News 2025 St. Kilda Media Thread

[gringo2011]

What about this idea?
Centre-half back and Josh Battle replacement AND more!!

Enter

Mr Boyd

Who said this?

“Position wise, I see myself as a key defender who can pinch-hit in the ruck, however, I’m happy to play wherever the team needs me”

Harry Boyd signs for Norwood - Norwood Football Club

norwoodfc.com.au

I think he'd have to take Dougal's spot. Too big for a third tall IMO. Although Ross Lyon used McEvoy as a spare across HB to mop up balls dropping in.

 

[saintmike65]

As long as he doesn't hang out with roaming Brian after the game.

He’d have to be desperate for company hanging out with that clown!!

 

[saintmike65]

I reckon McLennan could do Battle's role. He's probably better than Ari defensively and good in the air. Height doesn't matter as much in the third tall interceptor role. Sicily and Tom Stewart are around his size.

McLennan reads the play extremely well and is very good one on one!
He’s a one grab mark which is a plus

 

[SteeleSaints]

McLennan reads the play extremely well and is very good one on one!
He’s a one grab mark which is a plus

He is another who has a very long reach, much more than his height suggests, but I dont know if he is tall enough to take on the 3rd tall role. Although he could become a sound replacement for Webster when he his time is up.

 

[gringo2011]

He is another who has a very long reach, much more than his height suggests, but I dont know if he is tall enough to take on the 3rd tall role. Although he could become a sound replacement for Webster when he his time is up.

Sicily and Tom Stewart aren't tall. Neither is Wilkie and he plays proper KP.

 

[SG34]

McLennan reads the play extremely well and is very good one on one!
He’s a one grab mark which is a plus

Please talk about McLennan.

All I know is my 10 mins of internet effort.

188cm

Played two games* in late ‘24* against the best and worst teams in the league at our Marvelous Stadium

*(Brisbane destroyed us by 85 & we whipped Rich by 44)

Played two years at Sandy

What did he do in the abysmal shellacking by Brisbane? What could he do? may be more apt. But I mean, where did RTB place him. (One of their giraffe forwards pulled out pregame- not Daniher, the other one) did he seem at home? Got a dozen posies.

And against Richmond? What position? How did he go?

 

[Moorabbin Ghost]

No mention of Max Hall..one of the most creative and influential in match sim

If our best 23 was picked now he’s comfortably in it. Been excellent all summer.

 

[akaifu]

Please talk about McLennan.

All I know is my 10 mins of internet effort.

188cm

Played two games* in late ‘24* against the best and worst teams in the league at our Marvelous Stadium

*(Brisbane destroyed us by 85 & we whipped Rich by 44)

Played two years at Sandy

What did he do in the abysmal shellacking by Brisbane? What could he do? may be more apt. But I mean, where did RTB place him. (One of their giraffe forwards pulled out pregame- not Daniher, the other one) did he seem at home? Got a dozen posies.

And against Richmond? What position? How did he go?

Good in the air, average at ground level and quite slow for a medium defender

Main problem with him is us fans are unsure of where the club want to play him whether its as a third tall or as a medium defender. I'm sure the club is pretty clear on where things stand with him

He played as a lockdown medium defender in his 2 games and got subbed out for Webster in the Richmond game (from memory). Didn't do badly but his lack of leg speed was being exposed by the likes of Shai Bolton & the faster small forwards

His kicking is also average - this improved significantly over 2024 hence the late-season debut but its probably still worse than Webster's

The only way I see a future for him is if he can become a third tall like James Sicily. His kicking won't be as good but if he can get really good at his 1v1 craft and intercept marking then it'll make his career

 

[SteeleSaints]

Sicily and Tom Stewart aren't tall. Neither is Wilkie and he plays proper KP.

Those two and Wilkie are the exceptions, but they don't genuinely play the CHB roles. They play amongst a number of tall key defenders and or other dominant over head back lines.

Their reading of the ball in the air and body work is so good they hardly have to be concerned about an opponent. I don't know if McLennan will ever be at that level.

I would fashion McLennan more in the Jack Henry mould, but again he is smaller. He is a good over head mark, but I don't think he is capable of playing on the Curnow's Cameron or Treacy's of the game.

Wilkie can't play on them all - we need size!

 

[SG34]

Those two and Wilkie are the exceptions, but they don't genuinely play the CHB roles. They play amongst a number of tall key defenders and or other dominant over head back lines.

Their reading of the ball in the air and body work is so good they hardly have to be concerned about an opponent. I don't know if McLennan will ever be at that level.

I would fashion McLennan more in the Jack Henry mould, but again he is smaller. He is a good over head mark, but I don't think he is capable of playing on the Curnow's Cameron or Treacy's of the game.

Wilkie can't play on them all - we need size!

So we probably do not have a Battle substitute in McLennan? Fair call?

( no diss on the poster who suggested he could do it intended)

But,

1) too slow
2) and as suggested here - don’t anyone else agree about the ground level thing?

Sounds more like a Webster replacement? And the Web is getting on, isn’t he?

Mmmm

What about Isaac Keeler?
Where is he at?

 

[BrutThough]

So we probably do not have a Battle substitute in McLennan? Fair call?

( no diss on the poster who suggested he could do it intended)

But,

1) too slow
2) and as suggested here - don’t anyone else agree about the ground level thing?

Sounds more like a Webster replacement? And the Web is getting on, isn’t he?

Mmmm

What about Isaac Keeler?
Where is he at?

I think that's fair. if he's going to make it, it would have to be as a small defender because I dont think someone smaller than Wilkie can make it playing the role Battle did. But I also dont share the same love that others seem to have for him.

Keeler has been playing mainly forward this preseason. Reports have been pretty good about his progress but still seems a bit way off getting a debut.

 

[bergholt]

So we probably do not have a Battle substitute in McLennan? Fair call?

I like the kid, he's got good competitiveness, but **** knows how he makes it at AFL level being relatively small and slow.

 

[SteeleSaints]

I like the kid, he's got good competitiveness, but **** knows how he makes it at AFL level being relatively small and slow.

Is he slow or just one of those back feet, back shoulder players similiarly to Webster? He is unlikely to become that attacking run off player, but if he can become a lock down small defender who can peel off and make a contest in the air, then I think he is working with the assets he has.

We have NWM, Hastie, Travaglia, Byrnes, OConnell as the run off types, McLennan is more in the Webster & Stocker stable.

 

[SG34]

Is he slow or just one of those back feet, back shoulder players similiarly to Webster? He is unlikely to become that attacking run off player, but if he can become a lock down small defender who can peel off and make a contest in the air, then I think he is working with the assets he has.

We have NWM, Hastie, Travaglia, Byrnes, OConnell as the run off types, McLennan is more in the Webster & Stocker stable.

Mnnn..
Too late for a Tom Highmore call-up. He's signed on for Port Melb again for '25. Runner-up in the VFL best Player in '24? (maybe he wasn't that good? 193cm)

 

[saintmike65]

Mnnn..
Too late for a Tom Highmore call-up. He's signed on for Port Melb again for '25. Runner-up in the VFL best Player in '24? (maybe he wasn't that good? 193cm)

Barrett’s my choice for the third tall spot but Arie May get first crack..

 

[SG34]

Barrett’s my choice for the third tall spot but Arie May get first crack..

Barrat's likened to Battle here https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/james-barrat/

but he is 18!

Definitely profiles as a player who can play down back.

He is not a twig already, so when/if he fills out might be a really solid.

 

[bergholt]

Is he slow or just one of those back feet, back shoulder players similiarly to Webster? He is unlikely to become that attacking run off player, but if he can become a lock down small defender who can peel off and make a contest in the air, then I think he is working with the assets he has.

We have NWM, Hastie, Travaglia, Byrnes, OConnell as the run off types, McLennan is more in the Webster & Stocker stable.

I always thought Jimmy was pretty quick though

 

[akaifu]

I always thought Jimmy was pretty quick though

He is - a lot faster than McLennan

 

[Waiting for Godot]

We're all Sainters here - not in competition! Love what he does, would love to do a vid with him soon.

It was meant in jest. I'm grateful for all youtube content about the saints.

 

[SteeleSaints]

Barrett’s my choice for the third tall spot but Arie May get first crack..

I havent seen Barrat play or train against men so perhaps he is up to it, but its dangerous exposing talls too early in their development. The calls last year was he is a really mature kid with an already progressed rig, so perhaps he is our answer. If he struggles we can always try Shoenmaker or cough cough... Cordy.

I would be more adventurous by giving Caminiti the year at CHB to develop his game, he might actually become a better defender than forward. With that to occur the options are either play Marshall with Boyd or Marshall with Keeler as 2nd tall forward. Our defence has been our saviour since Lyon returned and its a huge ask for a first year kid. Not even many top 10 talls play a key position role in their first year.

Hammer was already 19yo when picked up and is now a couple of years ahead, so make him accountable and use his extra size down back. That would allow us to ease Barrat in with games as a 3rd or 4th tall either forward or back throughout the year. Let him develop his game ala Essendon - Caddy, Brisbane - Morris, Hawthorn - Weddle.

The long term plan seems to use Barrat as a key defender, but lets not break him in his first year.

 

[CaptainRisky]

Sicily and Tom Stewart aren't tall. Neither is Wilkie and he plays proper KP.

I cant believe you even put him in the same group as those two, i know he has a fan boi club but i just think he is lacking in too many areas of his game,
Time will tell

 

[saintmike65]

I havent seen Barrat play or train against men so perhaps he is up to it, but its dangerous exposing talls too early in their development. The calls last year was he is a really mature kid with an already progressed rig, so perhaps he is our answer. If he struggles we can always try Shoenmaker or cough cough... Cordy.

I would be more adventurous by giving Caminiti the year at CHB to develop his game, he might actually become a better defender than forward. With that to occur the options are either play Marshall with Boyd or Marshall with Keeler as 2nd tall forward. Our defence has been our saviour since Lyon returned and its a huge ask for a first year kid. Not even many top 10 talls play a key position role in their first year.

Hammer was already 19yo when picked up and is now a couple of years ahead, so make him accountable and use his extra size down back. That would allow us to ease Barrat in with games as a 3rd or 4th tall either forward or back throughout the year. Let him develop his game ala Essendon - Caddy, Brisbane - Morris, Hawthorn - Weddle.

The long term plan seems to use Barrat as a key defender, but lets not break him in his first year.

If they’re good enough they’re old enough!

 

[SteeleSaints]

If they’re good enough they’re old enough!

Thats fine for flankers and others, but for key positional players they have to be pretty advanced, its very unusual.

 

[akaifu]

Thats fine for flankers and others, but for key positional players they have to be pretty advanced, its very unusual.

If a player is good enough, they play - especially for a young player in a rebuilding team

Only time age becomes a factor is if the rest of the backline is too inexperienced too, which is not the case with Webster Doug and Wilkie

 

[SG34]

If they’re good enough they’re old enough!

Perhaps the people wary of putting a youngen’ in a key position post are thinking more about the mental/psychological vulnerability thing more than the ‘having footy chops’ thing?

A couple of hidings might not work out well?