How far off are we?

[bigred]

No kidding.

But we dont have picks 1 to 5 do we. We dont have anyone tradeable that would generate one of those picks either.

So you work with what you have and pick the best available.

And dont sook about what the last bloke did six years back.

[The Fireman]

I think back to Carlton beating us easily when I gauge how far we are off.

That was a terrible result in what was a very important and winnable match to help us get into finals. We also blew the Adelaide game where we were looking good for a win, then our midfield went missing in the third quarter and blew it again. We almost lost to Collingwood after being miles in front. Our midfield in games seems to have brain fades too often.

until these type of performances are eradicated we will always be a long way off.

Yep. The doggies still look a fair way off and they just played one.

Having a bad one in a GF is better than not getting there at all, our up and down shockers make that look unlikely.

The Doggies have always looked likely.

[bigcarl]

So we need another elite midfielder to partner Steele.

Could it be Clark or Gresham?

Clark, well we already know he is a talent. The broken jaw and two concussions will have knocked his confidence around, but confidence can be rebuilt. He needs to get running now so he can hit 2022 running. I’m not saying it is make or break this season, but if he doesn’t cement a spot in the starting midfield he may be forever consigned to being a skilled and talented half back.

Gresham. Well he’s a bit on the small size to be a midfield beast like Petracca or Oliver, but he has other attributes like vision and breakaway speed that are quite rare.

Both these guys have X-factor. They are creative and they are playmakers.

Let’s hope they get some continuity next season and can really showcase what they’ve got.

[B.M]

Isn’t crouch and or Jones any good?!

Add to that
Gresham
Clark
Bytel
Ross
Billings
Hannebery

[bigcarl]

Isn’t crouch and or Jones any good?!

Add to that
Gresham
Clark
Bytel
Ross
Billings
Hannebery

No doubt they are both good players. Are they elite is the question. Look, I think our midfield depth - at full strength - is pretty good, to be honest. The problem has been getting them on the park

[shanegrambeau]

Boyoo…it is a tad depressing to compare us to Melbourne or the Bulldogs. Are we better off than in October 2020 prognosis wise?

The only reason we might be is because perhaps Collingwood have dropped out and West Coast are down.

Carlton, I hope, will remain perennial disappointments , ditto Essendon.

But Melbourne showed us it can be done.

And the Bulldogs are too. They lost but they achieved a remarkable last gasp clash with Melbourne running back to the wall.

They hit it mid third quarter.

I worry about our team spirit at times too, something that WB and Melbourne never seem to lack.

We need to fix that..

[The_Dud]

We’ve got a bunch of Cs and a few possible Bs in the midfield at the moment, with Steele the only genuine A grader. We need 1, but ideally 2, more ‘Steeles’ in the middle, and I don’t think they’re are any candidates knocking down the door on our list atm.

Gotta throw as many darts as we can on high-draft-capital mids in the next few years as we can!

[B.M]

Who the hell has three Jack Steeles in the midfield

Get real man

You want three top 5 in the Brownlow AA midfielders at Steel’s level?

Have we got an extra 2M in our salary cap???
Is there COLA for living Bayside Melbourne???

I think Crouch, Gresham and Jones would not consider themselves C Grade players

We actually have 4 B&F winners in the midfield

They just need to be injury free and perform at their best

And we need Clark to get serious about his footy and get Flint hard fit!!!

[bigcarl]

Who the hell has three Jack Steeles in the midfield

Get real man

You want three top 5 in the Brownlow AA midfielders at Steel’s level?

Have we got an extra 2M in our salary cap???
Is there COLA for living Bayside Melbourne???

I think Crouch, Gresham and Jones would not consider themselves C Grade players

We actually have 4 B&F winners in the midfield

They just need to be injury free and perform at their best

And we need Clark to get serious about his footy and get Flint hard fit!!!

Well said. Things aren’t as bleak as some would like to believe.

[bigred]

The run of injuries... or the run without injuries that Melbourne had this year is quite impressive.

[The_Dud]

Who the hell has three Jack Steeles in the midfield

Get real man

You want three top 5 in the Brownlow AA midfielders at Steel’s level?

Have we got an extra 2M in our salary cap???
Is there COLA for living Bayside Melbourne???

I think Crouch, Gresham and Jones would not consider themselves C Grade players

We actually have 4 B&F winners in the midfield

They just need to be injury free and perform at their best

And we need Clark to get serious about his footy and get Flint hard fit!!!

Voss - Black - Acker
Cousins - Judd - Kerr
Ablett - Bartel - Selwood
Lenny - Goddard - Dal
etc.

Yes I would like 3 guns in the middle please.

I don't care how players consider themselves (I doubt Dunstan considers himself C grade either) but none of them are A grade, Crouch and Jones (if he can stay fit) maybe B, Gresh hasn't done much in the middle and disposal is bad (ironically).

Clark looked the most promising to take the next step after 2020 but seemed to stagnate for various reasons this year.

Interesting you're worried about the salary cap when it comes to the midfield but are happy to spend $1M+ each on a couple of KPFs!

[older saint]

My wife has a theory we laugh about as it sounds like something out of faulty towers, but it is actually true. It came about when at a saints game she asked who was our person. She follows Richmond and explained Dusty is their person.
It expanded from there, that you have a person(s) and but also need people . We decided that to win a premiership you need at least 1 person and many people. If you have 2 persons and manny people that is better but only having people wont get it done.

Looking at Saturday Melbourne had 3 persons - Petracca , Oliver Gawn and some people - May, Level, Salem, Fritsch,
WB only had 1 person - Bont, but more people - McRae, Treloer, Naughton, Libba, Daniel, Hunter

We have 1 person - Steele, and a few people - Crouch, King, Membrey,

We need another person - King most likely , but more people.

The only team we could come up with since 2000 not to have a person and win the flag was WB 2016.

[B.M]

Clint Jones was our third midfielder in 09/10

How do you rate the following premiership Mids?

Brad Sewell
Kane Lambert
Keiran Jack
Cameron Ling
Mark Hutchins
Luke Ball (Collingwood)

I agree, I think you need a good midfield

I think we have the best two way mid in the game

I really rate Crouch and Jones gives plenty of drive
I think you underrate what Gresham can do, his ground level clearance work is
Elite!

If Hannebery can play 16+ games it gives quality and depth

I also rate our wingers
They have a specific role to play.

And obviously I rate our rucks! It’s where we beat the WB in 2020

[The_Dud]

I think Gresh could be an A-grade small forward, but not in the middle. Too small and kicking is no good, kicks everything up in the air across his body.

Crouch is solid but not a game-breaker, Jones can be exciting but too inconsistent, maybe he can turn that around.

Hannerbry isn't much more than handy depth at this point.

[The Fireman]

I think Gresh could be an A-grade small forward, but not in the middle. Too small and kicking is no good, kicks everything up in the air across his body.

Crouch is solid but not a game-breaker, Jones can be exciting but too inconsistent, maybe he can turn that around.

Hannerbry isn't much more than handy depth at this point.

Jones really impressed me later in the season

[Vortex]

Clint Jones was our third midfielder in 09/10

How do you rate the following premiership Mids?

Brad Sewell
Kane Lambert
Keiran Jack
Cameron Ling
Mark Hutchins
Luke Ball (Collingwood)

I agree, I think you need a good midfield

I think we have the best two way mid in the game

I really rate Crouch and Jones gives plenty of drive
I think you underrate what Gresham can do, his ground level clearance work is
Elite!

If Hannebery can play 16+ games it gives quality and depth

I also rate our wingers
They have a specific role to play.

And obviously I rate our rucks! It’s where we beat the WB in 2020

The midfield proved this year that without Paddy they are a bottom 8 outfit. No Paddy = no finals in 2022.

What may happen though is RoMa could go up a gear with his tap work so that could help if that happens.

And Gresh is 2 things, potentially an established midfielder and also a body as reliable as Hanners. Still hasn't proven himself yet as a bona fide midfielder, that's three things.

[saynta]

Rohan had that foot problem all year. He gets over that then his form should be back to what it was in 2020.

[B.M]

We had both Paddy and Rowan miss large chunks of the year

Jones missed 10
Gresham Season
Clark got injured
Crouch first 3
Hannebery almost the season
Billings last few and played half a dozen injured

Never at any stage did we have our full compliment

Melbourne did for most of the season

Better run with injury
Progression of Clark, Gresham, Bytel and Byrnes
Grab Sonsie with our first pick

I’m bullish

[spert]

Keeping a team mostly free of major injury for a season- especially gun players, is a big key. If Oliver, and/ or Petracca spent weeks on the sidelines, Melbourne would have been back in the pack for sure. Gresh will probably spend most of his time in the forward half when he returns as the nature of his injury means he will lose a little burst speed, but he's not that fast anyway. We need to get elite disposal by foot into the midfield, as although Steele is our top mid, his kicking doesn't penetrate, same for Crouch- Jones can have his days but needs more consistency, like so many of our list.
Looking at the finals, you could see the quality of foot disposal is a step above ours by the top 4 teams in overall field kicking to position- kick long, hit targets. I think these Saints have top level foot skills that can break lines(in no particular order): Sincs, Kent, Connolly, Bytel, Billings, maybe Byrnes, and I struggle after that to be honest.

[Vortex]

We had both Paddy and Rowan miss large chunks of the year

Jones missed 10
Gresham Season
Clark got injured
Crouch first 3
Hannebery almost the season
Billings last few and played half a dozen injured

Never at any stage did we have our full compliment

Melbourne did for most of the season

Better run with injury
Progression of Clark, Gresham, Bytel and Byrnes
Grab Sonsie with our first pick

I’m bullish

Stop it BM, don't overcook me this far from round 1.

[B.M]

Gresham is a dead certainty to play in the midfield this season

And there will be a special role for him

[CQ SAINT]

Gresham is a dead certainty to play in the midfield this season

And there will be a special role for him

Inside extractor with a dual outside breakaway role. He and Jones will be integral in this space getting fast movement out to Hill, Billings, Sinclair and Connolly.

He and Steele will also be looking to increase their impact on the scoreboard.

[The Fireman]

Gresham is a dead certainty to play in the midfield this season

And there will be a special role for him

Inside extractor with a dual outside breakaway role. He and Jones will be integral in this space getting fast movement out to Hill, Billings, Sinclair and Connolly.

He and Steele will also be looking to increase there impact on the scoreboard.

stop it...
you're making me look forward to next season already.

[Sanctorum]

Isn’t crouch and or Jones any good?!

Add to that
Gresham
Clark
Bytel
Ross
Billings
Hannebery

No doubt they are both good players. Are they elite is the question. Look, I think our midfield depth - at full strength - is pretty good, to be honest. The problem has been getting them on the park

I'm with you bigcarl, when everyone is fully fit and they're at their peak St Kilda's midfield is not far off the pace - in addition to Steele, Crouch is close to elite and Jones is an absolute bull with plenty of dash. Develop Clark in the pre-season to play midfield, add Gresham to that mix and we have a bloody strong group to win a majority of clearances.

Sharman is a younger and taller version of Melbourne sharpshooter Fritsch capable of a 50 goals season which gives the opportunity for Membrey to play behind the ball at CHB if required.

Max Heath is the Joker in the pack, I expect him to be a fast developer like Melbourne's young Luke Jackson (already played 30 games at 19 in just his 2nd season), only bigger!

On this basis St Kilda is not far off at all......

[bigcarl]

Isn’t crouch and or Jones any good?!

Add to that
Gresham
Clark
Bytel
Ross
Billings
Hannebery

No doubt they are both good players. Are they elite is the question. Look, I think our midfield depth - at full strength - is pretty good, to be honest. The problem has been getting them on the park

I'm with you bigcarl, when everyone is fully fit and they're at their peak St Kilda's midfield is not far off the pace - in addition to Steele, Crouch is close to elite and Jones is an absolute bull with plenty of dash. Develop Clark in the pre-season to play midfield, add Gresham to that mix and we have a bloody strong group to win a majority of clearances.

Sharman is a younger and taller version of Melbourne sharpshooter Fritsch capable of a 50 goals season which gives the opportunity for Membrey to play behind the ball at CHB if required.

Max Heath is the Joker in the pack, I expect him to be a fast developer like Melbourne's young Luke Jackson (already played 30 games at 19 in just his 2nd season), only bigger!

On this basis St Kilda is not far off at all......

I’m with you. We need some luck as Melbourne had this year … and a good start to the season is crucial.

Can we win one over the next few seasons? Well if a club in my lifetime as hopeless as Melbourne can, then of course we can!