New Debutants

[Devilhead]

At what stage do we bite the bullet and give debuts to say - Bytel, Byrnes, Connolly? (There could be others)

In the scratch match report all 3 received positive write ups and we continue to see that some of our more senior players are just not up to it or are just plain over the hill

We have already turned over quite a lot of the list but I think we may need to be even more brutal in order to kick start the club

In 1994 an 18yo Matty Lappin debuted for the Saints and that season he played 9 games

In 1995 we debuted two 17yos - Joel Smith who played 20 games that season - Tony Brown who played 17 games - we also debuted one 18yo Austinn Jones who played 19 games that season

Of course we played off in a GF 2 years later with all those players contributing heavily during that season.

Now I am not saying success will be guaranteed if we inject more youth however the above examples show that a fresh injection can do wonders for a team especially if young debutants can have an immediate energetic impact.

Thoughts?

[Nick_BlueNRG]

At what stage do we bite the bullet and give debuts to say - Bytel, Byrnes, Connolly? (There could be others)

In the scratch match report all 3 received positive write ups and we continue to see that some of our more senior players are just not up to it or are just plain over the hill

We have already turned over quite a lot of the list but I think we may need to be even more brutal in order to kick start the club

In 1994 an 18yo Matty Lappin debuted for the Saints and that season he played 9 games

In 1995 we debuted two 17yos - Joel Smith who played 20 games that season - Tony Brown who played 17 games - we also debuted one 18yo Austinn Jones who played 19 games that season

Of course we played off in a GF 2 years later with all those players contributing heavily during that season.

Now I am not saying success will be guaranteed if we inject more youth however the above examples show that a fresh injection can do wonders for a team especially if young debutants can have an immediate energetic impact.

Thoughts?

If their form warrants selection then yes. If it is a fifty fifty call between an oldie or them then go for them instead of the oldie.

[Gershwin]

I don't know that I would get too carried away with the scratch match report - it was written by the club and talked up 15 players. In fact if you played and didn't get mentioned you must have played a shocker.

This season is so important to the Club that we must ensure we win as many games as possible. We must show we are relevant to the competition. We already know we are a drain financially. I don't know that I would be blooding new players unless they were absolutely showing compelling reasons for getting a game.

[Trev from the Bush]

At what stage do we bite the bullet and give debuts to say - Bytel, Byrnes, Connolly? (There could be others)

In the scratch match report all 3 received positive write ups and we continue to see that some of our more senior players are just not up to it or are just plain over the hill

We have already turned over quite a lot of the list but I think we may need to be even more brutal in order to kick start the club

In 1994 an 18yo Matty Lappin debuted for the Saints and that season he played 9 games

In 1995 we debuted two 17yos - Joel Smith who played 20 games that season - Tony Brown who played 17 games - we also debuted one 18yo Austinn Jones who played 19 games that season

Of course we played off in a GF 2 years later with all those players contributing heavily during that season.

Now I am not saying success will be guaranteed if we inject more youth however the above examples show that a fresh injection can do wonders for a team especially if young debutants can have an immediate energetic impact.

Thoughts?

If their form warrants selection then yes. If it is a fifty fifty call between an oldie or them then go for them instead of the oldie.

And where do you suggest they play to get some form to warrant selection, Nick?

[Nick_BlueNRG]

At what stage do we bite the bullet and give debuts to say - Bytel, Byrnes, Connolly? (There could be others)

In the scratch match report all 3 received positive write ups and we continue to see that some of our more senior players are just not up to it or are just plain over the hill

We have already turned over quite a lot of the list but I think we may need to be even more brutal in order to kick start the club

In 1994 an 18yo Matty Lappin debuted for the Saints and that season he played 9 games

In 1995 we debuted two 17yos - Joel Smith who played 20 games that season - Tony Brown who played 17 games - we also debuted one 18yo Austinn Jones who played 19 games that season

Of course we played off in a GF 2 years later with all those players contributing heavily during that season.

Now I am not saying success will be guaranteed if we inject more youth however the above examples show that a fresh injection can do wonders for a team especially if young debutants can have an immediate energetic impact.

Thoughts?

If their form warrants selection then yes. If it is a fifty fifty call between an oldie or them then go for them instead of the oldie.

And where do you suggest they play to get some form to warrant selection, Nick?

The scratch matches.

[Otiman]

One at a time, 4 games each this year.

[saintspremiers]

We have topped up with 5 mature players to play finals this year - well, that was the pre COVID plan - or if not finals, to be very close to the mark.

Just because we got rolled by a top side playing out of their skin for a half doesn’t mean we should throw the baby out with the bath water.

[Spinner]

At what stage do we bite the bullet and give debuts to say - Bytel, Byrnes, Connolly? (There could be others)

In the scratch match report all 3 received positive write ups and we continue to see that some of our more senior players are just not up to it or are just plain over the hill

We have already turned over quite a lot of the list but I think we may need to be even more brutal in order to kick start the club

In 1994 an 18yo Matty Lappin debuted for the Saints and that season he played 9 games

In 1995 we debuted two 17yos - Joel Smith who played 20 games that season - Tony Brown who played 17 games - we also debuted one 18yo Austinn Jones who played 19 games that season

Of course we played off in a GF 2 years later with all those players contributing heavily during that season.

Now I am not saying success will be guaranteed if we inject more youth however the above examples show that a fresh injection can do wonders for a team especially if young debutants can have an immediate energetic impact.

Thoughts?

Every listed player seemed to play a blinder in that 'scratch' match... give me the stats - they couldn't have all stared.

[Trev from the Bush]

At what stage do we bite the bullet and give debuts to say - Bytel, Byrnes, Connolly? (There could be others)

In the scratch match report all 3 received positive write ups and we continue to see that some of our more senior players are just not up to it or are just plain over the hill

We have already turned over quite a lot of the list but I think we may need to be even more brutal in order to kick start the club

In 1994 an 18yo Matty Lappin debuted for the Saints and that season he played 9 games

In 1995 we debuted two 17yos - Joel Smith who played 20 games that season - Tony Brown who played 17 games - we also debuted one 18yo Austinn Jones who played 19 games that season

Of course we played off in a GF 2 years later with all those players contributing heavily during that season.

Now I am not saying success will be guaranteed if we inject more youth however the above examples show that a fresh injection can do wonders for a team especially if young debutants can have an immediate energetic impact.

Thoughts?

If their form warrants selection then yes. If it is a fifty fifty call between an oldie or them then go for them instead of the oldie.

And where do you suggest they play to get some form to warrant selection, Nick?

The scratch matches.

Hmm. Extremely tough competition those scratch matches. Not at all like those soft VFL games!

[cwrcyn]

None of us have had a look at Bytel or Byrnes. Both can play, based on their U18 form and have AFL -ready bodies. Connolly seems to be a project player who's very light, so him playing this year won't happen. Then you've got Clavarino (unlikey, unless we get a few injuries), Mayo (a slight chance with an injury to one of our forwards) and Bell (project player - no chance).

So really, there aren't many to chose from. My guess is that only one player will debut from that list and it's out of Byrnes and Bytel

[Nick_BlueNRG]

At what stage do we bite the bullet and give debuts to say - Bytel, Byrnes, Connolly? (There could be others)

In the scratch match report all 3 received positive write ups and we continue to see that some of our more senior players are just not up to it or are just plain over the hill

We have already turned over quite a lot of the list but I think we may need to be even more brutal in order to kick start the club

In 1994 an 18yo Matty Lappin debuted for the Saints and that season he played 9 games

In 1995 we debuted two 17yos - Joel Smith who played 20 games that season - Tony Brown who played 17 games - we also debuted one 18yo Austinn Jones who played 19 games that season

Of course we played off in a GF 2 years later with all those players contributing heavily during that season.

Now I am not saying success will be guaranteed if we inject more youth however the above examples show that a fresh injection can do wonders for a team especially if young debutants can have an immediate energetic impact.

Thoughts?

If their form warrants selection then yes. If it is a fifty fifty call between an oldie or them then go for them instead of the oldie.

And where do you suggest they play to get some form to warrant selection, Nick?

The scratch matches.

Hmm. Extremely tough competition those scratch matches. Not at all like those soft VFL games!

Better than nothing. What do you suggest Trev?

[goods]

Bytel - hes the one! He must play.

[footynut]

Bytel - hes the one! He must play.

And Jone's injury might just be the opening he needs.

[ace]

BYTEL may just be the fourth competitor the ACCC was looking for when they tried to block the TPG Telecom - Vodaphone Hutchinson Australia merger.