Preview Round 7, 2023: St.Kilda v Port Adelaide - Marvel Stadium, Friday 28th April, 7:50PM AEST *WOOD 100TH*

[gubby88]

totally, and if Byrnes does in fact keep those types out of the team then even better for us but I'm just not 100% sold that he's capable of being a premiership type player but he's doing everything right presently. Can he keep it up and has he got any improvement left in him will be a fascinating watch.

Maaattteee if Jason Castagna can be a premiership player, anyone can be....

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[gringo2011]

do you think Zac and Billings can replace his running ?

being the obvious replacements ?

No

 

[Cairnsman]

Maaattteee if Jason Castagna can be a premiership player, anyone can be....

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good point...well argued

 

[Cairnsman]

No

controversial Gringoz!

So if Zac and Billings can't push Byrnes out, who's spot are they currently competing with?

 

[gringo2011]

controversial Gringoz!

So if Zac and Billings can't push Byrnes out, who's spot are they currently competing with?

I think Zac is a mid so might need to push Hunter Clark out. Billings wing or HFF probably needs Phillipou to drop away or an injury. Don't think either are walk up inclusions at the moment.

 

[Cairnsman]

I think Zac is a mid so might need to push Hunter Clark out. Billings wing or HFF probably needs Phillipou to drop away or an injury. Don't think either are walk up inclusions at the moment.

I think Billings will push Mattaes out this week, Bytel might push Windy out.

Zac is a defensive mid, plays half back a bit, would push Byrnes out as the obvious one when Zac comes of the injury list

 

[gringo2011]

I think Billings will push Mattaes out this week, Bytel might push Windy out.

Zac is a defensive mid, plays half back a bit, would push Byrnes out as the obvious one when Zac comes of the injury list

Phillipou looks pretty good to me. Can't see him being pushed out. Zac could free up Sinclair if he did play HB but his kicking is a worry. I doubt Byrnes is anywhere near to being dropped.

 

[Mat Mann]

Honestly? I'd like to see Gresh sent to Sandy - if nothing more than for the attitude he showed when Caminiti walked into an open goal and snubbed Gresh (rightly imo)
The optics have been pretty ordinary from Jade lately...which admittedly means sweet FA if he was playing the house down, but he's not.
Send a message.

was alot better against Carlton, keep persisting until you cant

At games he's plugged a hole in defence, then sprints to draw a player for the kick out, then he's at the next contest...and then offering an option out wide in the forward 50...then sprints back to defence again. He's seriously impressive with his run. He would be highlighted by coaches every week for his efforts. I can't think of any player that covers as much ground at top pace. He'd be close to the fittest player in the side.

I think the thinking is, at least for me when looking at getting Billings and co. in is, how do we improve our scoring?

going fwd with King and Membrey, I really like what Caminiti had done, not just aerially but his pressure has been really good as well. Can the 3 provide enough pressure to be able to work.
Puo/Owens/Billings playing the running HFF role is the squeeze, not Ronnie on the wing.

comes down to what style Ross wants
2 talls(King&Caminiti) Membrey and 1 of Puo/Owens/Billings, Butler&Snags or
1 tall (king, Membrey) and 2 of Puo/Owens/Billings, Butler&Snags
there's no reason to force that change atm tho, let Jack string some games together at Sandy, no matter how much I want to see what he can do under Ross.

what a great place to be in when we have 2022 best 22 unable to get back in

 

[Cairnsman]

Phillipou looks pretty good to me. Can't see him being pushed out. Zac could free up Sinclair if he did play HB but his kicking is a worry. I doubt Byrnes is anywhere near to being dropped.

gee it will be a big call not to find a spot for Billings but Lyon may opt to give the same team another go. But Mattaes is just cruising as a young fella so he'd need to lift to keep his spot.

Bytel has asked the question too after his performance with Sandy so that's two players Lyon has at his disposal this week, maybe Windy might go out

 

[Browny2Carlisle]

controversial Gringoz!

So if Zac and Billings can't push Byrnes out, who's spot are they currently competing with?

Zac is competing with a local barista for his position at the coffee shop. Injuries aside he’s not what we need in the team.

 

[Saintbloke]

If Pou goes out for Billings, then we take a little bit mobile extra height out of the forward half with Caminiti being out, though I thought Pou and Windy didn't really do a lot. Steele looked rusty and a bit tentative with the shoulder, so I think Bytel would be an in for Windy.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Phillipou looks pretty good to me. Can't see him being pushed out. Zac could free up Sinclair if he did play HB but his kicking is a worry. I doubt Byrnes is anywhere near to being dropped.

Pou looks good indeed, has enormous upside and is definitely playing his role, but as I said a day or two ago, he’s pretty much a clone of Billings in his first year, and Billings in his 10th year is likely to contribute far more than 1st year Billings did, if he’s up-and-about.

For instance here’s the comparison of JB in year 1 and JB at his best with a few more preseasons under his belt.



If (and it’s definitely an “if”) he’s close to his best, it’s a significant upgrade.

Those who can play HF and regularly have 25 disposals and a goal or two don’t grow on trees.

Will be fascinating to see what happens there!

 

[bird_man]

Things often become clearer when you lose a few games

I suspect once we drop a couple of games it won't be hard for people to find someone to point the finger at

But when you are winning the 22 and the list looks amazing

 

[Joffaboy]

Phillipou looks pretty good to me. Can't see him being pushed out. Zac could free up Sinclair if he did play HB but his kicking is a worry. I doubt Byrnes is anywhere near to being dropped.

I feel out of all the posts I have read on this thread, this is the closest to the reality of the situation.
Byrnes' greatest strength in a team of extreme runners is his running. Absolutely elite, he get back so well as am extra in defence it is amazing.
Phillipou is still looking good and wouldn't be dropped IMO.

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[Cairnsman]

Things often become clearer when you lose a few games

I suspect once we drop a couple of games it won't be hard for people to find someone to point the finger at

But when you are winning the 22 and the list looks amazing

Mattaes, Windy, Byrnes and Patton are the obvious players who could struggle to hold their spots based on their output in the last few games if you aren't waiting for some losses.

 

[gubby88]

Zac is competing with a local barista for his position at the coffee shop. Injuries aside he’s not what we need in the team.

I dunno, if say more games like he had against Freo last year, the better



He's been one of our better contested mids the last few years

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[botts]

I dunno, if say more games like he had against Freo last year, the better

View attachment 1669847

He's been one of our better contested mids the last few years

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Zac jones is a POD player. Ross will love having him up his sleeve

 

[Browny2Carlisle]

I dunno, if say more games like he had against Freo last year, the better

View attachment 1669847

He's been one of our better contested mids the last few years

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Has some good games. But he’s very inconsistent with messy disposal. So seems unlikely

 

[Big 0]

On Steele, I remember people suggesting that he was looking a bit out of sorts in the preseason matches but by the time real games started he was back to playing his usual footy. I think the reason he didn't stand out as much is that a lot of others have gone up to his level now. Ross and Crouch would be pretty much what Steele has been for us in the last few years.

Hunter Clark playing mids is still impressing me too. He is as good in tight at the bottom of a pack as anyone we've had since probably young Luke Ball. My mental image of him is being sat on by 5 players with his arms pulled back and somehow conjuring a disposal. He's like a greased wombat, you can't tackle him and hold him.

Sinclair also overtook Steele as our best player last year and now with midfield minutes he's getting noticed for more than just his hair by the footy world. Steele might need to get the peroxide out Byrnes style to get his credit back.

We really haven’t seen the Steele of 2020/2021 since then - he was seriously Lenny like at that time. I agree that the great thing about the team at the moment is that we don’t need him to be at that level; it’s weight of numbers performance that ultimately drives successful teams. Would still love to see peak Steele operating in this team

 

[saintmike65]

Phillipou looks pretty good to me. Can't see him being pushed out. Zac could free up Sinclair if he did play HB but his kicking is a worry. I doubt Byrnes is anywhere near to being dropped.

Fair chance there’ll be no changes this week!

 

[aussierulesrules]

Has some good games. But he’s very inconsistent with messy disposal. So seems unlikely
View attachment 1669866

I think we should forget Zac even went around last year. He was out there in name only. An absolute shadow of his former self, outside of one half where he had 17 disposals or something.

Whatever he went through at the start of last season seemed to take a huge toll on him.

That Zac wouldn’t get close to this team, but the Zac of the previous two years would. Came 6th in the B&F in the year we finished 5th, despite missing 3.5 games.

His line-breaking run will suit this team.

 

[saintmike65]

We really haven’t seen the Steele of 2020/2021 since then - he was seriously Lenny like at that time. I agree that the great thing about the team at the moment is that we don’t need him to be at that level; it’s weight of numbers performance that ultimately drives successful teams. Would still love to see peak Steele operating in this team

Steele was building nicely before his injury…needs a body of work behind him before he gets back to his best

 

[Armoooo]

Honestly can't believe that Zac Jones name is even being mentioned, he is an ordinary player. Great burst of speed cancelled out by his messy disposal, great aggression cancelled out by the times he goes too far.

Last year was a write off for him, this year he hasn't been able to get on the park. So the bloke needs to get his form back to where it was 2 or 3 years ago before he's even in the mix.

Billings I can absolutely see the excitement for. He has shown far more at senior level and has no glaring weaknesses that RL hasn't been able to address with other players.

The only change that has to be made for this side is for King to come in for Cordy. The rest will come down to form, players who find themselves on the outside will need to perform and hope that a spot opens for them, nothing is given.

FWIW, my current 'locks' are

FB: Wilkie Howard -------
HB: Sinclair Battle -------
C: Wood Ross Hill
HF: Higgins -------- Owens
FF: Membrey King Butler
R: Marshall Steele Crouch

I expect the gaps to be filled by :

3 Defenders From: Stocker, NWM, Webster, Paton, Coffield
1 Tall Forward From: Caminiti, Cordy, Hayes
1 Midfielder From: Clark, Windhager, Bytel, Jones
2 Wing / Flankers From: Byrnes, Gresham, Philipou, Billings, McKenzie

 

[gringo2011]

We really haven’t seen the Steele of 2020/2021 since then - he was seriously Lenny like at that time. I agree that the great thing about the team at the moment is that we don’t need him to be at that level; it’s weight of numbers performance that ultimately drives successful teams. Would still love to see peak Steele operating in this team

Apart from injury he's been good IMO.

 

[westernsainter]

FWIW, my current 'locks' are

FB: Wilkie Howard -------
HB: Sinclair Battle -------
C: Wood Ross Hill
HF: Higgins -------- Owens
FF: Membrey King Butler
R: Marshall Steele Crouch

I expect the gaps to be filled by :

3 Defenders From: Stocker, NWM, Webster, Paton, Coffield
1 Tall Forward From: Caminiti, Cordy, Hayes
1 Midfielder From: Clark, Windhager, Bytel, Jones
2 Wing / Flankers From: Byrnes, Gresham, Philipou, Billings, McKenzie

Quite like this.

Would have NWM/Stocker/Paton, Caminiti, Clark, Gresham/Billings personally, then the bench would be Hayes/Windhager/Philipou/Byrnes. Coffield is an interesting one - I have not forgotten his heroics in the 2020 EF and think he could be an absolute gun, but he's going to need someone to get injured to get his chance to prove that.