Micky McGuane ranks saints midfield and forwards 9th.with the backs 11th

[saynta]

From heraldsun.com.au

9. ST KILDA

The top-liners: Jack Steele (22 Games in 2021, 126 Average SuperCoach Score), Rowan Marshall (13, 99), Zak Jones (13, 93), Brad Crouch (20, 90), Paddy Ryder (12, 84), Jack Billings (18, 83), Sebastian Ross (20, 79), Jade Gresham (3, 69), Dan Hannebery (2, 67), Daniel McKenzie (12, 65), Jarryn Geary (3, 55), Jack Bytel (13, 48)

The top-ups: Tom Campbell (9, 57), Max Heath (0, 0), Mitch Owens (0, 0), Jack Peris (0, 0), Marcus Windhager (0, 0)

MICK SAYS

Jack Steele is a star. No fuss, no fanfare. He’s a consummate professional and a captain you would want to play alongside who gets it done week in, week out. The loss of Luke Dunstan is not ideal and coach Brett Ratten will need to be creative and add another player into the primary midfield fold, which also includes Brad Crouch, Zak Jones, Seb Ross and a bit of Jack Bytel and Daniel McKenzie. Is Jade Gresham – off a knee reconstruction – that man? It depends if he has the fitness and willingness to run both ways in the midfield. Brad Hill and Dan Hannebery are high-profile recruits who need to step up, as does Jack Billings. Will recruit Tom Campbell get an opportunity in the ruck, alongside Paddy Ryder? Rowan Marshall is better used as a starting forward and then he can ruck. The Saints ranked 16th last year for centre clearance differential, which will be a key focus area this season.

[Darth Vader]

The club did a good job keeping Gresham’s “knee reconstruction” quiet.

[saynta]

The club did a good job keeping Gresham’s “knee reconstruction” quiet.

Well he is a former filth player. He might have some teeth but the tatts are a dead give away.

[Banger9798]

The club did a good job keeping Gresham’s “knee reconstruction” quiet.

Hard to believe these writers just don't check basic facts.

[SaintPav]

I stopped reading this “analysis” when I read this:

“The loss of Luke Dunstan is not ideal and coach Brett Ratten will need to be creative and add another player into the primary midfield fold…”

[SaintPav]

Since when has Daniel McKenzie played in the midfield?



No mention of Ronnie or any of the new guys?

It doesn’t sound like he’s factored in any potential organic growth of some of the young players: Bytel, Byrnes and Clark come to mind.

This is poorly researched and a terrible piece of footy analysis.

[spert]

The only thing he said which was worth consideration is the damning stat of being 16th in centre clearance differential last year- it was/ is a real issue if we want to get up the ladder.

[wally]

Does he make a living out of his analysis? I know I’m not the most up to date person but I do reckon I could do better.

[skeptic]

I wonder how much he gets paid to write this stuff

[SaintPav]

I wonder how much he gets paid to write this stuff

A few pints and a pack of stale chips

[skeptic]

I wonder how much he gets paid to write this stuff

A few pints and a pack of stale chips

Reflects the quality of “journalism” I guess.

Is the greater travesty that the Herald Sun paid him at all for this article or that McGuane was at one time an assistant coach for us

[Impatient Sainter]

There is no doubt we struggled to win enough clearances last year and ranked 9th is probably about right. If Jones, Gresham & Hannebery can stay fit for the majority of the year we will bounce into top 6 thinking. If not we are going to need Clark, Byrnes & Bytel to take huge steps for us to improve.

[cwrcyn]

This is what happens when you ring it in from the bar of your local pub.

[CURLY]

The editor had a hard time reading the crayon this was submitted in.

[WellardSaint]

There is no doubt we struggled to win enough clearances last year and ranked 9th is probably about right. If Jones, Gresham & Hannebery can stay fit for the majority of the year we will bounce into top 6 thinking. If not we are going to need Clark, Byrnes & Bytel to take huge steps for us to improve.

Hannas- 5-6 games possible.
Jones- could miss 4-5 games
Gresh- geez hope he can stay on the park

[WellardSaint]

This is what happens when you ring it in from the bar of your local pub.

Him n Mark Robinson work from the same sleazy pub

[Saintnickyroo]

Clueless from McGuane. Melbourne just romped to a flag with a midfield of Petracca and Oliver only. I’d argue that Steele, Hanners, Brouch, Billings, Hill, Gresh and Jones bats as deep as any midfield in the comp and is certainly better than 9th.

[Impatient Sainter]

Clueless from McGuane. Melbourne just romped to a flag with a midfield of Petracca and Oliver only. I’d argue that Steele, Hanners, Brouch, Billings, Hill, Gresh and Jones bats as deep as any midfield in the comp and is certainly better than 9th.

I agree but the past 2 years have shown we can't rely on Gresham, Jones or Hanners bodies to stand up. With Marshall & Ryder also missing games they simply didnt play enough games together for us to get any momentum.

Accordingly I reckon MM is on the money with his ratings. Until they can get some continuity or other players fill their void we are 9th.

[saynta]

Clueless from McGuane. Melbourne just romped to a flag with a midfield of Petracca and Oliver only. I’d argue that Steele, Hanners, Brouch, Billings, Hill, Gresh and Jones bats as deep as any midfield in the comp and is certainly better than 9th.

I agree but for the past 2 years have shown we can't rely on Gresham, Jones or Hanners bodies to stand up. With Marshall & Ryder also missing games they simply didnt play enough games together for us to get any momentum.

Accordingly I reckon MM is on the money with his ratings.

No. I will stick with Saint niicky.

[Impatient Sainter]

Wow Saynta what a surprise we don't agree???

[SaintPav]

I wonder how much he gets paid to write this stuff

A few pints and a pack of stale chips

Reflects the quality of “journalism” I guess.

Is the greater travesty that the Herald Sun paid him at all for this article or that McGuane was at one time an assistant coach for us

It’s an overrated profession.

Anyone can be a journalist in this day and age.

[B.M]

Former Stk assistant coach Mick Maguane!!!

[bangaulegend]

Lets just wait until the real season starts before we take too much of what so called experts predict . Every team is one or two injuries to key players from being competitive to struggle street. I'm hopeful but not over confident ATM

[Yorkeys]

His commentary is silly however his conclusion is hard to argue with.

We finished 10th from memory and not sure of the 9 that were above us which had a poorer midfield.

Can't remember ever being confident when one of our mids breaks clear that the disposal will hit a forward.

We obviously have the potential to improve well up the rankings if Jones, Gresh and Clark come back ok/ stay fit. McKenzie could really light it up for us.

So on disclosed form 9th seems fair.

But Mick could just as well have thrown dice to get that because his musings are rubbish.

[WellardSaint]

Lets just wait until the real season starts before we take too much of what so called experts predict . Every team is one or two injuries to key players from being competitive to struggle street. I'm hopeful but not over confident ATM

We lost Paton, Paddy...
Marshall for a fair bit. Oh, Gresh. And Jones did that muscle tear as well.
Battle (not really a key player, but still a best 22 for me)