SF1: St Kilda team vs Collingwood

[Saints Media]

Backs: Jason Blake, Max Hudghton, Brendon Goddard
Half backs: Sam Gilbert, Sam Fisher, Jason Gram
Centreline: Clint Jones, Nick Dal Santo, Robert Harvey
Half forwards: James Gwilt, Nick Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna
Forwards: Stephen Milne, Justin Koschitzke, Luke Ball
Followers: Steven King, Lenny Hayes, Adam Schneider

Interchange: David Armitage, Andrew McQualter, Raphael Clarke, Robert Eddy
Emergencies: Jarryd Allen, Shane Birss, Jack Steven

IN: Ball, Armitage
OUT: X Clarke, C Gardiner

[quote]Luke Ball is a welcome inclusion to the St Kilda side that is set to take on Collingwood in Saturday night’s mouth watering semi-final clash at the MCG.

Missing since injuring his hamstring against Port Adelaide in Round 18, Ball passed a fitness test on Thursday to claim his spot in the team alongside David Armitage who has been called up after several solid weeks at the Casey Scorpions.

Ball is ranked second in tackles at the club and his ‘first to the footy’ attitude has won him more free kicks than any other Saint this season.

Xavier Clarke and Charlie Gardiner were omitted.

Matthew Drain, GM of Football Operations said, “It’s extremely pleasing to be able to name Luke Ball in the side for the first time in six weeks. He’s been through a vigorous period of rehab and underwent a fitness test this afternoon. We are confident that he is ready to go and will no doubt be a massive boost to our side.

Drain continued, “David Armitage has been playing some great football at Casey and we have given him the chance to continue this strong form in the seniors. He’s a young, tough competitor that has recently been showing the potential that we all know he is capable of and we look forward to seeing what he has to offer.â€

[johnpeterbudgefanclub]

And a last minute change Birss for Ball. Obvious.

The smoke u have when u have no smoke....

[evertonfc]

Great to see Ball back and Armitage has earned his spot.

BUT dropping X Clarke - when Eddy & McQualter keep their spots? Surely he would have been much improved for the run. His creativity is something we desperately need, particuarly against a team like Collingwood.

Come to think of it, how can Eddy and McQualter keep their spots when X and Birss are out? What did Birss do wrong in round 22? Anyone?

[Legendary]

Would have had X before Eddy, especially after giving X a run from which he will only improve ...

Otherwise sensible selections. Armitage will wanna step up, but at least he is getting finals experience.

Less than 100 games experience on the interchange bench with the four players combined.

Certainly a young side.

[st.byron]

excellent ins and outs. Very happy with that. If Bally plays it will be a huge boost for us.

[saint patrick]

And a last minute change Birss for Ball. Obvious.

The smoke u have when u have no smoke....

You are probably on the money there JB...Wish it wasn't so but can't see Bally coming up ...hope the Collingwood Doctors are just as careful with Burnsy

[Young Georgie]

Great to see Saints media providing the team, can't believe the first to comment on it here is our resident snake in the grass - get a life mate!

[saint patrick]

What did Birss do wrong in round 22? Anyone?

A mystery to me as well...was excellent that day and at least seems to know how to kick a goal...think he will play in any case with Bally a pretty obvious smokescreen as JB suggested.

[perfectionist]

... What did Birss do wrong in round 22? Anyone?

Like shaving and wearing stilettos, it will remain a mystery.

[Quixote]

Collingwood
B: Simon Prestigiacomo, Nathan Brown, Tyson Goldsack
HB: Martin Clarke, Nick Maxwell, Heritier O’Brien
C: Tarkyn Lockyer, Scott Burns, Shannon Cox
HF: Scott Pendlebury, Travis Cloke, Leon Davis
F: Chris Dawes, Paul Medhurst, John Anthony
Foll: Josh Fraser, Dane Swan, Shane O’Bree
I/C: John McCarthy, Dale Thomas, Chris Bryan, Ryan Cook
EMG: Ben Reid, Rhyce Shaw, Shane Wakelin

In: Scott Burns
Out: Rhyce Shaw (omitted)

[Crash]

What did Birss do wrong in round 22? Anyone?

Nothing, but he was only in the side cos Mini got crook a couple of weeks prior.

[Bono]

with a bit of luck, Armitage will get more than 10 minutes on the ground in each quarter.

[Quixote]

Geez, dropping X is a BIG call.

[Beno88]

Although it seems likely that Ball will miss, keep in mind that not once this year has a Saints player coming back from injury failed to take his spot in the side when named.

[mightysainters]

Great changes! X is an absolute dud who looked ridiculous out there on saturday, never should have played and i'm glad they have rectified the mistake!

McQualter has been very handy this year tagging... X has done nothing as usual...

[mick13]

They wouldn't tell us he passed a fitness test, if he didnt.

Good to see Armo back in.

[Quixote]

WELCOME BACK BALLY!


We need you fella...

[StPeter]

I can't believe that Eddy and Mini , who have done nothing recently to justify their positions, can be preferred to Birss and X, who would be so much better for the run last week.

[evertonfc]

I can't believe that Eddy and Mini , who have done nothing recently to justify their positions, can be preferred to Birss and X, who would be so much better for the run last week.

Credit to Ross Lyon for 'guiding' us to fourth (courtesy of the Bradbury run - we should have been 8th), but christ, he makes some inexplicable decisions at selection.

[jonesy]

Was there a raffle at the club over the pre season,with the winner winning a prize of being allowed to play in the one's no matter what, even if you don't contribute anything to the side each week...

Eddy's number must have been drawn.
Have no idea how he gets a gig over Birss

[Young Georgie]

There are obviously many factors at play and stats aren't an accurate reflection on form but if you want to compare Eddy with Birss and Mini with X - as seems to be the case here - then this is head to head for the season from pro-stats (not formatted but pretty easy to read):

2008 Player Head to Head Comparison (Average Per Game)

Shane Birss Name Robert Eddy
71 Career Games 11
25 Age 20
184 cm Height 182 cm
80 kg Weight 83 kg
8 2008 Games 11
14.9 Disposals 12.7
9.0 Kicks 7.0
4.2 Long Kicks 1.7
6.1 Marks 4.6
0 Contested Marks 0.1
5.9 Handballs 5.7
3.9 Tackles 4.7
1.0 Goals 0.3
0.5 Behinds 0.5
1.2 Frees For 0.6
0.8 Frees Against 1.2
0 Hitouts 0
1.0 First Possessions 0.9
1.2 Clearances 0.8
3.1 Inside 50s 1.4
0.4 Rebound 50s 0.1
2.0 Contested Possessions 1.5
13.5 Uncontested Possessions 12.1
2.0 1%ers 3.5
4.0 Errors 5.2
0 Bounces 0.3
39.5 Prowess Ranking 27.2

Andrew McQualter Name Xavier Clarke
33 Career Games 105
22 Age 25
179 cm Height 181 cm
74 kg Weight 80 kg
10 2008 Games 8
12.2 Disposals 13.4
6.1 Kicks 8.4
1.1 Long Kicks 3.0
3.3 Marks 4.1
0.2 Contested Marks 0.1
6.1 Handballs 5.0
4.8 Tackles 4.0
0.1 Goals 0.8
0.1 Behinds 0.6
0.8 Frees For 1.0
0.5 Frees Against 1.0
0 Hitouts 0.2
2.0 First Possessions 0.5
2.1 Clearances 1.4
1.2 Inside 50s 2.9
1.0 Rebound 50s 1.5
1.6 Contested Possessions 1.1
11.1 Uncontested Possessions 12.6
4.8 1%ers 4.2
3.0 Errors 4.0
0 Bounces 2.6
28.1 Prowess Ranking 36.8

[plugger66]

So the ins are either Allen or Birss and Armo. Pity about Bally but hopefully right if we make the GF.

[Muir_32]

hi fellow saints first time poster here just wanna say i cant believe birss wasnt selected good to see armo get a gig though....

[Mr Magic]

Was there a raffle at the club over the pre season,with the winner winning a prize of being allowed to play in the one's no matter what, even if you don't contribute anything to the side each week...

Eddy's number must have been drawn.
Have no idea how he gets a gig over Birss

Obvioulsy he is doing something right by teh coaches.

Lyon was quite glowong when talking about both Eddy and Mini last night.
Said he wasn't expectin them to 'turn the game' but to put in. He specifically mentioned Mini doing a good job on Pierce (PA) and Harvey (NM) when he tagged him in teh second half.
He said that Eddy ahd provided good dedensinve pressure in teh forward line.

Lyon was responding to a question from Francis Leach on SEN about the
'bottom 6' in the team and what he expected from tehm.

[jonesy]

I'm sure they're putting in.....but there is little output.