Necessity Is The Mother Of Invention

[DownAtTheJunction]

I'm going way outside the square here. Way outside.
Gresham is a major loss for our team and supplied a significant amount of grunt. Alongside Steele and Jones, he has been the engine.
I'm not sure we can just bring in a new young player to fill that void. We can patch it up but I am don't think that'll return us to near full strength.
I'd like us to consider an alternative. And I think we have an option that is very different but very much worth a look.
I'm thinking Rowan Marshall.
Take Marshall out of the ruck completely and play him as a mid. He is such a bull at clearances even when he rucks. He is immensely strong and genuinely hunts the ball.
It'd frighten a lot of teams, especially those who reckon they have big body mids. And it'd put him just where he loves to be ... right in the action!

[bigcarl]

Good thinking. I agree that we can’t just bring in a young player to fill the void. Get he and Hunter Clark in there.

I think it’s a great idea, but it has about a 1 per cent chance of being taken seriously. Once players are doing one role, people can’t seem to see past it. In actual fact, they are all footballers and much more versatile than given credit for.

Marshall is already an accomplished clearance midfielder. That would be another way of looking at it.

Alternatively, we could pin our hopes on a couple of second gamers (promising ones, yes) to Save Our Season.

[6621104]

Or........... Jonno Marsh into the middle. A bigger body similar to Hugh Greenwood. Worth a try?

[WellardSaint]

Abbott and Ryder in the ruck.
RoMa as a mid doesn't have the acceleration of a little guy but could be good on the outside as a receiver

[bergsone]

Anyone have an update on Hanners.Dont mind the Marshall plan,but cant see it happening,maybe Battle could spend some mid time also,thankfully Jones Ross are available so at least we have some options

[bigcarl]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Plan

The Marshall Plan. Love it

[DownAtTheJunction]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Plan

The Marshall Plan. Love it

I think, bigcarl for much of this year we have been the innovators. I'm not keen on giving that back. I want us to be driving our destiny. We have been bold with speed, a 'catch me if you can' game plan. I just want us to remain bold. For years we have been too predictable.

[bigcarl]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Plan

The Marshall Plan. Love it

I think, bigcarl for much of this year we have been the innovators. I'm not keen on giving that back. I want us to be driving our destiny. We have been bold with speed, a 'catch me if you can' game plan. I just want us to remain bold. For years we have been too predictable.

I agree. Lots of playing it safe and doing it by the book. Take some chances before the season slips away

[DownAtTheJunction]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Plan

The Marshall Plan. Love it

I forgot to read the link. Wow that'd clear the debt too. I'm lovin' it even more!

[fugazi]

Ross needs to come in and show some leadership

One of Bytel or Phillips should stay in this side and Jones and Ryder return.

Out Geary, Gresham, one of Phillips/ Bytel

[longtimesaint]

Can’t see them dropping Bytel after a very impressive debut against one of the best midfields in Geelong.

[bergsone]

Can’t see them dropping Bytel after a very impressive debut against one of the best midfields in Geelong.

Dont think they will drop Phillips either,kicked a couple of goals,something no one else could do

[Enrico_Misso]

I thought it was Frank Zappa?

[Saintmatt]

Anyone have an update on Hanners.Dont mind the Marshall plan,but cant see it happening,maybe Battle could spend some mid time also,thankfully Jones Ross are available so at least we have some options

No 10 is coming back into the hub on the next AFL flight in a fortnight. Will do 14 days quarantine, will continue rehab but unlikely to play again this season

[fugazi]

Anyone have an update on Hanners.Dont mind the Marshall plan,but cant see it happening,maybe Battle could spend some mid time also,thankfully Jones Ross are available so at least we have some options

No 10 is coming back into the hub on the next AFL flight in a fortnight. Will do 14 days quarantine, will continue rehab but unlikely to play again this season

What's the point then?

[Wayne42]

Anyone have an update on Hanners.Dont mind the Marshall plan,but cant see it happening,maybe Battle could spend some mid time also,thankfully Jones Ross are available so at least we have some options

No 10 is coming back into the hub on the next AFL flight in a fortnight. Will do 14 days quarantine, will continue rehab but unlikely to play again this season

Who is No. 10, i've hardly ever seen him play for the Saints.

[Crossy66]

Can’t see them dropping Bytel after a very impressive debut against one of the best midfields in Geelong.

Agree. we need an inside mid, so he fits the bill . He showed fast, clean hands, big bodied and more importantly, he had time in game were everyone else failed under pressure.

[Scollop]

Unfortunately we weren’t lucky enough to have been handed a bye like some of the other clubs. We need to manage some of the players. RoMa might be showing some signs and I’d rather have him playing only 50% in the ruck. Paddy should not be underestimated for what he brings at stoppages. He has won a few clearances with his quick thinking and his athleticism.

We’ve found a beauty in Bytel. He stays for the next couple of games. He’s raw so I’d like to see him managed if he shows any sign of fatigue. He is going to be a clearance beast as his body grows.

Sinclair has been building. He’s grasped his opportunity and now it’s time to see if he can go up a level. Looks pretty fit and is handling the ball a bit better than others. His disposal is generally good on the outside so if he can get some clean footy on the inside and win contested ball and dish it out he’ll be invaluable.

Battle, Clark, Kent, Butler, Long, and maybe even Jack Lonie have the ability to impact at stoppages. Hill, Billings, and Coff are excellent with their efficiency plus we have the quicks in Hind and Phillips on the outside.

So in summary, with Steele, Ross, Bytel, Sinclair, Jones, Paddy and RoMa spending most of the time in the midfield and some good support from other smalls, I think we can cover for the loss of Gresh against the Bummer druggies.

[bakes]

the good thing is that we have always had an overabundance of half-back-flankers.

bring onto the HBF: Roberton / Savage
bring into the midfield: Hunter Clark / Long (in bursts)

The good thing about Long is his mongrel and effective use of the body, a little bit old school and likes to hope and shoulder. puts his head in places other's wouldn't.

[footynut]

Could we play Hill as an inside mid?
Make him attack the ball

[bakes]

I don't think so, "hardness" .. it's not something that can be taught.

[footynut]

I don't think so, "hardness" .. it's not something that can be taught.

I completely understand and agree, but something needs to be done. He seems to lack the confidence or disire to want to be the one that has the ball in his hand. I often see him getting alot of easy possessions across half

[bakes]

I think it'll just take time, as these guys need to gel. Let them run around with each other this year and learn each other's styles / strengths / weaknesses. Next year they'll click. At the moment they just need to rack up time together and as Ratten said, they need to dish it of to him. Get him involved. He's lacking confidence at the moment.

[DownAtTheJunction]

Gresham is a major loss for our team and supplied a significant amount of grunt. Alongside Steele and Jones, he has been the engine.

From afl.com.au
Gresham showed pain following the Saints' 59-point loss to Geelong on Monday night and St Kilda chief Simon Lethlean said there was a "grumble" in his back prior to that game which had settled with an anti-inflammatory.

That statement seems pretty damning. A four day break for a inside mid, showing signs of back stress and he gets some nurofen. That just doesn't read right.

[Sanctorum]

Unfortunately we weren’t lucky enough to have been handed a bye like some of the other clubs. We need to manage some of the players. RoMa might be showing some signs and I’d rather have him playing only 50% in the ruck. Paddy should not be underestimated for what he brings at stoppages. He has won a few clearances with his quick thinking and his athleticism.

We’ve found a beauty in Bytel. He stays for the next couple of games. He’s raw so I’d like to see him managed if he shows any sign of fatigue. He is going to be a clearance beast as his body grows.

Sinclair has been building. He’s grasped his opportunity and now it’s time to see if he can go up a level. Looks pretty fit and is handling the ball a bit better than others. His disposal is generally good on the outside so if he can get some clean footy on the inside and win contested ball and dish it out he’ll be invaluable.

Battle, Clark, Kent, Butler, Long, and maybe even Jack Lonie have the ability to impact at stoppages. Hill, Billings, and Coff are excellent with their efficiency plus we have the quicks in Hind and Phillips on the outside.

So in summary, with Steele, Ross, Bytel, Sinclair, Jones, Paddy and RoMa spending most of the time in the midfield and some good support from other smalls, I think we can cover for the loss of Gresh against the Bummer druggies.

Good analysis Scollop, the club has a lot of options to cover for the injured Jade Gresham. I initially liked DATJ's wildcard idea of RoMa playing midfield but he's far too valuable in his partnership with Paddy and working around the ground, plus lurking up forward.

If you want a big body for the midfield than Josh Battle is my suggestion, he's an absolute bull and I have long considered him as another Fyfe/Bont/Cripps type that can read the game really well and play pretty well anywhere.

Jack Bytel showed a lot of class and composure in his first outing, also strong bodied and may well relish the opportunity to cover for Gresh.

Even Ed Phillips is a contender, he's 22 (187 cm) and played only 13 games but he's quick and shown that he's up to the task.