Recruiting pattern continues...

saintsRrising · Mon 01 Dec 2008 9:23pm

Well our recruiting pattern of recent years largely continued this year...

Most picks for young talent...including our first pick.

A traded pick for an "ready to play player" (Ray)

A cheap pick for a recycled player..... (Begley)

And bar Cousins failing whatever the last minute reversal by the Saints.....an opportunistic pick up. (Cousins)

Now last year we gained a swag of players from other clubs...but that I believe was mainly due some extremely favouable opportunities being avaailable (Schneider, Dempster, King, Charlie).

With the young picks too the trend remained to pick players that would be best for us in the long-term, rather than kids that could play senior football really quickly.

The trend also continue to address the lacks in our team and current list to improve it's balance.

The BIG difference this year was no old players gained.....but with Cousins there almost was.

However the Saints will have an appreciably younger list in 2009 compared to 2008.

Harvey, GTrain, Fiora, Charlie, Rix being a posse of "older" players now departed.

SaintWodonga · Mon 01 Dec 2008 10:08pm

I know what you are saying, I must admit that I have an unusually good feeling about the 2008 lot. Really we can't do much worse than recent years, it's good to have such an injection of youth.

bigcarl · Post: # 680977Post **bigcarl** » Mon 01 Dec 2008 11:32pm

SaintWodonga wrote:it's good to have such an injection of youth.

too right it is. the sooner these kids start putting their hands up and saying "pick me" with consistent and solid performances for sandy, the better it will be for stkfc.

True Blue Sainter · Tue 02 Dec 2008 3:06am

bigcarl wrote:
SaintWodonga wrote:it's good to have such an injection of youth.
too right it is. the sooner these kids start putting their hands up and saying "pick me" with consistent and solid performances for sandy, the better it will be for stkfc.

Agreed. Although none of the picks bar Lynch are high in the draft, Begley has senior experience, Heyne is considered to be a steal, so we should at least get quite a few games from those 3 at least. Hopefully the other young boys can kick on and impress as well. I have high hopes for Smith, seems to be what we need, a real dasher in midfield.

St DAC · Post: # 681009Post **St DAC** » Tue 02 Dec 2008 6:45am

Any games in 2009 played by the kids just drafted should be regarded as a bonus. They're long-term prospects, not immediate.

uncle joe · Post: # 681023Post **uncle joe** » Tue 02 Dec 2008 8:32am

Heyne will play seniors in 2009 . A few games at least .

saintly · Post: # 681139Post **saintly** » Tue 02 Dec 2008 1:44pm

does anyone know the average age of the saints for 2009?

bigcarl · Post: # 681142Post **bigcarl** » Tue 02 Dec 2008 1:49pm

St DAC wrote:Any games in 2009 played by the kids just drafted should be regarded as a bonus. They're long-term prospects, not immediate.

look i agree as a general principle, but should one of them absolutely tear it up for sandy we shouldn't waste time in blooding him.

form will be the best indicator.

if he's consistently impressive he'll virtually pick himself, regardless of age.

rodgerfox · Post: # 681149Post **rodgerfox** » Tue 02 Dec 2008 2:16pm

bigcarl wrote:
St DAC wrote:Any games in 2009 played by the kids just drafted should be regarded as a bonus. They're long-term prospects, not immediate.
look i agree as a general principle, but should one of them absolutely tear it up for sandy we shouldn't waste time in blooding him.

form will be the best indicator.

if he's consistently impressive he'll virtually pick himself, regardless of age.

I disagree with the concept of 'any games in your first year being a bonus'.

Guys like Judd, Kosi, Rioli, Selwood are freaks, but there are plenty of draftees who play regular footy in their first year.

I'd say to not get any regular footy out of any draftees is a fail.