Why Stanley

[3rd generation saint]

IMO, Stanley is the one to come in this week to attempt to fill the gap left by Roo.
It is a tall order, however I believe Stanley represents the most similar type of player to Roo we have.
Like Roo, Stanley has pace which should help make him a good leading forward like Roo.
He can also jump and mark the ball and seems to have good skills.
Just hope if RL is thinking the same that they are doing drills right now with Stanley taking Roo's place.
McEvoy is more in the Kosi mould, can play ruck and take the strong pack mark.

[kaos theory]

Unlike Roo he is not an elite AA and one of the best players in the comp.

[3rd generation saint]

Not yet, neither was Roo in 2001.

[StNoodles]

If Stanley comes in, who plays CHF when Kosi's back? Rhys FF, Kosi CHF? or vise-versa?

[Statsman]

Just like Roo and Kosi, I imagine Stanley and Kosi would alternate between FF and CHF as required. Often one player does some hard running at CHF then goes to FF to "rest". Or they might send one player deep to FF to exploit a particular matchup against a smaller defender. In reverse a player might come high to CHF to expose a less mobile defender.

[borderbarry]

Stanley should start in the FP. Milne in the other. Dont know who for FF though. Give Rhys the occasional run in the ruck as well.
Remember Plugger played his first season in the FP.

[Bernard Shakey]

Stanley should start in the FP. Milne in the other. Dont know who for FF though. Give Rhys the occasional run in the ruck as well.
Remember Plugger played his first season in the FP.

That's because Jacko wouldn't let anyone near FF.

[linz]

Give Stanley maybe 25% game time from off the Bench IMO if everything is going to plan. Let's beat Freo first.

[saintsRrising]

Give Stanley maybe 25% game time from off the Bench IMO if everything is going to plan. Let's beat Freo first.

???

In this age of rotations why would you pick anyone if only intending 25% game-time? That means others will be overloaded.

[elphie]

GWILT will play CHF. we have many options down back.

[Milton66]

Physically, Stanley isn't up to scratch just yet.

This week will be the interesting one because we have both key fwd's out.

I'd lean towards Ben, if we want someone in the square, although Stanley could well use his pace on the lead.

It will be interesting to see when Kosi gets back. I think Kosi plays better when he's on the move, so I'd like to see him at CHF.

Interesting times.

[SainterK]

I just can't subscribe to putting the kid in the ruck against Sandilands in his debut game Barry, I know Ross isn't famous for showing sentiment, but this is taking tough to a new level

[bobmurray]

Unfortunately Ben just isn't up to it.......maybe his development has stalled
or maybe he's fully developed and that's all we are going to get from Ben.

I don't know where he's at as an AFL player..what i do know is right at the moment he's not showing much...he's not presenting himself as an option...

it's going to be an interesting year watching some of these players,who steps up and who steps back......who grabs an opportunity and shines...

[kaos theory]

Not yet, neither was Roo in 2001.

Exactly my point, that's why we need to be careful about making comaprision of Roo 2010 vs. Stanely 2010......they are very big shoes to fill....

[degruch]

Do we actually need a Roo replica? Surely we've got the cattle without painting #12 on some kids back and sending him out to kick 5 goals???

[SaintSimmo]

Give Stanley maybe 25% game time

Thats less then what luke ball was getting!!!
If he plays 25% of the game he may as well not play at all.
Let the boy loose!

[battye]

IMO, Stanley is the one to come in this week to attempt to fill the gap left by Roo.
It is a tall order, however I believe Stanley represents the most similar type of player to Roo we have.
Like Roo, Stanley has pace which should help make him a good leading forward like Roo.
He can also jump and mark the ball and seems to have good skills.
Just hope if RL is thinking the same that they are doing drills right now with Stanley taking Roo's place.
McEvoy is more in the Kosi mould, can play ruck and take the strong pack mark.

I agree entirely.

I really think this is the week for Stanley. How fantastic would it be if we could unearth a young-gun forward at this early stage of the season.

As bobmurray said, McEvoy is not the answer right now.

[saintsRrising]

How fantastic would it be if we could unearth a young-gun forward at this early stage of the season.

.

Yes it would..

But lets not expect too much.
There are quite a few young KPP...and most are not starring. Mot are up and down.

He is young and raw and so if he comes in we should just be happy with an ok contribution.

Anything more would just be a bonus.

[Rickabee]

Based on circumstances today I think that Stanley is the first option. As others have said let's not expect too much from him in his first game, especially since he is going to get their best defender.

I had hoped that he and Lynch and Heyne would all get tried out on a flank while both Roo & Kosi were available so they'd only get the 3rd best defender to start their careers.

We know he can run and take a contested mark and kick but we can't expect him to play with fitness of Roo or take the pummeling that many consecutive matches will place on his frame, at this stage. At least he will draw a good defender to allow the rest of the team to perform.

So lets all cut him some slack when he makes his debut and cheer him on when he does something good, be it a tackle, a goal or a mark.

Kosi is back for round 5 and that will take some pressure off the kid.

[Milton66]

Hmmm, I agree 100% with Degruch that we don't need a Roo clone.

Simply because we don't have one.

I suspect that the key will be like last week and create more scoring options. People should also remember that part of our strategy relies on strangling the opposition also.

As far as Ben goes, I think it's a bit premature to say that he's going backwards.

Don't be quick to write him, and don't be surprised to see Pattison back.

If the plan is to create more scoring options, then I think you'll find that all we need is someone to hold down the possi rather than win the game of their own boot... Until Kosi returns.

With Gwilt working well down back, and Peake going OK, we should be able to spare or rotate someone like BJ or Fish up forward.

The back 6 is critical, and with Gilbo, Bakes and now Gwilt going well... we can better afford to use the above mentioned 2 players.

My gut feel is that we will come out stronger as a result of this.

This isn't the same team we had in the late 80's and early 90's where we sweated every week to see if Plugger was playing.

Go Saints.

[dcstkfc]

If it were me, I'd put Gardiner to CHF, and play McEvoy and King in the Ruck.

[bigred]

Give Stanley maybe 25% game time from off the Bench IMO if everything is going to plan. Let's beat Freo first.

Luke Ball thread...

[samoht]

It's got to be Stanley - we need a quick tall.

Stanley was clearly the best tall in windy conditions - McEvoy didn't feature in the best VFL players which was disappointing.

Plus Stanley is more likely to provide the forward pressure to create a couple of turn over goals with his pace.

He's putting on weight nicely apparently he's 94 kg at the moment (started at 89kgs).

[linz]

Give Stanley maybe 25% game time from off the Bench IMO if everything is going to plan. Let's beat Freo first.

Luke Ball thread...

Hmm, not one of my better posts. No point picking him to sit on the bench for 75% of the game. How's he been doing At Sandy?

[matrix]

IMO, Stanley is the one to come in this week to attempt to fill the gap left by Roo.
It is a tall order, however I believe Stanley represents the most similar type of player to Roo we have.
Like Roo, Stanley has pace which should help make him a good leading forward like Roo.
He can also jump and mark the ball and seems to have good skills.
Just hope if RL is thinking the same that they are doing drills right now with Stanley taking Roo's place.
McEvoy is more in the Kosi mould, can play ruck and take the strong pack mark.