Training 2023 Pre Season

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Phillipou has shown already, that even with not a load of possessions,
he has the class to impact games. So no doubt, we have a good one in him.
What we probably really needed, was the Burst, strong midfielder type.
Hence, why we went after DeGoey.
I will be watching Elijah Hewett closely, as I hope he doesn't become the player
we needed more.
But, in a strong next draft, hopefully we can find that player.

 

[gringo2011]

Phillipou has shown already, that even with not a load of possessions,
he has the class to impact games. So no doubt, we have a good one in him.
What we probably really needed, was the Burst, strong midfielder type.
Hence, why we went after DeGoey.
I will be watching Elijah Hewett closely, as I hope he doesn't become the player
we needed more.
But, in a strong next draft, hopefully we can find that player.

McKenzie looks a safe bet 200 game player. Pou looks like he has a bit higher bust factor but more X factor than the rest of the list put together. We didn't need more stodgy types, we need some game breakers.

 

[akaifu]

Phillipou has shown already, that even with not a load of possessions,
he has the class to impact games. So no doubt, we have a good one in him.
What we probably really needed, was the Burst, strong midfielder type.
Hence, why we went after DeGoey.
I will be watching Elijah Hewett closely, as I hope he doesn't become the player
we needed more.
But, in a strong next draft, hopefully we can find that player.

Isn't that what Windhager will be for us? Always thought Byrnes could develop to play that role too but he seems more outside now

 

[bird_man]

I’m pretty confident he was never the player we truly wanted.

We went after pick 3. Which means we weren’t going to take him there.

I think we liked him but wanted players with much bigger upside

I don’t think anyone suggested we were gonna take him at 3 if we got it.

But he was an NGA player, which is why there is a vested interest in him.

He looks to have a pretty decent upside if last night was anything to go by.

 

[SteeleSaints]

But our first round pick didn’t exceed Cmac/Hawthorn. So a bid coming in, in the top 10 means we were only ever taking 1 first rounder.

I totally understood that was the case, I was just pissed we couldnt chose or take both he and Phillipou like other clubs with early picks have done. I am however happy we got Pou!

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Even though I like the idea of Paton on a wing & can see why they are trialling him there.
He really is, a lock down player, that seems to be better suited to the backline.
In his draft year, he played on a wing & was not drafted.
In his overage year, he was shifted to a back-pocket & won all-australian honours.
Although, I have seen him play, a half-forward role occasionally & he didn't seem too bad
there, the type of role, that Dmac has done at times too.
But Dmac is the one, who is better suited to a wing, I believe.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Isn't that what Windhager will be for us? Always thought Byrnes could develop to play that role too but he seems more outside now

yeah maybe, his foot skills are a bit hit & miss, but he certainly has the burst power.
DeGoey's foot skills are unbelievable, hitting up a player
or at goal.
Windhager's long bomb, on the run last week, was good to see though.

 

[pebblesofsand]

Even though I like the idea of Paton on a wing & can see why they are trialling him there.
He really is, a lock down player, that seems to be better suited to the backline.
In his draft year, he played on a wing & was not drafted.
In his overage year, he was shifted to a back-pocket & won all-australian honours.
Although, I have seen him play, a half-forward role occasionally & he didn't seem too bad
there, the type of role, that Dmac has done at times too.
But Dmac is the one, who is better suited to a wing, I believe.

I think the reason Paton and Byrnes are being played on the wing in these practice matches is because DMac is injured and Wood is being asked to play a more offensive role in our makeshift forward half.

Doubt either will play that role once we get a few back.

 

[Premium]

Phillipou has shown already, that even with not a load of possessions,
he has the class to impact games. So no doubt, we have a good one in him.
What we probably really needed, was the Burst, strong midfielder type.
Hence, why we went after DeGoey.
I will be watching Elijah Hewett closely, as I hope he doesn't become the player
we needed more.
But, in a strong next draft, hopefully we can find that player.

Hopefully we have 2 of those players in Windhager and Owens.

 

[Cairnsman]

Just saw this.

So many different parts to this.

I think we don’t make finals this year and we still improve.

I think we make finals next year and the push to contend is in 2025.

The Freo boys loved Ross. Heard Brayshaw talk about how pivotal he was for his development early doors?

You are looking at the Ross appointment and translating success to immediately playing finals and if we don’t it’s a failure.

Now, I could see the potential case of that had we not lost both key forwards/jones/Billings/Dmac/Hayes and potentially Ross all before round 1.

I see improvement coming from every player. I think we haven’t scratched the surface in developing professional footballers and that’s why I can accept a poor 2023 - because it won’t be the same next season.

The list won’t be so unbalanced. The players won’t be coming from a program that had so little expectation on them from day to day let alone week to week or offseason to pre season.

This season in my eyes, is almost a stress test on some of these guys. They’ll have the bar set way north of what they are used to and need to get to work on it.

So you improve as a team as more and more players meet that bar and then they go again.

What I personally think will happen is that we will see youth getting a lot of games and we will see a transition of best 22 players at years end with more kids coming in. But over a wider age span - Say 18-23 and potentially a big gun key back to sure us up.

This time next year I believe the list will have enough cover and depth that it breaks into the 4-6 area on the ladder.

this is the least worried or concerned I’ve been since 2012.

It’s not like I’m talking secret PM info either head down to Moorabbin. If you get a chance Ross himself will tell you that we will get there - we just need time. Because we are coming from a long way back.

Yeah it get's me excited if that's how it pans out but I've got question marks over the list quality and possibly needing a reasonable turnover by Ross over the next few years. As you say this year is about Ross getting his feet under the desk and assessing what he has got to work with.

The secret PM gang, aka the silent minority probably know what really is happing though huh

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

On our team list, for today's practice game, I would of liked to have seen 'Jed Hagan' on say a tippa or other Essendon small forward.
I think we missed the boat there. The kid stepped up at every level last season. See how he goes in the Sanfl, & maybe we pick him up in the MSD.

 

[akaifu]

Even though I like the idea of Paton on a wing & can see why they are trialling him there.
He really is, a lock down player, that seems to be better suited to the backline.
In his draft year, he played on a wing & was not drafted.
In his overage year, he was shifted to a back-pocket & won all-australian honours.
Although, I have seen him play, a half-forward role occasionally & he didn't seem too bad
there, the type of role, that Dmac has done at times too.
But Dmac is the one, who is better suited to a wing, I believe.

Paton was terrible at half forward, literally did not touch the ball. He tried to play the Geary role to no good effect. With his courage, they are trying to train him to be Dmac's backup on the wing where he can try to support the defence as 7th man and also be an attacking outlet out of defence. I do agree that he is more suited as a lockdown defender, but Ross clearly prefers Webster in that role due to his height and good ball use as well.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Every year there are people who see the new players and mentally categorise them.

Seb Ross did 4 seasons before he did much.
Jack Steele

9

Jack Steele

Age

28

Ht

187cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.9

5star

K

8.7

3star

HB

12.2

5star

M

3.7

4star

T

6.8

5star

CL

3.6

5star

D

21.3

5star

K

10.0

4star

HB

11.3

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

5.8

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

16.8

4star

K

5.0

2star

HB

11.8

5star

M

2.6

3star

T

6.4

5star

CL

3.6

5star

was doing more than Seb, but still 4 years before he really showed what he could do.
Byrnes just coming into his 4th season.

Windy and Owens of course have only done 1.

 

[CaptainRisky]

On our team list, for today's practice game, I would of liked to have seen 'Jed Hagan' on say a tippa or other Essendon small forward.
I think we missed the boat there. The kid stepped up at every level last season. See how he goes in the Sanfl, & maybe we pick him up in the MSD.

I just watched his highlights reel and he never got past the Centre line , looked more like a forward than a back to me

 

[SteeleSaints]

I

Just saw this.

So many different parts to this.

I think we don’t make finals this year and we still improve.

I think we make finals next year and the push to contend is in 2025.

The Freo boys loved Ross. Heard Brayshaw talk about how pivotal he was for his development early doors?

You are looking at the Ross appointment and translating success to immediately playing finals and if we don’t it’s a failure.

Now, I could see the potential case of that had we not lost both key forwards/jones/Billings/Dmac/Hayes and potentially Ross all before round 1.

I see improvement coming from every player. I think we haven’t scratched the surface in developing professional footballers and that’s why I can accept a poor 2023 - because it won’t be the same next season.

The list won’t be so unbalanced. The players won’t be coming from a program that had so little expectation on them from day to day let alone week to week or offseason to pre season.

This season in my eyes, is almost a stress test on some of these guys. They’ll have the bar set way north of what they are used to and need to get to work on it.

So you improve as a team as more and more players meet that bar and then they go again.

What I personally think will happen is that we will see youth getting a lot of games and we will see a transition of best 22 players at years end with more kids coming in. But over a wider age span - Say 18-23 and potentially a big gun key back to sure us up.

This time next year I believe the list will have enough cover and depth that it breaks into the 4-6 area on the ladder.

this is the least worried or concerned I’ve been since 2012.

It’s not like I’m talking secret PM info either head down to Moorabbin. If you get a chance Ross himself will tell you that we will get there - we just need time. Because we are coming from a long way back.

Thanks for the insight Stavro, I think you are right in suggesting that RTB will sort out which players want to do the hard yards and those who dont. Thats his greatest legacy from past years at the helm. I also believe this year will be a complete 'state of flux', given the amount of injured players and players returning from injury . As you and others have touched on, the club will need to make some tough decisions regarding the list at seasons end. We simply cant keep carrying players who have poor skills or consistently dont play due to injury. If that means we trade out some highly "rated" players then so be it, we get what we can and move on.

 

[Joffaboy]

Yeah but if we could have got McKenzie as an nga we could have shifted our first rounder out for two next year. Would have been perfect for us. Saints get screwed again

Well the nga rules were changed two years ago. We got Windy and Owens, we got Keeler even after 40. We wanted 3 and would not have taken McKenzie there, talk about a victim mentality.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Saints TV video of Gehrig is a ripper

 

[gringo2011]

I think the reason Paton and Byrnes are being played on the wing in these practice matches is because DMac is injured and Wood is being asked to play a more offensive role in our makeshift forward half.

Doubt either will play that role once we get a few back.

The high half forward role that Wood is playing is basically the same as a wingman these days. Instead of flanks teams set up the high half forward runners to chase the play and your traditional wing men are now extra defenders as well as midfield runners.

Byrnes seemed to be a high HF and was doing the defensive stuff as well last week.

 

[StCicatriz]

ross just sayin what a lot of us have been thinking

 

[SaintsSeptember]

The high half forward role that Wood is playing is basically the same as a wingman these days. Instead of flanks teams set up the high half forward runners to chase the play and your traditional wing men are now extra defenders as well as midfield runners.

Byrnes seemed to be a high HF and was doing the defensive stuff as well last week.

Ratten seemed to like having talls available in the middle to contest marks when it was kicked in after a behind.... except we had our tallest kicking it in, he had to be there so that when he missed his target he could defend against it coming back.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Going early, Van Es will replace Howard for round 1. What is Howard doing?
,in fact, what are our midfield doing?

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

We played 1st quarter ok, into a cyclone.

 

[MOLTEN GANGLANDS]

ross just sayin what a lot of us have been thinking

how dare ross provide a critical assessment of our captain, I hope the (bigfooty)board sorts him out pretty quickly. Banworthy imo

 

[sammm]

ross just sayin what a lot of us have been thinking

Nice

 

[austinnn]

I see improvement coming from every player. I think we haven’t scratched the surface in developing professional footballers and that’s why I can accept a poor 2023 - because it won’t be the same next season.

The list won’t be so unbalanced. The players won’t be coming from a program that had so little expectation on them from day to day let alone week to week or offseason to pre season.

This season in my eyes, is almost a stress test on some of these guys. They’ll have the bar set way north of what they are used to and need to get to work on it.

This is exactly how I see it, and like you, I have never been so relaxed. When the coaches talk about an "exploratory season", this is what I imagine.

Our development has been dogshit since Ross left and its no surprise why we danced with the devil and brought RTB back.

We could wonder why in the last 9 years no one at the club had a handle on this, but what's done is done, better to focus all our energy on what we can change.

These players are in for a massive shock - I hope... no, EXPECT that the good ones can take it.