Prediction St.Kilda Best 22

[Saints2028onwards]

If 3 of Garcia, Phillipou, Dow, Carrol, or Byrnes can step up, it would go a long way to a surprising year.
We got **** with the fixturing though.
And a lot of change will mKe 2025 a hard year.

 

[Kildonan]

Oldies team (over 24 years) matches played by each (2024/career)


Wilke (23/132) Howard (15/135) Webster (15/165)

Stocker (16/68) Cordy (8/141) Sinclair (22/188)



Wood (18/135) Steele (23/182) Hill (22/256)

Marshall (23/134) Macrae (19/249) Clark (11/98)



Butler (16/146) Sharman (18/50) Dow (10/83)

Higgins (20/123) King (12/84) Jones (13/150)

Youngies team (under 24 years) matches played by each (2024/career)


Hastie (5/5) Barrat (0/0) Schoenmaker (4/4)

Travaglia (0/0) Caminiti (15/34) Wanganeen-Milera (22/64)



Carroll (15/21) Windhager (15/52) Wilson (23/23)

Heath (0/0) Phillipou (13/38) Garcia (9/9)



Owens (23/54) Tauru (0/0) Henry (12/55)

Collard (3/3) Keeler (0/0) Byrnes (15/64)



McLennan (2/2) Dodson (0/0) Boxshall (0/0) Hall (0/0) O'Connell (0/0) Said (0/0)

Possible first round team + matches played by each (2024/career)


FB: Wilke (23/132) Howard (15/135) Webster (15/165)

HB: Wanganeen-Milera (22/64) Caminiti (15/34) Sinclair (22/188)



C: Wood (18/135) Steele (23/182) Hill (22/256)

R: Marshall (23/134) Macrae (19/249) Clark (11/98)




HF: Owens (23/54) Sharman (18/50) Henry (12/55)

FF: Higgins (20/123) King (12/84) Garcia (9/9)




Inter: Windhager (15/52) Wilson (23/23) Phillipou (13/38) Stocker (16/68)

Emerg: Byrnes (15/64) Jones (13/150) Keeler (0/0)

 

[akaifu]

Possible first round team + matches played by each (2024/career)


FB: Wilke (23/132) Howard (15/135) Webster (15/165)

HB: Wanganeen-Milera (22/64) Caminiti (15/34) Sinclair (22/188)



C: Wood (18/135) Steele (23/182) Hill (22/256)

R: Marshall (23/134) Macrae (19/249) Clark (11/98)




HF: Owens (23/54) Sharman (18/50) Henry (12/55)

FF: Higgins (20/123) King (12/84) Garcia (9/9)




Inter: Windhager (15/52) Wilson (23/23) Phillipou (13/38) Stocker (16/68)

Emerg: Byrnes (15/64) Jones (13/150) Keeler (0/0)

Butler for Stocker. We need Butler as our specialist pressure forward unless someone significantly improves in this area (which they haven't...yet)

If you want to fit Clark in, then Windy would be the one to form part of the 7-man defensive rotation as he gives up a bit of midfield clock

 

[JimmyR20]

Backs

Wilkie, Howard, Webster
Milera, Barrat, Sinclair

Ruck
Marshall

Mids
Steele, Macrae, Windhager

Wings
Wood, Hill

Forwards
Phillipou, Owens, Henry
Sharman, King, Higgins

Bench
Clark (m), Byrnes (w), Garcia (HF/M), Butler (F), Travaglia (Def)

 

[SaintKing23]

I'm going to training this morning, 10am start?

 

[akaifu]

Backs

Wilkie, Howard, Webster
Milera, Barrat, Sinclair

Ruck
Marshall

Mids
Steele, Macrae, Windhager

Wings
Wood, Hill

Forwards
Phillipou, Owens, Henry
Sharman, King, Higgins

Bench
Clark (m), Byrnes (w), Garcia (HF/M), Butler (F), Travaglia (Def)

I guess Wilson will go play lawn bowls

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I guess Wilson will go play lawn bowls

I remember Steven Baker dropping a bowling ball onto his foot during the lead up to finals.

 

[stfan]

Best 22 is now very hard as there are about a dozen now who could be in or out.

And then there is the issue of whether over the year the club chooses to play an extra younger player or two most weeks in 2025 to help develop them in order to be a better team in the future. Or whether they just go with what they believe is our best 22.

TT of our young draftees being the one most likely to play the most games in 2025.

I am hoping that Keeler goes well enough in the practice games to earn the right to debut early. If Caminiti is played as a key back, then a Keeler debut becomes more likely.

Macrae come into our midfield, and Steele starts too. Phillipou will be in the 22. But with the two Blue Mids along with Clark, Windy and Jones the club will probably experiment with different midfield rotations over the course of the season to see what works best.

Henry seems likely to not be in the team at the start of the season. But when is he will had some high voltage to our midfield mix.

So overall our midfield should have more depth and talent than it had in 2024.

That should see Sinclair back in his best position at HBF, with only occassion midfield bursts.

Higgins and Butler will be our starting small forwards, though I expert Collars will get some more senior games as opportunities present.

 

[SG34]

I just watched the replay of St Kilda vs Sydney.

I take back any suggestions that Howard is just in our best 22 because he can play and no one else can do his thing.

Watching () his desperate lunge to spoil ( go to 1:08:25) a Sydney goal on the line, and then tumble over the fence into the Sydney cheer squad was awesome. At that point of the game, Sydney had been on a game crushing sequence of goals. The momentum of the game changed and although Sydney pegged one back soon after our resurgence, the flow of the game went with the Saints and Howard was right in there doing some great stuff.

(Also shout out to Sharman's spoil/punch over the line in the last 10 seconds)

 

[Speck]

Butler for Stocker. We need Butler as our specialist pressure forward unless someone significantly improves in this area (which they haven't...yet)

If you want to fit Clark in, then Windy would be the one to form part of the 7-man defensive rotation as he gives up a bit of midfield clock

I'd really love Garcia to find a role as a defensive forward with runs through the midfield. Feels like that's the best opportunity for him to get AFL games this season, but I think he will be a very important midfield cog in 2-3 years time so want to see him play. Almost needs the Phillipou type treatment where he plays no matter what in my eyes.

Butlers inconsistency kills me as well

 

[Speck]

I must say Clark v Windhager is a very interesting debate. Obviously Clark is 4 years older, but still only 25 with plenty of footy left. If fit I would prefer Clark for his point of difference/freakish inside work at the moment. Windy does have the flexibility to go to a HBF if needed though, but will face stiff competition from Travaglia/Sinclair/Arie/Byrnes/Wilson/Wood as runners from the wing or half back.

I want to see more of the Windy against Collingwood where he turned into Lenny winning clearance after clearance on his own. He needs to take that next step now.

 

[Keystone agony]

Surprised not to see more Phillipou locked into the starting 3 onball position after his last 4 weeks

 

[beside the seaside]

B Webster Howard Schoenmaker
HB NWM Wilkie Sinclair
C Wilson Macrae Hill
HF Wood Owens Sharman
F Butler King Higgins
R Marshall Steele Phillipou
I Caminiti Clark Travaglia Jones Windy
E Byrnes Boyd Dow
Henry injured

Boyd could easily come in for Hammer.
Hopefully Henry sooner rather than later.

 

[ScrappyDo]

B Webster Howard Schoenmaker
HB NWM Wilkie Sinclair
C Wilson Macrae Hill
HF Wood Owens Sharman
F Butler King Higgins
R Marshall Steele Phillipou
I Caminiti Clark Travaglia Jones Windy
E Byrnes Boyd Dow
Henry injured

Boyd could easily come in for Hammer.
Hopefully Henry sooner rather than later.

That's the right 23 for r1.

 

[Keystone agony]

B Webster Howard Schoenmaker
HB NWM Wilkie Sinclair
C Wilson Macrae Hill
HF Wood Owens Sharman
F Butler King Higgins
R Marshall Steele Phillipou
I Caminiti Clark Travaglia Jones Windy
E Byrnes Boyd Dow
Henry injured

Boyd could easily come in for Hammer.
Hopefully Henry sooner rather than later.

Whos Boyd?

 

[ScrappyDo]

Whos Boyd?

New emergency ruckman from the SANFL

 

[OxSaint]

Ok here is what I would like to see come round 1 off the back of a positive pre season from some youngsters.

B: Webster Howard Wilkie
HB: Sinclair Shoey NAS
C: Hill Phillipou Wood
HF: Wilson King Butler
F: Higgins Keeler Sharman
Fol: Marshall Steele McRae
Int: Owens Garcia Jones Clark Travaglia

Emg: Byrnes McClennan Windy Boyd

I did not consider Henry and Caminiti at this stage. Obviously taking an optimistic line with the inclusion of Keeler and Arie.

Not convinced Trav plays early but it seems to be Ross’s way since he has been back. I believe Byrnes and Windy contribute more to a win in Rd 1 but get the upside in getting games into Trav.

 

[The Punter]

Competition for spots is good - the ones who make it will be better for the competition.

 

[SG34]

Win

I must say Clark v Windhager is a very interesting debate. Obviously Clark is 4 years older, but still only 25 with plenty of footy left. If fit I would prefer Clark for his point of difference/freakish inside work at the moment. Windy does have the flexibility to go to a HBF if needed though, but will face stiff competition from Travaglia/Sinclair/Arie/Byrnes/Wilson/Wood as runners from the wing or half back.

I want to see more of the Windy against Collingwood where he turned into Lenny winning clearance after clearance on his own. He needs to take that next step now.

View attachment 2187314View attachment 2187315

Windy spends low 80s% of time on ground, Hunter mid-60s%. That has got to be a factor too.

But Hunter does have his magic slo-mo thing.

 

[L_W_P]

FB: Webster - Wilkie - Caminiti
HB: Sinclair - Howard - Wanganeen-Milera
C: Hill - Steele - Wilson
HF: Garcia - King - Owens
FF: Higgins - Sharman - Marshall
R: Boyd - Macrae - Phillipou
I: Clark - Byrnes - Windhager - Wood
S: Jones

Henry would be in but no idea how long he will be out with his knee. Give Hugo a month of games to stake a claim. Otherwise Butler/Collard depending on VFL form.

The blue boys (Dow, Stocker & Carroll) are depth until proven otherwise. Stocker has the best chance if he goes hard for Webster's spot IMO. Dow and Carroll need to prove they are clearly better than Clark, Byrnes and Jones.

Windy gets a game because I want him tagging. It's almost a lost art in the comp but it's been proven effective against some very good players. Bring back the Crowley/Ling/Kirk/Kornes style of defensive minded mid who can still go get 20+ himself.

Won't be shocked to see Travaglia in the team somewhere. Hopefully not as the sub. I hate when kids are only given a qtr to show something. Either they are good enough to play or they arent. The sub should be an experienced player who can cover a few different roles and have an impact.

I've named Wood on the bench as I think he will be a bit of a Mr Fix-It next year. I still expect him to be floating on the wing but he could spend more time back/forward depending on who we are playing or the tide of the game.

The biggest calls are Hammer and RoMa.

Put Hammer in defence for half the season.

Worst case it blows up and we bring in Barrat/Tauru for 8-10 games of development. Best case it works and it solves our issues for a decade. Tauru and Barrat are then working to displace Howard at CHB.

This also means we can bring in Boyd to free RoMa up forward and fill in that deep forward target during games.

Boyd's instructions would be to crash and bash the opposition #1 as much as possible, especially duriing the 3rd qtr, and soften them up for a last qtr blitz from RoMa.

Adelaide - O'Brien
Geelong - Blicavs + Stanley/Conway
Richmond - Nankervis
Port - Sweet + Soldo/Esava
GWS - Briggs
WB - English
BL - McInerney
Freo - Darcy + Jackson

I don't think we play a 'scary' ruck until the Freo game with Darcy + Jackson. That gives us a solid 6-7 weeks to test this Boyd/RoMa set up and see if it can be effective.

Lots to like about all the possible setups at the moment!

 

[SG34]

FB: Webster - Wilkie - Caminiti
HB: Sinclair - Howard - Wanganeen-Milera
C: Hill - Steele - Wilson
HF: Garcia - King - Owens
FF: Higgins - Sharman - Marshall
R: Boyd - Macrae - Phillipou
I: Clark - Byrnes - Windhager - Wood
S: Jones

Henry would be in but no idea how long he will be out with his knee. Give Hugo a month of games to stake a claim. Otherwise Butler/Collard depending on VFL form.

The blue boys (Dow, Stocker & Carroll) are depth until proven otherwise. Stocker has the best chance if he goes hard for Webster's spot IMO. Dow and Carroll need to prove they are clearly better than Clark, Byrnes and Jones.

Windy gets a game because I want him tagging. It's almost a lost art in the comp but it's been proven effective against some very good players. Bring back the Crowley/Ling/Kirk/Kornes style of defensive minded mid who can still go get 20+ himself.

Won't be shocked to see Travaglia in the team somewhere. Hopefully not as the sub. I hate when kids are only given a qtr to show something. Either they are good enough to play or they arent. The sub should be an experienced player who can cover a few different roles and have an impact.

I've named Wood on the bench as I think he will be a bit of a Mr Fix-It next year. I still expect him to be floating on the wing but he could spend more time back/forward depending on who we are playing or the tide of the game.

The biggest calls are Hammer and RoMa.

Put Hammer in defence for half the season.

Worst case it blows up and we bring in Barrat/Tauru for 8-10 games of development. Best case it works and it solves our issues for a decade. Tauru and Barrat are then working to displace Howard at CHB.

This also means we can bring in Boyd to free RoMa up forward and fill in that deep forward target during games.

Boyd's instructions would be to crash and bash the opposition #1 as much as possible, especially duriing the 3rd qtr, and soften them up for a last qtr blitz from RoMa.

Adelaide - O'Brien
Geelong - Blicavs + Stanley/Conway
Richmond - Nankervis
Port - Sweet + Soldo/Esava
GWS - Briggs
WB - English
BL - McInerney
Freo - Darcy + Jackson

I don't think we play a 'scary' ruck until the Freo game with Darcy + Jackson. That gives us a solid 6-7 weeks to test this Boyd/RoMa set up and see if it can be effective.

Lots to like about all the possible setups at the moment!

Love it.
But I gotta say, just because I like being that fly in the ointment before Christmas (silly season etc.)
１）For all this talk about Ross's preference for kids - I think he wants four points - and so do I.　
2) Again, this talk about Stocker etc. Jones and the New Kids on the Block, what happens to second year guys anyway? Washed up? Hastie not mentioned again.

 

[L_W_P]

Love it.
But I gotta say, just because I like being that fly in the ointment before Christmas (silly season etc.)
１）For all this talk about Ross's preference for kids - I think he wants four points - and so do I.　
2) Again, this talk about Stocker etc. Jones and the New Kids on the Block, what happens to second year guys anyway? Washed up? Hastie not mentioned again.

Hastie is a really tricky one because we are so stacked on the wing/HB

Could drop Jones, put Clark to the sub role, and bring in a Hastie/Trav/Arie option maybe?

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Another round 1 team, based on training news, thanks for that.

Wilkie Howard Windhager

NWM Sch'maker Sinclair

Trav Jones Wilson

Butler Sharman Wood

Higgins King Marshall

 Boyd Macrae Steele

Clark, Hill, Owens, Phillipou, Garcia-sub

 

[Dard Ball Get]

FB: Webster, Howard, Wilkie
HB: Sinclair, Schoenmaker, Nas
C: Wood, Macrae, Wilson
HF: Garcia, King, Hill
FF: Higgins, Sharman, Owens
Foll: Marshall, Steele, Phillipou
Int: Travaglia, Clark, Hammer, Windy
Sub: Carroll/Jones/Byrnes

• Wood playing his important def winger role
• Wilson the attacking winger
• Henry in when fit, onto HF with mid rotations
• Butler made to earn spot
• All too easy this

 

[The Punter]

If Butler is hunting and tackling a la 2020 & 2023, he walks into the best 22.