Gwilt

[Con Gorozidis]

Should have been in GF team instead of Dempster.
Big body would have been nice in those conditions.

(Yeah I know I need to move on and stop dredging up bad memories.)

[#1GILL]

I think he has been really good this year.
Good in one on ones and is a nice kick.

Could hold down Fullback in 2-3 years time.

[meher baba]

If we are going to have a debate about Gwilt, I'll throw in again my perspective on him.

1. Excellent big, strong body, which he is increasingly learning how to use.

2. First rate foot skills on his left, above average disposal by hand, and he has clearly been working on his right foot as it has improved quite a bit.

3. He has also worked on his fitness and stamina (and perhaps his asthma) and no longer seems to experience any trouble in running out a game.

4. Gwilt still doesn't have a standout position to play. It's clearly better for him to play behind the centre square, where we get the maximum value from his kicking ability. However, I'm not entirely convinced about him as a defender.

5. As an out-and-out defender, he his somewhat hampered by his lack of aerial ability and the difficulty he seems to experience staying on his opponent (leading him to engage more than the usual amount of arm-grabbing and shirt-pulling).

I'm no longer worried about whether or not he is going to make it as an AFL player: IMO he has now made it as a utility player. But, like Jason Blake and BJ before him, he will need to establish himself primarily in a particular role in order to really come into his own.

[super dooper]

4. Gwilt still doesn't have a standout position to play. It's clearly better for him to play behind the centre square, where we get the maximum value from his kicking ability. However, I'm not entirely convinced about him as a defender.

5. As an out-and-out defender, he his somewhat hampered by his lack of aerial ability and the difficulty he seems to experience staying on his opponent (leading him to engage more than the usual amount of arm-grabbing and shirt-pulling).

I'm no longer worried about whether or not he is going to make it as an AFL player: IMO he has now made it as a utility player. But, like Jason Blake and BJ before him, he will need to establish himself primarily in a particular role in order to really come into his own.

He has shown awsome physical strength in his ability to break tackles and distribute the ball.

I for one am concerned that teams will start try to expose him one out as much as possible as a defender. He tends to infringe his opponent a lot by pulling and scragging on their jumper in marking contests. This will come in time (hopefully by September )

Jimmy has certainly been one of our most improved this year and credit has to go to him to cement a spot in the 22!

[saintly]

Should have been in GF team instead of Dempster.
Big body would have been nice in those conditions.

(Yeah I know I need to move on and stop dredging up bad memories.)

but gwilt is better this year then last year. he got dropped last year becuase he was not playing as well . he probably learnt big time by being dropped.

[OneEyedSainter77]

Been a huge positive this year for us. I think he's been our most improved player. but I'm not sure if i've left someone else out.

This is looking like his breakout year though.

[Con Gorozidis]

Should have been in GF team instead of Dempster.
Big body would have been nice in those conditions.

(Yeah I know I need to move on and stop dredging up bad memories.)

but gwilt is better this year then last year. he got dropped last year becuase he was not playing as well . he probably learnt big time by being dropped.

true that. he is certainly one of our improvers for the year. Him and Big Mac probably our only genuine upsides from 09.

[saintslegendLH]

As said earlier above in this thread, gwilt has shown his ability as a AFL player and has earnt his spot in out top 22 IMO, but also said above tends to pull players jumpers in marking contests because of his lack of ability in the air and because he finds it hard to stay on leads..
just an idea but against teams like richmond etc. could ross give him a run in the middle or the wing, were he doesnt perticually have to stay on a opponent but can use his dominant skills in using his big body to his advantage and using his kicking and handballing skills to set up goals.
i know we shouldn't really be trying too much new against teams like richmond because by playing our normal side we will get back into dominant form, but i think if gwilt can run out the game in the middle it may show signs that he could do it in the future,
its not like hes too tall (188 cm were dal and hayes are 166)
This may be a useless idea but just came to mind after reading these posts

[SainterK]

MB pointed out he has chronic asthma, and I am wondering if he has different training loads this year?

Unless anyone can correct me, he doesn't train with the main group at open training sessions anymore?

His best quality is his composure IMO, even on the weekend he was nailed in an opposition tackle, yet still managed to think and handball to a target.

[squiz]

If we are going back to GF if only
I still wish MAX was there

[ThePunter]

He got it.

He got that he's strong.

He got that he's a lovely kick.

He got that he has enough talent that he can use his right foot effectively.

He got that he belongs at AFL level.

He got it - pure and simple.

[saintslegendLH]

If we are going back to GF if only
I still wish MAX was there

Yeah Loydy rated Maxx as the third best full back hes ever played on or something, strange how ross wouldn't let maxx finsih off his caree rather than playing a developing full back.. specially in the year that we were likely to win the flag

[wasaintsfan]

could have should have... gwilts a diff player then he was last year...

and dawson held up all year... why would they fix what wasnt broken??

yea wouldve been hte nice fairytale ending for hudgton we win the premiership all skip blah blah blah

but last year dawson held the role better then max did and thats the way lyon saw it not to meantion he knew max was gone... and only way to get the experience up is to play him at afl.... and because they play same style couldnt have both in team....

[Con Gorozidis]

could have should have... gwilts a diff player then he was last year...

and dawson held up all year... why would they fix what wasnt broken??

yea wouldve been hte nice fairytale ending for hudgton we win the premiership all skip blah blah blah

but last year dawson held the role better then max did and thats the way lyon saw it not to meantion he knew max was gone... and only way to get the experience up is to play him at afl.... and because they play same style couldnt have both in team....

i think we are talking about the utility role in the GF. not zac.
so it would have been gwilt v dempster for that final spot.

[wasaintsfan]

some one posted about max.... and i also highlighted utility role gwilt last year was used completely differently and probably wouldnt have had the confidence in this type role he plays now let alone on the biggest day of them all

even this year he started shakey in the role but each week he seems to get better and the more he grows in the one position the better player he will be come the big matches

[bigred]

what!

We didn't win the flag?

[noblejohn]

He got it.

He got that he's strong.

He got that he's a lovely kick.

He got that he has enough talent that he can use his right foot effectively.

He got that he belongs at AFL level.

He got it - pure and simple.

and he's a Noble Park boy

[kaos theory]

Should have been in GF team instead of Dempster.
Big body would have been nice in those conditions.

(Yeah I know I need to move on and stop dredging up bad memories.)

Gwilt 09 - no way.

Gwilt 10 - yes, different player, improved a lot, more assured, better decision-making.

[Dr Spaceman]

There's always "what ifs" when you lose.

Gwilt plays in the GF and we lose - should have played Dempster.

Max plays in the GF and we lose - should have played Zac.

Bottom line is we'll never know if any of these changes would have helped. We may have lost by a bigger margin.

Only way to avoid "what ifs" is to win!

[Spinner]

Should have been in GF team instead of Dempster.
Big body would have been nice in those conditions.

(Yeah I know I need to move on and stop dredging up bad memories.)

I dont think he should be in the senior team....let alone last years grand final team.

Cant mark....and cant read the play.

His kicking is his strength and that lets him down time and time again.

I dont see any improvement in him.

[SainterK]

Should have been in GF team instead of Dempster.
Big body would have been nice in those conditions.

(Yeah I know I need to move on and stop dredging up bad memories.)

I dont think he should be in the senior team....let alone last years grand final team.

Cant mark....and cant read the play.

His kicking is his strength and that lets him down time and time again.

I dont see any improvement in him.

Really?

[saintsRrising]

JG has now played 51 games and is now basically at the stage in his development that you would like. Whereas last year he was a bit behind.

Another 25-50 games and he will no doubt be better again.

But any way you look at it he has improved this year and has become a first 22 player.

At present that is as a versatile HBF who can also play CHB on the right match -up...and who can sneak forward for the occasional goal which adds to his versatility.

Importantly he is different "type" to our other HBFers as he offers a very robust build.

His long kicking is an attacking asset too.

[repta]

He is no star, but is a great solid player. Much improved over his career. (He gets better each year.) His greatest attribute is that he always puts in 100%. He is not always 100% effective, 100% skilled or 100% right in decision makinh, but there appears to be 100% effort and commitment to the cause. I dont think he is very naturally talented (like Clint Jones) but makes up with the lack of talent with hard work and enthusiasm for the contest. Cant complain about that.

[maverick]

Should have been in GF team instead of Dempster.
Big body would have been nice in those conditions.

(Yeah I know I need to move on and stop dredging up bad memories.)

I dont think he should be in the senior team....let alone last years grand final team.

Cant mark....and cant read the play.

His kicking is his strength and that lets him down time and time again.

I dont see any improvement in him.

Are you serious?
We must be looking at different players.

[dcstkfc]

I thought Geary would have been the one on Grand Final day, but Dempster didn't lose it for us, he actually kicked a goal and was competitive.

How on earth did we lose it!!!!!!!!