All Australian Contenders

[Sainter_Dad]

Dinny does not paint a very rosy picture for our All Australian chances:

Jack Billings
If the selectors want to pick genuine wingmen, the classy left-footer would have a reasonable case to be in the discussion for a spot. Has averaged 26 disposals without missing a game, while having slotted 13 goals for the season.

No mention of:
Josh Battle
Rowan Marshall
Jack Steele

They may not get the nod - but surely they are contenders.

[fugazi]

Only Marshall and Billings would be a chance for the squad.

I could see Battle, Steele, Clark and Gresham being future contenders.

[Viscount Jeremiah]

I don't think we will have any.

We are crying out for some stars, a few guys could get there but not there yet

[diddley]

Marshall has been great, and a MASSIVE improvement this year.
But in terms of “Best Ruckman 2019”, well behind the best ruckman in Gawn and Grundy. I would go as far as saying he would be happy with top 5.
Steele would be top 5 taggers, and Battle has had a good year, but not AA. Not even favourite for rising star.

[Sainter_Dad]

Marshall has been great, and a MASSIVE improvement this year.
But in terms of “Best Ruckman 2019”, well behind the best ruckman in Gawn and Grundy. I would go as far as saying he would be happy with top 5.
Steele would be top 5 taggers, and Battle has had a good year, but not AA. Not even favourite for rising star.

I agree - but for someone who makes their living reporting on The Saints - you would think Dinny might say something about the others - maybe even just what you have said - but at least recognise them.

[diddley]

Marshall has been great, and a MASSIVE improvement this year.
But in terms of “Best Ruckman 2019”, well behind the best ruckman in Gawn and Grundy. I would go as far as saying he would be happy with top 5.
Steele would be top 5 taggers, and Battle has had a good year, but not AA. Not even favourite for rising star.

I agree - but for someone who makes their living reporting on The Saints - you would think Dinny might say something about the others - maybe even just what you have said - but at least recognise them.

I would love to have a team full of AA players at the saints. But none of them were even close to be worthy this year. If anyone (besides billings for the reasons Dinny names) was even nominated this year, I would be calling it rigged or corrupt.
Massive amounts of “potential” in the team, but AA isn’t about potential. It’s about results this year.

[B.M]

If anyone thinks we have an AA chance, they overrate our players

No chance of any

[Enrico_Misso]

None this year but plenty of future possibilities.

AA high hopes ...
Billings - has the talent but currently too lazy
Carlisle - has the talent but not fit enough and too short fused
Clarke - pencil him in for 2021
Gresham - pencil him in for 2020
King - if he lives up to his reputation
Marshall - could give it a nudge next year if he bulks up over summer
Membrey - 7th in the Coleman despite our poor I50 entries, elite contested mark

AA long shots ...
Acres - looks superb with the footy till he disposes
Battle - solid defender with a touch of class
Coffield - just starting to show what he might do
Hind - pace to burn and skills, needs to find the footy more
Long - brilliant in patches, needs a lot more consistency
Ross - gets enough footy but his disposal brings him undone
Steven - been there before, but hopefully not with the Handbaggers

[desertsaint]

no one player anywhere near it. not now and unlikely for a few years. marshall our best shot but the compeition is fierce.

[older saint]

No one.

Marshall closest but behind Grundy and Gawn ( by a bit)

[St Chris]

Us and the Gold Coast were the only teams to miss any spots in the squad of 40 last year, pretty sure history will repeat this year.

One of the many drawbacks of the media saturation we have to suffer through is that these awards (AA, the Brownlow, MVP, 22 under 22 etc) have all become massive popularity contests. And as far as popularity goes for us Sainters - we’re the nerdy kid with no friends...

[saintbob]

None

[Sainternist]

Jesus, when was the last time a St.Kilda player got an All Australian selection? 2010?

[desertsaint]

Jesus, when was the last time a St.Kilda player got an All Australian selection? 2010?

dempster 2012.

[SydneySainter]

Jesus, when was the last time a St.Kilda player got an All Australian selection? 2010?

dempster 2012.

I thought it was Roo in 2014. Eitherway, not a great reflection of our recruitment / development programme.

[outside66]

I reckon Marshall has had a more influential year than Gawny and according to footywire comparison (link below), Marshall betters Gawny in the following categories

Disposals, goals, tackles, goal assists, contested possessions, effective disposals, disposal efficency, marks inside 50s, clearances, centre clearances, stoppage clearances, metres gained.

The rest of the stats are break-even or Gawn slightly ahead (with the exception of hit-outs 28.5 to 39.4).

Interestingly, against Grundy, the story is quite similar albeit Grundy slightly more ahead in more of the categories but as with Gawn, hitouts are the only area he is more dominant in (28.5 to 41.3).

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_ ... 1=S&fid2=S

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_ ... 1=S&fid2=S


So all in all, I would have Marshall as the 2nd-best ruck in the comp therefore he should certainly be in the squad of 40. Either way, Marshall is younger than both of them and I reckon has way more upside given the fact that he is a natural forward. He's easily become my fave Sainter!

[desertsaint]

Jesus, when was the last time a St.Kilda player got an All Australian selection? 2010?

dempster 2012.

I thought it was Roo in 2014. Eitherway, not a great reflection of our recruitment / development programme.

you are correct. ashamed i forgot. great effort from him that year.

[Laurie]

We will miss out again on a AA selection .
Our players are just so overrated.

[freely]

Our players are just so overrated.

By whom?

[B.M]

Most are either underrated or overrated.

[Spinner]

If anyone thinks we have an AA chance, they overrate our players

No chance of any

Agreed.

Marshall the only one producing elite numbers but behind Shawn and Grundy unfortunately.

[Spinner]

Jesus, when was the last time a St.Kilda player got an All Australian selection? 2010?

dempster 2012.

Is Dempster that bloke people whinge about taking up a grand final position off some youngsters?

AA defender you say?

Must have been good at shutting players down in defence, midfield and the forwardline. Ie Mackie

[desertsaint]

dempster was a great player but was pretty ordinary in 09 and 10. then in 12 took a big step up becoming an elite small defender. unlucky timing for us. reckon he was also pound for pound the best overhead mark at his peak.

[chook23]

No saint player made the squad

[B.M]

Dempster

Small defender

A 191 cm small defender?

He was actually a third tall, who could play small