The unsociable Saint and others

[saynta]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/fou ... 588mq.html

"Tom Highmore is 23. He is in his first AFL season. He wasn’t the best on ground when St Kilda beat Brisbane and continued their almost-out-of-time revival of their season, but he was one of the best.

Highmore’s story evokes thoughts of Tom Stewart or Sam Collins, not only for his late arrival in the game, but for his style of play. Highmore plays a similarly intelligent game to Stewart, reading the play and intercepting the ball. He had nine intercept possessions against the Lions. He’s not of Stewart’s calibre, of course, but there is a similarity to their story.
Unsociable: Luke Dunstan has added grit to St Kilda

The emergence of Highmore this year is one of the reasons for the remarkable post-bye improvement of the Saints. So too is Ryan Byrnes. He is 20-years-old and playing his 10th game. Dan McKenzie is 25 and has been around forever but has come in and added some hunger. He was drafted in 2014 and has played just 57 games. He’s a competitor, but he’s lived life on football’s fringe.

Each of them has helped add something to St Kilda, post-bye. Luke Dunstan’s return to the side is the most obvious point of difference in the resurgence. For a side wanting to re-introduce grit in their game, Dunstan came in with a brief to be unsociable.

Playing for his career, Dunstan has been good, but in terms of impact, Zak Jones’ return has been more influential. He has helped ease the run and carry burden on Bradley Hill the way Dunstan has shouldered the inside ball winning burden that falls to Jack Steele.

St Kilda might be working harder, they might have had heart-to-heart sessions in the bye, but it also comes down to personnel. They are better with Rowan Marshall, Jones, Tim Membrey, and Seb Ross back in the team, and they’re now complemented by McKenzie, Highmore, Dunstan and Leo Connolly, giving them a depth of players in form.

Numbers Don’t Lie

With Rowan Marshall and Paddy Ryder in the side, St Kilda have five wins from six games. Without both of them it’s three wins from ten games. The numbers don’t lie."

[George27]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/fou ... 588mq.html

"Tom Highmore is 23. He is in his first AFL season. He wasn’t the best on ground when St Kilda beat Brisbane and continued their almost-out-of-time revival of their season, but he was one of the best.

Highmore’s story evokes thoughts of Tom Stewart or Sam Collins, not only for his late arrival in the game, but for his style of play. Highmore plays a similarly intelligent game to Stewart, reading the play and intercepting the ball. He had nine intercept possessions against the Lions. He’s not of Stewart’s calibre, of course, but there is a similarity to their story.
Unsociable: Luke Dunstan has added grit to St Kilda

The emergence of Highmore this year is one of the reasons for the remarkable post-bye improvement of the Saints. So too is Ryan Byrnes. He is 20-years-old and playing his 10th game. Dan McKenzie is 25 and has been around forever but has come in and added some hunger. He was drafted in 2014 and has played just 57 games. He’s a competitor, but he’s lived life on football’s fringe.

Each of them has helped add something to St Kilda, post-bye. Luke Dunstan’s return to the side is the most obvious point of difference in the resurgence. For a side wanting to re-introduce grit in their game, Dunstan came in with a brief to be unsociable.

Playing for his career, Dunstan has been good, but in terms of impact, Zak Jones’ return has been more influential. He has helped ease the run and carry burden on Bradley Hill the way Dunstan has shouldered the inside ball winning burden that falls to Jack Steele.

St Kilda might be working harder, they might have had heart-to-heart sessions in the bye, but it also comes down to personnel. They are better with Rowan Marshall, Jones, Tim Membrey, and Seb Ross back in the team, and they’re now complemented by McKenzie, Highmore, Dunstan and Leo Connolly, giving them a depth of players in form.

Numbers Don’t Lie

With Rowan Marshall and Paddy Ryder in the side, St Kilda have five wins from six games. Without both of them it’s three wins from ten games. The numbers don’t lie."

Thanks Saynta . Well done to Michael Gleeson for showing some interest in , and giving some acknowledgment to, some of our unsung performers