Hun's best 23 for the saints

[saynta]

ST KILDA

B: L. Stocker, D. Howard, B. Paton

HB: J. Sinclair, C. Wilkie, N. Wanganeen-Milera

C: B. Hill, B. Crouch, M. Wood

HF: M. Windhager, J. Battle, H. Clark

F: D. Butler, T. Membrey, M. Phillipou

Foll: R. Marshall, J. Steele, J. Gresham

I/C: Z. Jones, S. Ross, M. Owens, J. Higgins

Sub: Z. Cordy

Notable absentees: N. Coffield, J. Billings, M. King, J. Hayes

Coach Ross Lyon wants to make the most of the team’s running power on the outside and top draftees Mattaes Phillipou and Marcus Windhager, in particular, have had great pre-seasons. Lyon will give the youngsters every chance as part of this fresh start and Jade Gresham can become an elite midfielder. But the injuries to Max King and Jack Hayes are huge blows, leaving Josh Battle as the man to likely swing forward after a promising stint down back. Jack Billings and Nick Coffield have had interrupted pre-seasons as they recover from injuries.

-Jay Clark

[Beno88]

Stocker is not getting a game ahead of Webster & McKenzie.

[Impatient Sainter]

Battle has trained all off season as a defender, I cant see that changing unless our forward line completely misfires without King and Hayes.

No Sharman and Stocker included over Webster are interesting. Stocker will be fighting with Webster for the 7th defence position until Coffield is ready to return.

[Vortex]

Battle has trained all off season as a defender, I cant see that changing unless our forward line completely misfires without King and Hayes.

No Sharman and Stocker included over Webster are interesting. Stocker will be fighting with Webster for the 7th defence position until Coffield is ready to return.

Not surprised at Sharmans omission but I would think Webster is ahead of Patton and yeah going to be interesting to see how Battle and Cordy both fit in the same team.
It's not a bad guess by the Hun though.

[Banger9798]

Actually not a bad team.

The practice matches will probably determine the Stocker- Coffield-Webster spot for round 1.

I wouldn't be surprised if Battle is swung into CHF, but surely that won't be Plan A, and Sharman will get a crack first.

Battle was good last year and I'd be reluctant to mess with that role now, although we do have Cordy as significant back up .

[Banger9798]

Any team with Phillipou, Owens NWM and Windhager starting is an exciting prospect (although possibly a bit premature)

[older saint]

No way Battle moves forward , why disrupt the back line ?
Sub Cordy - not likely as minimal versatility
Stocker, Coff and a few others will be determined over the next month i would htink

[Otiman]

Pretty close.

A defensive structure of 3 talls/3 smalls puts Battle HBF or BP. May change depending on opposition matchups.

Membrey CHF
Owens FF
Heath on the bench
One of Higgins/Butler/Poo drops out

Sub from Stocker, Caminiti, Van Es.

That's about it.

[bigcarl]

Stocker is not getting a game ahead of Webster & McKenzie.

Tend to agree. Both were really good last season, and McKenzie was particularly impressive. Big loss when he went down and our form never really recovered. Is he fit though?

[lloyd21]

Stocker is not getting a game ahead


of Webster & McKenzie.

Actually from my observations ..Stocker well in front of Webster for number of reasons younger , better kick ,
as has been mentioned countless times , Stkilda will only improve by playing youth …but personally think
Stocker would be a great tagger ..been really impressive around stoppage , rather than the defensive role.
McKenzie has the calf issue for last 18 months ..struggling after improving with wing role , lacks confidence
and his body is failing his greatest strength running ….

Coffield , Wilkie , Howard , Sinclair , NWM, Battle , Paton …are the back 7 ..we are training that way.

Would like us to move away from the Steele , Crouch & Ross ..combo etc…from observations at training we are .

Jones , Windhager, Owens all offer leg speed something we are screaming for , appears that’s happening too.

[shanegrambeau]

Looks like a bottom 6 side TBH.

Maybe Sharman is at centre-half back if it's true he has bulked up.

Rotate Battle, Sharman and Highmore as potential forwards depending on match-ups and game situation.
What about it ladies and gents?

Paton vs Web?
General Paton was ahead of Webster until he was run over by a tank and rough-shodded.

McKenzie is laid up with calf issues.
Billings with back/hammy.
Gresh 'n Jones seem fragile but if they are 'good to go'..gotta roll that dice.
NWM and Sincs just too little and light to be 2/3 of the half-back line.

Stocker? Could he ?

[Ghost Like]

Stocker is not getting a game ahead


of Webster & McKenzie.

Actually from my observations ..Stocker well in front of Webster for number of reasons younger , better kick ,
as has been mentioned countless times , Stkilda will only improve by playing youth …but personally think
Stocker would be a great tagger ..been really impressive around stoppage , rather than the defensive role.
McKenzie has the calf issue for last 18 months ..struggling after improving with wing role , lacks confidence
and his body is failing his greatest strength running ….

Coffield , Wilkie , Howard , Sinclair , NWM, Battle , Paton …are the back 7 ..we are training that way.

Would like us to move away from the Steele , Crouch & Ross ..combo etc…from observations at training we are .

Jones , Windhager, Owens all offer leg speed something we are screaming for , appears that’s happening too.

Thanks lloyd21. Whilst Friday is intraclub, being more about ball movement, style and set plays. What have you observed as our preferred forward structure in the absence of King, Hayes and Campbell?

[lloyd21]

Looks like a bottom 6 side TBH.

Maybe Sharman is at centre-half back if it's true he has bulked up.

Rotate Battle, Sharman and Highmore as potential forwards depending on match-ups and game situation.
What about it ladies and gents?

Paton vs Web?
General Paton was ahead of Webster until he was run over by a tank and rough-shodded.

McKenzie is laid up with calf issues.
Billings with back/hammy.
Gresh 'n Jones seem fragile but if they are 'good to go'..gotta roll that dice.
NWM and Sincs just too little and light to be 2/3 of the half-back line.

Stocker? Could he ?

Personally think we are bottom 4 .
Not the slightest bit concerned about it myself , because we need to build on last 2 drafts ..
Ignored the draft and development for too long, finally being serious about it long term .

[lloyd21]

Looks like a bottom 6 side TBH.

Maybe Sharman is at centre-half back if it's true he has bulked up.

Rotate Battle, Sharman and Highmore as potential forwards depending on match-ups and game situation.
What about it ladies and gents?

Paton vs Web?
General Paton was ahead of Webster until he was run over by a tank and rough-shodded.

McKenzie is laid up with calf issues.
Billings with back/hammy.
Gresh 'n Jones seem fragile but if they are 'good to go'..gotta roll that dice.
NWM and Sincs just too little and light to be 2/3 of the half-back line.

Stocker? Could he ?

Personally think we are bottom 4 .
Not the slightest bit concerned about it myself , because we need to build on last 2 drafts ..
Ignored the draft and development for too long, finally being serious about it long term .

[Sanctorum]

Any team with Phillipou, Owens NWM and Windhager starting is an exciting prospect (although possibly a bit premature)

Personally I'd love to see all of the 4 young fellas play round 1 and I hope they do; it will clearly indicate that Ross Lyon has indeed changed his attitude towards youth since he last coached St Kilda.

My concern with the Hun's team is lack of a 2nd ruckman to assist/relieve Marshall - that's why I would keep Battle at CHB to attend to stoppages in the back half if required, and I'd play Sharman as a KF to do that up forward.

My current team has Tom Campbell on the bench for the game against Fremantle because they will have the 'Fearsome TwoSome' Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson to give their mids first use of the ball, both elite class followers!

[lloyd21]

Stocker is not getting a game ahead


of Webster & McKenzie.

Actually from my observations ..Stocker well in front of Webster for number of reasons younger , better kick ,
as has been mentioned countless times , Stkilda will only improve by playing youth …but personally think
Stocker would be a great tagger ..been really impressive around stoppage , rather than the defensive role.
McKenzie has the calf issue for last 18 months ..struggling after improving with wing role , lacks confidence
and his body is failing his greatest strength running ….

Coffield , Wilkie , Howard , Sinclair , NWM, Battle , Paton …are the back 7 ..we are training that way.

Would like us to move away from the Steele , Crouch & Ross ..combo etc…from observations at training we are .

Jones , Windhager, Owens all offer leg speed something we are screaming for , appears that’s happening too.

Thanks lloyd21. Whilst Friday is intraclub, being more about ball movement, style and set plays. What have you observed as our preferred forward structure in the absence of King, Hayes and Campbell?

We are training the Richmond / Collingwood style of game built on stoppage & having spare behind 7 man backline .

All about speed and chaos forward of centre …Owens / Membrey …lots of space forward of centre .not many players.

[shanegrambeau]

..

..

..

..We are training the Richmond / Collingwood style...

...speed and chaos forward of centre …forward of centre .not many players.

I dread to think, but it might work for a few quarters.
But we will need a plan B.

Last time we played Freo.

frantic speed.

Ahead at half-time.

Some unlucky umpiring.

A howler.

we fell apart.

Quickly, with speed and chaos.

Ratts's weather forecast turned sour, new contract ink still drying.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-a ... 3f100d511d

[lloyd21]

..

..

..

..We are training the Richmond / Collingwood style...

...speed and chaos forward of centre …forward of centre .not many players.

I dread to think, but it might work for a few quarters.
But we will need a plan B.

Last time we played Freo.

frantic speed.

Ahead at half-time.

Some unlucky umpiring.

A howler.

we fell apart.

Quickly, with speed and chaos.

Ratts's weather forecast turned sour, new contract ink still drying.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-a ... 3f100d511d

Won’t play fast all the time , hence why Ross is screaming at them to kick wide to wings ,create stoppage build
defensively behind it ….when it’s required , then go fast when turnover invariably happens .

Everything at training has time element on the scoreboard, actually think players will be attuned to it more & more,
how many goals have the Saints conceded in time on periods ,a lot .

Hopefully not as many, as they will be highlighted by this coach .

[B.M]

Highmore, Cordy, Battle, Howard

Have trained almost entirely as defenders in match sim

Which is a fair indication of where they will play.

Sharman mostly forward with Membrey and Owens

Owens I don’t agree with - he’s a mid not a key forward

[CQ SAINT]

Owens may end up a Pavlich type. Very solid, all rounded big bodied mid/forward.
Would suit a Pagans paddock half forward role, leading up, opening space and sprinting back with the ball.

[CQ SAINT]

Seems we have recruited a number of tallish players with running ability.

[Ghost Like]

Thanks lloyd21.

Unfortunately B.M., we appear to be beggars going into the early rounds.

I suspect a chaos brand & quick, short lead ups are our only options. I suspect our mids will be concentrating on the opposition ruck / mids when RoMa is resting. It appears Owens is our Shaun Grigg / Jason Blake unless Heath makes a push for selection.

[lloyd21]

Highmore, Cordy, Battle, Howard

Have trained almost entirely as defenders in match sim

Which is a fair indication of where they will play.

Sharman mostly forward with Membrey and Owens

Owens I don’t agree with - he’s a mid not a key forward

Not really a ruckman either ,but can pinch hit very well as 2nd ruck till Hayes returns …
Would have liked Keeler to have had some continuity this preseason, early days ..just unfortunate Hotton too.

2 years time from now…very different team, happy to see it progress myself .

[saynta]

..

..

..

..We are training the Richmond / Collingwood style...

...speed and chaos forward of centre …forward of centre .not many players.

I dread to think, but it might work for a few quarters.
But we will need a plan B.

Last time we played Freo.

frantic speed.

Ahead at half-time.

Some unlucky umpiring.

A howler.

we fell apart.

Quickly, with speed and chaos.

Ratts's weather forecast turned sour, new contract ink still drying.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-a ... 3f100d511d

Done in again by the maggots ,eh?

[Impatient Sainter]

Why have they listed the 23rd player as a sub, havent the AFL just gone with 5 interchange? I dont see Cordy in the starting 23 unless RTB elects to use him as a 2nd ruck, which is plausible given our lack of options.