Jack Billings

[samoht]

Billings plays largely as a forward/flanker, so along with the limited opportunities afforded, compared to a permanent midfield position, he also has a dedicated defender he needs to constantly contend with right now (whereas young midfielders may be largely left untagged).
So if he does move permanently into the midfield, one day - we already know he'll cope with a tagger.

[dragit]

Roo the only one kicking over 1 goal a game with 37.

That is because we've gone to him 126 times this season with Stanley the next most frequent at 39

That's an interesting stat BC - where do you find that one?

Aside from all the variables, it shows that Rhys has converted goals at a similar ratio to Nick versus the amount of times we have kicked it to him.

[White Winmar]

In my opinion this thread is a disgrace

First year, no preseason, missed most of 2013, and is playing in worst team as a forward!

He is a gun and will make people look very silly, but what would you expect from the morons on this page.

This site is now full of wanker sooks who can F*** off as far as I am concerned.

Billings in a top 4 team would easily be the best prospect from the draft.

Think a few people need to log off for a few years, this site is depressingly sad.

I'm glad someone said it!! This KID had a seriously interrupted preseason after playing bugger all footy in 2013. He is now being asked to play as a small forward in the worst team in the league.
Despite all that he has been in our best handful of players, a shining light in a pretty dark period.

Surely most have watched enough footy to understand that his limited preseason and fitness levels have hampered his kicking skills.

He will be a star. What he is doing at the moment is remarkable.

I have to agree with this. It's amazing how well he's doing in a terrible team, ATM. My only concern is that we need to give him a contract extension now! Plenty of teams will be in his ear about a change of club. The kid will be a star.

[savatage]

It's embarrassing that some of you "support" the same club that I do.

[samoht]

It's embarrassing that some of you "support" the same club that I do.

Indeed, savatage.
Some purport to support.

[CURLY]

Joke thread but I will reply. This kid is a star and will be elite in a year or two. Takes contested marks, kicks goals and has elite footskills.

[MrCordz]

you all are f****** losers that demand instant satisfaction from a 19 year old.

sheesh

Time for your valium, son.

[ShanghaiSaint]

We needed an elite midfielder he will never be that!

We needed outside & break away speed he wont provide that.

He will be a good forward however, similiar to Nathan Brown but not the midfielder the Saints hoped he would be....

how do you know that do you have a crystal ball that see's 6 years into this kids future? based off his fraaking hand full of games you know him inside out as a player Nostradamus?

leave this kid the fraak alone.... he's one of the few bright lights this year.

[ShanghaiSaint]

you all are f****** losers that demand instant satisfaction from a 19 year old.

sheesh

Time for your valium, son.

no his post is spot on... people having a crack need the fraaking Valium.

[The OtherThommo]

Nice fightback by sensible people in the latter part of this thread.

The mention of his struggles in 2013 is salient. The kid hardly trained last year (bursitis in his knee, from memory) but still maintained a high level of performance. The draft's now later in the year, which means they start traing later with the club that picks them. Then he blew out a muscle (Colorado, I think), which cost him about 6 weeks in Jan and into Feb, and a slow rebuild after that.

As for being "slow" - go back to an interview Richardson did on the Game Day early, and listen to Matthews and Richardson discuss Jack's speed (the deceptively long stride).

And, as for potting his kicking, that's flat out crap. He's obviously struggling a bit physically as the year goes on - not unexpected given his age (not 19 yet) and underwhelming preparation in '13 and the preseason.

As someone pointed out, our biggest concern should be whether the side's development can encourage him to extend beyond the initial 2 years. We cannot afford to be merely a development academy for the better performing clubs.

Still reckon he'll be recognised in coming years as the best from the '13 draft. Bontempelli is going fine, but he's unusual physical package for a kid. Billings is pure footballer - smart (innate 'feel' for the game and its patterns), 2 sided, lovely hands, he has power (gives him speed and a leap), with a body that will develop to support his talents. There's bits of Bartel and Johnson is the way Jack goes about it.

[SaintPav]

In my opinion this thread is a disgrace

First year, no preseason, missed most of 2013, and is playing in worst team as a forward!

He is a gun and will make people look very silly, but what would you expect from the morons on this page.

This site is now full of wanker sooks who can F*** off as far as I am concerned.

Billings in a top 4 team would easily be the best prospect from the draft.

Think a few people need to log off for a few years, this site is depressingly sad.

I'm glad someone said it!! This KID had a seriously interrupted preseason after playing bugger all footy in 2013. He is now being asked to play as a small forward in the worst team in the league.
Despite all that he has been in our best handful of players, a shining light in a pretty dark period.

Surely most have watched enough footy to understand that his limited preseason and fitness levels have hampered his kicking skills.

He will be a star. What he is doing at the moment is remarkable.

I have to agree with this. It's amazing how well he's doing in a terrible team, ATM. My only concern is that we need to give him a contract extension now! Plenty of teams will be in his ear about a change of club. The kid will be a star.

That's the risk and not how good he'll be. He will be good. He is good.

[Old Mate]

Nice fightback by sensible people in the latter part of this thread.

The mention of his struggles in 2013 is salient. The kid hardly trained last year (bursitis in his knee, from memory) but still maintained a high level of performance. The draft's now later in the year, which means they start traing later with the club that picks them. Then he blew out a muscle (Colorado, I think), which cost him about 6 weeks in Jan and into Feb, and a slow rebuild after that.

As for being "slow" - go back to an interview Richardson did on the Game Day early, and listen to Matthews and Richardson discuss Jack's speed (the deceptively long stride).

And, as for potting his kicking, that's flat out crap. He's obviously struggling a bit physically as the year goes on - not unexpected given his age (not 19 yet) and underwhelming preparation in '13 and the preseason.

As someone pointed out, our biggest concern should be whether the side's development can encourage him to extend beyond the initial 2 years. We cannot afford to be merely a development academy for the better performing clubs.

Still reckon he'll be recognised in coming years as the best from the '13 draft. Bontempelli is going fine, but he's unusual physical package for a kid. Billings is pure footballer - smart (innate 'feel' for the game and its patterns), 2 sided, lovely hands, he has power (gives him speed and a leap), with a body that will develop to support his talents. There's bits of Bartel and Johnson is the way Jack goes about it.

Excellent post!

[parky]

The main aspect of his game yesterday that I disliked was his mentoring of Montagna. He really should have been more aware that his teammate was on zero disposals for the quarter (1st) and got him a "cheapie". Very poor leadership. I'm concerned about him

[parky]

The main aspect of his game yesterday that I disliked was his mentoring of Montagna. He really should have been more aware that his teammate was on zero disposals for the quarter (1st) and got him a "cheapie". Very poor leadership. I'm concerned about him

[tweedaletomanning]

I know I'm gonna get ridiculed, but the similarities between gaj and hin at that age are quite remarkable

[stinger]

Roo the only one kicking over 1 goal a game with 37.

That is because we've gone to him 126 times this season with Stanley the next most frequent at 39

That's an interesting stat BC - where do you find that one?

Aside from all the variables, it shows that Rhys has converted goals at a similar ratio to Nick versus the amount of times we have kicked it to him.

give you some more

inside 50 targets

2014
roo...126
rhys...39

2013

roo....162
milne 54

2012


roo ...131
milne.....119

goals

2014

roo.34
billings 11

2013

roo....50
milne ...28

2012

milne....56
roo.....47


...the 2014 stats are prior to yesterday's game though....

[Ghost Like]

Read the OP after seeing the heading, hoping it wasn't negative but should of known better. Simply a disgraceful thread! NFI!!!

Thankfully some have come to the kid's rescue with insightful and reasoned posts.

[dragit]

give you some more

Thanks stinger… interesting stats. must be from one of your official AFL books

Rhys might have a few more goals this year if more ball was delivered his way.

[bigcarl]

give you some more

Thanks stinger… interesting stats. must be from one of your official AFL books

Rhys might have a few more goals this year if more ball was delivered his way.

Hi dragit.The stats were from a Matthew Lloyd column in the Age in which he said it was time to move Riewoldt out of the forward line and to the wing. He drew the comparison with Matthew Richardson's successful positional move there in 2008-2009 when the Tigers decided it was time to develop some young forwards including Jack Riewoldt.

I guess you can draw from the stats that Stanley has been better than he's appeared at times. Of course Riewoldt is drawing the best defender and often the best two defenders.

[ralphsmith]

Shittest thread in the history of saintsational.

If you cant see the ability, peripheral vision, skill, and football smarts in Jack Billings you are clueless and should stop supporting AFL right now.

[gringo]

Shittest thread in the history of saintsational.

If you cant see the ability, peripheral vision, skill, and football smarts in Jack Billings you are clueless and should stop supporting AFL right now.

The whole site reminds me of hyenas circling around the vulnerable members of the herd. Billing is like a baby antelope with a few self appointed pack leaders trying to isolate him and take him out. If he left they would be equally outraged by his lack of loyalty. Who ever had that caption at the bottom saying " I see dumb people" May have been mystic and predicted this time.

[SinCitySainter]

I am overjoyed with where Billings is at. His body is not ready for AFL football, he is truly a boy against men out there.

He may become an A-grade outside mid as he has most of the required skills to do so, only question might be his pace.

However, even if he stays as a fwd/mid the rest of his career I don't have a big problem with getting the next Stevie Johnson with pick 3, does anybody?

[Johnny Member]

He's not overly quick, is he.

[plugger66]

He's not overly quick, is he.

No he isnt. Neither is Pendlebury, Lenny, Johnson and a host of other players.

[Johnny Member]

Yeah, I'm not potting him.

But he is going to need to some strings to his bow as his career progresses.