Ben King

[samuraisaint]

While we’re shopping, we might as well try and get Collins. This would free up Howard a bit.

Great post - Collins is THE single most underrated full back in the entire AFL roster.

[Scollop]

Maybe we’ve been going about this the wrong way. Just give Bing’s dad a job at the club and we’ve got him!!

And while we’re at it, give Anderson’s dad the CEO role and land Noah as well.

[skeptic]

While we’re shopping, we might as well try and get Collins. This would free up Howard a bit.

Great post - Collins is THE single most underrated full back in the entire AFL roster.

100% agree

Reckon Howard would be well suited to more of a CHB type role with an ability to zone off and push up the ground, whilst leaving a more accountable defender deep

[B.M]

Yes, Howard might be better suited to CHB (position doesn’t really exist) but Wilkie is playing the 2nd tall defender role atm

[skeptic]

Yes, Howard might be better suited to CHB (position doesn’t really exist) but Wilkie is playing the 2nd tall defender role atm

True enough but we’re talking about roles here. We’re pbly short a decent tight checking defender and Wilkie is versatile enough to go from 2nd tall to 3rd or medium sized defender

[B.M]

I think we are happy to go undersized, which I think is an error.

Happy for Howard 199 to play on Gorillas and Wilkie 191 to play taller than his height. Maybe looking at Highmore 192 to play as a 3

Maybe we want a more mobile backline?

Runs the risk of being exposed imo

[Ghost Like]

Yes, Howard might be better suited to CHB (position doesn’t really exist) but Wilkie is playing the 2nd tall defender role atm

True enough but we’re talking about roles here. We’re pbly short a decent tight checking defender and Wilkie is versatile enough to go from 2nd tall to 3rd or medium sized defender

I don't care which part of the backline Howard plays, FB, CHB, 1st tall, 2nd tall, fly half as long as he doesn't take the kick ins. He's been too indecisive often leading to a long bomb or worse, a straight turnover.

[Teflon]

While we’re shopping, we might as well try and get Collins. This would free up Howard a bit.

Great post - Collins is THE single most underrated full back in the entire AFL roster.

100% agree

Reckon Howard would be well suited to more of a CHB type role with an ability to zone off and push up the ground, whilst leaving a more accountable defender deep

Great call re Howard - could be a really versatile attacking chb he’s not a dour close checking defender never has been.
If we can support him with a decent sized stay home defender with Wilkie/Highmore support roles we start to become very strong down back imo

[Sainter_Dad]

Rowell & Anderson might want to come home to the bayside

Dean might have a say on Noah too - maybe warning him off

[Wayne42]

Compo pick for billings goes to suns
Dunstan
Our 3rd rnd 2021

so picks
6, Dunstan and 40

You won't get it done with that offer, they won't want our rejects for their best forward.

[Teflon]

Let’s get Ben and insist he’s a winger...we are good at that

[Impatient Sainter]

Let’s get Ben and insist he’s a winger...we are good at that

Yeah it really worries me that Ratts is insistent he can turn Battle into a wingman. I thought Ratts was a pretty smart coach, but I'm really having my reservations now.

[skeptic]

Yeah there’s something about Ratts that is just peculiar.

He has these odd takes that he just perseveres with for reasons that are not obviously clear.

Last year it was taking our exceptionally well performing backline and inexplicably dropping Carlisle for weeks whilst we were winning games. IIRC we went into games a key defender short and lost the majority whilst he was out

Then there was playing Kent as a forward pocket that didn’t kick goals and moved up the ground to get 6-7 touches a game
And whilst Hind could only play in a FP, Kent had a solid run up forward kicking what was it? 3 goals on 3 months. That particular call has aged especially poorly

This year it’s been 3 small forwards (he loves small forwards) Battle on a wing and Long+Bytel as the big scape goats

There’s something about him that’s just odd

[Wayne42]

Yeah there’s something about Ratts that is just peculiar.

He has these odd takes that he just perseveres with for reasons that are not obviously clear.

Last year it was taking our exceptionally well performing backline and inexplicably dropping Carlisle for weeks whilst we were winning games. IIRC we went into games a key defender short and lost the majority whilst he was out

Then there was playing Kent as a forward pocket that didn’t kick goals and moved up the ground to get 6-7 touches a game
And whilst Hind could only play in a FP, Kent had a solid run up forward kicking what was it? 3 goals on 3 months. That particular call has aged especially poorly

This year it’s been 3 small forwards (he loves small forwards) Battle on a wing and Long+Bytel as the big scape goats

There’s something about him that’s just odd

Ratts might have passed his use by date, his thinking might belong to yesteryear.

I don't believe Ratts has it all his own way at the Saints, i think he has to contend with Rath's theories as well as his own.
That's something i picked up on in their member's meeting the other day. Maybe there is a bit of conflict there.

[B.M]

Is it Rath who is to blame?

The other day it was the assistants??

We really don’t want it to be Ratten do we?

[Wayne42]

Is it Rath who is to blame?

The other day it was the assistants??

We really don’t want it to be Ratten do we?

Beware the gripes of Rath

[Teflon]

Yeah there’s something about Ratts that is just peculiar.

He has these odd takes that he just perseveres with for reasons that are not obviously clear.

Last year it was taking our exceptionally well performing backline and inexplicably dropping Carlisle for weeks whilst we were winning games. IIRC we went into games a key defender short and lost the majority whilst he was out

Then there was playing Kent as a forward pocket that didn’t kick goals and moved up the ground to get 6-7 touches a game
And whilst Hind could only play in a FP, Kent had a solid run up forward kicking what was it? 3 goals on 3 months. That particular call has aged especially poorly

This year it’s been 3 small forwards (he loves small forwards) Battle on a wing and Long+Bytel as the big scape goats

There’s something about him that’s just odd

Whatever peculiarities he’s got 1 year for mine.
Get a CONSISTENT defensive game going Brett, no more hiding behind “player effort” it’s YOUR job to get that each week.
I’m Not sure all players have brought into Bretts game plan..I’m not sure he commands their respect...sometimes a coach has to have some mongrel to bring that about abs I don’t think Brett has any....
1 year and IF Finnis signs him Rd 2 for another 3 I’ll spew up

[Vortex]

Can we afford Ben King, I would have thought our finances are stretched quite low.

[CQ SAINT]

Can we afford Ben King, I would have thought our finances are stretched quite low.

I figure people are suggesting that offloading Billlings or Ross would balance the ledger. Problem then being replacing some dead weight with no good picks to replace them.
So, We would have to hope the GCFC would take 2023 FRDP and a player. Its a very long shot.
2022 FRDP and Billings, if he chooses to go and gets paid well, may get us a good compo pick. Also a long shot, but if they lose B.King the can afford it.

[SaintDippa]

The way we're travelling we could have pick 1 in the 2022 uncontracted players draft and get Ben for nothing.

[The Fireman]

The way we're travelling we could have pick 1 in the 2022 uncontracted players draft and get Ben for nothing.

must be the plan, too hard to explain our present position otherwise.

[sunsaint]

Compo pick for billings goes to suns
Dunstan
Our 3rd rnd 2021

so picks
6, Dunstan and 40

You won't get it done with that offer, they won't want our rejects for their best forward.

what if we throw in DH as well - isnt he a great influence on & OFF the field - the suns would love that
if wage comes up tell em will do a % split

[Wayne42]

Compo pick for billings goes to suns
Dunstan
Our 3rd rnd 2021

so picks
6, Dunstan and 40

You won't get it done with that offer, they won't want our rejects for their best forward.

what if we throw in DH as well - isnt he a great influence on & OFF the field - the suns would love that
if wage comes up tell em will do a % split

One of the main problems with the Gold Coast Suns is their senior players, those with 100 plus games, are shite players, spuds.

It would be ludicrous for the Suns to trade Bing and accept another batch of Spuds from the Saints in return for their best forward.

I doubt Tony Cochrane would approve any of these proposed trades, either would the AFL, who are the Suns biggest Sponsor.

[Yorkeys]

We can get Ben if he really wants us and no other club. Otherwise we can't pay enough - and retain whatever little credibility we have left.

I'd go the line that his mental health will suffer terribly if he can't play in same side as Max, and separately Lindsay Fox promises him a job for life post footy managing Avalon Complex as a world class airport and quarantine facility.

[vacuous space]

I'm just going to point out that Bailey Smith is struggling to get midfield time, even with Dunkley and Treloar injured. That might be a better tree to shake.