My top 5 players at St Kilda

[james rose]

Once again no one seems to be visiting my blog (see sig or my website) so I don't want my work to be wasted... let me know what you think




Ranked by importance to team for 2009

1. Nick Riewoldt
An obvious choice, the Saints Captain has had a great career so far having won the clubs best and fairest four times, has been all Australian three times, represented his country in the international rules and won the rising star award in his second year as an AFL player.

In 2008 Riewoldt was widely acknowledged as one of the major reasons for the turn around in St Kilda’s season, and with good reason. Riewoldt finished the year first in the AFL for marks (second per game), averaged 2.7 goals and 17 disposals per game.

Riewoldt achieves a lot on an individual level but his impact on the rest of the team is perhaps one of his most valuable traits. The St Kilda team straightens up their play when he is playing well and can look completely lost when he isn’t playing; beyond this Riewoldt is one of those players, particularly in recent times, who take it upon themselves to contribute that little bit more when the game is on the line.

2. Lenny Hayes
The Saints Vice-Captain is not as obvious a choice at number two to those outside of St Kilda supporters as he should be. The two-time all Australian has also won the St Kilda best and fairest and regularly made the top ten.

In 2008 Hayes showed his class in the middle performing consistently regardless of the performance of those around him, finishing the year with an average of 24 touches and 6 tackles a game.

The way Lenny Hayes goes about his football demands a higher standard of those around him, he is true leader in the by example mode and provides the toughness St Kilda requires more of to go the next step.

3. Sam Fisher
Sam Fisher won his first best and fairest this year after coming second and third in 2007 and 2008 respectively, this alongside his all Australian selection this year seem to be the beginnings of Fishers ‘arrival’ as a player.

Fisher had a widely publicized 2008 with good reason as I just outlined. Along side the awards mentioned ‘chips’ finished second in the AFL for marks (third per game) whilst also averaging 23 touches.

It is this wonderful blend of offensive capabilities combined with his ability to shut down one of the oppositions most dangerous forwards each week that has Sam Fisher rated number three, and perhaps higher.


4. Max Hudghton
Would be a surprise selection to a lot of people but has been a proven defender in his 227 games. His Career awards do not do him justice and is a regular name thrown up for All Australian selection.

In 2008 Hudghton claimed some big scalps with the most significant achievement- restricting Lance ‘buddy’ Franklin and Brendon ‘shag’ Fevola to less than ten goals across four games, Franklin kicked 102 goals for the year and Fevola 99.

It is not just the impact of being able to shut these players down that makes ‘Maxy’ a key player to the Saints, it is also the releasing effect this has on players such as Fisher and Jason Gram that makes him vital to St Kilda if for no other reason but ‘team structure’.

5. Justin Koschitzke
No doubt this will be a controversial selection at number five but one I feel comfortable with. ‘Kosi’ is a great example of a player who seems to be rated on ‘potential’ more than performance with the only significant career highlight being the 2001 rising star award although injuries have potentially robbed him of other personal achievements.

In 2008 Koschitzke had a largely criticized year and was often considered to be underperforming, averaging 12 disposals, 6.6 marks and 1.4 goals a game. I have heard from a friend who keeps in “occasionalâ€

[Brooksy_Babe_24]

James great post i agree with everything you have said there.

totally agree with the players you have chosen and in that order too.

the apologies were right on the money

and the not considered were right on the money too.

well thought post

[The Saintsational Man]

Goddard ahead of Kosi, other than that, I agree with you.

[james rose]

Goddard ahead of Kosi, other than that, I agree with you.

Thought long and hard whether Kosi even deserved to be in the top 10 let alone 5 and Goddard on this list was my player at 6

[Saints94]

Were was joey and gram?

[james rose]

both were in the top 10

but was very hard to sort the order from the top of my head

6 Goddard
7 Ball
8 Gram
9 Dal Santo (thought maybe higher?)
10 Joey (see above)


the thing is as a saints supporter I wanted to rate everyone higher!

[saintly_safes]

1.Roo
2.Max
3.Chips
4.Lenny
5.Bj & Luke B(sorry couldn't split them)

[TassieJones]

Best:
1. Nick Riewoldt
2. Lenny Hayes
3. Sam Fisher
4. Brendon Goddard
5. Max Hudghton (considering putting Dal or Ball there, expect them to be there this time next year)

Most Important:
1. Nick Riewoldt
2. Max Hudghton
3. Leigh Montagna
4. Lenny Hayes
5. Justin Koshitzke

[Bernard Shakey]

Kosi, top 5?

You obviously did not see many games.
I don't care what the state of his knees were, he was awful this year.

[Batnoe]

my top 5

1 Goddard
2 Ball
3 S Fisher
4 Hayes
5 Roo


I go for the ones that are hard and tough!! that is what i like


Honourbal mentions- in no paricular order

Joey, Gram, Kosi, Max, Milne, Dal Santo


when you can name 11 players out of a possible 22 that deserve to be in your top 5 you know we still have a great nucleus


i can see by the end of next year that Ray, Maguire, Blake (if consistent again) R Clarke (if he backs it up) X Clarke (get your body right) will be pushing for that top 5 spot also

Plus the added improvement of some rookies - Armo, Steven and the draft yesterday our future is still good

[Enrico_Misso]

Kosi, top 5?

You obviously did not see many games.
I don't care what the state of his knees were, he was awful this year.

Agree
Kosi is top 5 on "potential"
But on performance this year would just scrape into out top 15 !

Agree with Roo at #1
But I'll put money on BJ to be our main star in 2009.

[The Saintsational Man]

my top 5

1 Goddard
2 Ball
3 S Fisher
4 Hayes
5 Roo

I want what he's smoking

[Batnoe]

my top 5

1 Goddard
2 Ball
3 S Fisher
4 Hayes
5 Roo

I want what he's smoking

Dude... I love the other 4 guys more...If Roo got 100 goals in a year he would be my favourite...

[james rose]

Sorry I should clarify

when I did this for my site it was based on importance to the saints in 2009

which is why kosi comes in... structure and potential are relevant

[jackal]

Batnoe is the closest here. Goddard is now our best player IMO (please ignore the 3yo sig that I loose faith with every day X`doesn't play)

I'd have Roo at 2, Lenny 3, Fisher 4. Ball 5. Unfortunatly we need our 18-22 to improve heaps to be a chance as top 5 players are as good as the top 5 in ANY team in the comp.

[Lennon]

my top 5

1 Goddard
2 Ball
3 S Fisher
4 Hayes
5 Roo

I want what he's smoking

Dude... I love the other 4 guys more...If Roo got 100 goals in a year he would be my favourite...

Odd criteria. Roo contributes more than the other four already. Hard man to please, Batnoe.

[Batnoe]

my top 5

1 Goddard
2 Ball
3 S Fisher
4 Hayes
5 Roo

I want what he's smoking

Dude... I love the other 4 guys more...If Roo got 100 goals in a year he would be my favourite...

Odd criteria. Roo contributes more than the other four already. Hard man to please, Batnoe.

If it is most important to the team then you cannot afford to lose any of them

If you ask me who my favourite 5 players are in order then that is the 5

It used to be Dal, he has dropped of by the other guys being more consistant

[Batnoe]

James- u said in your bigoraphy on S Fisher that this year was the 'arrival' of S Fisher

I think for the last 3 years he has been one of our most consistent

with a 1st 2nd and 3rd in best and fairest, surely he made it before this year

[jackal]

Fisher = On par with Jimmy Clement as a reliable hbf who could captain the club.

Goddard = Can hit targets 60m away on their tit from both sides of the body (ie both feet) The best 'quarterback' in the comp and an opposition coaches nightmare in the way he can kick over the lines.

Roo = the best workrate (motor) of any forward, equal best mark in the comp.

Hayes = Judd if his skills were slightly better but not far behind. Lenny is supurb and has good skills (but not at Judd's level).

Ball = Great skills,stamina...just needs to be fit and playing come september..too often he has missed out while his contempories (judd, hodge, ablett and bartell) have been fit.

[Winmar7Fan]

Goddard ahead of Kosi, other than that, I agree with you.

I'm exactly with you Goddard is solid and more consistently reliable , versatile to move him around if need be, has plenty of time left in him and I'm not sure if we've seen his best football yet.

[mad saint guy]

1. Riewoldt - Without him we have no avenue to goal. Without him we are a bottom 8 team.

2. Hudghton - Max makes a 3-4 goal difference every week. He effectively takes the opposition's best goalkicker out of the game.

3. Goddard - He's our best kick, most determined, most versatile and smartest player. You can stick him anywhere on the ground and he'll dominate.

4. S. Fisher - Probably the best rebounding defender in the competition. Never makes mistakes and never goes missing. The only reason he's not higher is because we have lots of running defenders.

5. Hayes - His pace is gone and skills have deteriorated, but he's still a brilliant clearance player. Without him we'd get smashed out of the middle every week.

It was a toss up between Lenny and Kosi for this spot, since Kosi is our only other truly AFL ready key forward and he allows us to have an extra runner rather than another ruckman.

[groupie1]

Why is Max Hudghton a 'surprise selection for a lot of people'? It wouldn't be a surprise to anyone I know.

[groupie1]

just to be devil's advocate:

On the list (not on last year's form)

BEST:
Roo
Goddard
Fisher
Hudghton
Ball

Most important:
Fisher
Hudghton
Goddard
Baker
Roo

Again, to be devil's advocate I reckon if we say guys who ALWAYS beat their opponent, win their position, put the side in a position from which we can win, then we have 5 elite players at STK:
Goddard, Hudghton, Baker, Fisher, Hayes

this stuff is just to provoke thought

[james rose]

Re: Fisher's arrival

I think he arrived on a new level this year... as in he made the step from consistent good player to a great if not better player.

[Mr Magic]

just to be devil's advocate:

On the list (not on last year's form)

BEST:
Roo
Goddard
Fisher
Hudghton
Ball

Most important:
Fisher
Hudghton
Goddard
Baker
Roo

Again, to be devil's advocate I reckon if we say guys who ALWAYS beat their opponent, win their position, put the side in a position from which we can win, then we have 5 elite players at STK:
Goddard, Hudghton, Baker, Fisher, Hayes

this stuff is just to provoke thought

I would humbly suggest that Roo beats his opponent more often and more consistantly than any other player you have mentioned.

BJ and Chips are invariably 'freed up' to play the 'quarterback' role, and therefore not be overly accountable for an opponent.

Max and Baker invariably are given shut-down roles (totally negating) and Lenny tends not to be tagged (Dal cops that)

Roo invariably has at least 1 opponent on him plus another in front (filling up the hole he is leading to). How many times over the last 3 years has he actually been beaten one on one?