Sam Gilbert in! HOW?

BigMart · Post: # 594708Post **BigMart** » Thu 26 Jun 2008 8:22pm

What were the coaches not watching last week?????

There have been some average saint efforts over the years....

X.Clarke vs Essendon 2007
Raph Clarke in 2008
M.Maguire early 2007
Many S.Milne games
Many Gehrig games
A couple of Fiora's games
etc, etc.....

but they are all mostly ahead of the ledger, and can be cut slack..

But his game last week was right up there....and his form pre-injury was poor.....How did he come back from a long term injury?, without playing seconds.....he was handy in 2007, but was not cemented in the best 18 at the beginning of 2008.

Some of his disposals were embarrasing, and his fitness was a joke.

Shane Birss was OK in his senior games....last week had 32 disposals for Casey and gives us more midfield run.....

This week against a nimble Kangaroos outfit....we have...
King 202
Kosi 197
Riewoldt 193
Hudghton 191
Allen 192
S.Fisher 192
Gilbert 194
Blake 191
Dempster 192
Goddard 191
Gardiner 190
Gwilt 188

12 players who are medium to big.....is that enough RUN?

Raven · Post: # 594710Post **Raven** » Thu 26 Jun 2008 8:27pm

Yeah, I was pretty surprised when he came straight back without a run or two in the Scorps...

perfectionist · Thu 26 Jun 2008 8:30pm

Sam is waiting for the next great decision of the AFL hierarchy. First, they outlawed the high mark, the one thing that distinguished our game from the rest.

Now, the AFL is looking at outlawing the kick that goes above ground level. Sam is good at getting the ball and, with his preferred foot (one doubts that he actually has two feet), he kicks the ball along the ground.

Once the the AFL outlaws the above the ground kick, Gilbert will be highly sought after, especially by the Northern Drongos.

The sooner the better I say!

rexy · Post: # 594714Post **rexy** » Thu 26 Jun 2008 8:31pm

Interesting post, thought he was more than handy last year and was well and truly cemented in best 22 but I also thought that everyone had to earn their spot? Hope he has a ripper this week.

saintspremiers · Thu 26 Jun 2008 8:36pm

agree St Mart. Gilbo was at times terrible last week, some shocking mistakes made.

Question is, who would you put in place of him?

I'd be saying Birss for the run as you suggest.

Birss was unlucky to get axed IMO, but then we have a master coach don't we???

Thu 26 Jun 2008 8:55pm

totally mismatched to North with too many medium / talls

North structure up similar to Collingwood in their forward line and we are going to get punished by their medium short forwards ... Birss should have been selected for either Gilbert or Gwilt

On last weeks form Gilbert should have been chopped

But with a long term view Gilbert should have been retained and Gwilt dropped

Instead we have done neither

Birss will be missed

iwantmeseats · Thu 26 Jun 2008 9:00pm

dont worry, RL knows how

yep

rexy · Post: # 594722Post **rexy** » Thu 26 Jun 2008 9:01pm

Thought Gwilt was far from our worst last week?

esaint66 · Post: # 594728Post **esaint66** » Thu 26 Jun 2008 9:14pm

rexy wrote:Thought Gwilt was far from our worst last week?

I'm inclined to agree with that, he played quite well in fact.

Thu 26 Jun 2008 9:32pm

yes gwilt played well

as i say it would have been a tough choice between gwilt and gilbert

gilbert deserved to be dropped

but with a longer term view if i had to make a choice to fit birss in ... if I was coach i may have selected gilbert ... not based on form because gwilt's form ast week was better ... but based on me thinking gilbert will be a 10 year player and gwilt doesnt look like having that type of future in AFL

BigMart · Post: # 594771Post **BigMart** » Thu 26 Jun 2008 10:27pm

Agreed about Gilbert and Gwilt......

one is playing better now......one will be better eventually....

I would prefer if both were at Casey....

and Raph Clarke actually lived up to his potential.......X.Clarke was not always injured......Schnieder was not always injured......Ferguson was not always injured and had a resemblance of confidence........Ross trusted a player under the age of 24 ie/Geary, Armo etc....

remboy · Post: # 594777Post **remboy** » Thu 26 Jun 2008 10:44pm

I, along with most, was surprised that Gilbert was picked for the Saints immediately after a long lay off. Having said that, it just shows that Ross obviously rates him and thinks he'll get up to speed quicker playing for the Saints than if he was playing in the VFL.
I'm more surprised about Gwilt's inclusion. If he thought he deserved to be picked why didn't he play last year?

jill · Post: # 594783Post **jill** » Thu 26 Jun 2008 10:56pm

But Kosi's straight back in!!!!!
At least G played with enthusiasm !

Dan Warna · Post: # 594785Post **Dan Warna** » Thu 26 Jun 2008 10:57pm

gilbert is a talent, he was in auto selection form before injury.

pretty sure folks were bagging hayes when he came back from injury.

IMO keep gilby in for the time being.

Teflon · Post: # 594787Post **Teflon** » Thu 26 Jun 2008 10:58pm

Dan Warna wrote:gilbert is a talent, he was in auto selection form before injury.

pretty sure folks were bagging hayes when he came back from injury.

IMO keep gilby in for the time being.

Go on say it........good choice Rossy....

Dan Warna · Post: # 594791Post **Dan Warna** » Thu 26 Jun 2008 11:04pm

Teflon wrote:
Dan Warna wrote:gilbert is a talent, he was in auto selection form before injury.

pretty sure folks were bagging hayes when he came back from injury.

IMO keep gilby in for the time being.
Go on say it........good choice Rossy....

I've said in the past I agree with some stuff ross lyon has done and I've also said he isn't as stupid as timmy watson.

that said, he is still trying to fit a round peg into a square hole.

Otiman · Post: # 594795Post **Otiman** » Thu 26 Jun 2008 11:08pm

BackFromUSA wrote:totally mismatched to North with too many medium / talls

If your medium-talls can run and work well with the ball on the ground, there's no reason why they can't go head to head with smaller blokes.

In fact, it allows us to have a mismatch against them.

Guys like Dempster, Gilbert, Blake, Max, Chips - These guys can all play tall or small.

It still amazes me that Gram is being played as a defensive option.

BigMart · Post: # 594808Post **BigMart** » Thu 26 Jun 2008 11:43pm

Gilbert has not played a good game this season......

DO NOT compare Sam Gilbert to Lenny Hayes...

at any point of there careers...

One was a Morrish Medallist, 1st Rnd Draft Pick, Best and Fairest, Club Captain, All Australian, will play 250 games.....

One looks like he maybe a handy player going fwd.....

The_Dud · Post: # 594811Post **The_Dud** » Thu 26 Jun 2008 11:45pm

i have no problems with Gilbo being chosen this week

i just hope Ross plays him in a more attacking role, where he can use his natural talent, and not as a key defender

BigMart · Post: # 594821Post **BigMart** » Fri 27 Jun 2008 12:09am

I hope he plays him as a Defender, because his skills are not good enough to be an attacker - you need more than a goose step...to make the grade...and a bit of running power wuld be nice...

he will make an OK tall defenedr with a bit of dash in years to come, if he adds some strength....as a flanker we have more skilled options...

bigcarl · Post: # 594830Post **bigcarl** » Fri 27 Jun 2008 12:29am

gilbert has a dose of second year blues compounded by an untimely injury. hopefully will be better for the run last week. i think you under-rate him, marto, but agree he hasn't set the world on fire too often this season. i'd like to see him on a wing or at half forward.

The_Dud · Post: # 594831Post **The_Dud** » Fri 27 Jun 2008 12:29am

BigMart wrote:I hope he plays him as a Defender, because his skills are not good enough to be an attacker - you need more than a goose step...to make the grade...and a bit of running power wuld be nice...

he will make an OK tall defenedr with a bit of dash in years to come, if he adds some strength....as a flanker we have more skilled options...

i disagree, his best games for the club have been when hasn't been played in defence

he is a much better kick than what he showed last week, and i think we will see this if he is allowed to play his natural game, instead of trying to fit him in to what Ross wants him to become

sunsaint · Post: # 594832Post **sunsaint** » Fri 27 Jun 2008 12:43am

What worries me was Goddard's post match comments that in the last quarter the side was dead on its feet with no run.
No Hayes will weaken us in that area. Kosi will not be match fit. Which means King will have to battle bravely, without the addtional help of either Rix or McEvoy. DalSanto doesnt run.
I think Birss would have been the option to add leg speed.

Dan Warna · Post: # 594870Post **Dan Warna** » Fri 27 Jun 2008 10:57am

sunsaint wrote: I think Birss would have been the option to add leg speed.

mate birss is a slight less innacurate version of McGough.

Birss has to find a powell/sziller type role in the midfield as their are tractor pulls that go faster.

saintsRrising · Fri 27 Jun 2008 12:31pm

Dan Warna wrote:
sunsaint wrote: I think Birss would have been the option to add leg speed.
mate birss is a slight less innacurate version of McGough.

.

????

Birrs is a very good and reliable shot on goal..one of our better smalls.

His around the ground passing is also far superior to McG's.

Pace wise Birss would also be significantly quicker.

McG could win more ball...but then could do very little with it.