Speculaton on 2021 Free Agents

[Sanctorum]

Foxfooty have listed the most prized free agents at the end of 2021 and made the following observations about two Saints players:

"9. Jack Billings

After seemingly living in the Pick 3/Bontempelli shadow for a few years, Billings has become a gun AFL midfielder and one of St Kilda’s most important players. The midfielder attracted ample interest from rival clubs during 2019 before re-signing for a further two seasons. But with Brad Crouch joining an on-ball brigade that already includes Dan Hannebery, Jack Steele, Seb Ross and Zak Jones, on-ball opportunities for Billings could be more scarce in 2021, especially if Jade Gresham is unleashed in the guts more often. What’s also interesting to note is the Saints have several key players without a deal beyond 2021, including Hunter Clark, Nick Coffield and Tim Membrey. In October, club great Nick Riewoldt said rival clubs would view Billings as “gettable”, while Jonathan Brown argued Billings had the potential to net the Saints a first-round pick if he was traded. As St Kilda aims to improve on its outstanding 2020 campaign, Billings looms as one of the club’s biggest subplots next season."

"14. Seb Ross

The midfielder is one of several key Saints without a contract beyond 2021. He’s part of a midfield now that includes Brad Crouch, Bradley Hill, Zak Jones, Dan Hannebery, Jack Steele and Jack Billings, while Jade Gresham is waiting in the wings for more on-ball time. Ross was one of the league’s top ball-winners in 2017 and 2018 but his impact has diminished somewhat over the past few seasons. He was sensationally linked to the Bombers before the Saints labelled the link “rubbish” and confirmed he’d see out his contract with the club. Whether he stays at the Saints from 22 onwards remains up in the air."

Presumably at some stage in the new season the club will sit down with the 2 players and/or their managers to discuss their futures, and it remains to be seen if there are other clubs that will offer either of them a better deal than St Kilda, and if so, whether or not the club will seek to match any such offers and retain their services.

[saynta]

I think a chance to be immortalized as a part of the saints team to win a second long overdue premiership will see both of them sign on for 2022 at least.

[CQ SAINT]

I think a chance to be immortalized as a part of the saints team to win a second long overdue premiership will see both of them sign on for 2022 at least.

2021 is definitely going to provide them both the opportunity to stake a claim to Sainthood. The outcome is up to them. If they can have career best seasons, we could end the drought next year.

[Joffa Burns]

Billings AA (named on HFF) after kicking 30 plus and running riot as a high half forward in 2021.

Bookmark it!

[ace]

Billings as a free agent may net St Kilda a first round compensation but in the mid to late 20s on the night that is not much.
Nothing like a pick no 3.

[The_Dud]

No, please, don’t go Seb...

[CQ SAINT]

Billings as a free agent may net St Kilda a first round compensation but in the mid to late 20s on the night that is not much.
Nothing like a pick no 3.

At a reported $750k he be a little higher wouldnt he?

[Vortex]

Billings needs a breakout season.

[CQ SAINT]

Billings needs a breakout season.

What would a breakout season look like for Billings? Serious question.

[Vortex]

Billings needs a breakout season.

What would a breakout season look like for Billings? Serious question.

I think it would start by him receiving video analysis of Bont and Pettraca from BR as a xmas gift. From there it would involve the club accountant stamping his coach's game review with "value for money" in more than 80% of games played.

Serious answer.

[The Billings Method]

Billings needs a breakout season.

What would a breakout season look like for Billings? Serious question.

2019.

[whiskers3614]

Can't believe the people on here bagging Billings and simultaneously defending the "mercenaries"!

[Vortex]

Billings needs a breakout season.

What would a breakout season look like for Billings? Serious question.

2019.

A holding pattern at best for a 3DP on 800k per season.

[CQ SAINT]

Billings will get an offer at the end of next year that reflects his form or he will accept an extension earlier, also based on his form. Whether it is enough to keep him or not matters little. There will be a few FA's chasing success. Essendon and GWS may be the losers because they are both f***ed.
I'm happy to let the football department continue to keep tabs on it all and keep improving the list.

[fugazi]

Billings AA (named on HFF) after kicking 30 plus and running riot as a high half forward in 2021.

Bookmark it!

Love it
He can do it if he wants to do it....

[Goose is king]

[quote=fugazi post_id=1885281 time=1608789057 user_id=298]
[quote="Joffa Burns" post_id=1885217 time=1608707103 user_id=73]
Billings AA (named on HFF) after kicking 30 plus and running riot as a high half forward in 2021.

Bookmark it!
[/quote]

Love it
He can do it if he wants to do it....
[/quote]

No he can’t. A 10 goal season from Bontempeli should see him take the forward flank position off Billings

[mr six o'clock]

I don't like st kilda losing good players but unfortunately that is the way of the modern AFL.
However both players whilst looking like potential A graders have yet to reach that potential.
Hopefully it will happen in 2021 but if doesn't and they end up elsewhere in 2022 then so be it .

[SAINT-LEE]

Would we hold tightly to Billings if it meant a deal either directly or indirectly to GWS for Ben?
No for me.
Billings has improved. He has not been high value in several seasons but important none the less.

We can win without him, because we've won in spite of him many times and lost because he failed to win ball, move ball and kick accurately.

I like him, he could keep improving and be great...but so could others.
If Crouch and co come strong, Billings is gone for me, especially if it means a stronger St Kilda.

Putting a player (s) on a pedestal over the good of the club was what stunted our legacy in 2008-2012.


Never again.

No player is worth more than the club.

[Trev from the Bush]

As the title says, it's speculation.

Now crack a can and get into it.

[SuperDuper]

You would think both will be offered new contracts on less money than their current deals but both seem committed to the saints... Billings was good in 2019 but not great in the latter part of 2020.. Ross started 2020 slow but actually finished well. Let's see how they go in 2021..doubt the club will break the bank to keep them but I'd say deals will be done unless either falls out of favour or gets a huge offer that is way above their actual worth

[Gershwin]

Billings needs a breakout season.

What would a breakout season look like for Billings? Serious question.

2019.

What a difference a Covid-19 year makes:

2019 TREVOR BARKER AWARD TOP 10

1. Seb Ross (170 votes)

2. Rowan Marshall (152)

3. Jack Steele (151)

4. Jack Billings (140)

5. Tim Membrey (136)

6. Jade Gresham (131)

7. Callum Wilkie (115)

8. Luke Dunstan (111)

9. Josh Bruce (108)

10. Shane Savage (101)

[Goose is king]

[quote=Sanctorum post_id=1885204 time=1608686832 user_id=22233]
Foxfooty have listed the most prized free agents at the end of 2021 and made the following observations about two Saints players:

[i]"9. Jack Billings

After seemingly living in the Pick 3/Bontempelli shadow for a few years, Billings has become a gun AFL midfielder and one of St Kilda’s most important players. The midfielder attracted ample interest from rival clubs during 2019 before re-signing for a further two seasons. But with Brad Crouch joining an on-ball brigade that already includes Dan Hannebery, Jack Steele, Seb Ross and Zak Jones, on-ball opportunities for Billings could be more scarce in 2021, especially if Jade Gresham is unleashed in the guts more often. What’s also interesting to note is the Saints have several key players without a deal beyond 2021, including Hunter Clark, Nick Coffield and Tim Membrey. In October, club great Nick Riewoldt said rival clubs would view Billings as “gettable”, while Jonathan Brown argued Billings had the potential to net the Saints a first-round pick if he was traded. As St Kilda aims to improve on its outstanding 2020 campaign, Billings looms as one of the club’s biggest subplots next season."[/i]

"[i]14. Seb Ross

The midfielder is one of several key Saints without a contract beyond 2021. He’s part of a midfield now that includes Brad Crouch, Bradley Hill, Zak Jones, Dan Hannebery, Jack Steele and Jack Billings, while Jade Gresham is waiting in the wings for more on-ball time. Ross was one of the league’s top ball-winners in 2017 and 2018 but his impact has diminished somewhat over the past few seasons. He was sensationally linked to the Bombers before the Saints labelled the link “rubbish” and confirmed he’d see out his contract with the club. Whether he stays at the Saints from 22 onwards remains up in the air.[/i]"

Presumably at some stage in the new season the club will sit down with the 2 players and/or their managers to discuss their futures, and it remains to be seen if there are other clubs that will offer either of them a better deal than St Kilda, and if so, whether or not the club will seek to match any such offers and retain their services.
[/quote]

Is their a link to the list?

[Gershwin]

Foxfooty have listed the most prized free agents at the end of 2021 and made the following observations about two Saints players:

"9. Jack Billings

After seemingly living in the Pick 3/Bontempelli shadow for a few years, Billings has become a gun AFL midfielder and one of St Kilda’s most important players. The midfielder attracted ample interest from rival clubs during 2019 before re-signing for a further two seasons. But with Brad Crouch joining an on-ball brigade that already includes Dan Hannebery, Jack Steele, Seb Ross and Zak Jones, on-ball opportunities for Billings could be more scarce in 2021, especially if Jade Gresham is unleashed in the guts more often. What’s also interesting to note is the Saints have several key players without a deal beyond 2021, including Hunter Clark, Nick Coffield and Tim Membrey. In October, club great Nick Riewoldt said rival clubs would view Billings as “gettable”, while Jonathan Brown argued Billings had the potential to net the Saints a first-round pick if he was traded. As St Kilda aims to improve on its outstanding 2020 campaign, Billings looms as one of the club’s biggest subplots next season."

"14. Seb Ross

The midfielder is one of several key Saints without a contract beyond 2021. He’s part of a midfield now that includes Brad Crouch, Bradley Hill, Zak Jones, Dan Hannebery, Jack Steele and Jack Billings, while Jade Gresham is waiting in the wings for more on-ball time. Ross was one of the league’s top ball-winners in 2017 and 2018 but his impact has diminished somewhat over the past few seasons. He was sensationally linked to the Bombers before the Saints labelled the link “rubbish” and confirmed he’d see out his contract with the club. Whether he stays at the Saints from 22 onwards remains up in the air."

Presumably at some stage in the new season the club will sit down with the 2 players and/or their managers to discuss their futures, and it remains to be seen if there are other clubs that will offer either of them a better deal than St Kilda, and if so, whether or not the club will seek to match any such offers and retain their services.

Is their a link to the list?

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-tr ... be08a93b4f

[The Billings Method]

Billings needs a breakout season.

What would a breakout season look like for Billings? Serious question.

2019.

What a difference a Covid-19 year makes:

2019 TREVOR BARKER AWARD TOP 10

1. Seb Ross (170 votes)

2. Rowan Marshall (152)

3. Jack Steele (151)

4. Jack Billings (140)

5. Tim Membrey (136)

6. Jade Gresham (131)

7. Callum Wilkie (115)

8. Luke Dunstan (111)

9. Josh Bruce (108)

10. Shane Savage (101)

I believe JB's less than spectacular 2020 was due to two main factors. Ratts tweaked his role in that he spent more time forward and fewer minutes in the midfield. It looked as though he struggled to adjust at times. I'm sure he'll be better for the experience. The weirdness of 2020's playing conditions wouldn't have helped matters, either.

Up until 2020, his improvement had been gradual, steady and upward in a linear way. Last season he plateaued and dropped off somewhat. 2021 will represent a fork in the road of JB's career.

Have a breakout year (a b&f, AA etc.) and his value increases exponentially, both internally and in the FA market. He has the greatest of incentives. Self-interest. In a race, always back it. At least you'll know it's trying!

Either way, it augurs well for the team. A highly motivated JB playing close to his maximum potential will do our chances no harm while boosting his value in the market, should he choose to leave, giving us better compensation.

I want him to become the true A grader his potential has always indicated he could be. As a high midfielder who goes forward and kicks goals, he would be another part of our premiership puzzle.

[skeptic]

Billings needs a breakout season.

What would a breakout season look like for Billings? Serious question.

2019.

What a difference a Covid-19 year makes:

2019 TREVOR BARKER AWARD TOP 10

1. Seb Ross (170 votes)

2. Rowan Marshall (152)

3. Jack Steele (151)

4. Jack Billings (140)

5. Tim Membrey (136)

6. Jade Gresham (131)

7. Callum Wilkie (115)

8. Luke Dunstan (111)

9. Josh Bruce (108)

10. Shane Savage (101)

I believe JB's less than spectacular 2020 was due to two main factors. Ratts tweaked his role in that he spent more time forward and fewer minutes in the midfield. It looked as though he struggled to adjust at times. I'm sure he'll be better for the experience. The weirdness of 2020's playing conditions wouldn't have helped matters, either.

Up until 2020, his improvement had been gradual, steady and upward in a linear way. Last season he plateaued and dropped off somewhat. 2021 will represent a fork in the road of JB's career.

Have a breakout year (a b&f, AA etc.) and his value increases exponentially, both internally and in the FA market. He has the greatest of incentives. Self-interest. In a race, always back it. At least you'll know it's trying!

Either way, it augurs well for the team. A highly motivated JB playing close to his maximum potential will do our chances no harm while boosting his value in the market, should he choose to leave, giving us better compensation.

I want him to become the true A grader his potential has always indicated he could be. As a high midfielder who goes forward and kicks goals, he would be another part of our premiership puzzle.

I wonder as well the impact of playing away from Marvel...
JB in particular, say along with Hill, seem like they would be especially well suited to the conditions at Marvel