Player Review 2014

[Riewoldt=Gun_09]

Hi all,

I know I don't use this site a lot, but here are my personal opinions on each player from 2014. I wrote these on the long drive home from Adelaide for a few friends, but I thought I may as well share them here also because it took some time to compile. Remember these are just one supporter's views and don't mean anything more than idle discussion. Thanks.

End of season player review (Note: Opinions given at the conclusion of the Round 23 game. Anything that has happened since was not known when written):

1. Tom Hickey: Spent most of the year on the injured list, but played quite well when he was healthy. Our literal number 1 ruckman who will hopefully justify trading a first round pick in order to get him. 2. Arryn Siposs: Gee, I don't think he played much senior footy this year. Was originally seen as a good prospect but has been on the list for too long without significant improvement. His time is up and I'm not sure we'd get anything by trading him. 3. Jack Steven: Nowhere near as prolific as last year but he had a hampered pre-season. Hopefully a full pre-season next year and he'll be back to his best because he is one of our most important players. 4. Clinton Jones: Started the season pretty well but fell out of favour mid-season and ended with a whimper. Still handy at his best but only one more year maximum. Don't think any other club would touch him with a forty foot stick. 5. Shane Savage: In the beginning he struggled for a spot and form. His contract was almost torn up when he cost us "his" game in New Zealand but to his credit he turned it around and found himself off half back. A good user of the ball but finished his year with an injury. 6. Seb Ross: Well, this is an interesting one. He's been around the traps for a while and we're still none the wiser on where exactly he stands. Had his moments this year (Geelong springs to mind), but still hindered by inconsistency. Let's give him 2015 and see where both parties go from there. 7. Lenny Hayes: Icon of the club and sport as a whole. Another Lenny like year with solid consistent football throughout. Will be sorely missed but timed his retirement perfectly. One of the best I've seen in my time. Thanks for the memories. 8. Trent Dennis-Lane: This should be it. Failed at every opportunity at senior level yet seemed to kick a lot of goals in the VFL. They tried something when they picked him up and he didn't work out, it happens. See you later. 9. Tom Lee: Wow another head scratcher. A Scott Watters project gone wrong by utilising a first round pick to get him. He's just too lazy or lethargic or something but it's not good enough. He's a decent set shot but that's about it. Trade or delisting awaits. 10. Daniel Markworth: Obviously didn't play for the Saints this year, but from what I gather he is seen as a top young talent at the club. Should debut next year. 11. Leigh Montagna: Very ordinary year by his standards. He had his good games but just didn't look interested in playing at most times. I know he's a great servant of the club, but it may be time to trade him off whilst we still can. Let's face it, he's not in our next premiership team and he's just taking a spot in the side from a young kid. Without him we'll be worse off in the short term but this is thinking in the long term future of the club. I'd hate to see him in opposition colours but with free agency looming we may as well try to get something for him. 12. Nick Riewoldt: Another fantastic year from our best player. Played some of the best games of his career even though the delivery to him was horrendous. Our leading goalkicker and only avenue to goal for too much of the season. Only problem is we'll need to start looking for other players to kick goals if we're going to get better. Another best and fairest is on its way and thank goodness he will play on. 13. Adam Schneider: Tick tock. Only played one great game (Essendon), and is certainly at an age where it's all over. No point in keeping him. 14. Jarryn Geary: Missed half the year after his broken arm/elbow injury sustained during that horror show against the Hawks. Prior to that he was playing solid football and is still the pick of the plethora of small defenders/running half backs we've got. 15. Jack Billings: An exciting first year from our top pick. You can see already that he'll be a star in the future and that's just what you want from a high draft pick. Will stay up forward for the immediate future but hopefully can become a goalkicking midfielder that we so desperately need. 16. Jack Newnes: Breakout year for Jack. Consistently played good football, used the ball well and defended when required. A top 5 finish in the best and fairest would be a just result. 17. Dylan Roberton: Struggled a bit this year. Looked better last year which is disappointing. May get lost in the shuffle of defensive options as he's neither overly tall or small. Give him next year but if its a mirror of 2014 than we may not see him in 2016. 18. Billy Longer: Debuted for the club in the absence of Tom Hickey and fought bravely. Not sure if we can play both in the one team unless one or both can learn to play forward quite well. He was a top pick himself and the replacement for Ben McEvoy. 19. Sam Gilbert: Injured for a majority of the year but again how much defenders of his kind do we need? His older age and poor disposal may be the death of him. If he's not seen again he will be remembered for being a vital cog in the wheel during the glory years of '09/'10. 20. David Armitage: Stood up in the absence/drop off from Jack Steven to be in the top 5 players at the club and perhaps the top midfielder this season. We're still waiting to see if he'll become an elite player in the competition but he should be peaking when we next challenge at the top. 21. Luke Delaney: Held up very well whilst under siege all year. There wasn't much more he could do against the really big forwards when they were receiving the supply that we could only dream of. Still could do with a hand from the other defenders but very happy with his season. 22. Farren Ray: Another player who had a consistent season. He'll never be an A-grader but he gets his 20+ disposals every week. Needs to become more dangerous and damaging with ball in hand but at least you know what you're going to get each week and that's effort. 23. Spencer White: Only played the last couple of games but showed a bit. Had good patches in the VFL and will definitely play more next year. Hopefully he becomes the solution to our full-forward problem, but we still need to grab another in the trade/draft period. 24. Sean Dempster: Had another Sean Dempster like season. 100% effort each week when the backline was under fire was admirable. He served as the general with Fisher gone for most of the year and had to play on the big guns when called upon. Very good year and one of our most important players. 25. Sam Fisher: Only played a handful of games but showed why he was/is a great player. I would've flirted with trading him last year but that ship has sailed and he deserves to play out his last year with the Saints in 2015. 26. Tom Curren: Started the year superbly but fell to the wayside mid-year. Scrappy sort of a player who will fill Clinton Jones' shoes if he gets moved on. 27. Josh Bruce: Recruited to play in the backline but found himself up forward at times. Whilst he played okay up front we need him down back and we'll find other avenues such as White and the top draft pick to kick our goals. His kicking is a real worry though. 28. Rhys Stanley: The Saints' version of the bermuda triangle probably had his personal best year. Lack of consistency kept it from being a breakout year but his work up forward and as a second ruck was handy. He has earned himself one more season at Seaford but I'm still sitting on the fence as next year is make or break. 29. Jimmy Webster: Received a regular spot in the side before his injury and played courageously at all times. However he is another one of our small backs and they can't all survive, but I think he is a keeper. 30. Brodie Murdoch: Another Saint who has been around the system for a few years without cementing a regular spot in the side. He was most commonly seen sporting the green vest but did have some impact when he did come on without having a huge output. I think he'll be back though. 31. Tom Simpkin: Geez, I feel this is the end for Tom. Just not quite a big enough frame to compete with the huge forwards. I'm not 100% sure but I don't recall him battling any injuries this year which spells trouble. We can't keep them all. 32. Terry Milera: I'm starting to think if one player from Scott Watters reign of terror has been a success because this guy sure wasn't. Seemingly kicked a handful of goals each week for the Zebras but failure to do anything at the elite level and his age will be more than enough to send him packing. 33. James Gwilt: A regular for so long now but we'll need to look to the future some time. He's not overly old, but his form fell away this season. Has a decent leg on him and did some nice things up forward, but he'd only get a one year deal maximum from here. 34. Nathan Wright: A combination of Geary and Webster, Wrighty played some solid footy when he wasn't busy knocking himself out. Fearless and a real goer but yet another half back flanker. 35. Josh Saunders: No one could fill the jumper number (Harvey not Cripps), but he has struggled to get a game. May get more match time with Schneider presumably not in the mix in 2015. 36. Luke Dunstan: Started off like a house of fire, but then found the tempo of the game lifted against the better sides. The only fault I could find may be a lack of pace, but he's meant to be an in and under player anyway. Has a good level head and temperament for the game. 37. Beau Maister: A change of name didn't help change his fortunes when he arrived at the club a couple of years ago. Couldn't mark or kick the football to save himself and did everyone a favour by retiring when he did. File him under another Watters West Australian failure. 38. Sam Dunell: G.O.N.E. Gone. Disposal was poor (if he ever had one), and didn't pull on the red, white and black much in his brief career. 39. Cameron Shenton: If I had a dollar for every player at St. Kilda that plays off half-back as a running defender I would be in retirement right now. He seemed to get more games than most of the others as we try to sort out who can and who can't play footy. 40. Blake Acres: Played some exciting football before his season ended abruptly. Hopefully he can play 15-20 games next year as we traded hard to get the extra first round pick. 41. Darren Minchington: Only played a couple of games for the Saints but had a real go. His brilliant kicking was a feature which is something we desperately need. 42. Lewis Pierce: One of the rare players on the list that we didn't see this year. He may get a run next season. Great testament to see that almost every player on the list played a game by the way. 43. Eli Templeton: Got a game from round 1 as a rookie and was impressive in his first few games until he injured his shoulder. Brought some real excitement to the field and fantastic energy. Spot on the senior list awaits. 44. Maverick Weller: Another rookie listed player who played a lot of senior footy and did quite well for himself. Accumulated a fair bit of possession and brought the ball forward often. Should be elevated. 45. Jason Holmes: Project player who may not even be seen next year for the Saints. Get used to the Zebras.

Overall I think the list is in decent shape. We just need a few more years of high draft picks so unfortunately not much wins to look forward to. Don't worry though, because it's better to be at the very bottom than hovering around the middle of the table. I can't see much leverage that we have to trade besides Montagna and our own draft picks but we'll see. Just need some big kids that can play the game. Go Saints.

[dragit]

Hey mate, looks like you've put in a decent effort here…

It might be easier for everyone to read if you do a couple of returns after each player, it's quite hard to read in one block like that.

You can easily edit it by clicking the edit button in the top right corner.

[Bunk_Moreland]

Good effort cleaned up a bit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi all,

I know I don't use this site a lot, but here are my personal opinions on each player from 2014. I wrote these on the long drive home from Adelaide for a few friends, but I thought I may as well share them here also because it took some time to compile. Remember these are just one supporter's views and don't mean anything more than idle discussion. Thanks.

End of season player review (Note: Opinions given at the conclusion of the Round 23 game. Anything that has happened since was not known when written):

1. Tom Hickey: Spent most of the year on the injured list, but played quite well when he was healthy. Our literal number 1 ruckman who will hopefully justify trading a first round pick in order to get him.

2. Arryn Siposs: Gee, I don't think he played much senior footy this year. Was originally seen as a good prospect but has been on the list for too long without significant improvement. His time is up and I'm not sure we'd get anything by trading him.

3. Jack Steven: Nowhere near as prolific as last year but he had a hampered pre-season. Hopefully a full pre-season next year and he'll be back to his best because he is one of our most important players.

4. Clinton Jones: Started the season pretty well but fell out of favour mid-season and ended with a whimper. Still handy at his best but only one more year maximum. Don't think any other club would touch him with a forty foot stick.

5. Shane Savage: In the beginning he struggled for a spot and form. His contract was almost torn up when he cost us "his" game in New Zealand but to his credit he turned it around and found himself off half back. A good user of the ball but finished his year with an injury.

6. Seb Ross: Well, this is an interesting one. He's been around the traps for a while and we're still none the wiser on where exactly he stands. Had his moments this year (Geelong springs to mind), but still hindered by inconsistency. Let's give him 2015 and see where both parties go from there.

7. Lenny Hayes: Icon of the club and sport as a whole. Another Lenny like year with solid consistent football throughout. Will be sorely missed but timed his retirement perfectly. One of the best I've seen in my time. Thanks for the memories.

8. Trent Dennis-Lane: This should be it. Failed at every opportunity at senior level yet seemed to kick a lot of goals in the VFL. They tried something when they picked him up and he didn't work out, it happens. See you later.

9. Tom Lee: Wow another head scratcher. A Scott Watters project gone wrong by utilising a first round pick to get him. He's just too lazy or lethargic or something but it's not good enough. He's a decent set shot but that's about it. Trade or delisting awaits.

10. Daniel Markworth: Obviously didn't play for the Saints this year, but from what I gather he is seen as a top young talent at the club. Should debut next year.

11. Leigh Montagna: Very ordinary year by his standards. He had his good games but just didn't look interested in playing at most times. I know he's a great servant of the club, but it may be time to trade him off whilst we still can. Let's face it, he's not in our next premiership team and he's just taking a spot in the side from a young kid. Without him we'll be worse off in the short term but this is thinking in the long term future of the club. I'd hate to see him in opposition colours but with free agency looming we may as well try to get something for him.

12. Nick Riewoldt: Another fantastic year from our best player. Played some of the best games of his career even though the delivery to him was horrendous. Our leading goalkicker and only avenue to goal for too much of the season. Only problem is we'll need to start looking for other players to kick goals if we're going to get better. Another best and fairest is on its way and thank goodness he will play on.

13. Adam Schneider: Tick tock. Only played one great game (Essendon), and is certainly at an age where it's all over. No point in keeping him.

14. Jarryn Geary: Missed half the year after his broken arm/elbow injury sustained during that horror show against the Hawks. Prior to that he was playing solid football and is still the pick of the plethora of small defenders/running half backs we've got.

15. Jack Billings: An exciting first year from our top pick. You can see already that he'll be a star in the future and that's just what you want from a high draft pick. Will stay up forward for the immediate future but hopefully can become a goalkicking midfielder that we so desperately need.

16. Jack Newnes: Breakout year for Jack. Consistently played good football, used the ball well and defended when required. A top 5 finish in the best and fairest would be a just result.

17. Dylan Roberton: Struggled a bit this year. Looked better last year which is disappointing. May get lost in the shuffle of defensive options as he's neither overly tall or small. Give him next year but if its a mirror of 2014 than we may not see him in 2016.

18. Billy Longer: Debuted for the club in the absence of Tom Hickey and fought bravely. Not sure if we can play both in the one team unless one or both can learn to play forward quite well. He was a top pick himself and the replacement for Ben McEvoy.

19. Sam Gilbert: Injured for a majority of the year but again how much defenders of his kind do we need? His older age and poor disposal may be the death of him. If he's not seen again he will be remembered for being a vital cog in the wheel during the glory years of '09/'10.

20. David Armitage: Stood up in the absence/drop off from Jack Steven to be in the top 5 players at the club and perhaps the top midfielder this season. We're still waiting to see if he'll become an elite player in the competition but he should be peaking when we next challenge at the top.

21. Luke Delaney: Held up very well whilst under siege all year. There wasn't much more he could do against the really big forwards when they were receiving the supply that we could only dream of. Still could do with a hand from the other defenders but very happy with his season.

22. Farren Ray: Another player who had a consistent season. He'll never be an A-grader but he gets his 20+ disposals every week. Needs to become more dangerous and damaging with ball in hand but at least you know what you're going to get each week and that's effort.

23. Spencer White: Only played the last couple of games but showed a bit. Had good patches in the VFL and will definitely play more next year. Hopefully he becomes the solution to our full-forward problem, but we still need to grab another in the trade/draft period.

24. Sean Dempster: Had another Sean Dempster like season. 100% effort each week when the backline was under fire was admirable. He served as the general with Fisher gone for most of the year and had to play on the big guns when called upon. Very good year and one of our most important players.

25. Sam Fisher: Only played a handful of games but showed why he was/is a great player. I would've flirted with trading him last year but that ship has sailed and he deserves to play out his last year with the Saints in 2015.

26. Tom Curren: Started the year superbly but fell to the wayside mid-year. Scrappy sort of a player who will fill Clinton Jones' shoes if he gets moved on.

27. Josh Bruce: Recruited to play in the backline but found himself up forward at times. Whilst he played okay up front we need him down back and we'll find other avenues such as White and the top draft pick to kick our goals. His kicking is a real worry though.

28. Rhys Stanley: The Saints' version of the bermuda triangle probably had his personal best year. Lack of consistency kept it from being a breakout year but his work up forward and as a second ruck was handy. He has earned himself one more season at Seaford but I'm still sitting on the fence as next year is make or break.

29. Jimmy Webster: Received a regular spot in the side before his injury and played courageously at all times. However he is another one of our small backs and they can't all survive, but I think he is a keeper.

30. Brodie Murdoch: Another Saint who has been around the system for a few years without cementing a regular spot in the side. He was most commonly seen sporting the green vest but did have some impact when he did come on without having a huge output. I think he'll be back though.

31. Tom Simpkin: Geez, I feel this is the end for Tom. Just not quite a big enough frame to compete with the huge forwards. I'm not 100% sure but I don't recall him battling any injuries this year which spells trouble. We can't keep them all.

32. Terry Milera: I'm starting to think if one player from Scott Watters reign of terror has been a success because this guy sure wasn't. Seemingly kicked a handful of goals each week for the Zebras but failure to do anything at the elite level and his age will be more than enough to send him packing.

33. James Gwilt: A regular for so long now but we'll need to look to the future some time. He's not overly old, but his form fell away this season. Has a decent leg on him and did some nice things up forward, but he'd only get a one year deal maximum from here.

34. Nathan Wright: A combination of Geary and Webster, Wrighty played some solid footy when he wasn't busy knocking himself out. Fearless and a real goer but yet another half back flanker.

35. Josh Saunders: No one could fill the jumper number (Harvey not Cripps), but he has struggled to get a game. May get more match time with Schneider presumably not in the mix in 2015.

36. Luke Dunstan: Started off like a house of fire, but then found the tempo of the game lifted against the better sides. The only fault I could find may be a lack of pace, but he's meant to be an in and under player anyway. Has a good level head and temperament for the game.

37. Beau Maister: A change of name didn't help change his fortunes when he arrived at the club a couple of years ago. Couldn't mark or kick the football to save himself and did everyone a favour by retiring when he did. File him under another Watters West Australian failure.

38. Sam Dunell: G.O.N.E. Gone. Disposal was poor (if he ever had one), and didn't pull on the red, white and black much in his brief career.

39. Cameron Shenton: If I had a dollar for every player at St. Kilda that plays off half-back as a running defender I would be in retirement right now. He seemed to get more games than most of the others as we try to sort out who can and who can't play footy.

40. Blake Acres: Played some exciting football before his season ended abruptly. Hopefully he can play 15-20 games next year as we traded hard to get the extra first round pick.

41. Darren Minchington: Only played a couple of games for the Saints but had a real go. His brilliant kicking was a feature which is something we desperately need.

42. Lewis Pierce: One of the rare players on the list that we didn't see this year. He may get a run next season. Great testament to see that almost every player on the list played a game by the way.

43. Eli Templeton: Got a game from round 1 as a rookie and was impressive in his first few games until he injured his shoulder. Brought some real excitement to the field and fantastic energy. Spot on the senior list awaits.

44. Maverick Weller: Another rookie listed player who played a lot of senior footy and did quite well for himself. Accumulated a fair bit of possession and brought the ball forward often. Should be elevated.

45. Jason Holmes: Project player who may not even be seen next year for the Saints. Get used to the Zebras.

Overall I think the list is in decent shape. We just need a few more years of high draft picks so unfortunately not much wins to look forward to. Don't worry though, because it's better to be at the very bottom than hovering around the middle of the table. I can't see much leverage that we have to trade besides Montagna and our own draft picks but we'll see. Just need some big kids that can play the game. Go Saints.

[matrix]

did this take two days to write?
coz gwilty and jones have been told theres no next year

i smell something fishy

[Riewoldt=Gun_09]

Thanks for the clean up. I was just typing away on my iPhone in the car and was quite tired.

did this take two days to write?
coz gwilty and jones have been told theres no next year

i smell something fishy

That's why I included the note at the top of the review because this was siren sounded analysis. Cheers.