “devoid of leadership.” It seemed that although Richo was the coach (and there were also assistant coaches) that the people who were the most important influence had suddenly left the building. It seemed that without Riewoldt, Cho was lost.

I know he had good qualities, but Richo was never going to be the bloke that inspired a team to greatness. One of the subjects that seems to be taboo whenever anyone discusses St Kilda and Nick Riewoldt, is the legacy of Roo and his effectiveness as a captain during the period of the rebuild under Richo.

Hear me out here

I’m not talking about Roo as a player or Roo as a captain under Ross Lyon during the period when we were contending. This is about Roo after 2013-2014 and specifically, what it meant to be captain with a lot of young players coming into the side.

Webster and Dunstan and McKenzie (to a lesser extent) were all developing as players under Roo’s captaincy. I have a feeling that up until maybe Roo’s last year or perhaps his second last year, he wasn’t the ideal guy to have in your corner as a young player. Perhaps that was a legacy taught and learned under Ross Lyon (?!)

I reckon Gears copied the Riewoldt style to some extent in his first year or so, but now he’s changed (and maybe sitting on the sidelines has a lot to do with that) but also we have a new captain and some new voices in the leadership group and we seem to be more inclusive and supportive of the younger guys.

In fact, we seem to be more supportive and positive for all players. As Gears once said to Cho; You have to look at the positives and search for a players strengths and encourage them for what they can bring to the team, and don’t focus on 1 or 2 mistakes during a game

[saynta]

Maybe they’re just blossoming out from Richo’s shadow?

Or getting extended runs in the team, that always helps.

Indeed… I think this is what many of us were concerned with when the notion that Richo’s continued presence at the club was actively harmful to development

When the wheels fell off in 2018, one of the strangest calls from a coach that I’d ever heard in my life was when Cho said the team was “devoid of leadership.” It seemed that although Richo was the coach (and there were also assistant coaches) that the people who were the most important influence had suddenly left the building. It seemed that without Riewoldt, Cho was lost.

I know he had good qualities, but Richo was never going to be the bloke that inspired a team to greatness. One of the subjects that seems to be taboo whenever anyone discusses St Kilda and Nick Riewoldt, is the legacy of Roo and his effectiveness as a captain during the period of the rebuild under Richo.

Hear me out here

I’m not talking about Roo as a player or Roo as a captain under Ross Lyon during the period when we were contending. This is about Roo after 2013-2014 and specifically, what it meant to be captain with a lot of young players coming into the side.

Webster and Dunstan and McKenzie (to a lesser extent) were all developing as players under Roo’s captaincy. I have a feeling that up until maybe Roo’s last year or perhaps his second last year, he wasn’t the ideal guy to have in your corner as a young player. Perhaps that was a legacy taught and learned under Ross Lyon (?!)

I reckon Gears copied the Riewoldt style to some extent in his first year or so, but now he’s changed (and maybe sitting on the sidelines has a lot to do with that) but also we have a new captain and some new voices in the leadership group and we seem to be more inclusive and supportive of the younger guys.

In fact, we seem to be more supportive and positive for all players. As Gears once said to Cho; You have to look at the positives and search for a players strengths and encourage them for what they can bring to the team, and don’t focus on 1 or 2 mistakes during a game

Good post and pretty fair comments. Think you are actually on to something there.