Will we improve in 2008?

[st.mart]

Very simplisic look at the lists output in 07 and how I think they will go in comparison in 2008.....whether they will improve or decline (and the degree) of course it does not take into account new injuries....but how the list could potentially go....I only considered AFL form...Players retiring, I considered how big a loss they would be in 08

Gram =
Hamill =
X.Clarke >
Thommo <
Watts >>
L.Fisher =
L.Hayes >
M.Hudghton >>
Gehrig <<<
Baker <
Montagna =
Riewoldt >
Voss <
Ball >>
Gardiner >
R.Clarke >>
Fiora =
Goddard >
Gilbert >
Armitage >>
Ferguson =
Birss =
Kosi >
Brooks =
S.Fisher =
Dal Santo >
Blake =
M.Clarke <
Rix <
Howard =
Maguire >>
McQualter =
Gwilt <
Raymond =
Harvey <
Allen >
Sweeney =
C.Jones =
Van Reehnan =
Eddy >
Wall =
Geary >
Attard <<
Milne <

[SaintBot]

i think blake will fall (if thats possible)

will be tough for him once we become a genuine premiership threat


and grammy, whilst having a great year, i dont think he has hit his peak yet...he will continue to improve...especially with the return of goddard

[mischa]

You can only hope. God knows it couldn't be worse surely With the draw we had etc-should have done better!

[bigcarl]

here's my team for round 1

B: L. Fisher, Hudghton, X. Clarke
HB: R. Clarke, Maguire, S. Fisher
C: Gram, Hayes, Gilbert
HF: BJ, Riewoldt, Dal Santo
F: Milne, Kosi, Brooks

Foll: Gardiner, Ball, Montagna
Inter: Harvey, Fiora, Blake, Gwilt.

[Oh When the Saints]

Was hoping McQualter might improve with another pre-season (his 4th one) at AFL level. We need this guy to show why he was a first round pick.


A better pre-season with more running will see us fitter and better able to run out games.

If that adds say 2 goals per match then we will improve regardless.

Big Improvers:
- Lenny Hayes
- Goose Maguire
- Michael Gardiner
- Raphael Clarke
- David Armitage

If we can improve our output from those players then we should improve as a team.

Injuries play a big role as always.

My round 1 line-up

B: L. Fisher, M. Hudghton, S. Gilbert
HB: R. Clarke, M. Maguire, S. Fisher
C: J. Gram, N. Dal Santo, L. Montagna
HF: B. Goddard, N. Riewoldt, R. Harvey
F: S. Milne, J. Koschitzke, X. Clarke
Foll: M. Gardiner, L. Hayes, L. Ball

I/C: A. Fiora, J. Blake, S. Birss, D. Armitage

[Carl Mynott]

I like looking at posters teams for next year but the problem for me is there is a sameness about them in terms of there are no new players so therefore ,effectively ,the same recurring weaknesses are still there..........

I dont believe these are the teams Ross has in mind, if he has any luck with recruiting.......

[The Saintsational Man]

Was hoping McQualter might improve with another pre-season (his 4th one) at AFL level. We need this guy to show why he was a first round pick.


A better pre-season with more running will see us fitter and better able to run out games.

If that adds say 2 goals per match then we will improve regardless.

Big Improvers:
- Lenny Hayes
- Goose Maguire
- Michael Gardiner
- Raphael Clarke
- David Armitage

If we can improve our output from those players then we should improve as a team.

Injuries play a big role as always.

My round 1 line-up

B: L. Fisher, M. Hudghton, S. Gilbert
HB: R. Clarke, M. Maguire, S. Fisher
C: J. Gram, N. Dal Santo, L. Montagna
HF: B. Goddard, N. Riewoldt, R. Harvey
F: S. Milne, J. Koschitzke, X. Clarke
Foll: M. Gardiner, L. Hayes, L. Ball

I/C: A. Fiora, J. Blake, S. Birss, D. Armitage

If u could put coin on that been our line up week 1.....id place 100 on it!!!

[ben_fff]

My round 1 team would be:

B: R.Clarke//Hudghton//Gilbert
HB: S. Fisher//Maguire//Gram
C: Fiora//Ball//Montagna
HF: Dal Santo//Riewoldt//X. Clarke
F: Milne//Koschitzke//Allen
Followers: Gardiner//Hayes//Harvey

Interchange: Goddard//Ferguson//Armitage//Birss

Hopefully we are able to trade for another midfielder, I'd hope for Hasleby or Sherman, those players both possess something we need, one being a goal kicking midfielder and the other a hard ball winning midfielder.

Allen impressed me when I saw him in the preseason matches, he did some thing that I really liked that made me think he may have a future in the AFL. Armitage did some tough things in the games he played, a hard preseason focused on fitness could see him really step up his game.

[linz]

Gardiner!!

[linz]

Gardiner!!

REPEAT: Gardiner

[borderbarry]

I like this team posted by ben-fff, except I would include our No.9 pick on the interchange in place of Birss.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

B: R.Clarke//Hudghton//Gilbert
HB: S. Fisher//Maguire//Gram
C: Fiora//Ball//Montagna
HF: Dal Santo//Riewoldt//X. Clarke
F: Milne//Koschitzke//Allen
Followers: Gardiner//Hayes//Harvey

Interchange.. Goddard//Ferguson//Armitage// Our No.9 pick.

[SaintWodonga]

I like this team posted by ben-fff, except I would include our No.9 pick on the interchange in place of Birss.

I would think Goddard would not start on the bench. A fully fit BJ is in our best 18!

[SaintDippa]

I read a stat that over the last 11 games STK were the 3rd best performed after Geel and PA with a 7-3-1(draw) record. Amazing what a (near) full list gives.

[ben_fff]

I like this team posted by ben-fff, except I would include our No.9 pick on the interchange in place of Birss.

I would think Goddard would not start on the bench. A fully fit BJ is in our best 18!

He's on the bench due to lack of match practice.

[borderbarry]

I would start Goddard on the ground for sure, probably Allen to the interchange.

[roo+hayes=flag]

B: L.Fisher//Maxy//X.Clarke
HB: S.Fisher//Maguire//Gilbet
C: Montanga//Hayes//Gram
HF: Harvey//Roo(C)//Goddard
FF: Milne//Fevola//Kosi

FOLLOWERS: Gardiner//Ball//Dal Santo

BENCH: Fiora//Armitage//Blake//Birss

EMERG: F.Watts// Gwilt//R.Clarke//2nd rnd Pick
This is our list if we trade pick 9 for fev. Kepp in mind baker has to come into this side.

[Red]

I hope Armitage steps up but I haven't seen that and watch this space

Gardiner will retire in the next couple of weeks. his feet are shot

[bigcarl]

Gardiner will retire in the next couple of weeks. his feet are shot

source?

[Oh When the Saints]

I read a stat that over the last 11 games STK were the 3rd best performed after Geel and PA with a 7-3-1(draw) record. Amazing what a (near) full list gives.

Geelong 10-0-1
Port Adelaide 9-0-2
St Kilda 7-1-3
West Coast 7-0-4
Kangaroos 7-0-4
Sydney 6-1-4
Hawthorn 6-0-5
Collingwood 6-0-5

Also ranked #1 in scoring efficiency (scoring shots per disposal) and #8 in Points For.

We could very easily have gone 11-0.


We're not that far off ...

[GrumpyOne]

Has anybody consulted the Injury Gods?

[saintly]

I hope Armitage steps up but I haven't seen that and watch this space

Gardiner will retire in the next couple of weeks. his feet are shot

rumour or fact????

nothing has been said about gardiner in a while

[st_Trav_ofWA]

I hope Armitage steps up but I haven't seen that and watch this space

Gardiner will retire in the next couple of weeks. his feet are shot

i have from a reliable source thats that is utter crap
gardi is coming along well he may have modifyed boots for the year but hes definatly not retiring

[awesome_days]

Assuming no trades & not including draft picks:

Rd 1 Team

B: R Clarke Hughton L Fisher
HB: S Fisher Maguire Gilbert
C: Fiora Hayes Gram
HF: X Clarke Riewoldt Montagna
F: Milne Koschitzke Allen
R: Gardiner Dal Santo Ball

Int: Armitage Brooks Harvey Goddard

[To the top]

L. Fisher Hudgden Gilbert
Gram Maguire S. Fisher
Riewoldt Goddard Hayes
Fiora Koschitzke X. Clarke
Montagna Watts Brooks
Gardiner DalSanto Ball

R. Clarke Armitage Howard Harvey