2020 Grand Final Team

[mad saint guy]

We've been told throughout this rebuild that the plan was always to be a finals side by 2018 and contend for/deliver St Kilda's 2nd premiership in 2020. So how are we currently tracking and what do we need to add?

If we had to put together a team of 22 to play in the 2020 Grand Final from our current list, this is how I think it would look

B: Webster (27), Goddard (24), Geary (32)
HB: Roberton (28), Carlisle (28), White (23)
C: Acres (24), Steele (24), Newnes (27)
HF: Billings (25), Bruce (28), Weller (28)
F: Gresham (23), McCartin (24), Membrey (26)

Foll: Hickey (29), Steven (30), Ross (27)
Int: Sinclair (25), Dunstan (25), McKenzie (24), Stevens (29)

Depth: Minchington (26), Longer (27), Rice (23), Wright (26), Savage (29), Long (23), Lonie (24), Freeman (25), Battle (22), Marshall (25)

What this exercise shows me is that we really have structured this list to be firing on all cylinders by 2020. It's a fantastic age profile - pretty much everyone in that 22 as well as the remaining depth players will be in their prime from 2019 onwards. It also says to me that we need a Dempster replacement (missing out on Marchbank hurts) because Webster and Roberton are clearly superior players when they don't have to worry about stopping a key forward. I'm not totally sold on Goddard either and we need to make sure we have an adequate replacement for Brown as well as recruiting strong depth in our KPD stocks. That side is also clearly missing a star outside midfielder; if we land Kelly or Whitfield then the midfield instantly becomes so much more potent. Newnes is a solid foot-soldier but he's not the star damaging wingman that we need. I'm also not convinced that going without a decent second ruck option is a viable option - if Marshall turns out to be a 10 disposal, 5 mark, 1 goal and 15 hitout per game forward/ruck then our forward line puzzle becomes very complicated. Battle could also put a lot of pressure on Bruce and McCartin if he just keeps doing what he's always done and kicks a lot of goals when he matures.

Thoughts? What do we need to accomplish over the next three trade/draft/FA periods to prime our list for the flag we have been promised in 2020?

[dragit]

In three years time I would expect quite a lot of different names in our starting 22 that aren't currently on the list.

Jury still completely out on Goddard, McKenzie & White with very little to go off yet.

Some of Weller, Webster & Sinclair may not be in our best 22 in 3 years time, depending on who we trade in/draft.

Geary could also be line ball at 32, maybe someone like Long replaces him if he comes on.

I think you're right though, our key defensive stocks are very thin… and we need some more A grade midfield talent.

[saintspremiers]

Rooey at 37 will be called up to the stage by Gears when the cup is lifted aloft by them and Richo.

[thejiggingsaint]

WOW! How quickly we go from "We'll lose three in a row" to 2020 Premiers! with your track record on forecasting the future SP, could you do me a favour and predict us as Wooden Spooners for the next five years please?!

[perfectionist]

Oh Ye of Little Faith

2017 Grand Final Team:

B Jarryn Geary, Nathan J. Brown, Jimmy Webster

HB Jack Newnes, Jake Carlisle, Dylan Roberton

C Nick Riewoldt, Koby Stevens, Leigh Montagna

HF Jade Gresham,Tim Membrey, Jack Billings

F Darren Minchington , Paddy McCartin, Jack Sinclair

Fol Billy Longer, Sebastian Ross, Jack Steven

I/C Blake Acres, Jack Steele, Sam Gilbert, Luke Dunstan

[thejiggingsaint]

[saint3d]

Oh Ye of Little Faith

2017 Grand Final Team:

B Jarryn Geary, Nathan J. Brown, Jimmy Webster

HB Jack Newnes, Jake Carlisle, Dylan Roberton

C Nick Riewoldt, Koby Stevens, Leigh Montagna

HF Jade Gresham,Tim Membrey, Jack Billings

F Darren Minchington , Paddy McCartin, Jack Sinclair

Fol Billy Longer, Sebastian Ross, Jack Steven

I/C Blake Acres, Jack Steele, Sam Gilbert, Luke Dunstan

Oh Ye of Moderate Faith

2017 Premiership Team:

B Jarryn Geary, Nathan J. Brown, Jimmy Webster

HB Jack Newnes, Jake Carlisle, Dylan Roberton

C Nick Riewoldt, David Armitage, Leigh Montagna

HF Jade Gresham, Tim Membrey, Jack Billings

F Darren Minchington, Paddy McCartin, Jack Sinclair

Fol Billy Longer, Sebastian Ross, Jack Steven

I/C Blake Acres, Jack Steele, Sam Gilbert, Koby Stevens

[desertsaint]

Oh Ye of Little Faith

2017 Grand Final Team:

B Jarryn Geary, Nathan J. Brown, Jimmy Webster

HB Jack Newnes, Jake Carlisle, Dylan Roberton

C Nick Riewoldt, Koby Stevens, Leigh Montagna

HF Jade Gresham,Tim Membrey, Jack Billings

F Darren Minchington , Paddy McCartin, Jack Sinclair

Fol Billy Longer, Sebastian Ross, Jack Steven

I/C Blake Acres, Jack Steele, Sam Gilbert, Luke Dunstan

I'm on board but think Bruce may play a role.

[Selhurst Saint]

Oh Ye of Little Faith

2017 Grand Final Team:

B Jarryn Geary, Nathan J. Brown, Jimmy Webster

HB Jack Newnes, Jake Carlisle, Dylan Roberton

C Nick Riewoldt, Koby Stevens, Leigh Montagna

HF Jade Gresham,Tim Membrey, Jack Billings

F Darren Minchington , Paddy McCartin, Jack Sinclair

Fol Billy Longer, Sebastian Ross, Jack Steven

I/C Blake Acres, Jack Steele, Sam Gilbert, Luke Dunstan

I'm on board but think Bruce may play a role.

A fit Armo for Dunstan and we are done.

[stonecold]

Yeap, Josh Bruce should in!!!!!

[Con Gorozidis]

Kelly in for Dunstan and we win in 2018.

[stonecold]

Kelly in for Dunstan and we win in 2018.

No Bruce for you either?????

[To the top]

2017 Premiership side:-

Gilbert Brown Webster
Roberton Carlisle Montagna
Riewoldt Armitage Acres
Billings Mc Cartin Weller
Freeman Bruce Membrey
Hickey Stevens Steven
Steele Ross Newnes Gresham

Mc Kenzie and White to pressure Webster

Longer to pressure Hickey

Dunstan to pressure Stevens

Sinclair and Wright to pressure Freeman

Goddard to pressure Brown

[stonecold]

2017 Premiership side:-

Gilbert Brown Webster
Roberton Carlisle Montagna
Riewoldt Armitage Acres
Billings Mc Cartin Weller
Freeman Bruce Membrey
Hickey Stevens Steven
Steele Ross Newnes

So, who's Captain then?????

[ace]

2017 Premiership side:-

Gilbert Brown Webster
Roberton Carlisle Montagna
Riewoldt Armitage Acres
Billings Mc Cartin Weller
Freeman Bruce Membrey
Hickey Stevens Steven
Steele Ross Newnes

So, who's Captain then?????

Jack of course.


or maybe Jack

[thejiggingsaint]

Ahhhhhhh, what a lovely dream end to the season THAT would be! go Saints! ( to hell with the rest)

[saintspremiers]

WOW! How quickly we go from "We'll lose three in a row" to 2020 Premiers! with your track record on forecasting the future SP, could you do me a favour and predict us as Wooden Spooners for the next five years please?!

No probs. Just like the weather I am

[To the top]

Number 3

And if you want a "Warrior" (I was going to use "Coalface Warrior" but Coal is now redundant globally except for Australia and noting AGL and the French power Company which services the Australian market are both exiting coal by their statements and actions), then Number 20.

Whose position in that side does the current Captain take and why?

[To the top]

And Gresham is the additional Inter-change player I left off

[BigMart]

Excellent

Who do we play?

Disappointing none of the draftees from 2018/9 were able to get a gig??

[RODOS]

B: Rice (23), Goddard (24), Geary (32)
HB: Roberton (28), Carlisle (28), Webster (27)
C: Acres (24), Steele (24), Kelly (25)
HF: Billings (25), Marshall (25), Long (23)
F: Gresham (23), McCartin (24), Membrey (26)

Foll: Longer (27), Steven (30), Ross (27)
Int: Sinclair (25), Newnes (27), D Foggarty (20), Stevens (29)

Weller cant get a spot with sincs taking it to the next level and long being too damn good (43 goals in 2019). D- Fog replaces Roo as the utility (nick, having snagged a flag in 2019 retires on podium). Bruce leaves for more opportunity after Marshall cements his spot at CHF in 2018. Rice has it on White and Brown passes the batton to HG.

[Dave McNamara]

2017 Premiership side:-

Gilbert Brown Webster
Roberton Carlisle Montagna
Riewoldt Armitage Acres
Billings Mc Cartin Weller
Freeman Bruce Membrey
Hickey Stevens Steven
Steele Ross Newnes Gresham

Mc Kenzie and White to pressure Webster

Longer to pressure Hickey

Dunstan to pressure Stevens

Sinclair and Wright to pressure Freeman

Goddard to pressure Brown

Like what you've done there TripleT. (And re coal in a later post. )

2017 premiership side??? Hell yeah!!! This year is wide open, and ripe for another 'stolen' flag. And we're as good as any, and better than most to do just that.

To your team, just some slight tweaks:
Freeman and Wright to pressure Mart's man Sinclair I reckon.
I'd be adding Armo' to those pressured. (Only coz I have fears re his back.)
Since you're talkin' 2017, and based on current fitness, I'd have Paddy Power under considerable pressure too.
But for some pressure in the ruck... add anyone. (But preferably the Marshall.)
And also, don't rule out the possibility of adding some Rice to the cooker.


Oh, and not that I think the starting 22 matters all that much, but if you don't start Seb R, our Saynta will be gunning for you.

[jackstevo]

I don't know who will be in the side in 2020 or if we will make the GF but I would expect at least 8 players who aren't at the club now to be playing a lot of games then.

[saintsRrising]

Disappointing none of the draftees from 2018/9 were able to get a gig??

Maybe if you read all of the OP you would understand why....and you would be less puzzled.

If we had to put together a team of 22 to play in the 2020 Grand Final from our current list, this is how I think it would look

[saintsRrising]

We've been told throughout this rebuild that the plan was always to be a finals side by 2018 and contend for/deliver St Kilda's 2nd premiership in 2020. So how are we currently tracking and what do we need to add?

If we had to put together a team of 22 to play in the 2020 Grand Final from our current list, this is how I think it would look

B: Webster (27), Goddard (24), Geary (32)
HB: Roberton (28), Carlisle (28), White (23)
C: Acres (24), Steele (24), Newnes (27)
HF: Billings (25), Bruce (28), Weller (28)
F: Gresham (23), McCartin (24), Membrey (26)

Foll: Hickey (29), Steven (30), Ross (27)
Int: Sinclair (25), Dunstan (25), McKenzie (24), Stevens (29)

Depth: Minchington (26), Longer (27), Rice (23), Wright (26), Savage (29), Long (23), Lonie (24), Freeman (25), Battle (22), Marshall (25)

Pretty much. Though no doubt by 2020 some players will have developed more than others.

I suspect that Gears who may by then be struggling a bit and say Rice, DMak or Newnes will be the small defender.

No 1 ruck will be a battle.

What this exercise shows me is that we really have structured this list to be firing on all cylinders by 2020.?

Agree. The age profile is good. But so is the coverage of all positions and player types.

We just need a bit more cream. Some out and out guns. In particular midfield cream. Acres or Gresh etc may well still become guns, or it may also be acquiring the like of Martin, Kelly etc.