2009 Team Shaping Up

[mad saint guy]

It seems the focus of this off-season has been recruiting players who can fill a role at either end and allow the best players to move to the midfield.

Out
Gehrig
Harvey
Rix
Ferguson
Birss
Gardiner
Fiora
Howard

Attard
Chivers
Van Rheenen

In
Eddy
McQualter
Ray
Lynch
Stanley
Heyne
Smith
Cahill
Begley

McGrath

Lyon's ideal 2009 team

B: Gilbert, Hudghton, Begley
HB: S.Fisher, Maguire, Ray
C: Gram, Hayes, Dal Santo
HF: Schneider, Riewoldt, X.Clarke
F: Milne, Koschitzke, Allen

Foll: King, Ball, Goddard
Int: Baker, Blake, R.Clarke, Montagna

Emg: M.Gardiner, Jones, L.Fisher

The team looks pretty good on paper, but I'm not confident that Maguire or Baker will ever regain form or that Xavier, Ray and Begley will magically be able to put it all together after many failed seasons.

At the moment I think we'll be a 4th-9th team again next year.

[LTN16]

That team looks about right MSG..

Do you think any of our draftees will play any games next year ??

[the_D_train]

i like that team.

but the team that does it for me is....

B: R Clarke - M Hudghton – S Baker (if fit)

HB: S Dempster ( will be out round one)- M Maguire (if fit) - F Ray

C: J Blake - L Hayes - J Gram

HF: N Dal Santo - N Riewoldt - L Montagna

F: S Milne - J Koschitzke - S Fisher

Foll: S King - B Goddard - L Ball

Inter : S Gilbert - N Hayne - C Begley - A Schnieder

[undecided]

Dempster????? and i would put Allen out and Steven in

[the_D_train]

i know everyone keeps saying dempster will be injured for most of the year but this is lyons ideal baker and maguire might not every figure much but they would still be in an "ideal" team if fit

[bigcarl]

don't know why people persist in naming kosi at ff in their best line-up.

ross has been on record as saying he and kosi agree that his best role is ruck/forward.

unless ross has dramatically changed his view within a couple of months, kosi is likely to play in a forward pocket some of the time and on the ball the rest.

we need to look elsewhere to find someone to fill this very important position.

imo it's no coincidence that hawthorn, with two gun key forwards who kicked 190 between them for the season, were premiers.

we have roo, we need another good leading/marking target to challenge, i think.

[Stephen Theodore]

Would hope our best 22 does not include Begley. Have watched the majority of Lions games over the last 15 years, and with all due respect, Begley should be pick 25-30 if all is hunky dory.

[Batnoe]

Would hope our best 22 does not include Begley. Have watched the majority of Lions games over the last 15 years, and with all due respect, Begley should be pick 25-30 if all is hunky dory.

Begley is 22 and been playing AFL for 4 years

he has a lot more upside than a Clinton Jones who has been playing AFL for the last 16 years

If Jones can make our team Begley can

(i like Jones, i am just picking a player with iffy disposal)

[SAINT JUMP]

jones been playing afl for 16 years

[mick13]

Clearly means the sport, or Aussie Rules.

[Otiman]

Clearly means the sport, or Aussie Rules.

Yeah, it's a Sydney/Brisbane thing.

[Saintschampions08]

When was the last time Xavier even played a good game

[the_D_train]

thats why i had sam fisher as forward pocket in my team to take over that FF role from kosi i didnt like kosi at FF this year he was to un realiable and inconsistent.


i like begleys selection as he can free up goddard and gram so i would say he would play

[Moorabbin Saints]

thats why i had sam fisher as forward pocket in my team to take over that FF role from kosi i didnt like kosi at FF this year he was to un realiable and inconsistent.


i like begleys selection as he can free up goddard and gram so i would say he would play

Why would you move an All-Australian half back to FF?

Fisher's a gun down back/through the midfield!

[bigcarl]

thats why i had sam fisher as forward pocket in my team to take over that FF role from kosi i didnt like kosi at FF this year he was to un realiable and inconsistent.

sam fisher might be okay at ff, but i reckon bj could do it better.

allen could be a chance, but i'd like to see more goals at a lesser level first.

[LTN16]

This is what I think the Round 1 team will look like:

B: Gilbert, Hudghton, Jones
HB: S.Fisher, Maguire, R.Clarke
C: Montagna, Hayes, Gram
HF: Schneider, Riewoldt, Dal Santo
F: Milne, Allen, Koschitzke

Foll: King, Ball, Goddard
Int: Baker, M.Gardiner, Armitage, Ray

Emg: X.Clarke, Steven, Blake

[the_D_train]

sam fisher was originaly drafted as a forward wasnt he, i know his a gun back but i could see him rotationg both ends of the ground with maybe maguire and gilbert ?

[Quixote]

Team I'd like to see:


B: Baker Max Blake
HB: R Clarke Goose S Fisher
C: Dal Ball Joey
HF: Schnieder Kosi X Clarke
F: Milne Roo Allen
Foll: King Hayes Goddard
Int: Armitage Lynch Gram Gilbert

Emg: M Gardiner Steven Ray

(Dempster back in when fit, for Ray/Gilbert/Begley/L Fisher etc...)

But get the feeling Ray & Begley & Co will be getting games. Hope Baker gets fit otherwise he's in trouble. Best depth for a few years, again barring injury.

[sunsaint]

Yeah S Fisher was a forward in SA but I think the problem with moving Fisher forward is that it leaves the backline a bit small. So if Fisher goes forward you must play Blake there to cover height.
As much as I would like to see Maguire back to his best, he has been out a looong time. Baker not so much but they still have to prove themselves. As does Allen. Havent seen enough from him even at lower grade to say he is top 22 selection. As for Kosi in the ff posi, everyone seems to have forgotten the great hope in Ben McEvoy. If he doesnt step up this year then we might be in trouble. As for Begley, the main reason he has played so little for the lions is his disposal... people pick on CJ, just wait till saints fans get a sniff of what he does with a ball. I think Ray will be better suited on the wing, but no dempster at the moment may force him to that position. We NEED Dempster back very quickly.

[awesome_days]

Best team, no injuries, in form for those coming back from injury^. Expected potential for some*.

B: Dempster^ Hughton Gilbert*
HB: SFisher Maguire^ RClarke*
C: Montagna Goddard Gram
HF: Dal Santo Riewoldt XClarke^
F: Koschitzke McEvoy* Milne
Foll: King Hayes Ball

Int: Blake Baker Armitage* Schneider

Edit: Allen out, Milne in

[Saints94]

Best team, no injuries, in form for those coming back from injury^. Expected potential for some*.

B: Dempster^ Hughton Gilbert*
HB: SFisher Maguire^ RClarke*
C: Montagna Goddard Gram
HF: Dal Santo Riewoldt XClarke^
F: Koschitzke McEvoy* Allen
Foll: King Hayes Ball

Int: Blake Baker Armitage* Schneider

Weres Ray?

[awesome_days]

Best team, no injuries, in form for those coming back from injury^. Expected potential for some*.

B: Dempster^ Hughton Gilbert*
HB: SFisher Maguire^ RClarke*
C: Montagna Goddard Gram
HF: Dal Santo Riewoldt XClarke^
F: Koschitzke McEvoy* Milne (edit original post)
Foll: King Hayes Ball

Int: Blake Baker Armitage* Schneider

Weres Ray?

I dont think Ray walks in ahead of any of those guys - will probably play at the start ahead of Dempster or Baker and will need to establish himself.

One of those guys who are 23 - 30 but are capable of playing AFL level footy.

[mad saint guy]

For the record, this would be my prefered team (being realistic about injuries)

B: Blake, Hudghton, R.Clarke
HB: Gram, Gilbert, S.Fisher
C: Montagna, Hayes, X.Clarke
HF: Dal Santo, Riewoldt, Koschitzke
F: Armitage, Allen, Milne

Foll: King, Ball, Goddard
Int: L.Fisher, Lynch, Ray, Schneider

Max, Gilbert and Blake take the talls while Fish, Chips and Raph can handle the medium/smalls.

Lenny, Ball, BJ take the majority of the inside mid work with Armitage and L.Fisher helping out.

Joey, X, Gram, Ray and Schneider to provide run and carry, kicking to the two big targets at half forward in Roo and Kosi. Dal, Milney and Armo also provide options and defensive pressure. Allen to give some structure and a long target at full forward. Lynch looks pretty much ready to be an occasional third option or tall wingman.

King and Kosi to take the majority of the ruck work with Blake having a go as well.

I don't think Goose will ever be AFL-quality again, Baker may squeeze out another season but I'd rather go with youth and Dempster will miss most of the year.

[borderbarry]

L.Fisher could not get a game late last year. It should be harder still for him now.
It will be interesting to see the pre season matches. All these new kids should get a game and show their wares.

[Batnoe]

Boy do i hope we do not pick up Howard as our first pick in rookie draft, he should be our 4th....