Round one team

[plugger66]

And dont be surprised if one of the three rookies upgraded is not Jason Holmes. He would be very handy against the big GWS ruckman for a start.

We are really struggling if we have to upgrade 3 rookies. Surely we have got players on the list which means 3 don't have to be upgraded for round one. And I would be shocked if we played 2 ruckmen because I have no idea where the second ruckman plays when not rucking.

[Con Gorozidis]

Didnt sound like Holmes will be elevated YET when AR was asked the question.
Seems we are happy to go with Hickey, Longer, Pierce.
Only if one or two of these guys go down will Holmesy get his chance this year.

If I had to pick I guess Sinclair looks most likely to be upgraded- just cos Ross is out of action. Then Saad next in line as a mature ready to go Rookie.

[Playon]

This is the side I'd like to see with those currently available

B: Dempster, Delaney, Geary
HB: Savage, Fisher, Roberton
C: Acres, Armitage, Weller
HF:Billings , Riewoldt, Bruce
F: White, McCartin, Schneider

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Dunstan
Int: Curren, Newnes, Minchington, Sinclair

It's not the side that I think they will pick and most likely will have 6 changes. But I'd have Bruce to give Hickey a spell in the ruck and Curren to go forward when he does. (only one Ruckman) I'd like us to be strong in one area and that 'is that we have some good marking options as I can't see us doing it with pace. Which would also free up Roo.
Most noticiable changes would probably be Longer in for White and Lonie and Templeton in for Shneids and Sinclair , Probably Shenton in for Roberton and Saad/Membrey in for Minchington.

[spert]

I guess if Malcolm Blight was coaching us, the team would be something like this:
B:Weller Schneider White
HB: Armitage Geary Hickey
C: Bruce Reiwoldt Holmes
HF:McCartin Billings Longer
F: Roberton Steven Fisher

Foll: Minchington Saad Shenton
Int: Dunstan Savage Lonie Delaney

[White Winmar]

There'd be no team if Blighty was coaching us. He's be on the Gold Coast playin golf.

[footynut]

Well even the its only a few days away there is still a lot of uncertainty regarding who actually fit & who's still injured.
This is team I'd like to see run out:

FB: Dempster, Delaney, Geary
HB: Savage, Fisher, Roberton
C: Newnes, Armitage, Templeton
HF:Billings , Riewoldt, Bruce
F: Membrey, Lee, Lonie

Foll: Hickey, Steven, Dunstan
Int: Acres, Longer, Weller, Sinclair

The injured/unfit players I'd include if avaliable: Montagna, Ross, Wright, Webster, Markworth, Gilbert, White

[Old Mate]

Article today suggested McCartin and Membrey have gone past White and Lee.

I suspect the forward setup will be something like:
Membrey Riewoldt Billings
Bruce McCartin Lonie
(2 talls, 1 tall resting ruck, 1 medium and 2 smalls)

[FQF]

Hoskin-Elliott is out. Very important player for them.

What do people think our realistic chances are in this one?

[Old Mate]

Hoskin-Elliott is out. Very important player for them.

What do people think our realistic chances are in this one?

We will have to play out of our skin. I reckon GWS will be a pretty decent side this season and have a good start to the year. I give GWS a 30 point start.

[mad saint guy]

Hoskin-Elliott is out. Very important player for them.

What do people think our realistic chances are in this one?

Midfield battle

Steven A grade
Armitage B
Newnes C+
Dunstan C+
Weller C
Sinclair?, Templeton?, Saunders?, Curren?

vs

Griffen A
Ward A
Treloar A
Shiel A
Coniglio B
Greene B
Kelly C+
Palmer C

I expect a heavy loss. If we get within 30 points I'd be content. The Bulldogs, Melbourne, Collingwood and potentially Essendon are the teams we could beat this year.

[FQF]

Hoskin-Elliott is out. Very important player for them.

What do people think our realistic chances are in this one?

Midfield battle

Steven A grade
Armitage B
Newnes C+
Dunstan C+
Weller C
Sinclair?, Templeton?, Saunders?, Curren?

vs

Griffen A
Ward A
Treloar A
Shiel A
Coniglio B
Greene B
Kelly C+
Palmer C

I expect a heavy loss. If we get within 30 points I'd be content. The Bulldogs, Melbourne, Collingwood and potentially Essendon are the teams we could beat this year.

According to what you say, GWS should be a shoe-in for the 8 with this midfield and a very good forward line.

[spert]

Hoskin-Elliott is out. Very important player for them.

What do people think our realistic chances are in this one?

Midfield battle

Steven A grade
Armitage B
Newnes C+
Dunstan C+
Weller C
Sinclair?, Templeton?, Saunders?, Curren?

vs

Griffen A
Ward A
Treloar A
Shiel A
Coniglio B
Greene B
Kelly C+
Palmer C

I expect a heavy loss. If we get within 30 points I'd be content. The Bulldogs, Melbourne, Collingwood and potentially Essendon are the teams we could beat this year.

Steven is a B+ for me, but still needs to go up another step, and needs to get more consistency before he cracks an A with me, and Armo is a B on good days, but he too needs to get consistency into his game as well, otherwise the midfield and onball division are going to be getting brushed aside by most teams if our guys don't start taking the contest and the game on.

[Con Gorozidis]

GWS could end up 10-14th and we are still a fair level below that. The gap between top and bottom is quite big.

[samoht]

Even though we are below full strength, I've got a feeling our new-look, multi-dimensional forward line and the return of Hickey will prove the difference.
As long as we are competitive in the midfield, we will win - just.

[FQF]

Even though we are below full strength, I've got a feeling our new-look, multi-dimensional forward line and the return of Hickey will prove the difference.
We will win - just.

Return of Hickey... seems questionable now.

[Bunk_Moreland]

Even though we are below full strength, I've got a feeling our new-look, multi-dimensional forward line and the return of Hickey will prove the difference.
We will win - just.

Return of Hickey... seems questionable now.

I think he may be talking for our tilt at the flag in 2019

[mad saint guy]

According to what you say, GWS should be a shoe-in for the 8 with this midfield and a very good forward line.

I think GWS could give the top 8 a push, yes. It's likely they'll drop off a bit as the season progresses as they still have plenty of 20-22 year olds in their team, but it wouldn't surprise me if they sneak in. They have enough experience in the midfield and defence and enough freakish ability in the forward line to give anyone a run for their money.

[Con Gorozidis]

One thing we learnt from last year is that if a player gets hyped up on saints.com.au then they will play that week. So I expect McCartin is a certainty.

[gringo]

According to what you say, GWS should be a shoe-in for the 8 with this midfield and a very good forward line.

I think GWS could give the top 8 a push, yes. It's likely they'll drop off a bit as the season progresses as they still have plenty of 20-22 year olds in their team, but it wouldn't surprise me if they sneak in. They have enough experience in the midfield and defence and enough freakish ability in the forward line to give anyone a run for their money.

Griffen will make a big difference with Ward and Smith leading a heap of kids.

[FQF]

Roo's removal from the match ad, as has been noted, is probably a sign he won't be playing.

Then again, it is quite some time until Sunday's match so who knows.

[Con Gorozidis]

Roo's removal from the match ad, as has been noted, is probably a sign he won't be playing.

Then again, it is quite some time until Sunday's match so who knows.

Noted. Also Paddy no longer up on website. So maybe they are playing that one by ear and no decision will be made until the day before.

If I had to guess Id say we will go with Hickey, Longer, Membrey and Bruce.

Then it will be between Roo and Paddy which might be a latish call.

[cwrcyn]

Dempster Delaney Shenton
Newnes Fisher Savage
Geary Dunstan Acres
Templeton Bruce Saunders
Lonie Lee Membrey

Hickey Armitage Steven

Roberton Curren Weller Sinclair


Yikes!

[Old Mate]

Hoskin-Elliott is out. Very important player for them.

What do people think our realistic chances are in this one?

Midfield battle

Steven A grade
Armitage B
Newnes C+
Dunstan C+
Weller C
Sinclair?, Templeton?, Saunders?, Curren?

vs

Griffen A
Ward A
Treloar A
Shiel A
Coniglio B
Greene B
Kelly C+
Palmer C

I expect a heavy loss. If we get within 30 points I'd be content. The Bulldogs, Melbourne, Collingwood and potentially Essendon are the teams we could beat this year.

You forgot:
Scully F

That should bring us back into the game.

[S.A Saint]

Dempster Delaney Geary
Roberton Fisher Savage
Newnes Weller Acres
Billings Roo White
Membrey McCartin Lonie
Hickey Steven Dunstan

Saunders Sinclair Shenton sub: Bruce

If monty is fit then he comes in for Shenton, and if they really want to use bruce as second ruck then he replaces roberton in the side.

Just my 2c of course

[mad saint guy]

According to what you say, GWS should be a shoe-in for the 8 with this midfield and a very good forward line.

I think GWS could give the top 8 a push, yes. It's likely they'll drop off a bit as the season progresses as they still have plenty of 20-22 year olds in their team, but it wouldn't surprise me if they sneak in. They have enough experience in the midfield and defence and enough freakish ability in the forward line to give anyone a run for their money.

Griffen will make a big difference with Ward and Smith leading a heap of kids.

Patful as well will make a huge difference.

Also, I'm really hoping we don't play Joey this week. Reeks of when we rushed Gilbert and Steven back earlier than expected only for them both to re-injure themselves.