Gwilt

[maverick]

Have to agree with the OP.
Wouldn't expect him to be in the side by the end of the year, unless there are significant injuries.
Should be back up only by then.
His experience is valuable, but given the stage of our development, we need games into Webster, Wright, Bruce and Delaney. I think its either Dempster or Gwilt for mine, I prefer Dempster.

[PJ]

I'll repeat

The fact we have a 6'2" Full Back who is slow off the mark.... Means we are thin down back.

Gwilt is that person!

We would be seriously hoping Bruce becomes a player I would dare say.

Question
If Fisher is fit to play.
Who goes out of the back 6
Delaney
Wright
Dempster
Geary
Gwilt
Webster

That's without
Gilbert, Roberton, Simpkin, Bruce?

Is Geary even playing back ATM?
Gilbert is injured
Roberton is out of form and probably injured
Fisher will need to prove his fitness - probably at Sandy - hasn't played in donkeys, has serious???
Simpkin isn't best 22 ATM (backup)
Bruce may come in for some game time but not in place of Gwilt

Gwilt is best 22 IMO

Gwilt Delaney Dempster
Wright Bruce/Gilbert Webster

[BigMart]

No Fisher?

A dual B&F and AA?

Fisher is in our best 5 let alone best 22.... And is the best defender we have.

[PJ]

& hasn't played in about a year.

I hope he does get back his form and fitness, he's been one of our best for a long time and one of my favourite players but I'll wait til I see it.

[gringo]

No Fisher?

A dual B&F and AA?

Fisher is in our best 5 let alone best 22.... And is the best defender we have.

i actually agree with you on something. Fisher is elite. I would try to get him back and play him forward - he came to us as a forward and is one of the few Saints who can take a contested mark. Would ease Roos pain of getting double teamed and let Lee loose deeper.

[Bernard Shakey]

Can't see what Ray and Jones are doing wrong!

Butchering the ball!

[Bernard Shakey]

Jimmy will keep playing until someone can do better than him. This has been going on for at least five years!

[BigMart]

Gardiner played 13 games in 3 seasons prior to 2009.

Don't write Fisher off just yet.

Richo won't play him fwd... Unless it's for Maister... Stanley and Riewoldt will be constants IMO

3 small fwds will be also constant

2 tall posts
2nd Ruck/Fwd
1 crumbling fwd
2 High small fwds pushing to mids... Fit and good defensively

[maverick]

Gardiner played 13 games in 3 seasons prior to 2009.

Don't write Fisher off just yet.

Richo won't play him fwd... Unless it's for Maister... Stanley and Riewoldt will be constants IMO

3 small fwds will be also constant

2 tall posts
2nd Ruck/Fwd
1 crumbling fwd
2 High small fwds pushing to mids... Fit and good defensively

Fisher has to be older than Gardy in 2009 isn't he?
Obviously Maister is the "crumbling" forward….maybe TDL could also play that role?

[BigMart]

Maister is a post.

Fisher is older... But before last year was very reliable for about 8 years.... In comparison to Gardiner who played 130 games in 10 years

[skeptic]

Realistically I think anyone who is fair dinkum would acknowledge that Gwilt is finished.

He is playing out what should be his final contract.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting he should be forced to retire now, be dropped atm (as he apparently played ok on the w/e) or if gets dropped not return

But there are certain realities with Gwilt

a) he plays as a tall defender. whilst he's far from hopeless, he is not good enough at it. he gets outbodied by bigger forwards and opposition know and often try to score through his direct opponent

b) as a damaging quarter back his disposal is eye of the needle stuff. however he doesn't get enough of the ball and isn't damaging enough. he's not like an Aussie Jones that was poor as a defender but made up for it by slicing the opposition up. he's also really slow

c) his decision making under pressure is poor, he is prone to put team mates under the pump. IMO this is often covered by the fact that he one of the few players that can slam the ball onto his boot and kick it 50m to the boundary

d) there are younger players that could improve past him

Last season

[BigMart]

Agree entirely

[White Winmar]

Realistically I think anyone who is fair dinkum would acknowledge that Gwilt is finished.

He is playing out what should be his final contract.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting he should be forced to retire now, be dropped atm (as he apparently played ok on the w/e) or if gets dropped not return

But there are certain realities with Gwilt

a) he plays as a tall defender. whilst he's far from hopeless, he is not good enough at it. he gets outbodied by bigger forwards and opposition know and often try to score through his direct opponent

b) as a damaging quarter back his disposal is eye of the needle stuff. however he doesn't get enough of the ball and isn't damaging enough. he's not like an Aussie Jones that was poor as a defender but made up for it by slicing the opposition up. he's also really slow

c) his decision making under pressure is poor, he is prone to put team mates under the pump. IMO this is often covered by the fact that he one of the few players that can slam the ball onto his boot and kick it 50m to the boundary

d) there are younger players that could improve past him

Last season

But apart from all that, he's doing well.

[BigMart]

Funny thing is...

If he was either 3 inches taller to 10kg lighter.... He'd be a VG AFL footballer

As it stands he is playing a role because we have no one better... Hence our list deficiency

[magnifisaint]

Realistically I think anyone who is fair dinkum would acknowledge that Gwilt is finished.

He is playing out what should be his final contract.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting he should be forced to retire now, be dropped atm (as he apparently played ok on the w/e) or if gets dropped not return

But there are certain realities with Gwilt

a) he plays as a tall defender. whilst he's far from hopeless, he is not good enough at it. he gets outbodied by bigger forwards and opposition know and often try to score through his direct opponent

b) as a damaging quarter back his disposal is eye of the needle stuff. however he doesn't get enough of the ball and isn't damaging enough. he's not like an Aussie Jones that was poor as a defender but made up for it by slicing the opposition up. he's also really slow

c) his decision making under pressure is poor, he is prone to put team mates under the pump. IMO this is often covered by the fact that he one of the few players that can slam the ball onto his boot and kick it 50m to the boundary

d) there are younger players that could improve past him

Last season

agree 100%

[saintsRrising]

Robo is out of form...this should change

Sam is injured....this will alter

Gilbo will be back

Bruce is still learning...but will play CHB/FB eventually.

Simpkin is chaffing at the bit....but like Gwilt is not quite big enough....or nimble enough for smalls....but Gwilt is a better user of the ball

We have competition, and younger players emerging too. Not all can fit in. This is all good. Not least because injuries will always occur.

[gringo]

I think he has been very good this year so has Dempster. They were fantastic when it counted and really stopped GWS getting a run on. Delaney has freed Gwilt up who was played as our FB last year even standing shoulder to hip with Sandilands when he went forward and drew Petrie who could still see eye to eye with him when he is sitting in a chair.
Gwilt was struggling last year but has done well enough to suggest he will be in the team for a while still.

[BigMart]

Didn't Gwilt play on Giles against GWS?

[gringo]

Didn't Gwilt play on Giles against GWS?

I'm not sure but his intercept marking in that final quarter with Dempster was what saved the game for us. If he was on Giles it was obviously a mismatch that he was forced to play again. I don't think Josh Gibson would be able to do that role either and he's not about to get sent of to Box Hill. he has been good this year from what I have seen. I haven't got his direct match ups but he is back to moving well and seems better suited to the second or third tall role than being our main KPB. i think he looked out of his depth last year but he's been very solid in 2014.

[Con Gorozidis]

I love Gwilt and hes a terrific footy player, bloke and story.
I think comparing Gibson to Gwilt is bloody accurate - they both play above their height week in week out and both really are terrific team players.
I cant help thinking GIbson is much more agile and athletic with both is defence and attack.
Clearly the coaches rate Gwilty cos he is in the side week in week out.
Hes in a tough situation thats for sure.