Match Sim 1 vs Essendon

[Otiman]

Squads announced today for tomorrow's match sim, and the VFL level match sim.

https://www.saints.com.au/news/1493933/ ... -the-burbs

St Kilda v Essendon | Match Simulation Squad
1. Jack Higgins
2. Marcus Windhager
6. Seb Ross
7. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
8. Bradley Hill
9. Jack Steele
10. Mitch Owens
12. Max King
13. Ryan Byrnes
14. Liam Stocker
19. Rowan Marshall
20. Dougal Howard
21. Zaine Cordy
22. Darcy Wilson
23. Liam Henry
25. Mattaes Phillipou
26. Josh Battle
28. Tim Membrey
29. Jimmy Webster
32. Mason Wood
34. Hugo Garcia
36. Riley Bonner
38. Tom Campbell
43. Cooper Sharman
44. Callum Wilkie
47. Anthony Caminiti

Sandringham v Essendon | VFL Practice Match Squad
4. Lance Collard
17. Isaac Keeler
21. Zaine Cordy
24. Angus Hastie
27. Arie Schoenmaker
30. Matthew Allison
34. Hugo Garcia
38. Tom Campbell
39. Olli Hotton
41. Angus McLennan
45. Liam O'Connell
47. Anthony Caminiti
50. Anthony Seaton
51. Darby Hipwell
54. Will Brown
55. Hugo Hall-Kahan
56. Tarkyn O'Leary
58. Vincent Zagari
59. Ollie Lowe
66. Luca Macnab
67. Sam Latrielle
70. Blake Watson
74. Mitch Ryan
76. Tom Blamires
77. Bayleigh Welsh
81. Logan Young
83. Levi Young
99. Misilifi Faimalo

ESSENDON

1. Andrew McGrath, 3. Darcy Parish, 4. Kyle Langford, 5. Elijah Tsatas, 6. Jye Caldwell, 7. Zach Merrett, 10. Sam Weideman, 11. Jade Gresham, 12. Will Setterfield, 13. Nik Cox, 15. Jayden Laverde, 16. Archie Perkins, 17. Todd Goldstein, 18. Lewis Hayes, 19. Nick Hind, 21. Dyson Heppell, 22. Sam Durham, 23. Harrison Jones, 24. Nick Bryan, 25. Jake Stringer, 27. Mason Redman, 28. Xavier Duursma, 31. Zach Reid, 32. Ben McKay, 33. Alwyn Davey jnr, 35. Matt Guelfi, 37. Nic Martin, 47. Jye Menzie

Notable absentees: Dylan Shiel, Jake Kelly, Peter Wright, Jordan Ridley, Sam Draper, Ben Hobbs, Nate Caddy

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

Strong squad. Looks like Crouch may have picked up a recent injury though. Wasn’t on the track yesterday from memory from what I read.

Says a fair bit about Garcia and Wilson that they’re the only new ones from the last two drafts to be picked to play the first game. Would be a great bonus if we’ve found a midfield gem with a pick in the 50’s.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

SEN article saying Crouch has a “knee concern” which isn’t great, as he’s been recovering from a knee injury.

[Otiman]

I haven't heard that Crouch is anything more than his existing niggles, which were heavily strapped. Protecting him from few weeks of high contact footy for a player of his experience can only be good.

Fingers crossed that's all it is.

[meher baba]

Gotta love the way the story is written up on saints.com.au

"The Saints will field a near full-strength 26-man squad for their first hit-out of the year against opposition...Jack Sinclair (calf), Brad Crouch (knee), Hunter Clark (concussion), Paddy Dow (knee), Dan Butler (ankle) and Zak Jones (concussion) are among the players who will miss Friday’s match simulation..."

So four regular first team players of recent years are out, along with one (Jones) who would have been a regular if he'd been fit and one who has been brought to the club presumably with the expectation of playing in the first team. I think "near full-strength" is a bit of an exaggeration. However, it's good news that, at this stage, the club is not suggesting that any of these injuries will be long-term.

[meher baba]

On the squad: I'm sorry to see Keeler hasn't been selected. Of all the players at the Zebras last year, I thought he was the most advanced and was hoping he'd get a lot closer during the pre-season.

I wonder why Caminiti is in both squads? Perhaps he is only going to be used as a sub tomorrow in the event of an injury.

[The Fireman]

Yep wanted to have a good look at keeler

[George27]

Gotta love the way the story is written up on saints.com.au

"The Saints will field a near full-strength 26-man squad for their first hit-out of the year against opposition...Jack Sinclair (calf), Brad Crouch (knee), Hunter Clark (concussion), Paddy Dow (knee), Dan Butler (ankle) and Zak Jones (concussion) are among the players who will miss Friday’s match simulation..."

So four regular first team players of recent years are out, along with one (Jones) who would have been a regular if he'd been fit and one who has been brought to the club presumably with the expectation of playing in the first team. I think "near full-strength" is a bit of an exaggeration. However, it's good news that, at this stage, the club is not suggesting that any of these injuries will be long-term.

For completeness, I note that 10 on our list are not playing - in addition to the six above Hayes, Van Es , Paton and Heath are also missing.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

On the squad: I'm sorry to see Keeler hasn't been selected. Of all the players at the Zebras last year, I thought he was the most advanced and was hoping he'd get a lot closer during the pre-season.

I wonder why Caminiti is in both squads? Perhaps he is only going to be used as a sub tomorrow in the event of an injury.

Hammer is one of 4 named in both. Along with Campbell, Cordy and Garcia.

I’m guessing they’ll be played minimally if at all in the first game (barring injuries) and will then play most or all of the VFL game (depending on how much if any of the first game they played).

So Sharman has been picked ahead of Hammer and Doogs ahead of Cordy.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

We’re obviously not mucking around here. We’re picking our best available team.

[Yorkeys]

On the squad: I'm sorry to see Keeler hasn't been selected. Of all the players at the Zebras last year, I thought he was the most advanced and was hoping he'd get a lot closer during the pre-season.

I wonder why Caminiti is in both squads? Perhaps he is only going to be used as a sub tomorrow in the event of an injury.

Hammer is one of 4 named in both. Along with Campbell, Cordy and Garcia.

I’m guessing they’ll be played minimally if at all in the first game (barring injuries) and will then play most or all of the VFL game (depending on how much if any of the first game they played).

So Sharman has been picked ahead of Hammer and Doogs ahead of Cordy.

Maybe Tim ahead of Hammer?
But Hammer can pinch hit in ruck.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

On the squad: I'm sorry to see Keeler hasn't been selected. Of all the players at the Zebras last year, I thought he was the most advanced and was hoping he'd get a lot closer during the pre-season.

I wonder why Caminiti is in both squads? Perhaps he is only going to be used as a sub tomorrow in the event of an injury.

Hammer is one of 4 named in both. Along with Campbell, Cordy and Garcia.

I’m guessing they’ll be played minimally if at all in the first game (barring injuries) and will then play most or all of the VFL game (depending on how much if any of the first game they played).

So Sharman has been picked ahead of Hammer and Doogs ahead of Cordy.

Maybe Tim ahead of Hammer?
But Hammer can pinch hit in ruck.

Looks like they both have, so I imagine we’ll see Mitch doing a lot of the backup rucking again.

I suspect that this might be a year of development for Hammer. Did remarkably well at a young age last year off a 1 month AFL preseason, but might struggle to back it up, especially off an interrupted preseason.

Would be ideal to have a 2nd genuinely tall option up front with Max (also to do backup rucking), but Max, Skunk, Coops, Owens and Pou is still a serious amount of marking power up there. Imagine Owens and Pou in the air against 4th or 5th tallest defenders!

[Otiman]

On Keeler, he showed promise at Sandy last year as a Forward, but should have kicked a few more goals (accuracy would have helped), and this year he shifts to learn a role in defense. By all reports he is excelling in this area and matching up surprisingly well against our forwards (including Max King) in match sim. I believe he's still on track to be a 1st choice ruckman, but will play either forward or back when he comes into the AFL side.

[Otiman]

I suspect that this might be a year of development for Hammer. Did remarkably well at a young age last year off a 1 month AFL preseason, but might struggle to back it up, especially off an interrupted preseason.

I agree, last year he was a stopgap solution that performed well above expectations. But he is still a raw talent that needs development. I believe his career is better served being a leader in the VFL forwardline for 10 or so games this year. Bring him in after the bye and we get a second half of the season boost to the forward line.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

Windy and Pou in at the first centre bounce.

Windy on Parish.

[King Max]

Being filmed on someone’s phone with a couple of randoms commentating.

[bergsone]

Why the blue jumpers

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

3 of our kicks look like they’ve held up on the wind while Essendons goal travelled about 65m.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

Wilson very impressive. Multiple touches so far. Bonner looking good. Henry quiet.

[robbie muir]

Pencil in Bonnar for Round 1.
Reads the play well and is a beautiful left foot kick.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

Garcia in at that last centre bounce.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

Pencil in Bonnar for Round 1.
Reads the play well and is a beautiful left foot kick.

Looking good. Going to be hard to keep him out.

Surprised a guy like him in his prime years was just delisted. Bargain buy.

[Otiman]

Pencil in Bonnar for Round 1.
Reads the play well and is a beautiful left foot kick.

Has missed a few targets, but has been in it.

Dougs to Bonner about 4 times in a row. Definitely part of the plan.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

Pou, Henry, Owens and Henry all quiet.

[bobmurray]

Is Windhager still out there, i thought i saw him walking the boundary with the doctor in the 1st quarter ?