Nathan Brown to sign on for 2020

[guitars4]

Big thumbs up for me IMO was one of our most consistent players last year & even got dropped a few times (still can't understand why )but hey what do I know

[desertsaint]

we traded our most important key forward. not sure why. our recruiters seemed determined to bring in all five trades regardless of cost. better management could save seen bruce retained. maybe there's more to his leaving than we're told?
just got to hope king or battle comes on very quickly, but i also think battle is better down back.

[B.M]

going by depth in positions and balance of list

We have a surplus of

Key Defenders, small/medium defenders and small forwards.

And are shallow in

Key Forwards, Inside Mids, third forwards and a back up ruck

About right for

Third defenders, outside mids

[Harves Man]

Social media says NJB ready to sign on for a year.

Great news.
Tough and has heart

Yep, very good news - guy tries his nads off and is very reliable against the bigger forwards.

[Enrico_Misso]

Social media says NJB ready to sign on for a year.

Great news.
Tough and has heart

Yep, very good news - guy tries his nads off and is very reliable against the bigger forwards.

Totally agree.
Never gets much stats (spoils don't count).
But always keeps his opponent quiet.
Gives his all.
Plays the percentages.
Seldom makes a clanger.

[SaintPav]

Just play him on Bruce. He won't get a kick.

[SaintPav]

Good back up if either Carslile, Howard or Battle get injured.

Quoting my own post:

Carslile goes down: Brown goes deep back and Howard moves to CHB.

Battle goes down: Brown goes deep back and Howard goes forward

Howard goes down: Brown goes deep back.

Etc etc...

[SaintPav]

Battle, Howard and Carlisle are better defenders than forwards. As is Darragh Joyce, who was only trialled there late 2019 due to having surplus defenders and NO key forwards. He was average.

Ryder and Marshall clearly better ruckmen than forwards.

Yes but that’s because playing forward is a lot lot harder but it doesn't mean they couldn't make a good fist of it. I'm thinking Battle, Marshall and Howard. Carslile can't play forward to save himself. I still think we should have kept Bruce.

[stkfc1]

Battle, Howard and Carlisle are better defenders than forwards. As is Darragh Joyce, who was only trialled there late 2019 due to having surplus defenders and NO key forwards. He was average.

Ryder and Marshall clearly better ruckmen than forwards.

Yes but that’s because playing forward is a lot lot harder but it doesn't mean they couldn't make a good fist of it. I'm thinking Battle, Marshall and Howard. Carslile can't play forward to save himself. I still think we should have kept Bruce.

CHF is the one position that I foresee beng a problem all next season. Marshall would probably be a good fit there but then we're robbing Peter to pay Paul. Battle seems the obvious one to go forward as he was a forward as a junior. Forget Carlise. Useless forward.

One from left field, but worth a go would be Wilkie as he played forward in SA leagues if Im not mistaken. It maybe a case of rotating Battle, Marshall,Wilkie forward whilst Ryder in the ruck. Howard and Carlise always staying back. What we'll miss most is Bruce's crash and bash. Im hoping Battle can emulate some of that as he's hard as a cats head.

Of course things all changes if King ends up as the 2nd coming and dominates. (Unlikely, but fingers crossed!!) but just having him out there will help. King will demand a decent defender purely because of his height and mobility. We need to keep Members down the chain as he'll carve up 3rd rate defenders. Our forward pressure is going to be paramount which is why I believe we specifically targeted Butler. It was no coincidence our forward line struggled when Lonie went down as his pressure was really good and created scoring opportunities. We'll need that big time next year.

[saintsRrising]

Good back up if either Carslile, Howard or Battle get injured.

Yes though he actually provides more coverage than that.

For example if Max King gets injured, or just struggles with adequate form in the firsts, having Brown means that he can play back allowing 2 of Howard, Carlisle, Battle to play forward.

Also with King the club may wish to manage his body by not seeking him the play every week.

Diito if Membrey gets injured.

None of Joyce, Austin, March or Clavarino have yet shown that they can play as a true KPD.

Plus Brown is a bit more than coverage as he is still good enough to play as a KPD in his own right except may be just on the quickest and most mobile, and even then he still goes ok.

Another benefit with Brown is that it ups the ante for all KPPs to play well to keep their spot in the 22.

[Bruce G McAbee]

Right now, Brown is our full-back.
It's up to someone to show that he is better than him in that position.

[Special]

Social media says NJB ready to sign on for a year.

Great news.
Tough and has heart

Yep, very good news - guy tries his nads off and is very reliable against the bigger forwards.

Totally agree.
Never gets much stats (spoils don't count).
But always keeps his opponent quiet.
Gives his all.
Plays the percentages.
Seldom makes a clanger.

So a Golden Fist defender?

RIP Spud

[BackFromUSA]

Battle, Howard and Carlisle are better defenders than forwards. As is Darragh Joyce, who was only trialled there late 2019 due to having surplus defenders and NO key forwards. He was average.

Ryder and Marshall clearly better ruckmen than forwards.

Agree mostly. However they are also not our first picked forwards.

IMHO Battle and Marshall can be just as valuable playing CHF which these days means he is a release kick option from the backline and then compete through the midfield and then needs to then turn to become an option within 50.

[Ghost Like]

Wasn't Bruce a better back than forward when he came to St Kilda? We do have options to fill a position in a forward line that struggled for the most part in 2019.

[To the top]

So which forwards from our 17 opposition Clubs does Brown match up on?

Taking a line thru the Carlton game and looking at Brisbane and who did what to us for starters

[Special]

Does a higher quality midfield then make life a lot easier for our defence and make a stronger case for Brown??

[saintsRrising]

Wasn't Bruce a better back than forward when he came to St Kilda? We do have options to fill a position in a forward line that struggled for the most part in 2019.

Bruce was only so so back when he started with us.

When moved forward he blossomed.

[ace]

It came down to Newnes or Brown.
Newnes decided he could not compete with Hill, Jones and Billings for a wing so he flew away.

[Ghost Like]

Wasn't Bruce a better back than forward when he came to St Kilda? We do have options to fill a position in a forward line that struggled for the most part in 2019.

Bruce was only so so back when he started with us.

When moved forward he blossomed.

And that's my point sRr. It's a position that needs filling, an opportunity has been created. Just like our ruck situation at the beginning of 2019, two very average choices fell by the wayside and suddenly we discover an infinitely better ruck than both.

Our forward line was average at best, CHF is structural so whether that is a combination of Battle beside our resting ruckman plus King and Membrey, it should be just as functional. Or we adopt the smaller forward line set up. My guess is Ratten will go with the first, that is more Hawthorn and more about disposal efficiency.

[SaintPav]

Marshall is the wild card. If he can replicate as a forward what he did in the ruck, then we’ll soon forget about Bruce.

[B.M]

Playing forward is a different beast to running around getting kicks in the ruck. Marshall was able to use his superior athleticism compared to other ruckman to get around the whole ground and impact.
As a forward he will have a key defender up his clacker who will be also athletic and strong.
Marshall is a pretty good grab, but can he be as effective having to play in a forward structure and not be able to get around the ground?

Plus you are taking a player away from a position who performed well in that position, why??

[BackFromUSA]

Playing forward is a different beast to running around getting kicks in the ruck. Marshall was able to use his superior athleticism compared to other ruckman to get around the whole ground and impact.
As a forward he will have a key defender up his clacker who will be also athletic and strong.
Marshall is a pretty good grab, but can he be as effective having to play in a forward structure and not be able to get around the ground?

Plus you are taking a player away from a position who performed well in that position, why??

Only time will tell. Let’s wait and see.

[degruch]

Marshall is the wild card. If he can replicate as a forward what he did in the ruck, then we’ll soon forget about Bruce.

I can see Battle taking the vacant spot in the F50, he's strong, competitive, fearless and reads the play beautifully...with Robbo and Webster available down back, I'm sure the coaching staff would be looking to push him forward. I guess we'll just have to wait and see which training group he ends up in?

[asiu]

i suppose the answer to that question is
future operational planning

trying him to evaluate his effectiveness
as a forward
builds an understanding of capabilities
available to team

if he is the great white hope
watching him smash the kpi’s regularly
will drive up his pay grade

‘n everyone will be happy

if he’s no good with a defender up his clacker
after a fair crack at it
send him back to the middle

‘n everyone will be happy

hard to see
where we lose outa this deal.

[To the top]

Do not underestimate Marshall

Prior to this season just past he was unable to hold onto the ball in contested situations - got his hands to it but my summary was that if he could start grabbing his share he would be very useful

But in Season 2019 he went to another level altogether - not only grabbing his share but in all other aspects, maybe down to confidence

There was one incident v Fremantle and right in front of where we were sitting where, winning the contested ball his movements to find space and use the ball to advantage were at another level altogether going one way then the other - at over 200cm doing what only the very best of mids do

My comment then was “this guy is at another level - absolutely brilliant”

Yes, Sandilands gave him a rucking lesson, but ..............

At CHF using the ground he will be a revelation

He is that good

And he can kick - as he has shown us

Ryder will ruck

That is why they went after him

The successor to Ryder will come - and from elsewhere than Marshall

My views anyway

And I would trust that free of the contingent stresses of being on an AFL List and justifying that status the next 12 months (still involved with St Kilda) will assist the guy who should have been our CHF to a full recovery from the ongoing symptoms of concussions