Hudghton or Dawson? Who should get the spot?

[NAUGHT5]

Igniter is right!

If i am FF against St.Kilda going into a big final i would much rather play on Zac Dawson than Max Hudghton.

 

[Falchoon]

Hudghton 100%

IMO a big gun forward would love to play on Dawson one out.

If Brisbane beat the Dogs and they get through to play St Kilda imagine Brown or Bradshaw on Dawson..... they would like their lips if they were one out with him.

Whereas Maxy has been regarded as one of the best one-on-one defenders going around.

I'd say id we played Brisbane Max would be straight back in, along side Dawson, they are really the only one of the 5 teams remaining to have 2 good power forwards though.`

 

[Grova029]

Hughton every day of the week. Dawson scares me about as much as the boogie man!

 

[bigmicka]

whoever will help us win the flag.

It is about the team and not the individual.

mic

 

[budge11]

Maxie. Dawson get's pummeled in the one on ones. My view on him has changed in the past few weeks... he's still quite an average player, just being assisted by an exception St.Kilda midfield year.

 

[iGNITER]

I'd say id we played Brisbane Max would be straight back in, along side Dawson, they are really the only one of the 5 teams remaining to have 2 good power forwards though.`

Agreed.

I think if Hudghton came into the side and played along-side Dawson in the prelim and one needed to be dropped going into the BIG DANCE it would be Dawson.

What would you feel more comfortable with - Mooney/Hawkins/Ottens isolated in the square one out against Maxy or Dawson.... I know if i were a Saints supporter its an easy one to answer.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

On past history, Hudghton. But has he played any footy this year? If not, seems unlikely to 'fix' what aint broke.

 

[AG]

If not, seems unlikely to 'fix' what aint broke.

Depends if Dawson was a passenger against Collingwood. Everyone has been talking up Riewoldt and rightly so after his performance but Fisher absolutely dominated. Take Fisher out or reduce his influence, then the Pies would have had an easier time of getting it to Rocca v Dawson. The few times they got it deep to Rocca, Dawson looked like he was struggling.

 

[Plugger35]

Depends if Dawson was a passenger against Collingwood. Everyone has been talking up Riewoldt and rightly so after his performance but Fisher absolutely dominated. Take Fisher out or reduce his influence, then the Pies would have had an easier time of getting it to Rocca v Dawson. The few times they got it deep to Rocca, Dawson looked like he was struggling.

Yeah as I said before, Dawson struggled early on when the Pies had the ascendency and were putting our defence under pressure. I was cursing Hudghton's absence at that stage.

In the second half our midfield got on top and our pressure upfield took the heat off our defence. Collingwood were unable to really expose Dawson at full back like they did a few times in that first half. However just because we were able to do that against Collingwood doesn't mean the same will happen against the Bulldogs or Geelong, if and when we meet them in the next few weeks.

I'd still feel a lot happier with Hudghton at fullback, it seems crazy that we have to almost protect Dawson at fullback when we have a great fullback like Hudghton on the sidelines. Just about everyone other than Lyon thinks Hudghton should be in the team, although I guess when he has taken us into a prelim you can't be too critical of him.

 

[sammm]

dawson will rarely be one out against a big forward, as the saints do not play that way. the saints play team defence. everybody helps out.

the saints have tried both hudgeton and dawson together. it didn't work as well.

tif you had hudgeton instead of dawson. possibly team defence would not work as well.

i feel sorry for hudgeton. but i do not believe the saints play the same way as they did last year. therfore it would be difficult for hudgeton to play this way. as well unless dawson broke down hudgeton will not be replaying dawson if the saints were going to try that, the should have doen so during the year. changing the structure during the finals would not be good idea.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Agree that on the unlikely scenario of the Lions making the prelim, Hudghton would come in. But that aside, they would keep the same team for the Dogs. Then look at the other side of the draw. Cant see him coming in against Geelong or Collingwood. Adelaide have lots of forward options so perhaps an extra defender would be needed then.

 

[Plugger35]

dawson will rarely be one out against a big forward, as the saints do not play that way. the saints play team defence. everybody helps out.

the saints have tried both hudgeton and dawson together. it didn't work as well.

tif you had hudgeton instead of dawson. possibly team defence would not work as well.

i feel sorry for hudgeton. but i do not believe the saints play the same way as they did last year. therfore it would be difficult for hudgeton to play this way. as well unless dawson broke down hudgeton will not be replaying dawson if the saints were going to try that, the should have doen so during the year. changing the structure during the finals would not be good idea.

Yeah I guess Dawson probably fits into Lyon's game plan better than Hudghton, he offers more flexibility and run than Max who is more an old fashioned negating fullback.

Lyon's game plan relies on us applying defensive pressure further up the ground and on our other defenders helping out, to make sure that Dawson isn't exposed too much one on one. That's worked OK against most teams so far this year but I'm still worried that Dawson might get exposed in the prelim or GF, when our defence gets put under more pressure than they were against Collingwood.

 

[QueensofLeon]

dawson will rarely be one out against a big forward, as the saints do not play that way. the saints play team defence. everybody helps out.

the saints have tried both hudgeton and dawson together. it didn't work as well.

tif you had hudgeton instead of dawson. possibly team defence would not work as well.

i feel sorry for hudgeton. but i do not believe the saints play the same way as they did last year. therfore it would be difficult for hudgeton to play this way. as well unless dawson broke down hudgeton will not be replaying dawson if the saints were going to try that, the should have doen so during the year. changing the structure during the finals would not be good idea.

I totally agree. Also you have to factor in that Dawson has years of holding down a position in the Saints defense, this is Max's last year. Why would Ross put big time games into someone who wont be playing next year let alone three years down the track? Also I rather Dawsons 23 year old hammies running out a game as opposed to Maxy's 33 year old ones.

Having said all that if Zac gets injured I would have no qualms with Max in the side. I do feel sorry for Max, he is an awesome bloke, awesome clubman but there will always be people who miss out. Not all nice guys no matter how skilled they are get what they want, just ask Robert Harvey.

 

[MarkT2]

All I can say is that if Collingwood somehow got through to the GF against St. Kilda I'd much rather the FF faced Dawson than Hudghton and that is regardless of whether the FF is Rocca, Anthony, Cloke or Medhurst. I've liked Max since he walked off crying after a game a few years back when Saints were rubbish. Since then I have admired his football as much as his passion for the jumper he would risk all for. Nothing against Dawson who has had a good year but they aren't in the same league.

 

[Smaaart]

The critics are a tad harsh on Dawson. He's had a couple of mediocre games but still hasn't really had a bag kicked on him (not sure if he played on Petrie all day). He's looked a little confused at times but he's certainly not a liability. I'd have them both in and drop Eddy, and rotate Clarke/Goddard forward. Max is incredibly versatile so I don't buy into the 'team balance' argument - he could play on Browny or Hooper if needed. I'm only worried about a lack of game time in his legs.

 

[spiraldiver]

Hudghton is a relentless defender and one of the most passionate footballers I've seen in a recent years. How he can't get a spot in the St Kilda side is absolutely beyond me.

 

[Alpha Male]

You tell me mate. There's also the fact that our entire backline can play small apart from dawson, so it's not like we'd be top heavy.

I think another good idea would be to switch one of our medium defenders (probably Raph) forward and drop Eddy, ensuring our backline isn't top heavy.

Lot's of options I just can't understand why Ross doesn't want Max in the side.

btw cradle of filth terrible call on blake. played every game this year and very reliable. is something like top 5in the afl for marks drifting around in the backline helping out.

In the words of Mark Webber: YES! YES! OMG YEEEEEEEEEES!

On the weekend Raph played in the forward line during the second half and I had this thought. Eddy is the only borderline player and Dempster has shown he isn't really suited to being a forward.

I would love to see Raph and Goddard rotate with each other from backline sweeper to third tall forward during games. I'd even give Raph some time in the middle as part of the rotation.

Baker - Dawson - Hudghton
Goddard - Blake - Fisher
Montagna - Hayes - Dal Santo
Clarke - Reiwoldt - McQualter
Milne - Koschitzke - Schnieder
Gardiner - Ball - Jones
King - Gilbert - Ray - Gram

Looks like a team that could sneak through a prelim...If we get lucky

 

[ams4crows]

gotta go with max..... is the better defender

simple as that!

 

[OniAu]

Dawson hasnt looked good all year, put toovhey in that backline and im sure he would have the same effect.

Maxy is so far ahead of dawson in terms of talent its not funny, i guess everyones riding the media romantic story of dawson being delisted by the hawks to become a permanant backmen in a premiership team.

The games ive seen of him he just looks lost and is helped by his team mates more than anything.

Maxy > Dawson

Made me ill when he mouthed thomas on sunday when it was himself who didnt go hard enough for the ball.