Ledger?

[Teflon]

This kids well ahead of Cripps... I don't get it

[plugger66]

This kids well ahead of Cripps... I don't get it

And he will probably play ahead of him on friday night but there could be more to this than we know. Maybe he isnt training well or his attitude is poor. I do know he doesnt lack confidence. Maybe this is just to get his head where it should be. Who would know but i think we know one thing, most coaches are trying to win and as such usually play a side they think will win.

[Con Gorozidis]

Must be more than meets the eye.
Maybe hes a little crook and/or having some other issues they dont want public. Might be something like lateness or something they want in-house.
On the other hand - I am not surprised Polo got a game. Coach loves him. But Surprised Newnes is ahead of Ledge. But I think Scotty knows what hes doing.

[plugger66]

Must be more than meets the eye.
Maybe hes a little crook and/or having some other issues they dont want public. Might be something like lateness or something they want in-house.
On the other hand - I am not surprised Polo got a game. Coach loves him. But Surprised Newnes is ahead of Ledge. But I think Scotty knows what hes doing.

I still want to know how you know the coach loves Polo. I have never heard him say it.

[dascman]

I don't really rate Polo either, but the stats will show most weeks that he is up among our leaders in contested ball, tackling, 1%ers etc... and these are indicators that all coaches love virtually above all else these days.

[Con Gorozidis]

Must be more than meets the eye.
Maybe hes a little crook and/or having some other issues they dont want public. Might be something like lateness or something they want in-house.
On the other hand - I am not surprised Polo got a game. Coach loves him. But Surprised Newnes is ahead of Ledge. But I think Scotty knows what hes doing.

I still want to know how you know the coach loves Polo. I have never heard him say it.

dont make me go and research it! i really cant be bothered. its monday and im having a shocker. he has said it twice at least. one was after maybe a sandy match and once after the power game when he got suspended. do you keep a database of every coach utterance?

[SainterK]

If in doubt, ask him.

...so I did, said the team is playing too well, not injured or anything. Hoping this week.

[Dr Spaceman]

If in doubt, ask him.

...so I did, said the team is playing too well, not injured or anything. Hoping this week.

Radical approach!

Well done K

[Gos]

Good win by Saints and Polo did ok. But here we have a player who was one of the best pre season, goes in for the ball in contested situations and has pace. I don't get why he isn't getting a run particularly against the three teams we've played with younger players in their ranks. Saints have won both games, very close in first match but seems Conservative selection policy. A long season though so sure chance will come.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

If in doubt, ask him.

I like where your head's at.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

stkildathunda had this to say about this on BF: "They probably thought it was better to get a full game into him in reserves rather then half game in AFL as was probably most likely going to be sub again. In first week he had minor hamstring injury which is why he missed, then last week he was sub and only played 1 qtr... "
He's usually well informed with these sort of things I think, so if what he said is true then it would explain why he's missed.

[gringo]

Polo is a solid body fill in anywhere utility that can be sent to patch up a leaky defence, defend forward, contest the midfield, Ledge is a developing mid with a light frame. conservatism wins more often than not. Newnes had 15 or so possies from a back pocket so is hard to oust.

[Teflon]

I still want to see Ledger across 4 qtrs.....reckon he'll fade less than Cripps/Newnes.

[BigMart]

In 5 minutes I have seen more in ledger than in Winmar and Cripps...... He took to it like a duck to water... Very happy if we took him as a first rounder in 2010 because in time when that draft is redone he will sit in the top 20 players, like Joey from 2001. Unfortunately Darling will be in the top 5

Bewildered about his omission..... Must have had a 12 hour, because he played the next day???

Or the club is making a poor call, but that's never happened in the past..... Has it, must be another explanation....let's not assume occams razor should be applied here

[bergholt]

Very happy if we took him as a first rounder in 2010 because in time when that draft is redone he will sit in the top 20 players, like Joey from 2001.

interesting call at this point.

definitely ahead of him now are swallow, gaff, heppell, atley, isaac smith, darling, luke parker, liberatore, fasolo, alex johnson, puopolo, duigan, probably also ben jacobs, harper, conca and o'shea.

he's currently in a big group with day, tape, prestia, lynch, bennell, polec, caddy, brodie smith, guthrie, harper, batchelor, wallis, cripps, smedts, gorringe.

i reckon there might be some solid competition for "top 20" of that draft. i really hope ledger ends up comfortably in that group but surely it's way too early to tell for sure.

[BigMart]

No... To me, he shows a real ability to cope with AFL pressure, and acually thrives on it....

5 of those came into the AFL with a few years of state league seniors, and have less scope.... Tommy was playing WAFL colts... He has already taken great strides.......

He will overtake some bigger names and I think a few you mentioned actually disappointing

[Con Gorozidis]

he was pick 59
3rd round
what are u guys on about
get off the crack

[gosaints]

This is a Tommy Ledger quote from an article on saints.com.au leading into round 1.
I'd guess this is the reason he isn't cracking a game at the moment.

"I've just tried to build an endurance base because naturally I don't have that going across the ground. I can play in bursts but to be a top-line AFL midfielder you've got to run 14-15 kms a game. To get to that level I've got a long way to go."

[SaintPav]

Must be more than meets the eye.
Maybe hes a little crook and/or having some other issues they dont want public. Might be something like lateness or something they want in-house.
On the other hand - I am not surprised Polo got a game. Coach loves him. But Surprised Newnes is ahead of Ledge. But I think Scotty knows what hes doing.

Newnes and ledger play very different roles.

[stinger]

Perhaps that spot will be rotated around a bit. Maybe Newnes or Cripps will topple out, Ledger will roll in.

I am all for rotating the youngens in and out of they get tired or form warrants a demotion. That being said it will annoy me if Polo or Blake keep their spots regularly ahead of say Ledger and Simpkin as we have enough mature quality players to bloody a few more at a time.

Blake? Why would you be annoyed about Blake? He is a godsend down there I reckon. Has been great these last few weeks.

+1

[MCG-Unit]

he was pick 59
3rd round
what are u guys on about
get off the crack

Shivers - I think BM was saying that had they taken Ledger 1st Rnd at 24 (instead of Cripps) - BM would have been happy. In other words Ledger is probably ahead of Cripps, at this stage anyway - and wouldn't be out of place among some of those good 1st Rnd picks in 2010.....

[Darth Vader]

This kids well ahead of Cripps... I don't get it

And he will probably play ahead of him on friday night but there could be more to this than we know. Maybe he isnt training well or his attitude is poor. I do know he doesnt lack confidence. Maybe this is just to get his head where it should be. Who would know but i think we know one thing, most coaches are trying to win and as such usually play a side they think will win.

Plugger's on the money.

Cracked them about being made sub in Round 2, didn't train properly in the week following, so was dropped for Round 3. Is probably a bit too aware that he's the best of the kids coming through. I like the club's speedy response to this - hopefully will be the rocket he needs.

[dragit]

I think he is showing good signs and will become a good player, but right now he is ahead of no-one… He isn't in the side and is yet to play a full game as far as I can remember.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

Cracked them about being made sub in Round 2, didn't train properly in the week following, so was dropped for Round 3. Is probably a bit too aware that he's the best of the kids coming through. I like the club's speedy response to this - hopefully will be the rocket he needs.

Are you saying this is what happened, or what you think might have happened?

[Darth Vader]

Cracked them about being made sub in Round 2, didn't train properly in the week following, so was dropped for Round 3. Is probably a bit too aware that he's the best of the kids coming through. I like the club's speedy response to this - hopefully will be the rocket he needs.

Are you saying this is what happened, or what you think might have happened?

No, this is definitely what happened.

But I wouldn't worry too much about him. It's very common - young player does well at lower level, gets a bit ahead of himself, gets slapped back down. Happens all the time, and I'm sure he'll be better for it.