saintbob wrote:Membrey had been our best forward for the last month, Savage and Weller have both had a very good year.To the top wrote:When you have the recent win/loss record that St Kilda has and you are looking to improve team performance the spotlight is on every player - and perhaps, just perhaps there is too much focus on the Captain to bring a "feel good" story the Club seem to be relying on at present.
I would put that, to play the REQUIRED part in a resurgence at St Kilda all of Roberton, Lee, Geary, Delaney, Savage, Webster, Membrey, Weller, Minchington and Wright of tomorrow's 22 are under pressure this week and every week they are selected (noting that, if they continue to be selected and the team is winning their chances are improved) - as are all those who are not in the 22 apart from Billings, Freeman, Carlisle, Riewoldt, Goddard, Fisher and Dempster,
That is the brutal assessment of where we sit and why.
Even given the injuries, anything other than a convincing win tomorrow is not negotiable - otherwise careers are marked and players are just treading water ahead of season's end.
Roberton, Geary and Webster have done more than enough to keep their spots.
The only ones I see playing for their careers in that group are Lee, Delaney, Minchington and Wright, and that's exactly why Richo is playing them!!!
The problem with that statement IMHO is that when/if you have preferential treatment of particular players over others... Heads drop and morale lowers.
A really common argument you get when argue that player x could have done well but wasn't given ample opportunity is: what have they done since is... Well what have they done since.
Now imagine this scenario...
Your Tom Lee. You were a forward but you were vanquished to the VFL to become a defender. You played at Sandy in defence. You did really well. Most weeks, you not only beat your opponent but you delivered a lot of drive. You got now senior opportunities despite s number of BOG Performances.
In 2016, you got given two games against high level opposition. You did ok. You were dropped. In the mean time, Sam Gilbert has been absolutely appalling... You had roughly 15 disposals in each of your games as a defender, and Gilbert has had 30 disposals in 4 games as a midfielder.
The coach raves on about how in an 80+ point loss vs Adelaide Gilbert got 10 possessions as a midfielder and yet you cant get a game despite playing consistently well in the VFL and doing better than that in your limited opportunities.
In addition to that, Roberton got 9 disposals vs Essendon and kept his spot whilst Lee got 14 and 19 disposal games and was dropped.
Are you honestly saying you wouldn't drop your head?
Delaney was the number 1 defender 2 seasons ago and now can barely get a game in the Sandy development team but is all of a sudden called up to the game v Carlton... And now we say he's playing for his career... He's got a game or 2 to prove himself.
It's erratic. IMO we set players up to fail.
