Dempster

[BigMart]

4 games now.....

held Bowden to 14 possesions and had an impact aswell - Bowden generally gets 35+ in the ressies and is still one of Richmonds best players.

Interesting....

Maguire - 99g, 25yo
Armitage - 16g, 21yo
Dempster - 75g, 24yo
Gwilt - 43g, 23yo
Eddy - 15g, 21yo
Raph - 45, 23yo
L.Fisher - 55, 25yo
Begley - 29, 23yo

That is a fair bit of experience running around in the two's......

Steven King 224g, 30yo suspended....2 weeks away

Tom Lynch 18yo, Rhys Stanley 18yo and Jack Steven 19yo yet to debut and all very impressive

[Thinline]

I suspect he'll come in if Max isn't right.

With Fisher, Blake and Zac between them covering the talls, Dempster seems a better, more athletic fit than Maguire.

IMO, of course...

[roxanne]

Couldn't agree more. I've said in another post somewhere that he'll come in for Max and play on Johnson and kill him. Then go on to kick the winning goal - or at least the sealer. I know it's a lot to expect from his first game back from a knee reco.....but, if anyone can do it, he can.

[rocksolid]

Just wondering if Dempster has had enough match practice yet.

I was under the impression he was still a few weeks off.

[Con Gorozidis]

i have been saying all year that sean d was important because of cats small forward line and our tall backline.

would not be in the least surprised if he played this week instead of max.

will go straight to stevie j.

[maverick]

I reckon give him another week, element of structure surprise for the finals, and give the current incumbents a chance in a big game I reckon

[Saint Bev]

Couldn't agree more. I've said in another post somewhere that he'll come in for Max and play on Johnson and kill him. Then go on to kick the winning goal - or at least the sealer. I know it's a lot to expect from his first game back from a knee reco.....but, if anyone can do it, he can.

Yep, agree totally, he's a gun.

[meher baba]

I'm not trying to be argumentative or have a go at anybody, but I am constantly amazed at the apparent hero worship of Dempster among some forumites.

I feel the same excitement at the idea of his coming back into the top 22 as I would at the prospect of the return of a Leigh Fisher or a Robert Eddy: ie, good player at his best, but not exactly a matchwinner.

Dempster has good foot skills and can kick the ball a long way, but doesn't do this particularly often (5.4 kicks per game on average throughout his career: rising to 7 kicks per game playing for the Saints). He has only kicked 11 goals in his entire 73 game AFL career, but he seems to have some skills here as well: I recall him kicking a match winning goal for us in some game last season (can't remember which one).

Other than this, he seems to be a defensive, negating sort of player who - when he is playing at his best - will be more or less invisible (but, importantly, so will be his direct opponent).

Simlar to Bakes, but without Bakes's hardness in the contest and ability to force turnovers and get his own ball.

Is there something more to Dempster than this which I have somehow missed, and which leads some posters on here to call him a "gun" and otherwise get really excited at the prospect of his return to AFL?

[saint vince]

I'm not trying to be argumentative or have a go at anybody, but I am constantly amazed at the apparent hero worship of Dempster among some forumites.

I feel the same excitement at the idea of his coming back into the top 22 as I would at the prospect of the return of a Leigh Fisher or a Robert Eddy: ie, good player at his best, but not exactly a matchwinner.

Dempster has good foot skills and can kick the ball a long way, but doesn't do this particularly often (5.4 kicks per game on average throughout his career: rising to 7 kicks per game playing for the Saints). He has only kicked 11 goals in his entire 73 game AFL career, but he seems to have some skills here as well: I recall him kicking a match winning goal for us in some game last season (can't remember which one).

Other than this, he seems to be a defensive, negating sort of player who - when he is playing at his best - will be more or less invisible (but, importantly, so will be his direct opponent).

Simlar to Bakes, but without Bakes's hardness in the contest and ability to force turnovers and get his own ball.

Is there something more to Dempster than this which I have somehow missed, and which leads some posters on here to call him a "gun" and otherwise get really excited at the prospect of his return to AFL?

I agree even if he comes in at the exact level he went out on (highly unlikely with an acl) I am not sure who he would replace from the side last week.

I didn't get to many games last year but he must of offered a lot you couldn't see on tv.

[roxanne]

Actually Meher Baba, I think you sum up Dempster pretty well except his invisible work has been very visible to me. I disagree about his degree of hardness - he is very tough and completely nullifies whoever he plays on. With all due respect to L. Fisher and R Eddy, he is more skilful, especially with his delivery into the forward line. A big weakness in our game imo.
He is also one of our few players capable of kicking a goal from outside 50.
He was a huge loss going into the finals last year. I know several Sydney people who weren't fussed about losing Schneider but completely flumoxed that the Swans would release Dempster.
I realise he's coming back from a knee and not too much should be expected but I'm just rapt he's playing so well in the VFL and can't wait for his return- this week maybe.

[aussiejones]

I reckon Lyon knows Dempster pretty well .
In contrast Lyon would not have seen a lot of Maguire.

So I would expect Dempster in the side first.

[plugger66]

I reckon Lyon knows Dempster pretty well .
In contrast Lyon would not have seen a lot of Maguire.

So I would expect Dempster in the side first.

I reckon if that is the reason Dempster gets a game ahead of Goose then RL should go. I think coaching is a bit more scientific than that.

[SENsei]

I reckon Lyon knows Dempster pretty well .
In contrast Lyon would not have seen a lot of Maguire.

So I would expect Dempster in the side first.

I reckon if that is the reason Dempster gets a game ahead of Goose then RL should go. I think coaching is a bit more scientific than that.

Heads Maguire, Tails Dempster.

[LTN16]

Gwilt - 43g, 23yo

Thats very surprising.

Has Gwilt really played 43 games ??

[Beej]

Would be interested to know what sort of player Steven is.

A lot on here seem to rate this kid very highly.

[WinnersOnly]

We definitely need another quicker player down back to match the opposition smalls... DEMPSTER does tend to play much smaller than his height and does a good negating role on small quick forwards.

Look at GEELONG's scoring last week it was nearly all from thier small midfield brigade running through or resting in the forward line. If we were to line up as we did against Richmond their smaller mids will cause us major problems.

If HUDGTON doesn't come up it will be a choice between DEMPSTER & STEVEN with the committee to more likley to go towards DEMPSTERS previous experinece and not introduce STEVEN in such a big game!

In any event I think it is time for the match committee to look at another small pocket player instead of BLAKE....

[meher baba]

We definitely need another quicker player down back to match the opposition smalls... DEMPSTER does tend to play much smaller than his height and does a good negating role on small quick forwards.

Look at GEELONG's scoring last week it was nearly all from thier small midfield brigade running through or resting in the forward line. If we were to line up as we did against Richmond their smaller mids will cause us major problems.

If HUDGTON doesn't come up it will be a choice between DEMPSTER & STEVEN with the committee to more likley to go towards DEMPSTERS previous experinece and not introduce STEVEN in such a big game!

In any event I think it is time for the match committee to look at another small pocket player instead of BLAKE....

For me, if Dempster were to come in, it would be for Geary (but I would prefer to see Armo come in). I think we have to replace Max with either a running back (Raph or even perhaps Begley) or someone to play as 3rd forward (Gwilt or Lynch).

Playing Steven down the back in his first AFL game seems like a very high risk strategy to me.

As for the idea of dropping Blake, I just can't come at it. Have a look at the points against tally for the Saints this season. Blake has been a constant and major contributor to that outcome. He is an essential player IMO.

[kaos theory]

We definitely need another quicker player down back to match the opposition smalls... DEMPSTER does tend to play much smaller than his height and does a good negating role on small quick forwards.

Look at GEELONG's scoring last week it was nearly all from thier small midfield brigade running through or resting in the forward line. If we were to line up as we did against Richmond their smaller mids will cause us major problems.

If HUDGTON doesn't come up it will be a choice between DEMPSTER & STEVEN with the committee to more likley to go towards DEMPSTERS previous experinece and not introduce STEVEN in such a big game!

In any event I think it is time for the match committee to look at another small pocket player instead of BLAKE....

If dempster is recovering more quickly than expected, then I woud be keen to play him, if maxy is out. Its a good sawp. He adds pace to the backs, which it is lacking, and that will not be addressed by goose. Its a better structure too, keeps a balance between tall befenders, rebounders who set up play, pace, hardness & good skills/decision making.

I wouldn't drop geary, no way. He is an important skillful link player through the mids. Wouldn't be dropping blake either...

[saintsRrising]

I'm not trying to be argumentative or have a go at anybody, but I am constantly amazed at the apparent hero worship of Dempster among some forumites.

I assume that you are overstating things with the "hero worship"...but many on this forum are like me and value Dempster becuase of his TEAM football abilities...

Why I like Dempster.

TEAM football is what is required to win a flag.

Dempster is a very good defender with a long booming kick...and can run forward and snag a goal. He has quite good pace and can play on smalls and if require can play asa run with tagger.

He is better decision maker than Blake and a much better kick and runner. Blake is better at a KP...but Demspter is much better option on the flank.

For the same reason Schneider is an asset...another former Swan that you do not value. RL realised that our forward line lacked the abillty to apply forward pressure and that schneider is very good at this....which adds to his offensive.

[BigMart]

Blake is the weak link of a miserly defence..........he is well suited to CHB on a tall with a big engine, but lately has found himself (due to our ridiculously oversized backline) on a medium......and in trouble when the ball comes in quick......he panics and gives away poor frees....

the opposition often sag off blake when we get the ball in defence......because they know he is not going to take the game on and always pick the safe sideways option....therefore it gives the opposition time to roll back....

[WinnersOnly]

...

For me, if Dempster were to come in, it would be for Geary (but I would prefer to see Armo come in). I think we have to replace Max with either a running back (Raph or even perhaps Begley) or someone to play as 3rd forward (Gwilt or Lynch).

As for the idea of dropping Blake, I just can't come at it. Have a look at the points against tally for the Saints this season. Blake has been a constant and major contributor to that outcome. He is an essential player IMO.

It's a matter of team balance and we need someone that is a solid match up to take Johnson? I doubt they will play GILBERT in that role again as Johnson has given him a touch up on two previous occasions and we need GILBERT to play the sweeping role down back.

If Max plays he gets Johnson otherwise DEMPSTER is my choice if he is ready - just on agility/skill !

Match ups -

HUDGTON v Johnson
DAWSON v Hawkins
FISHER v Mooney
GILBERT v Rooke
BAKER v Byrnes/Stokes
RAY v Varcoe
MONTAGNA v Kelly
GOODARD v Mackie
BLAKE v who ? ABLETT / CHAPMAN doesn't have the pace or agility DEMPSTER does....

[saintsRrising]

I reckon Lyon knows Dempster pretty well .
In contrast Lyon would not have seen a lot of Maguire.

So I would expect Dempster in the side first.

Whie they are similar in height they perform very differently and will play different positions and roles.

Who plays first is not a direct competition between them.

Goose: CHB...possibly FB (though I don't like him there), BP on talls, possible third marking forward, possible relief ruckman playing mainly as a follower,

Dempster: HBF, verstalie BP..but more likely to take Mediums to Small than talls, run with tagger, winger.

[BigMart]

Dempster's appeal

Able to match up on the following finals teams fwds/Mids....if needed

Geelong: Varcoe (HF), Corey (W), Johnson (HF - not deep), Chappie (HF)

WB: Murphy (HF), Griffen (W), Higgins (HF), Gia (HF)

Coll: Thomas (HF), Pendlebury (W)

Adel: C.Knights (HF), Thompson (HF), Goodwin (HF)

Ess: Monfries (HF), Winderlich (HF)

[Milton66]

Is there something more to Dempster than this which I have somehow missed, and which leads some posters on here to call him a "gun" and otherwise get really excited at the prospect of his return to AFL?

Well, if you're in Tassies and don't get to any games, then yes... you've missed a heap.

They guy was good enough to play in a premoership side based on a defensive gameplan.

I'd be more concerned about the Armo and Steven hero worship... who've done SFA to date.

Dempster is bigger odds to play than Goose this year.

[claystreet]

I dont think Dempster will play its far too early.

Blake will play, has been in involved in how many winning games this season?

How people can have Dempster back in the AFL so soon has got me beat.