Breakdown of our talent

[SydneySainter]

This is my two cents as to how I see the talent depth on our list:

Superstars:
None

Genuine A-Graders:
Steven
Carlisle

B-Graders who could be A grade:
Ross
Billings
Gresham
Sinclair
Membrey
Acres
Dunstan
McCartin
Steele
Roberton

Genuine B-Graders:
Bruce
Weller
Brown
Geary

GOPs:
Longer
Stevens
Newnes
Webster
Lonie

Could be anything:
Hickey
Long
Battle
Clark
Coffield
Goddard
Marshal
White

Close to retirement:
Armitage
Gilbert

Time running out:
Freeman
Pierce

I've probably missed a few players, but based on my thoughts above, I think we actually have some pretty good depth, more so than most teams and certainly a lot than our grand final era. Especially if players on the cusp of A grade make to the next level.

However, our achilles is heel is still clearly the lack of star power, in that we don't have any. Whilst our 09/10 grand final list fell well short once we got to the bottom 6, we still had a top 7 of Roo, Hayes, Dal, Joey, BJ, Fisher and Milne - arguably all stars but at the very least all genuine A-graders.

Thoughts?

[suss]

I agree. It's the opposite problem to the one we've had since I started supporting the club -- heaps of A-graders but no depth.

I'm not sure how we get top-shelf talent into the club though. If we get a free agent like Sloan or Gaff and an A-grade mid in the draft that would be a start. But I can't see the likes of Kelly or Shield coming. They'll be heading to the likes of Hawthorn if they go anywhere.

[Sainter_Dad]

They'll be heading to the likes of Hawthorn if they go anywhere.

Yep - that way they can throw elbows to the back of the head behind play and only pay $1,500.00 for the priveledge.

[older saint]

Can't have Steven as an A Grader. Love his run and carry and ability to win the ball but his foot disposal to me is just not good enough to be an A grader. McCartin i think perhaps goes in the "Could be anything category " as only just played 5 games in a row for the first time. Steele probably to B also . To me Acres most likely to make jump to A Grade by seasons end.

Pretty good list , i must admit i am a tough marker get so annoyed nowadays with commentators talking about how great a player is after 10 games of footy, and don't get me started how the champion is just thrown around willy nilly..haha

[Con Gorozidis]

You missed Geary.

Hopefully Phillips, Paton, Austin and Langlands come good. Heck if even two of those four come good then we would be well pleased.

I don't think Goddard is in the 'could be anything' category'. Most likely a bust.
I don't see Hickey ever really making it.

[SydneySainter]

You missed Geary.

Hopefully Phillips, Paton, Austin and Langlands come good. Heck if even two of those four come good then we would be well pleased.

I don't think Goddard is in the 'could be anything' category'. Most likely a bust.
I don't see Hickey ever really making it.

Don’t know how I forgot Geary. No disrespect to our captain, he’s in the Genuine B grade cateorgy.

[Moods]

An A grader to me is someone of AA catagory. We have none. Sounds harsh, but look at our 04-10 teams? In 09 we had 5 or 6 players AA. Look back on all our champions. All have been AA at some stage. Roo, Lenny, Dal, Milney, BJ, Fish. And before we had Harves, Gehrig, Burkey, Loewey.

Sounds harsh. But I still don't think we have any genuine A grade talent. We have some very good B grade players who on their day can be A grade. But they're not consistent enough. Jack is the classic example.

All this aside I take the OP's point. There is potential to transform this list. Ordinary footballers or more to the point, footballers who are playing ordinary all too often like Billings and Paddy, can become very good footballers very quickly depending on circumstances. Some guys like Newnes, Geary, Webster etc are destined to be very good battlers. Nothing wrong with that. Stevie Baker made a career out of being a very good battler. They are incredibly important players. More important are the stars though

[Linton Lodger]

There can be no argument that Steven & Carlisle are A Graders.

[bigred]

Billings is not a B grader.

At all.

[starsign]

Forgive me my memory fades but who were all the A graders in the Bulldogs Premiership lineup ?

[Con Gorozidis]

Forgive me my memory fades but who were all the A graders in the Bulldogs Premiership lineup ?

Good question.
The media love the Bont. Over rated imo.
Libba and Wood had freak years.
MacRae and Hunter are handy.
But I agree with you. I don't think any of them are genuine A graders.
What a fluke that was.
But hats off to them. They were on a mission for one month and that's all you need to do.

[kalsaint]

This is my two cents as to how I see the talent depth on our list:

Superstars:
None

Genuine A-Graders:
Steven
Carlisle

B-Graders who could be A grade:
Ross
Billings
Gresham
Sinclair
Membrey
Acres
Dunstan
McCartin
Steele

Genuine B-Graders:
Bruce
Weller
Brown

GOPs:
Longer
Stevens
Newnes
Webster
Lonie

Could be anything:
Hickey
Long
Battle
Clark
Coffield
Goddard
Marshal
White

Could be close to retirement:
Armitage
Gilbert
Freeman

I've probably missed a few players, but based on my thoughts above, I think we actually have some pretty good depth, more so than most teams and certainly a lot than our grand final era. Especially if players on the cusp of A grade make to the next level.

However, our achilles is heel is still clearly the lack of star power, in that we don't have any. Whilst our 09/10 grand final list fell well short once we got to the bottom 6, we still had a top 7 of Roo, Hayes, Dal, Joey, BJ, Fisher and Milne - arguably all stars but at the very least all genuine A-graders.

Thoughts?

Not bad and I'm certainly too distant from that list of categories. Given our believed current lack of elites I wonder on others opinions of sides from yesteryear. For example the 2009 side under Ross Lyon, the 2004 side under GT and the 1997 year inder Stan Alves. It would be most interesting to see who were considered Superstars and A graders. The list of who could be anything for each maybe controversial.

[Moods]

There can be no argument that Steven & Carlisle are A Graders.

Maybe ask a non Saints supporter. I think you'll get plenty of argument. Steven can't handle a tag as a rule. Carlisle is our closest to A grade

[SydneySainter]

Forgive me my memory fades but who were all the A graders in the Bulldogs Premiership lineup ?

Good question.
The media love the Bont. Over rated imo.
Libba and Wood had freak years.
MacRae and Hunter are handy.
But I agree with you. I don't think any of them are genuine A graders.
What a fluke that was.
But hats off to them. They were on a mission for one month and that's all you need to do.

I think the standout difference between us and the Dogs is that they qualified for finals in 2015 and they obviously qualified for finals in their premiership year, something that we have so failed to do, despite the club saying that this list is primed to play finals.

If all it takes is a one month mission, they at least finished in the top 8 to commence that mission. Do we look like we’re anywhere near to challenging for the top 8?

Maybe it’s the coaching, or maybe it’s the lack of star talent?

[Spinner]

This is my two cents as to how I see the talent depth on our list:

Superstars:
None

Genuine A-Graders:
Steven
Carlisle

B-Graders who could be A grade:
Ross
Billings
Gresham
Sinclair
Membrey
Acres
Dunstan
McCartin
Steele

Genuine B-Graders:
Bruce
Weller
Brown

GOPs:
Longer
Stevens
Newnes
Webster
Lonie

Could be anything:
Hickey
Long
Battle
Clark
Coffield
Goddard
Marshal
White

Could be close to retirement:
Armitage
Gilbert
Freeman

I've probably missed a few players, but based on my thoughts above, I think we actually have some pretty good depth, more so than most teams and certainly a lot than our grand final era. Especially if players on the cusp of A grade make to the next level.

However, our achilles is heel is still clearly the lack of star power, in that we don't have any. Whilst our 09/10 grand final list fell well short once we got to the bottom 6, we still had a top 7 of Roo, Hayes, Dal, Joey, BJ, Fisher and Milne - arguably all stars but at the very least all genuine A-graders.

Thoughts?

This is actually a very very good effort!!!

[Spinner]

This is my two cents as to how I see the talent depth on our list:

Superstars:
None

Genuine A-Graders:
Steven
Carlisle

B-Graders who could be A grade:
Ross
Billings
Gresham
Sinclair
Membrey
Acres
Dunstan
McCartin
Steele

Genuine B-Graders:
Bruce
Weller
Brown

GOPs:
Longer
Stevens
Newnes
Webster
Lonie

Could be anything:
Hickey
Long
Battle
Clark
Coffield
Goddard
Marshal
White

Could be close to retirement:
Armitage
Gilbert
Freeman

I've probably missed a few players, but based on my thoughts above, I think we actually have some pretty good depth, more so than most teams and certainly a lot than our grand final era. Especially if players on the cusp of A grade make to the next level.

However, our achilles is heel is still clearly the lack of star power, in that we don't have any. Whilst our 09/10 grand final list fell well short once we got to the bottom 6, we still had a top 7 of Roo, Hayes, Dal, Joey, BJ, Fisher and Milne - arguably all stars but at the very least all genuine A-graders.

Thoughts?

This is actually a very very good effort!!!

[Spinner]

Forgive me my memory fades but who were all the A graders in the Bulldogs Premiership lineup ?

Good question.
The media love the Bont. Over rated imo.
Libba and Wood had freak years.
MacRae and Hunter are handy.
But I agree with you. I don't think any of them are genuine A graders.
What a fluke that was.
But hats off to them. They were on a mission for one month and that's all you need to do.

Bont is an A grade, match winner - it's seriously embarrassing when this forum attempts to lessen other players, especially as there is self interest with billings picked beforehand.

[erskine_1981]

Roberton?

[SydneySainter]

Of course.

Roberton would be another B grader who could be A grade IMO.

[bigred]

Roberton made the AA squad last year.

I reckon that qualifies him as an A grader.

[prwilkinson]

There's no one in this St Kilda team that on the way to the game I say, "I can't wait to watch 'so and so' play".

The anticipation before a match when you knew Plugger was in the team was the polar opposite.

[St. Paul]

There's no one in this St Kilda team that on the way to the game I say, "I can't wait to watch 'so and so' play".

The anticipation before a match when you knew Plugger was in the team was the polar opposite.

Plus one about Plugger, prw. I even had opposition supporter mates who'd come to Moorabbin just to watch the great man play. Remember when we had the G Train, Milne, Roo, Lenny and Dal? All good reasons to pay at the gate. Hopefully a few of this crop can go on and reach star status. Blacres, Coff and "The two new Lennies", Dunstan and Ross, shape as candidates. I'd love Paddy to grow into that role, but Plugger's boots are almost impossible to fill. GOAT, IMHO.

[stonecold]

There's no one in this St Kilda team that on the way to the game I say, "I can't wait to watch 'so and so' play".

The anticipation before a match when you knew Plugger was in the team was the polar opposite.

Plus one about Plugger, prw. I even had opposition supporter mates who'd come to Moorabbin just to watch the great man play. Remember when we had the G Train, Milne, Roo, Lenny and Dal? All good reasons to pay at the gate. Hopefully a few of this crop can go on and reach star status. Blacres, Coff and "The two new Lennies", Dunstan and Ross, shape as candidates. I'd love Paddy to grow into that role, but Plugger's boots are almost impossible to fill. GOAT, IMHO.

Did you sit in the Huggins Stand?????

What about Billy?????

He is full of personality, just can't enough of the footy!!!!!

[prwilkinson]

There's no one in this St Kilda team that on the way to the game I say, "I can't wait to watch 'so and so' play".

The anticipation before a match when you knew Plugger was in the team was the polar opposite.

Plus one about Plugger, prw. I even had opposition supporter mates who'd come to Moorabbin just to watch the great man play. Remember when we had the G Train, Milne, Roo, Lenny and Dal? All good reasons to pay at the gate. Hopefully a few of this crop can go on and reach star status. Blacres, Coff and "The two new Lennies", Dunstan and Ross, shape as candidates. I'd love Paddy to grow into that role, but Plugger's boots are almost impossible to fill. GOAT, IMHO.

Did you sit in the Huggins Stand?????

What about Billy?????

He is full of personality, just can't enough of the footy!!!!!

Yeah... Milney, Roo, Lennyyy.... G TRAINNNNNNN.... and silky smooth Nicky Dal... all great reasons to pack snacks, a thermus and head down to the Docklands for the afternoon.

[degruch]

There can be no argument that Steven & Carlisle are A Graders.

Maybe ask a non Saints supporter. I think you'll get plenty of argument. Steven can't handle a tag as a rule. Carlisle is our closest to A grade

Yeah, Steven drops to a 25 possession game when tagged...honestly, has he ever been tagged out of a game, except when he's labouring with a busted lung?