Saad - was it all PR?

[Saint wagga]

Looking at our list aft the first 3rd of the season, i've seriously got doubts as to why Saad was re-recruited as a rookie. Its clear we have some promising small forward types all under or around 20 yrs old. Given we had a very good look at Saad over 2 whole afl seasons, why the heck did we sign him on again. he doesn't fit our age/games profile, he's not a ball magnet, performed better in a better performed side in 2012, but then again, who didn't/wouldn't. Looked very much a spud in a poorly performed side in 2013 and eventually couldn't get a regular game in that poorly performed side, then misses 18 months of footy...and somehow the recruiting dept think he's going to offer a lot in a very young team likely to have a tough season...doesn't really fit.

If it was for PR to show that we wouldn't just leave him high and dry after a rotten bit of luck, it's looking more and more likely, because i can't see him making a meanigful contribution at AFL level to our team going forward. Given he's only a rookie, it's a pretty small price tag, but gee whiz, in this day and age of having to try and find hiddem gems to speed up our rebuild, it does seem a bit of a waste...nothing against the bloke, seems well liked. I just don't think he's up to AFL footy, made even more obvious in a younginexperienced team...

do others think a bit the same, more PR than about meaningful AFl footy contribution. We already had schneider on the rookie list to cover the experience/small high forward role.

[plugger66]

I think 2 of our rookies this year were just far to easy to pick. There is no way Schneider or Saad should have been rookied. Obviously it looks silly to say Schneider because I have defended all season but if he wasn't on our list then some other player would have had to play. Saad well that was a wasted pick. Even the rookies we ungraded seemed like an easy way out. Next year I would hope on Sinclair get upgraded and maybe keep Holmes and get 3 young kids. None of this recycled older players. Its a cop out just as it was a cop out to upgrade 3 rookies to the senior list.

[Stian]

In fairness, I think that you are applying a bit of hindsight in your analysis.

I don't think anybody would have expected Lonie and Sinclair to have performed so well, so early. Without those 2, then Saad looks like a good, cheap "depth" pickup.

[noob]

I agree whether its the national draft or the rookie draft, we should be ruthless when it comes to our future. Even though I think Schneider has been great for us it seems strange to put him on a rookie list instead of paying him as a development coach. It's one less player we can develop for to build for the next cycle.

[Saint wagga]

I think 2 of our rookies this year were just far to easy to pick. There is no way Schneider or Saad should have been rookied. Obviously it looks silly to say Schneider because I have defended all season but if he wasn't on our list then some other player would have had to play. Saad well that was a wasted pick. Even the rookies we ungraded seemed like an easy way out. Next year I would hope on Sinclair get upgraded and maybe keep Holmes and get 3 young kids. None of this recycled older players. Its a cop out just as it was a cop out to upgrade 3 rookies to the senior list.

Hopefully by next season, we have a few more close to 30+ gamers, a few tick over 50+ which will allow us to only keep the top shelf vets and go for higher risk/higher reward picks with our rookies and drafts...

[FQF]

It's not simply a question of Saad's objective value. It depends on his value versus other available talent at the state of the rookie draft.

What's the success rate of a late rookie pick making it? We had heaps of rookie spots and obviously we thought that Saad was best available at that pick, if he wasn't we would have picked someone else like we did with Sinclair.

I don't mind using the rookie list creatively. For eg. someone like Markworth might be a good option to go to the rookie list next year. It all depends on the available talent and our list management.

[Con Gorozidis]

In fairness, I think that you are applying a bit of hindsight in your analysis.

I don't think anybody would have expected Lonie and Sinclair to have performed so well, so early. Without those 2, then Saad looks like a good, cheap "depth" pickup.

I agree with Wagga and p66.

And its not all hindsight. If you look back at Draft period posts there were a lot of people on SS who were against re-drafting Saad. I would say slightly over 50% were against it on here. Mostly based on his age and his poor 2013.

[saintspremiers]

Look I was against picking up Saad but not fussed when we did. The PR value is worth something, and for a crappy rookie pick when you have four I guess it doesn't really matter if it was partially a PR stunt. Let's face it, good PR for our club, when we look back 6 months, was gold. The number of members we have are testament to this.

[gringo]

I like Saad and hope he makes it still. There is no problem at the moment. He has two in front of him so has to go back. We do like to overstate things on here. If he builds up some form at Sandy there is a good chance he will stay on the list next year too.

[plugger66]

I like Saad and hope he makes it still. There is no problem at the moment. He has two in front of him so has to go back. We do like to overstate things on here. If he builds up some form at Sandy there is a good chance he will stay on the list next year too.

If he makes it then a younger kid doesn't. We can only fit 22 in the side. It was a stupid decision to redraft him back in November and it is sillier now.

[Bernard Shakey]

I like Saad and hope he makes it still. There is no problem at the moment. He has two in front of him so has to go back. We do like to overstate things on here. If he builds up some form at Sandy there is a good chance he will stay on the list next year too.

Sorry but anyone with his slow walk towards a set shot is not up to AFL footy! Should never have been picked again, especially after his stupidity in getting disqualified.

[gringo]

I like Saad and hope he makes it still. There is no problem at the moment. He has two in front of him so has to go back. We do like to overstate things on here. If he builds up some form at Sandy there is a good chance he will stay on the list next year too.

Sorry but anyone with his slow walk towards a set shot is not up to AFL footy! Should never have been picked again, especially after his stupidity in getting disqualified.

Who gives a s*** about his run up.... seriously. Kennedy does Fred Flintstone run ups and looks like a d**khead ...I guess he isn't any good then either?

[gringo]

I like Saad and hope he makes it still. There is no problem at the moment. He has two in front of him so has to go back. We do like to overstate things on here. If he builds up some form at Sandy there is a good chance he will stay on the list next year too.

If he makes it then a younger kid doesn't. We can only fit 22 in the side. It was a stupid decision to redraft him back in November and it is sillier now.

if he makes it it means a kid wasn't up to it. You always claim the club never makes a mistake in who gets shown the door when it suits you. There are a few sitting at Sandringham that already look like the club has written them off. I back the club to assess the best one to keep.

[skeptic]

He had a decent first season

Trained his butt off in his suspended season

And he's a cut above the VFL.

I don't rate him and don't think he'll make it but it was a decent shot

Certainly more than a PR stunt

[plugger66]

I like Saad and hope he makes it still. There is no problem at the moment. He has two in front of him so has to go back. We do like to overstate things on here. If he builds up some form at Sandy there is a good chance he will stay on the list next year too.

If he makes it then a younger kid doesn't. We can only fit 22 in the side. It was a stupid decision to redraft him back in November and it is sillier now.

if he makes it it means a kid wasn't up to it. You always claim the club never makes a mistake in who gets shown the door when it suits you. There are a few sitting at Sandringham that already look like the club has written them off. I back the club to assess the best one to keep.

Again you do exaggerate a lot. I could say lie but I wont. When Have I ever said the club never makes mistakes in who gets shown the door? Never that's when. And I back the club most times on who they keep. No idea what that has to do with drafting Saad. Lets fact it Saad is gone unless he somehow plays about the last 10 games which is impossible baring a LTI. Probably needs 2 because Sinclair and Schneider are miles ahead of him. It was a silly decision to redraft him. It was a silly decision to redraft Schneider.

[gringo]

I like Saad and hope he makes it still. There is no problem at the moment. He has two in front of him so has to go back. We do like to overstate things on here. If he builds up some form at Sandy there is a good chance he will stay on the list next year too.

If he makes it then a younger kid doesn't. We can only fit 22 in the side. It was a stupid decision to redraft him back in November and it is sillier now.

if he makes it it means a kid wasn't up to it. You always claim the club never makes a mistake in who gets shown the door when it suits you. There are a few sitting at Sandringham that already look like the club has written them off. I back the club to assess the best one to keep.

Again you do exaggerate a lot. I could say lie but I wont. When Have I ever said the club never makes mistakes in who gets shown the door? Never that's when. And I back the club most times on who they keep. No idea what that has to do with drafting Saad. Lets fact it Saad is gone unless he somehow plays about the last 10 games which is impossible baring a LTI. Probably needs 2 because Sinclair and Schneider are miles ahead of him. It was a silly decision to redraft him. It was a silly decision to redraft Schneider.

I don't agree on either. Saad was worth a go and may still be and Schnieder was a good move as his body was really flakey for a few years and this way we got a decent senior player in with out the risk. They didn't put Saad straight on the senior list which would have been a mistake. This way we get to see what he can do with out committing.

[plugger66]

I like Saad and hope he makes it still. There is no problem at the moment. He has two in front of him so has to go back. We do like to overstate things on here. If he builds up some form at Sandy there is a good chance he will stay on the list next year too.

If he makes it then a younger kid doesn't. We can only fit 22 in the side. It was a stupid decision to redraft him back in November and it is sillier now.

if he makes it it means a kid wasn't up to it. You always claim the club never makes a mistake in who gets shown the door when it suits you. There are a few sitting at Sandringham that already look like the club has written them off. I back the club to assess the best one to keep.

Again you do exaggerate a lot. I could say lie but I wont. When Have I ever said the club never makes mistakes in who gets shown the door? Never that's when. And I back the club most times on who they keep. No idea what that has to do with drafting Saad. Lets fact it Saad is gone unless he somehow plays about the last 10 games which is impossible baring a LTI. Probably needs 2 because Sinclair and Schneider are miles ahead of him. It was a silly decision to redraft him. It was a silly decision to redraft Schneider.

I don't agree on either. Saad was worth a go and may still be and Schnieder was a good move as his body was really flakey for a few years and this way we got a decent senior player in with out the risk. They didn't put Saad straight on the senior list which would have been a mistake. This way we get to see what he can do with out committing.

I don't get your last line. A rookie is basically the same commitment as a senior listed player. We lost 2 picks that could have got us donuts or a Milney. We knew what we would get with the other 2 and neither were going to help in the long run. And worse still the ones we upgraded don't look like they will make it either. We did very well with last years draft but it could have been even better.

[sunsaint]

I like Saad and hope he makes it still. There is no problem at the moment. He has two in front of him so has to go back. We do like to overstate things on here. If he builds up some form at Sandy there is a good chance he will stay on the list next year too.

Sorry but anyone with his slow walk towards a set shot is not up to AFL footy! Should never have been picked again, especially after his stupidity in getting disqualified.

Who gives a s*** about his run up.... seriously. Kennedy does Fred Flintstone run ups and looks like a d**khead ...I guess he isn't any good then either?

I was wondering if anyone would sink the boot in ala essendope thread...
I think there may have been a verbal agreement between the two parties - AND if there was, good on the club for carrying through ( off the top of my head I think EFC were also sniffing around)
A lowly rookie pick was a no brainer, as Saad is what you might call a "known unknown"
And as for his walk-up pfft - one of the most accurate kicks at the club... & seem to remember plugger taking a bit of time too

[Enrico_Misso]

I do agree that picking Saad up was the "right" thing to do.
It was reward for his hard work.
It was a feel good decision for our fans who all felt Ahmed had been dealt with unfairly and harshly.

We knew we weren't going to get anything more than a fringe player.
But on the other hand what we got was a handy back-up player for a token outlay.

So yes it was partly PR but mostly a sound conservative decision.

[SaintPav]

Saad was selected pick 19 in the second round of the rookie draft. He was picked as a backup and came cheap. It wasn't like he was picked up in the main draft or was even first choice in the rookie draft.

Thanks Ahmed, great effort to get yourself ready for AFL after being out for more than an entire season, but I would like to see others given a go. For example, if Darren Minchington's form warrants it, I would like to see him play a bunch of consecutive games in the seniors.

[gringo]

I like Saad and hope he makes it still. There is no problem at the moment. He has two in front of him so has to go back. We do like to overstate things on here. If he builds up some form at Sandy there is a good chance he will stay on the list next year too.

If he makes it then a younger kid doesn't. We can only fit 22 in the side. It was a stupid decision to redraft him back in November and it is sillier now.

if he makes it it means a kid wasn't up to it. You always claim the club never makes a mistake in who gets shown the door when it suits you. There are a few sitting at Sandringham that already look like the club has written them off. I back the club to assess the best one to keep.

Again you do exaggerate a lot. I could say lie but I wont. When Have I ever said the club never makes mistakes in who gets shown the door? Never that's when. And I back the club most times on who they keep. No idea what that has to do with drafting Saad. Lets fact it Saad is gone unless he somehow plays about the last 10 games which is impossible baring a LTI. Probably needs 2 because Sinclair and Schneider are miles ahead of him. It was a silly decision to redraft him. It was a silly decision to redraft Schneider.

I don't agree on either. Saad was worth a go and may still be and Schnieder was a good move as his body was really flakey for a few years and this way we got a decent senior player in with out the risk. They didn't put Saad straight on the senior list which would have been a mistake. This way we get to see what he can do with out committing.

I don't get your last line. A rookie is basically the same commitment as a senior listed player. We lost 2 picks that could have got us donuts or a Milney. We knew what we would get with the other 2 and neither were going to help in the long run. And worse still the ones we upgraded don't look like they will make it either. We did very well with last years draft but it could have been even better.

I think it was probably worth elevating Weller at the very least Plugs. Shenton has played several senior games and is still in the side as has Eli. Minchington is cutting it up in the ressies along with Curren. Maybe they will stick with them a bit longer and dump some of the guys like Murdoch, Siposs and Warkworth. Its a bit rich calling them a fail.

[Bernard Shakey]

I like Saad and hope he makes it still. There is no problem at the moment. He has two in front of him so has to go back. We do like to overstate things on here. If he builds up some form at Sandy there is a good chance he will stay on the list next year too.

Sorry but anyone with his slow walk towards a set shot is not up to AFL footy! Should never have been picked again, especially after his stupidity in getting disqualified.

Who gives a s*** about his run up.... seriously. Kennedy does Fred Flintstone run ups and looks like a d**khead ...I guess he isn't any good then either?

I'm happy with a run up, but that is not a run up, it is just ridiculous!
Should be called play on.

[SainterK]

Just for the record, I wasn't sure he'd make it prior to the suspension.

I just think his role is getting hard, not just for Saady

[seano1]

Saad was selected pick 19 in the second round of the rookie draft. He was picked as a backup and came cheap. It wasn't like he was picked up in the main draft or was even first choice in the rookie draft.

Thanks Ahmed, great effort to get yourself ready for AFL after being out for more than an entire season, but I would like to see others given a go. For example, if Darren Minchington's form warrants it, I would like to see him play a bunch of consecutive games in the seniors.

Yah someone who has sense....it was a rookie draft , he wouldn`t have played any games at AFL level if there weren't any long term injuries to other players and so he is a cheap ALDI brand waiting in the wings to help out any way he can ,has a strange kicking style but we have guys on higher pay than him who cant hit the side of a barn let alone a teammate who is open .

Like ALL draft picks no one can say who will make it until they have been there and like Schneider while he is there they are helping the younger guys fit in more than some of the guys on here so good luck to them and I hope he gets to at least 50 games just to piss people off.

[fonz_#15]

I said at the time he was no good and I remember people really disliking said opinion. Waste of time even though I feel for him in what he's been through