Pick your 22 for Round 1 vs Melbourne

[mad saint guy]

Pre season is almost finished, just a few low-key practice matches to go and then we're into the H&A season. Going by training reports, intra club and NAB challenge form, this is how I'd like St Kilda to line up against Melbourne. Unavailable are Steven, Gilbert and Montagna (hoping that Richo is a better source on Lenny than Fox).

B: Simpkin, Delaney, Dempster
HB: Webster, Fisher, Roberton
C: Wright, Hayes, Geary
HF: Savage, Riewoldt, Curren
F: Schneider, Lee, Longer

Foll: Hickey, Armitage, Dunstan
Int: Newnes, Ray, Ross
Sub: Saunders

Emg: Stanley, Bruce, Minchington

It was seriously difficult coming up with 22 players who deserved a spot. And without Joey and Steven, we will have the most impotent, unfit, plodding midfield the AFL has seen in many years...hopefully Webster, Wright, Dunstan, Curren, Lee and the rucks can give us something to be positive about. Given our lack of pace and flair (and marketability), it wouldn't surprise me if Templeton gets an upgrade and makes an early appearance. Improvement from Stanley, Siposs or Markworth would be a godsend as well. I haven't named Jones, Maister or Gwilt as they are all 27+ and below GOP standard. Ray just gets in due to our lack of players who can run out a game.

[saintsRrising]

And without Joey and Steven, we will have the most impotent, unfit, plodding midfield the AFL has seen in many years...

Yes,truly horrific.

This would ave to be the most pessimistic I have gone into a season in decades.

My strategy is going to be to just focus on watching the development of several of the youngsters.

[Con Gorozidis]

Simpkin Delaney Dempster
Webster Bruce Roberton
Wright Dunstan Geary
Savage Roo Schneider
Curren Maister Lee

Hickey Armo Saunders

Hayes Newnes ? sub Longer

[bergholt]

Pretty tough one, you're right. This is based on what we've seen so far and some assumptions about injuries.

Unavailable: Delaney (shoulder), Gilbert (foot), Milera (foot), Montagna (susp), Pierce (back), Steven (foot), White (hamstring)

FB: Dempster, Bruce, Roberton
HB: Geary, Fisher, Wright
C: Webster, Armitage, Newnes
HF: Schneider, Riewoldt, Savage
FF: Longer, Lee, Saunders
R: Hickey, Hayes, Dunstan
IC: Curren, Jones, Ray, Ross
Others: Billings, Dennis-Lane, Dunell, Gwilt, Maister, Simpkin, Siposs, Stanley, Templeton, Weller

Hopefully Fisher is fit enough to play, otherwise Simpkin comes in and the backline looks even less experienced. A lot of the other spots are a raffle: Geary, Wright, Webster, Newnes, Savage, Schneider, Saunders, Dunstan, Ross, Curren - most of them will play but it's not clear if they're half-back, midfield, half-foward, whatever. And obviously Jones and Ray have to get a run given our threadbare midfield.

[Con Gorozidis]

Simpkin Delaney Dempster
Webster Bruce Roberton
Wright Dunstan Geary
Savage Roo Schneider
Curren Maister Lee

Hickey Armo Saunders

Hayes Newnes Jones sub Longer

I am assuming Fisher is underdone and I am not prepared to push a young player to squeeze Ray in the 22.

[spot on]

Bruce Delaney dempster
Webster gwilt fisher
Wright Ross savage
Hayes reiwoldt curren
Snider lee Stanley
Hickey armo Dunstan
Saunders newnes ray roberton

Wilkes longer jones

It's a pretty ordinary looking side to be honest
Does anyone know why sippos , Stanley , markworth , templeton or acres haven't been playing?

[BringBackMadDog]

Bruce Delaney dempster
Webster gwilt fisher
Wright Ross savage
Hayes reiwoldt curren
Snider lee Stanley
Hickey armo Dunstan
Saunders newnes ray roberton

Wilkes longer jones

It's a pretty ordinary looking side to be honest
Does anyone know why sippos , Stanley , markworth , templeton or acres haven't been playing?

All of the above played for Sandy on Friday night. Markworth was very good and surely must play in the last praccy game against port next week. Sipposs was also good and seemed to be running harder and longer than last year. Both these guys would improve our forward half.
Stanley was ok but still doesn't work hard enough. Acres has a ways to go.
Minchinton was our best player

[spot on]

Thanks mate, would of thought sippos and Stanley would play in the ones. Really hope markworth can be a regular , his the forgotten man atm. Also this newnes is fairly overrated right now. His disposal is just so rushed and turned so many over going inside 50. Has a go thou And can find
The ball pretty well

[White Winmar]

Pretty tough one, you're right. This is based on what we've seen so far and some assumptions about injuries.

Unavailable: Delaney (shoulder), Gilbert (foot), Milera (foot), Montagna (susp), Pierce (back), Steven (foot), White (hamstring)

FB: Dempster, Bruce, Roberton
HB: Geary, Fisher, Wright
C: Webster, Armitage, Newnes
HF: Schneider, Riewoldt, Savage
FF: Longer, Lee, Saunders
R: Hickey, Hayes, Dunstan
IC: Curren, Jones, Ray, Ross
Others: Billings, Dennis-Lane, Dunell, Gwilt, Maister, Simpkin, Siposs, Stanley, Templeton, Weller

Hopefully Fisher is fit enough to play, otherwise Simpkin comes in and the backline looks even less experienced. A lot of the other spots are a raffle: Geary, Wright, Webster, Newnes, Savage, Schneider, Saunders, Dunstan, Ross, Curren - most of them will play but it's not clear if they're half-back, midfield, half-foward, whatever. And obviously Jones and Ray have to get a run given our threadbare midfield.

Nailed it, Bergholt. Weller may yet sneak in as a much needed big bodied mid, but that's about all. Although I agree with your selections, this still looks a fairly ordinary side on paper. Roll on 2018.

[Con Gorozidis]

Looks almost certain that Minch Siposs and Markworth will get a run for the Saints this week v Port.

[desertsaint]

Like a bit of experience running around the ground so Jones plays, as does Ray.

[bergholt]

Nailed it, Bergholt. Weller may yet sneak in as a much needed big bodied mid, but that's about all. Although I agree with your selections, this still looks a fairly ordinary side on paper. Roll on 2018.

Correct.

On the plus side, this team is younger and more inexperienced than any side we sent out last year. There's a debutant, three others who've played less than 10 games, and half the side has played less than 50. A side like this is right for the future, it just might get ugly in the present.

[saintspremiers]

I'd love to see Eli promoted and play the first 2 games purely from a marketing POV.

[PJ]

Does that mean he'll be Eli-vated.

For the first time in years there are so many possibilities and maybes depending on fitness.

What I'd like to see with what I think are available players

Gwilt Delaney Dempster
Roberton Bruce Webster
Wright Lenny Geary
Schneids Roo Templeton (if elivated)
Longer Lee Curran

Hickey Armitage Dunstan
Ray, Jones, Newnes, Savage

[mightysainters]

FB: Dempster, Bruce, Roberton
HB: Geary, Fisher, Wright
C: Webster, Armitage, Newnes
HF: Schneider, Riewoldt, Savage
FF: Longer, Lee, Templeton
R: Hickey, Hayes, Dunstan
IC: Curren, Jones, Ray, Gwilt
Others: Billings Dunell, Ross, Maister, Simpkin, Saunders, Siposs, Stanley, Templeton, Weller

[matrix]

B: dragit.plugger.dave mc
HB: matrix.hardsaint.con
MIDS: joffa.bigred.b4e.truebeliever.sen.saintspremiers
HF: ww.stinger.bm
F: solar.kozi.desertsaint

bench:
no one
they should all be able to run out the game without a damn foot injury

[dragit]

I'm going to go off the "official" injury list which may or may not be correct but we still have 3 weeks for anyone with a niggle to come good. If Delaney came back on the ground in a practice match he can't be too badly injured.

FB Roberton Delaney Wright
HB Fisher Dempster Webster
C Geary Armitage Newnes
HF Maister Lee Curren
FF Schneider Riewoldt Ross

Foll Longer Hayes Savage

Int Dunstan, Weller, Ray, Sub: Saunders

I'm tipping Jones will play ahead of Weller & Templeton, but not if I was picking the side.

[dragit]

B: dragit.plugger.dave mc
HB: matrix.hardsaint.con
MIDS: joffa.bigred.b4e.truebeliever.sen.saintspremiers
HF: ww.stinger.bm
F: solar.kozi.desertsaint

bench:
no one
they should all be able to run out the game without a damn foot injury

It's a good side and although I just happy to be getting a run…
I am probably more a TDL type than a Stevie Baker. FP or bust.
Plugger has to play at Full Forward - sorry Koz…
Also Con has done so many weights in the country over the summer that he can't run… probably good as a high impact supersub.

[PADDLEPOP1001]

Billings has to be sub doesn't he,no value playing a no 3 draft choice down Sandy and yes I know he hasn"t earned it!

[dragit]

Billings has to be sub doesn't he,no value playing a no 3 draft choice down Sandy and yes I know he hasn"t earned it!

The pace and size of the players at AFL level can just be too much for slightly built kids…
The last thing we need is a knee or OP. No rush IMO, he can build confidence at Sandy, play a few games throughout the year if his form is solid.

[stinger]

i would have thought an upgrade for young mitchington would be on the cards.....her's better than most of our mids.....

[Mitch35]

If we are okay injury wise...

B: Roberton, Delaney, Bruce
HB: Dempster, Fisher, Geary
C: Savage, Hayes, Newnes
HF: Ross, Riewoldt, Curren
F: Stanley, Lee, Schneider
R: Hickey, Armitage, Jones
I: Ray, Wright, Webster, Dunstan


If we took out injury/underdone concerns...

Out: Hayes, Delaney, Roberton, Fisher, Lee
In: Weller, Simpkin, Gwilt, Saunders, Maister

B: Wright Bruce Simpkin
HB: Dempster Gwilt Webster
C: Savage Armitage Newnes
HF: Ross Riewoldt Curren
F: Stanley Maister Schneider
R: Hickey Jones Geary
I: Ray Weller Saunders Dunstan

E: Billings, Longer, TDL/Murdoch/Dunell

[Con Gorozidis]

B: dragit.plugger.dave mc
HB: matrix.hardsaint.con
MIDS: joffa.bigred.b4e.truebeliever.sen.saintspremiers
HF: ww.stinger.bm
F: solar.kozi.desertsaint

bench:
no one
they should all be able to run out the game without a damn foot injury

It's a good side and although I just happy to be getting a run…
I am probably more a TDL type than a Stevie Baker. FP or bust.
Plugger has to play at Full Forward - sorry Koz…
Also Con has done so many weights in the country over the summer that he can't run… probably good as a high impact supersub.

Im happy to get a run in whatever position im asked to play - but i think i could make an impact coming in as as sub.
plugger fullback is a master stroke as absolutely nothing will get passed him and he will defend absolutely everything.
he will also make them earn every kick. and then give the traditional whack by the ear even when they do mark it.

[PADDLEPOP1001]

Billings has to be sub doesn't he,no value playing a no 3 draft choice down Sandy and yes I know he hasn"t earned it!

The pace and size of the players at AFL level can just be too much for slightly built kids…
The last thing we need is a knee or OP. No rush IMO, he can build confidence at Sandy, play a few games throughout the year if his form is solid.

Fair enough!

[White Winmar]

With injuries, suspensions and what not, here goes;

B: Wright Simpkin Bruce
HB: Webster Stanley Newnes
C: Billings Ross Savage
HF: Siposs White TDL
F: Saunders Lee Longer
R: Hickey Curren Templeton
I/c. Holmes Dunell Shenton Minchington

All of the rookies have been upgraded because we'll have at least half a dozen on the LTI.