austinnn

Roar Rookie

Joined September 2017

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Fan of St Kilda FC in the AFL and Liverpool in the EPL. Everything I write is just my opinion.

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I’d say this analysis is pretty fair. Most of us Saints fans are pinning our hopes on the youngsters all developing together in the way that the Cats squad did around 13 years ago. We have a lot of solid citizens at our club who we believe can get the best out of each other and provide a solid foundation, but we’re still looking for a little more cream.

Personally, I think there are a few players at St Kilda who go largely unnoticed by the wider AFL community who are ready to really make the competition sit up and take notice, if they follow their current tragectory.

Jack Sinclair was picked up as a rookie and is best known as the best mate of his more-fêted teammate and namesake Jack Billings. He has always been a classy disposer and pretty good in front of the sticks too, but until this year was unable to get sufficiently involved. He might have found his position on the wing and although a different type of player, with his unflustered attitude and eviscerating disposal he has the potential to be as instrumental to his team’s attack as the most famous name on his locker door, the great Robert Harvey. We can only hope.

Brandon White is a player that is only 2 years into his career, but looks assured of a spot in the 2018 defence. He’s played around 4 games but fans can see that he’s a good decision maker, has a great kick and can handle the rough stuff. I’d imagine that with his size, we’ll be looking at using him more in Sam Gilbert’s previous role, but wherever he is, he’ll provide the team with bags of assurance and cause plenty of opposition turnovers.

Finally, Blake Acres is something of a cult in Saints fan circles. Despite being drafted in the same year as Luke Dunstan, he’s been in the seniors far less, and has been identified as something of a “slow burn”. The footy world has seen glimpses of what he offers; the effortless breaking of tackles, finding good space, his ability to take the game on and drive attacks, and something our club desperately needs; consistently nailing set shots on goal. His consistency and focus has been deemed the things that are holding him back, but you’d expect them to improve with experience. A great size for a midfielder, his ceiling is high and in the best case scenario he becomes St Kilda’s wildcard.

There are just 3 names picked from a big list, and of course any fan can make such a case for players that outsiders might not sniff at, but if you’re interested in St Kilda and wondering what they can be, then you should look for those names in coming years, alongside the more expected ones like Billings, Gresham, McCartin, etc.

Slower than we expected, but the Saints will get there

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AFL

2017