Ratten would be a fool to ever play Kent again!

[skeptic]

I know it’s a little fashionable to bag the disloyal forumites that bag Kent…
But somebody go ahead and justify that performance

28yo old, 70 odd games… best preseason of his career (like I haven’t heard that before)…

4 touches, one tackle, a goal gifted to him by the opposition passing to him in error practically on the goal line…

And all that I can forgive.

But when the game is on the line and he has the chance to do the job he’s there to do WHEN IT MATTERS… he melted under pressure like butter dropping an uncontested mark and goal.

Absolute rubbish performance

If I was Sharman, Bytel, NWM, Long and just about anyone else… I would lead a revolt of Kent was selected to play ahead of me.

We couldn’t find a spot for a guy like Dunstan but Kent survives… and it’s not even as though one couldn’t see that performance coming.

Sorry to be fired up but I am SICK AND TIRED of Kent’s utter mediocrity REWARDED time and time again.

That was hands down one of the worst performances a Saints player has ever put in.

A complete non entity that popped up just in time to stuff up the unstuffable or so I thought.

If Kent plays again… short of being the last fit player on the list I’m out on Ratten.
Is an absolute joke that this guy keeps getting opportunity after opportunity for the very predictable same old results.

Please let’s not keep trying to fight reality

[Waltzing St Kilda]

Ratten has already proved himself a fool, IMHO. No excuse for retaining Kent on the list let alone gifting him games.

Maybe Kent has a terrific personality or trains to an exemplary standard but on-field his standard is obvious.

[mightysainters]

Can't agree more, everyone could see his selection was horrific. No idea what people see in him. Always gets some garbage goal or two, doesn't excuse the 5 errors he makes a game or his 5 touches. Nowhere near it...

[st.byron]

Completely agree with the OP. He dished up exactly the same inept performance as we've seen time and time again. Indefensible. Put a fork in him, make it a double and stick one in Hannebery too.

[Wayne42]

I don't think the Saints lost because Kent was in the team, i think that's just looking for a scapegoat for the club's mediocre start to another season.

[st.byron]

I don't think the Saints lost because Kent was in the team, i think that's just looking for a scapegoat for the club's mediocre start to another season.

No but it's like playing with 21 guys. Least number of possessions of any player on the field - Dean Kent

[cwrcyn]

We already had two small forwards (Butler and Higgins) and a resting mid. Why play a fourth when Sharman could have given King a chop out by stopping King being double teamed? Tactically foolish. Alternatively, Wood could have played forward and Connolly could have played on the wing. We need to play three marking forward all the time or King will get smashed, and we'll be hopelessly predictable

[Jacks Back]

Kent is hopeless. Some of the other selections were also baffling. I know Byrnes is still relatively new to this but some of his efforts in the last qtr cost us the game.

[cwrcyn]

It was a tough day for small forwards with our non existent ball movement in the first half. The bigger problem is our midfield and the way we set up behind the ball

[st.byron]

If Ratten comes out and gives us platitudes like, "We'll learn from this", I'll throw up. Coz it looks like we haven't learner. Different year, same shyte.

[Wayne42]

If Ratten comes out and gives us platitudes like, "We'll learn from this", I'll throw up. Coz it looks like we haven't learner. Different year, same shyte.

Exactly, it's much more than Kent.

[skeptic]

It’s fair enough to suggest that Kent was the primary reason we lost…

Nobody expects 15 touches and 4 goals a game from a smal forward…
But if your skill set is find space and kick goals it’s inexcusable to botch it like he did in that last quarter. That killed us.

And I can accept that Higgins stuffed up a lot on the night but when the game was there to be done… Jack showed up and got to contest after contest and did stuff to try and win us the game.

What did Kent did other than nothing and stuff up opportunities that others created for him.

Seriously what is his skill set?
Fast - not overly but not slow
Good mark - No
Gets into space - Hardly
Accurate kick - fairly unreliable
Excellent crumber- absolutely not

The one marketable skill he had was making the most of his very limited opportunities and he failed dismally at that when it mattered

Are we seriously expecting Kent to contribute to us winning games?

[bangaulegend]

Kent is not AFL standard end of story . And Ratts will have to get his bromance with him out of his selection head ASAP .

[WellardSaint]

AFL points for Mini-Skunk?

21 AF points.
3 kicks
1 handball.

Some of you reckon folks like me, should eff off and support another team.
For my criticism of club, coaches, players, etc.

Well, folks- when our coaches over-rate some of our players, like e.g. Hannas, Kent, etc...are we supposed to show blind faith in the holy crest and worship the entire place?
Really?

[st.byron]

AFL points for Mini-Skunk?

21.
3 kicks
1 handball.

Some of you reckon folks like me, should eff off and support another team.
For my criticism of club, coaches, players, etc.

Well, folks- when our coaches over-rate some of our players, like e.g. Hannas, Kent, etc...are we supposed to show blind faith in the holy crest and worship the entire place?
Really?

Nope. Right now I feel like they can just f*** off. Purveyors of false hope, only to keep repeating the same old mistakes over and over and over.

[CQ SAINT]

AFL points for Mini-Skunk?

21.
3 kicks
1 handball.

Some of you reckon folks like me, should eff off and support another team.
For my criticism of club, coaches, players, etc.

Well, folks- when our coaches over-rate some of our players, like e.g. Hannas, Kent, etc...are we supposed to show blind faith in the holy crest and worship the entire place?
Really?

Sounds like you want to eff off actually.
I reckon its funny that if you choose to support a s*** team and take pride in hanging more s*** on them. Clearly you are in your element.
You're welcome to stay, as far as I'm concerned, you deserve to.

[saint6709]

Rubber chested hack - it makes no sense to pick him - how was he picked ?

[Wayne42]

If Kent gets dropped for the game against Freo and we still lose, who are we turning on next week, any ideas ?

[Teflon]

It’s not that Kent cost us the game we all know there is more to it
It’s the FACT Ratten and match crew do the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome??
Kent was cut from Melbourne because he doesn’t get it enough and has poor disposal - he’s not AFL standard but we take 3 years to work that out and keep playing him??????? WTF
Connolly much much cleaner under pressure already kids like him are our future not Kent
But let’s not stop there
Butler has done nothing in 2 years his job is to score not just tackle and panick under pressure- I would rather see Long up forward tbh
Why not play Sharman tonight and give Max another lead up option to take press off him ??? Even if he gets it 3 times he’ll give you 2-3 goals over Kent
It all smacks of not smart coaching and poor match selection
Cuddly Ratts is a nice guy but I don’t think he has the harder edge this side needs
Looking at tonight’s game we’ve stalled
We rely on broken down B graders from other clubs
We’ve got waiter thin genuine A grade talent and less with real skill coming through
Sadly we need a re-set and trip to the bottom
I’m resigned to the fact I’ll never see a flag with this mediocre rabble

[Waltzing St Kilda]

It’s not that Kent cost us the game we all know there is more to it
It’s the FACT Ratten and match crew do the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome??
Kent was cut from Melbourne because he doesn’t get it enough and has poor disposal - he’s not AFL standard but we take 3 years to work that out and keep playing him??????? WTF
Connolly much much cleaner under pressure already kids like him are our future not Kent
But let’s not stop there
Butler has done nothing in 2 years his job is to score not just tackle and panick under pressure- I would rather see Long up forward tbh
Why not play Sharman tonight and give Max another lead up option to take press off him ??? Even if he gets it 3 times he’ll give you 2-3 goals over Kent
It all smacks of not smart coaching and poor match selection
Cuddly Ratts is a nice guy but I don’t think he has the harder edge this side needs
Looking at tonight’s game we’ve stalled
We rely on broken down B graders from other clubs
We’ve got waiter thin genuine A grade talent and less with real skill coming through
Sadly we need a re-set and trip to the bottom
I’m resigned to the fact I’ll never see a flag with this mediocre rabble

Great post except for "waiter thin".

[Banger9798]

Watch him get picked next week

[skeptic]

If Kent gets dropped for the game against Freo and we still lose, who are we turning on next week, any ideas ?

See I don’t understand what you’re saying here...

Turn in him? The guy has been the close to the most heavily criticised player on the list for 2-3 years... there was a whole thread started pre-game about the meltdown of his selection... and then he turns in an absolutely stinking performance and you’re arguing what... that he’s been scapegoated?

Is there even an argument here that he shouldn’t be scapegoated and that that isn’t the right thing to do? Clearly worst on ground. Bloody Owens on debut had more of the ball.

Yes no one player is responsible for a loss but a terrible performance with a critical error from an underperforming player deserves heat.

How bad does he have to perform for some of you guys to start questioning his spot in the team?

[Wayne42]

If Kent gets dropped for the game against Freo and we still lose, who are we turning on next week, any ideas ?

See I don’t understand what you’re saying here...

Turn in him? The guy has been the close to the most heavily criticised player on the list for 2-3 years... there was a whole thread started pre-game about the meltdown of his selection... and then he turns in an absolutely stinking performance and you’re arguing what... that he’s been scapegoated?

Is there even an argument here that he shouldn’t be scapegoated and that that isn’t the right thing to do? Clearly worst on ground. Bloody Owens on debut had more of the ball.

Yes no one player is responsible for a loss but a terrible performance with a critical error from an underperforming player deserves heat.

How bad does he have to perform for some of you guys to start questioning his spot in the team?

He's not the main reason we lost, sure he's crap but the coach sees something in him that those on the outside don't see, when we lose another game and Kent's not in the team then i'm predicting the collective will turn on another player and blame him. Let's wait and see.

[skeptic]

If Kent gets dropped for the game against Freo and we still lose, who are we turning on next week, any ideas ?

See I don’t understand what you’re saying here...

Turn in him? The guy has been the close to the most heavily criticised player on the list for 2-3 years... there was a whole thread started pre-game about the meltdown of his selection... and then he turns in an absolutely stinking performance and you’re arguing what... that he’s been scapegoated?

Is there even an argument here that he shouldn’t be scapegoated and that that isn’t the right thing to do? Clearly worst on ground. Bloody Owens on debut had more of the ball.

Yes no one player is responsible for a loss but a terrible performance with a critical error from an underperforming player deserves heat.

How bad does he have to perform for some of you guys to start questioning his spot in the team?

He's not the main reason we lost, sure he's crap but the coach sees something in him that those on the outside don't see, when we lose another game and Kent's not in the team then i'm predicting the collective will turn on another player and blame him. Let's wait and see.

Thats the point though isn’t it... he was as you said “crap” and the coach sees something in him that nobody on the outside sees. Hence the criticism of for picking him when it is so obviously a bad move.

The fact that others will play bad at other times and get criticism is hardly an argument that Kent is harshly maligned

[Teflon]

If Kent gets dropped for the game against Freo and we still lose, who are we turning on next week, any ideas ?

See I don’t understand what you’re saying here...

Turn in him? The guy has been the close to the most heavily criticised player on the list for 2-3 years... there was a whole thread started pre-game about the meltdown of his selection... and then he turns in an absolutely stinking performance and you’re arguing what... that he’s been scapegoated?

Is there even an argument here that he shouldn’t be scapegoated and that that isn’t the right thing to do? Clearly worst on ground. Bloody Owens on debut had more of the ball.

Yes no one player is responsible for a loss but a terrible performance with a critical error from an underperforming player deserves heat.

How bad does he have to perform for some of you guys to start questioning his spot in the team?

He's not the main reason we lost, sure he's crap but the coach sees something in him that those on the outside don't see, when we lose another game and Kent's not in the team then i'm predicting the collective will turn on another player and blame him. Let's wait and see.

You’re off with the birds Wayno
Everyone knows he’s not the sole reason no player ever is
It’s the poor system that doesnt recognise he’s not our future and that sadly under pressure situations guys like Kent let you down.
Melbourne mates of mine describe him as “flaky as they come” and they cut him cause he can’t kick
So what do good ole charity Saints do?? Extend his AFL career for years?? Dumb
Surely play Sharman ??? And even if we lose (I think we will anyway) next week we are at the least getting games into the future
Isn’t that the point ????