Farren Ray...you're a saint champ!!!

[Ghost Like]

Love the work & promise of Webster, Dunstan, Curren, Templeton, Billings etc but...

Farren Ray has been a consistently very good player for St Kilda from his arrival. It is now time for those that consistently bag him, making him your favourite whipping boy, question his worth, courage and importance, to pull your collective heads in!!!

If you still want to doubt the worth of a player who in my opinion has been in our top dozen since his arrival, grab the tapes of this season, especially tonight. He does not shirk an issue and makes the right decision, whether in contest or disposal, more often than not.

Well played Farren, always proud to call you a Saint!

[BigMart]

Not sure who bags Faz?

His occasional sloppy disposal aside, he's a real solid player

In the first qtr he was nearly our best?

[Con Gorozidis]

Having a very good year.
Seems to have also improved with his kicking decisions this year.
Heading for a top 5 B & F finish.
Good on him.

[gringo]

He one of those guys who's never going to be a superstar but he's ironed out his quiet ones to become a very reliable player. He's often overlooked because he's played with so many very good players but he's getting to show a bit more of his own skill these days.

[joffaboy]

Not sure who bags Faz?

His occasional sloppy disposal aside, he's a real solid player

In the first qtr he was nearly our best?

Many wanted him either traded or delisted in the off season.

Always thought him a solid player but has played really well this season.

Very smooth runner, and disposal not bad

[desertsaint]

Last coach didn't appreciate him at all. Kept yo-yoing him even when he put in a ripper.
Last coach was a bit of a numbskull though.

[Vazelos]

Farren Ray is a very solid & good Stkilda person & player. Very happy for him he is doing well again this year under Richardson.

[saintbob]

Farren Ray is a very solid & good Stkilda person & player. Very happy for him he is doing well again this year under Richardson.

+1

[skeptic]

if he stayed on the list he needed to do more then be a fringe 22nd player

he's done it in spades so far

very good start to the season

[Winmar7Fan]

I agree even though his kicking can let him down he is very good overhead and always tries hard. I have always liked him and yes unfairly cops flack.

[Dave McNamara]

Not sure who bags Faz?

His occasional sloppy disposal aside, he's a real solid player

1/ Plenty of people on this site Mart.

2/ Sadly, more than just occasional sloppy disposal. The irony is that Faz looks so classy with all that he does. That includes his kicking style. The ball comes off the boot beautifully... till one sees where the kick goes.

That said, I've noticed he has been finding targets this year. What I've also noticed is that instead of floating his kicks a bit so they hang for too, he's really been spearing a lot of his passes. Although I'd have thought that's actually a harder kick to execute, it really seems to have, uhmmm, turned his turnovers around.

Anyone else noticed this...?

[LTN16]

Farren Ray is a very solid & good Stkilda person & player. Very happy for him he is doing well again this year under Richardson.

+1

+2

[Con Gorozidis]

Not sure who bags Faz?

His occasional sloppy disposal aside, he's a real solid player

1/ Plenty of people on this site Mart.

2/ Sadly, more than just occasional sloppy disposal. The irony is that Faz looks so classy with all that he does. That includes his kicking style. The ball comes off the boot beautifully... till one sees where the kick goes.

That said, I've noticed he has been finding targets this year. What I've also noticed is that instead of floating his kicks a bit so they hang for too, he's really been spearing a lot of his passes. Although I'd have thought that's actually a harder kick to execute, it really seems to have, uhmmm, turned his turnovers around.

Anyone else noticed this...?

Definitely Dave. Totally agree.
I have had a yo-yoing opinion on Faz. I loved him for a few years but then I grew frustrated with his turnovers and gave up on him - now I'm back in love.

Has definitely improved that aspect of his game where he used to receive the ball after someone else's hard work, run 15m in the clear with zero pressure, ignore 2 or 3 good leads and kick it 40 m over our leading players heads straight to 3 opposition players. Used to drive me insane. Not just because it was a turnover - but if often happened when were in the clear and therefore had all our players running fwd - this mean it ws often a costly turnover as the other side would often get a sling shot goal on the rebound.

But he hasn't been doing that this year. Seems to be making an effort to honour leads or at least kick to a 50:50. Vast improvement.

[bigcarl]

Agree with the OP. Have always rated him highly and nothing has changed

[Hurricane]

Always been underrated and unfairly bagged by some.

Never going to set the world on fire and have people swinging off his nuts like Ablett or Buddy but he's usually solid at least

BANG BANG

[PADDLEPOP1001]

Always have loved The Faz sometimes his kicking is not great because of the places he puts his body. , he always has no fear and a lot of times when he gets the ball he is under pressure,I think someone on the coaching teAm has been helping him with this hence the improvement , love his work rate and attitude !

[Stephen Theodore]

Farren Ray is a very solid & good Stkilda person & player. Very happy for him he is doing well again this year under Richardson.

+1

+2

[The Fireman]

Just love SS...one minute any of our players are to be sacked or at least burnt at the stake , the next they are elevated to legend status...Fickle I hear ??

[Stephen Theodore]

Farren Ray is a very solid & good Stkilda person & player. Very happy for him he is doing well again this year under Richardson.

+1

+2

+ 3

[damienc]

Just glad he didn't end up at the Ds.

[samoht]

He has excellent evasive skills and the ability to keep the ball in play and to create space even when cornered near the boundary line by a couple of opponents.
Most players would be forced over the line - not Ray, though.
So some of his kicking is in extreme situations - maybe it's unfair to criticise his kicks on those occasions, at least!
At least he's kicking the ball 40 metres our way - rather than running it over the line.

[Junction Oval]

Damienc said :

Just glad he didn't end up at the Ds.

Good point. The rumour mill is that he was up for trade. He has been a solid performer for us since coming across from the Dogs - for nothing.

As others have noted, his kicking has often let him down, after a lot of good work. It has improved this year and I like his run and 100% commitment to each contest.

[Con Gorozidis]

Just love SS...one minute any of our players are to be sacked or at least burnt at the stake , the next they are elevated to legend status...Fickle I hear ??

Thes the fans prerogative

But honestly i don't think its all about us being ficle but he has changed too.
Not zoo much improved but for me he has reduced the poor part of his game.
I don't mind bad kicking under pressure - but his repeated bad kicking under no pressure streaming through the middle of the ground was unforgivable at times.
But he has stopped doing it - maybe the new coaching staff have had a +ve influence on this?

[defacto]

well said by the OP

farren would be in our top 5 in the B&F right now. heart of a lion. great to watch. great example to the kids

[The Fireman]

Just love SS...one minute any of our players are to be sacked or at least burnt at the stake , the next they are elevated to legend status...Fickle I hear ??

Thes the fans prerogative

But honestly i don't think its all about us being ficle but he has changed too.
Not zoo much improved but for me he has reduced the poor part of his game.
I don't mind bad kicking under pressure - but his repeated bad kicking under no pressure streaming through the middle of the ground was unforgivable at times.
But he has stopped doing it - maybe the new coaching staff have had a +ve influence on this?

It's Fickle...we need to have a bit more faith in our charges.

You only need to listen to Collingwood supporters turn on their own , it is something we should take notice of.