Preview Round 1 v Port Adelaide @ AAMI Stadium

[Kildonan]

Not necessarily. There is an unofficial source indicating he will be playing for Sandringham.

 

[FlyingSledghamer]

Earning your spot and at the same time running a youth policy.
Well there must be some other reason Polo made the team and Sipposs didn't.
Sipposs V Polo for team selection.

Preseason Form - Sipposs
Youth Policy - Sipposs
Kicking skills - Sipposs
Pace - Sipposs
Flexibility - Sipposs

How the hell did Polo get selected ahead of him. I have no idea. But the coach obviously has a plan and we'll just have to wait and see.
One thing I noticed from the team selection was how quick the team looks on paper.

 

[hayes]

^^^Was just about to point out the speed in the team and with Gram still to come back as well we're going to have speed all over the park which will be a nice change.

 

[Kildonan]

FlyingSledge, your problem is that you are creating a false dichotomy.

The choice wasn't between Siposs and Polo, possibly it was between Siposs and Milera or between Siposs and Stanley.

That Polo was included has no bearing on the inclusion or exclusion of Siposs.

 

[FlyingSledghamer]

I think it does.

I think that if you wern't picking the team on game plan, which we can't comment on any way.
In this situation I would say Polo was the last player picked on the list and Sipposs was the first to miss out. Or most likely anyway.

 

[Squizz]

Some serious blinkers there though, sledge.

What pre-season form?

What flexibility?

The kid has a good future, but really?

 

[stkildathunda]

Siposs was clearly fighting with Stanley for that 3rd forward spot.

Milera replaces Schneider

Blake got in front of Wilkes

Polo got in ahead of Ray, and based on preseason was clearly the correct decision.

 

[Persevering Saint]

Just on Sipps, wasn't there big wraps on him playing in the midfield at times? Seemed to add to his flexibility.

And okay, Kildo, so Polo beat out somebody - who was it? I hear what you're saying, Squizz, about Polo's ballwinning ability. But yikes, it does seem a rather odd choice.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Obviously Watters is looking at the now and not the past.
Any players that were washed up now have a new chance.
Any players who thought they were cosy need to watch their back.

 

[Fehring]

Hey guys was wondering what's a good pub to watch the port game in the city? The Mrs is a saints supporter, was thinking the peacock in northcote, but was wondering if there's a good venue you guys frequent for interstate games?

I like the Rose in Fitzroy, which is a good option if you just like an old fashioned pub with no pokies. They play every game and even used to somehow jam a live feed on Friday nights when Ch 7 showed games on delay.

Re selection - on a different note, I'm glad to see Geary get his chance - I love his endeavour, however I'm not sure he's a modern (ie attacking) defender because of his kicking skills. Would prefer to see him in a death match with Clint Jones for the tagging job. But maybe I'm underselling his kicking ability?

 

[Kildonan]

Lets hope he responds the way the clubs hope - by having a blinder in the Zebs and forcing his inclusion next week.

Considering he is named as an emergency and Sandringham play Sunday as well, he might not play at all this week. Don't the emergencies travel over with the rest of the team?

Not necessarily. There is an unofficial source indicating he will be playing for Sandringham.

From Official Saints Website
Game Details
North Ballarat FC v Sandringham FC
Eureka Stadium, Creswick Road, Ballarat
Senior squad at 2pm & Development squad at 11am

Seniors Squad
B: Curren Simpkin Shepheard
HB: Andreoli Dowler Ferguson
C: Newnes Cockie Winmar
HF: Ross Archer Shenton
F: Siposs Dunell Minchington
Foll: Sikora Cook Saad
Int: Hallahan, Irving, Michaliades, Markworth, Coleman*, Wilkes, Ray, Blake, Armitage, Cripps, Polo, Milera, Lourey
New: Markworth (Macedon/Calder Cannons)
*Bold = St Kilda listed player

Siposs is named in the side whereas Wilkes and Ray are named on the extended bench - I believe they are in Adelaide and Siposs is not, he will line up in Ballarat on Sunday

Development Squad
B: Shakallis Barnhoorn La Rocca
HB: Webster Meehan Crocker
C: S-Cameron Maley Soriano
HF: Mavrick Staley Stapleton
F: Brown Jones Lever
Foll: Beech Waller Bruno
Int: Maitland Plostins Stevens Lourey Sands Buckley McEvoy Markworth Archer Pridgeon Slade
*Bold = St Kilda listed player

 

[stkildathunda]

Siposs is playing in VFL, he is currently in Ballarat.

 

[Kildonan]

And okay, Kildo, so Polo beat out somebody - who was it? I hear what you're saying, Squizz, about Polo's ballwinning ability. But yikes, it does seem a rather odd choice.

Polo is an inside mid who can hold down a small to medium defender spot.
His main challengers were probably Jarryn Geary who beat him for the defender spot in the first 18 and Armitage who nabbed the final midfield spot. Then when they were choosing the final four spots, it looks like they decided to bring in one of Farren Ray or Dean Polo (players who can play either spot to add depth). Polo has not done a lot this preseason but he has outshone Ray, so he got the nod.

If you forgive me for quoting myself...

Below is my analysis I call the "Hard work index" which basically ignored all stats except contested possessions and tackles.

The first half of the season scores

Players ranked in order of hardest worker at top (Average scores)

	     [B] Round	1	Round	2	Round	3	Round	5	Round	6	Round	7	Round	8	Round	9	Round	10	Round	11	Round	12	Round	13
             	CP	T	CP	T	CP	T	CP	T	CP	T	CP	T	CP	T[/B]	CP	T	CP	T	CP	T	CP	T	CP	T
L Hayes   	[COLOR="red"]14	5[/COLOR]	8	5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
D Armitage	3	5	[COLOR="Red"]14	8[/COLOR]	10	2	[COLOR="red"]11	7[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]17	3[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]12	8[/COLOR]	6	4	10	5	10	4	9	6	[COLOR="red"]9	7[/COLOR]	5	2
L Montagna	9	6	[COLOR="red"]12	6[/COLOR]	10	2	[COLOR="red"]15	4[/COLOR]	7	4	7	6	-	-	[COLOR="red"]11	6[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]16	4[/COLOR]	4	2	-	-	4	5
N Dal Santo	11	4	[COLOR="red"]9	9[/COLOR]	11	2	10	4	[COLOR="red"]12	6[/COLOR]	8	4	9	2	6	2	[COLOR="red"]12	4[/COLOR]	7	3	2	5	[COLOR="red"]15	8[/COLOR]
S Gilbert	7	5	9	2	8	5	[COLOR="red"]12	5[/COLOR]	2	1	[COLOR="red"]14	5[/COLOR]	9	5	10	4	7	3	8	5	1	2	9	1
B McEvoy	6	4	8	6	6	2	7	3	8	1	[COLOR="red"]11	5[/COLOR]	5	6	-	-	[COLOR="red"]9	7[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]12	7[/COLOR]	10	5	8	6
B Goddard	9	6	8	4	[COLOR="red"]10	6[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]10	8[/COLOR]	8	5	6	3	6	3	10	1	4	1	8	2	[COLOR="red"]10	9[/COLOR]	9	1
C Jones   	8	4	4	2	4	6	[COLOR="red"]11	10[/COLOR]	7	7	4	5	7	6	4	5	8	6	4	4	12	2	[COLOR="red"]15	9[/COLOR]
J Steven	-	-	-	-	5	2	4	5	7	5	3	6	3	7	11	1	8	4	[COLOR="red"]13	4[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]10	11[/COLOR]	6	1
S Fisher	5	2	8	3	9	2	7	3	3	0	8	4	[COLOR="red"]15	1[/COLOR]	5	4	7	3	[COLOR="red"]9	7[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]13	4[/COLOR]	6	4
F Ray      	7	1	5	4	7	6	10	4	-	-	-	-	4	4	3	3	6	2	6	2	8	5	5	5
N Riewoldt	10	2	5	1	5	2	6	1	5	1	5	2	10	0	[COLOR="red"]14	5[/COLOR]	4	6	8	0	5	2	3	0
A Schneider	-	-	-	-	5	7	9	5	6	8	7	4	4	5	2	2	4	3	1	0	6	5	3	2
S Dempster	3	2	5	2	3	3	6	3	4	3	6	5	8	1	6	3	[COLOR="red"]8	8[/COLOR]	4	5	5	2	2	4
J Blake    	1	7	6	1	-	-	-	-	2	3	7	2	-	-	9	6	5	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
B Peake   	2	4	5	3	3	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	9	2	7	6	5	4	3	3	2	3
T Simpkin	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	4	3	7	-	-
T Ledger	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	7	1	1	0	-	-
D Polo	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	2	5	0	7	4	6	2	-	-	-	-
S Milne    	5	3	9	1	6	1	7	2	7	0	4	5	2	1	3	3	8	2	6	4	7	1	5	2
J Gram    	3	4	5	3	8	0	8	1	4	2	4	3	3	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	7	4	5	2
A Smith   	-	-	-	-	3	3	7	3	4	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Z Dawson	8	1	5	3	9	1	7	2	4	1	-	-	3	1	3	1	5	1	6	2	4	2	5	2
A McQualter	2	4	-	-	-	-	3	1	9	2	6	4	3	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
J Koschitzke	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	1	-	-	9	2	6	0	6	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	2
R Gamble	4	4	7	1	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	[COLOR="red"]8	7[/COLOR]	3	1
S Baker   	5	2	3	6	-	-	4	3	7	3	1	2	4	1	-	-	-	-	4	1	2	4	2	4
T Lynch	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
D Archer	-	-	3	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
J Gwilt     	3	4	3	0	3	2	1	0	5	1	4	1	4	0	5	1	5	2	3	2	3	0	7	1
A Siposs	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	2	5	1	1	1	5	1	1	2	-	-	-	-
R Clarke	4	3	2	0	1	1	-	-	-	-	0	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	7	4	1	3
J Cripps	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	1	3	2	0	2	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
N Winmar	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	1	1	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
R Stanley	-	-	-	-	2	2	0	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
W Johnson	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

The second half of the season scores
Players ranked in order of hardest worker at top for whole season average scores.

           	[B]Round	15	Round	16	Round	17	Round	18	Round	19	Round	20	Round	21	Round	22	Round	23	Round	24
             	CP	T	CP	T	CP	T	CP	T	CP	T	CP	T	CP	T	CP	T	CP	T	CP	T[/B]
N Dal Santo	[COLOR="Red"]13	9[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]15	5[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]14	7[/COLOR]	9	6	[COLOR="red"]12	6[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]14	8[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]15	5[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]12	9[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]16	2[/COLOR]	9	4
L Hayes   	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
C Jones   	7	5	[COLOR="red"]7	9[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]6	13[/COLOR]	6	9	4	7	8	3	[COLOR="red"]10	8[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]7	12[/COLOR]	4	1	10	3
L Montagna	[COLOR="red"]11	6[/COLOR]	7	4	7	3	8	6	6	3	6	2	8	6	4	2	[COLOR="red"]12	6[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]9	8[/COLOR]
D Armitage	5	6	4	3	0	2	[COLOR="red"]8	9[/COLOR]	4	2	6	0	1	4	[COLOR="red"]14	3[/COLOR]	7	8	-	-
B McEvoy	12	1	6	9	10	2	7	3	9	2	6	6	9	2	4	1	8	2	5	4
J Steven  	[COLOR="red"]14	6[/COLOR]	7	2	6	2	6	4	10	1	6	2	[COLOR="red"]15	4[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]8	8[/COLOR]	10	1	7	3
B Goddard	5	3	9	1	5	2	2	1	4	3	9	3	4	6	[COLOR="red"]9	8[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]11	5[/COLOR]	6	5
D Polo     	7	5	8	2	[COLOR="red"]11	6[/COLOR]	[COLOR="red"]10	7[/COLOR]	8	3	7	1	4	3	8	2	9	5	6	1
S Gilbert  	8	3	4	3	5	2	2	1	6	2	7	1	8	2	3	2	9	1	[COLOR="red"]8	8[/COLOR]
S Fisher   	8	3	5	2	8	2	4	1	4	1	7	3	5	4	7	2	7	0	3	0
A Schneider	5	7	7	6	10	3	6	1	8	4	5	1	4	5	6	4	8	1	8	2
T Simpkin 	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
F Ray      	7	2	5	2	3	0	4	3	4	5	4	4	8	3	5	7	3	2	2	2
B Peake   	5	4	6	2	8	2	5	7	8	7	5	2	6	3	2	1	4	3	10	2
S Milne    	4	0	7	5	7	5	7	7	7	2	6	2	3	4	6	7	5	1	5	1
J Koschitzke	-	-	-	-	6	1	6	3	6	0	7	4	1	2	-	-	6	2	8	1
N Riewoldt	2	0	3	3	4	6	3	6	-	-	3	3	3	2	6	3	12	2	4	2
T Lynch   	8	2	6	4	-	-	-	-	4	0	-	-	-	-	5	5	-	-	-	-
S Dempster	5	4	3	4	6	1	1	3	3	3	5	3	6	2	6	1	4	4	1	4
J Blake    	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10	3	2	1	4	0	4	2	5	2
J Gram    	2	4	3	0	4	1	8	1	5	3	3	4	6	2	8	2	4	1	2	5
A Smith   	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
A McQualter	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Z Dawson	4	0	1	0	2	4	4	1	5	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	0	3	0
R Gamble 	6	3	5	4	3	2	5	2	4	1	1	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
S Baker   	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	3	-	-	-	-
J Geary   	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	2	0	1	4	2	2	7	6	3	0	1	5	2
R Clarke   	0	0	4	2	8	4	5	0	4	2	3	3	7	1	4	1	1	0	6	3
J Gwilt     	3	2	7	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
D Archer  	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
T Ledger  	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
A Siposs  	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
J Cripps   	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
N Winmar 	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
M Gardiner	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	1
R Stanley 	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
W Johnson	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

When I started this analysis, the Saints were doing poorly. We improved and made it into the finals comfortably after being roundly touted as gone for the season and maybe gone for several to many years while we rebuild. The reason I posted the complete season data is that I was interested in analysing who were the biggest contributors to our improvement (comparing the first twelve weeks with the last ten weeks - because of the natural divider of the week 14 break).

My analysis showed that Dal and Polo improved the most, while Jones, Montagna, Steven and Schneider were strong contributors.
The data was confusing because a number of players whom I consider critical or at least strong contributors to our fightback performed worse in the second half of the year in these stats. I always knew that these stats don't tell the whole story, but now I know that they don't tell much of a story at all.

It has informed me though of who does most of the grunt work.

 

[thomas_m18]

Random question.

Considering Gwilt is out, if you had the opportunity to pick Dawson for tomorrow's match (assuming he's 100% fit) would you pick him? I'm not sure what I'd do, or what Scott Watters would do, considering he didn't really name a full-back at all.

 

[Kildonan]

Dawson was a good player for us. He was much maligned but he was able to help nullify the taller players that we now don't have a good match up on. He certainly wasn't a great player like a Goddard or a Dal Santo or a Riewoldt, but teams cannot consist wholy of superstars. Our back six worked together and they covered each other's weaknesses. While Dawson would contest, others would come in and spoil or snatch up the loose ball, then break off and create space. Dawson's speciality was being tall. He did it quite well.

Would I bring him in this Saturday?

Certainly not at the expense of Jason Blake #lovetheblake

Then who do we drop?
One might argue Polo or Geary but that might leave us a bit too tall down back (No Gram).
One might suggest Cripps, but I think we need to bite the bullet and give the kids a run.

I still think we need a tall. It just doesn't have to be Dawson.

Let's see how we cope without a full time tall defender this season.

 

[Present Not Past]

Random question.

Considering Gwilt is out, if you had the opportunity to pick Dawson for tomorrow's match (assuming he's 100% fit) would you pick him? I'm not sure what I'd do, or what Scott Watters would do, considering he didn't really name a full-back at all.

This I'm sure of - if Lyon was coach he would have picked Dawson. Thing is though, both of them have gone.

However, compring Gwilt and Dawson isn't right. Apples and oranges.

I think what we'll see this year under Watters is that Simpkin will be eased into the full back position. It's only round one and maybe Watters thinks that Tom needs some warm up matches in the VFL to get him fit and ready for his return to the AFL. Blakey is more than capable of holding down the full back position until then.

 

[sainter]

Of course Zac would be in the team for tomorrow if he was still at the club.

It would be silly to suggest otherwise.

Not surprisingly he had a good first up game for the Dockers tonight, including a gutsy effort in the last quarter when he left his opponent alone inside 50 to impact a contest.

The challenge for us now is to find a long-term replacement.

As for the inclusion of Polo, it's clear he's been chosen in the team as an inside midfielder and for a possible negating role against one of Port's young midfielders. Had we wanted another tall defender, it would have been Simpkin. If we wanted another attacking midfielder, it would have been Ray. If the next cab off the rank was a medium tall/midfield type it would have been Siposs. As Kildonan has indicated it's not simply a case of choosing the best 22 players on the list.

 

[stkildathunda]

Jason Blake is late withdrawel from todays game, to be replaced by Beau Wilkes.

 

[sainter]

Jason Blake is late withdrawel from todays game, to be replaced by Beau Wilkes.

Disappointing.

At least he'll get the chance to celebrate his achievement in front of family and friends back in Melbourne.

Wilkes is the obvious candidate from the emergencies, despite looking more comfortable as a forward so far.

 

[hayes]

Bit of a worry because Wilkes looked all at sea during the NAB Cup playing in defense. Any reason for Blake being out?

 

[FlyingSledghamer]

He was among the BOG's for Sandy last week.

Your right Sainter about Polo, obviously a positional inclusion.
I like to see good pre-season form rewarded though, regarding Sipposs.
About his position, I would prefer him to play free around HB and move forward to kick goals from 50. Don't think he neccesarily has to come in as a forward.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

He was among the BOG's for Sandy last week.

Your right Sainter about Polo, obviously a positional inclusion.
I like to see good pre-season form rewarded though, regarding Sipposs.
About his position, I would prefer him to play free around HB and move forward to kick goals from 50. Don't think he neccesarily has to come in as a forward.

I thought he was walking very stiffly along the side of the ground towards the end of the Sandy game, but no-one mentioned anything so I thought nothing of it.

 

[MCG-Unit]

Jason Blake is late withdrawel from todays game, to be replaced by Beau Wilkes.

If this is right, shame for Blake - however I hope Wilkes does really well -
I have a lot of time for him.
Thought he looked okay at FB in one of those 20 min pre-season games.....

1 April

 

[stephen96]

Where is your reference for the Wilkes inclusion?

Earlier today, the STK Facebook page posted photos congratulating Blake on his 200th...

 

[saber_32au]

Bit of a worry because Wilkes looked all at sea during the NAB Cup playing in defense. Any reason for Blake being out?

Agreed. Hopefully Wilkes form in the VFL last week translates to a great performance today!