Grant Thomas was spot on regarding Milne.

[bubblegoose]

I think there are too many ppl on here defending Milne, fankly

Really? And don't call me fankly!

I think it may have even been an oppo supporter that rightly pointed out that small forwards are an oppourtunistic bunch that need the right bounce of the ball to be able to produce. Yes Milne stuffed up in the Granny. But he's our 6th(?) highest goal kicker for the Saints ever. He's won us games during the regular season - just not the end few games. Can you replace Milne with someone who will perform in a Grand Final? Who? Now back it up!

 

[Saintland]

Do I know? No. But Milney is 30 and most footballers don't improve with age. Maybe time to start thinking about Steven and Armitage. I'm sure Ross is. Maybe I'm harsh (and God knows Schneider was bad also) but we have to keep improving...standing still won't cut it.

 

[bubblegoose]

I agree with what you said there.

 

[Cuz2Plugger]

Do I know? No. But Milney is 30 and most footballers don't improve with age. Maybe time to start thinking about Steven and Armitage. I'm sure Ross is. Maybe I'm harsh (and God knows Schneider was bad also) but we have to keep improving...standing still won't cut it.

That's the lesson for next year. If we don't improve player list we will be less competitive, and may struggle. There is only limited improvement from 09's regulars. Geary Armo Steven have to be seriously blooded, plus we need new blood in our gene pool. Otherwise we are dead set kidding ourselves.

 

[Squizz]

It's good doing that isn't it.

Yep

 

[HoldenMCaulfield]

plus we need new blood in our gene pool

I now have a lot of questions...

But I don't think I want the answers, really.

 

[Persevering Saint]

The future is now, friends. Milney has had an awesome career for us - I was astonished with his rise in tackle count this year, while still almost kicking 50 goals (find me any club that wouldn't want a player like that in their team!).

But he is 30. Given his role, he will probably start to be phased out next year because small forwards don't really keep going long after that age.

And in will walk one Ross Tungatulum. A kid who will surpass Milney in almost every facet of the game (and I say that with the greatest respect to #44). He can kick the freakish, on both sides; he can tackle; he can play periods in the midfield, he is quick, has the same "light up" morale boosting panache that Milney has.

The greatest team we have ever seen play for St Kilda is about 1 year away. Then the other clubs will know a whole new form of terror. We'll make the Cats look like kittens, still suckling on their mothers' teet.

 

[RuckRyder]

Milne is still a great player, and will be next year!
Yes he is getting old, and will need to be retired, but don't base it on one game. He is a champion player.
He had a few bad moments in the gf. And a shocking 5 mins at one point, but he also did well a few times. He helped the saints make the finals, so don't attack him because he didn't shine on grandfinal day.

Alot of you are using that one game, as the basis for your attacks on him.

How about a finals series? You needed him desperately.

Ross is obviously a fan so will keep him on you'd think.

 

[elmo123]

Firstly, I want to make it quite clear that this is not a troll. This a true assesment of Milney......

He has been a great player for us but GT was correct. He does not perform on the big stage. If we are going to take the next step, he has to be delisted. Rehab permitting, Xavier Clarke can take his spot. With the injuries that X has had, I don't think he will be able to play in the midfield. Forward pocket should now be his spot!!!!

With Milney gone and some money freed up in the salary cap, we should move heaven and earth to get Lovett. If we have to trade our first pick then so be it.

We need players ready to go now!!!!

Your thoughts?

Lovett wont be coming to St Kilda, he is on his way to PA.
Who would take Milne......anyway . He has not done himself any favours during the finals.

 

[jackmac7]

I'm in two minds about Milney.

A side of me says **** off for ruining our GF with that insipid shot on goal and another says keep him because he loves the saints like no other and has given saints fans alot of joy not just on the field but with his antics and passion when he belts out the club song.

I'm more disappointed with Raph clarke tbh................

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

lovett wont be coming to st kilda, he is on his way to pa.

fail.

 

[elmo123]

fail.

those are the breaks glad i got it wrong,

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Lovett wont be coming to St Kilda, he is on his way to PA.
Who would take Milne......anyway . He has not done himself any favours during the finals.

Haha flog. You were so sure of yourself.
Now anything you say will be correctly considered to be bullshit.

 

[Squizz]

Simple newbie error by the tickler

Making statements as fact on other team's boards = permanent fail.

Good thing GC17 is coming - you probably haven't embarrassed yourself on their board yet.

 

[Red Gum]

Eating there own at Linton Street?

"Oh where from Tigerland......"

Hahahahahaha
Epic spelling fail.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Hahahahahaha
Epic spelling fail.

Its what coaches and players ask themselves when they are no longer wanted there.

 

[todd1751]

I'm in two minds about Milney.

A side of me says **** off for ruining our GF with that insipid shot on goal and another says keep him because he loves the saints like no other and has given saints fans alot of joy not just on the field but with his antics and passion when he belts out the club song.

I'm more disappointed with Raph clarke tbh................

I agree. Whilst Milney didn't perform that well in September or the GF to be specific, I've heard no-one look at Reiwoldts performance. He battled like a trooper, but with minimal effect on the game. Milney is a whipping boy for StKilda. Lets not forget that he snagged 50 goals? this year. Thats a fantastic output for any small forward, but again, the GF is the only game that matters! Milney has turned his game around since GT, much less selfish. I think he will feel the burn of that GF loss and be much better again next year.
If Milney doesn't perform again next year I think he'll seal his own fate, but I think he's very important to our team and his a character! Every club needs a bloke like him.
For me, Raph Clarke is the liability. When he plays well he goes OK, but when he messes up, it's bad! No prereferal vision, put teammates under pressure continually with bad handballs etc, and turns the ball over. Watch next year, I think coaches have worked this out and when he goes for a run and bounce teams just let him do this and zone off him. Eventually he just runs straight into trouble and coughs it up. I'm sure that coaches instruct their team to do this with him.
Anyway, I'm confident that we'll be around the mark in 2010 so lets get positive, we have the cattle!

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Raph had a pretty good pre-season and fairly uninterupted home and away season this year. Yet his best performances were probably no better than last year and his worst were just as bad.
Meanwhile we have other young players improving.

 

[NeilElvis]

For me, Raph Clarke is the liability. When he plays well he goes OK, but when he messes up, it's bad!

That's groundbreaking Todd!

The Raph haters all have a number of things in common;

1. Poor literacy skills in general
2. Poor expression skills
3. Poor spelling (peripheral vision I think you meant, maybe preferential???)
4. Inability to see errors of other players (except for Milney)
5. Limited ability to watch a game of footy & understand what is going on.
6. Outstanding ability to post boring repetitive tirades.

I'd love you lot to actually post something insightful instead of the same old boring rubbish.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

That's groundbreaking Todd!

The Raph haters all have a number of things in common;

1. Poor literacy skills in general
2. Poor expression skills
3. Poor spelling (peripheral vision I think you meant, maybe preferential???)
4. Inability to see errors of other players (except for Milney)
5. Limited ability to watch a game of footy & understand what is going on.
6. Outstanding ability to post boring repetitive tirades.

I'd love you lot to actually post something insightful instead of the same old boring rubbish.

Similarly "Raph Lovers" go on about his untapped potential and how he will be a huge star one day. Based on his current rate of improvement it will be five years after he retires.
I don't "Hate" Raph, but I'm very disappointed in him. I would hope that the team will give him a fair chance to show something in 2010, but not persevere with him if he dosn't.

 

[todd1751]

That's groundbreaking Todd!

The Raph haters all have a number of things in common;

1. Poor literacy skills in general
2. Poor expression skills
3. Poor spelling (peripheral vision I think you meant, maybe preferential???)
4. Inability to see errors of other players (except for Milney)
5. Limited ability to watch a game of footy & understand what is going on.
6. Outstanding ability to post boring repetitive tirades.

I'd love you lot to actually post something insightful instead of the same old boring rubbish.

Geez mate, sorry if hurt your feelings! I didn't realise you were an English Teacher and this was a publicly assessed assignment! Inability to see errors in other player? Didn't I post that Rooey had a poor game in the GF? When I watch StKilda play, three blokes worry me with their decision making. Raph Clarke, Jason Blake, Zac Dawnson. Whilst they all had fantastic years, they, out of all of our team make the biggest mistakes. Mate I could show you a highlight reel of Raph boo boos (serious boo boos) No player is exempt from mistakes, but old Rapha is the king. Lets look at this seriously. How long has he been at the club? How many games has he played? How many times was he considered in our best? He is purely played (my oint of view) on his potential, trying to get games under his bet. Make no mistake, I enjoy watching Raph when he plays well and I'm not a hater, I'm a realist and I base my views on what I see. I am also an accredited & experienced Football coach, so maybe my views come from my experience in this area, rather than as a teetotaling English Teacher. Are you sure your not a Crows supporter???

 

[SAINTsincebirth]

I Don't hate Raph but he is simply not good enough to play AFL footy.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Geez mate, sorry if hurt your feelings! I didn't realise you were an English Teacher and this was a publicly assessed assignment! Inability to see errors in other player? Didn't I post that Rooey had a poor game in the GF? When I watch StKilda play, three blokes worry me with their decision making. Raph Clarke, Jason Blake, Zac Dawnson. Whilst they all had fantastic years, they, out of all of our team make the biggest mistakes. Mate I could show you a highlight reel of Raph boo boos (serious boo boos) No player is exempt from mistakes, but old Rapha is the king. Lets look at this seriously. How long has he been at the club? How many games has he played? How many times was he considered in our best? He is purely played (my oint of view) on his potential, trying to get games under his bet. Make no mistake, I enjoy watching Raph when he plays well and I'm not a hater, I'm a realist and I base my views on what I see. I am also an accredited & experienced Football coach, so maybe my views come from my experience in this area, rather than as a teetotaling English Teacher. Are you sure your not a Crows supporter???

Agreed. I'd like to add that Goddard and Hayes make their share of errors, but.... its a balance thing. The good far far far outweighs the bad.
Blake can let a few through but in general he is doing enough right to outweigh things.
Zac is very quick. I keep seeing him getting caught unaware, but often he is quick enough to recover and make the save.
Raph is in the backline because he is tall. He is not accountable enough to be a good backman.
He would be better in the mid, but is not quick enough at AFL level.
I'm not sure if he is a good enough kick to be in the forward line, though I wouldn't have argued if his role was swapped with that of Dempster in the Grand Final.

 

[Cuz2Plugger]

The conservative line would be just to see what he is capable of developing into, he may be a slow developer because of his size? Not that he is huge.

A project player basically. His clangers stand out like dog's balls, because they are on the extreme end of clanger, but he does/is capable of doing good things.

Project player. Some players take ages and ages before they click.

(However, I reserve the right to sigh/cry/go on a rampage in the model village next door like Godzilla- when he clangs big time).

As an afterthought, Him and X and now LovAAAAT in the team may be good for him as the Bros can read each other very very well.

 

[The Punter]

This thread got off topic.