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Joined March 2015
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The Coleman Medal is ruled by the forwards manning the key position posts, and they are absolutely crucial to team structure. Here I reveal…
Many have been excited about watching the Brisbane Lions since the conclusion of last season. Talented youngster Lewis Taylor won the NAB Rising Star…
I get it, AFL SuperCoach is quickly approaching. You're getting into as many leagues as you can with people you don't even know, and…
Rick, I disagree completely that defenders are the less talented players, and your evaluation of the position is ridiculous. Being a great defender requires effectiveness not only defensively but attacking as well, and this balance is more important than in any other position on the ground, in my opinion. The urge to lock down your opponent effectively and perfect an effective rebounding play and peeling off at just the right time is an art form that is often under-appreciated in the footy world, which is very similar to what Nick is trying to say regarding the attention going to the forwards and midfielders.
Is Alex Rance the best player in the AFL?
I think you missed the point Steve, Dylan said “when the likes of Gilbert, Fisher and Dempster call it a day”. Clearly Jake Carlisle will have served his suspension by the time those three call it a day. Goddard is already very well developed and is still developing more mass, meaning he’s going to be able-bodied to take the big forwards sooner rather than later. Carlisle back will help and Dempster is the ultimate professional and is still in fantastic condition who should play on in 2017 and possibly 2018 if he really wanted to, he’s that fit. That allows plenty of time to sure up the KPD stocks besides Carlisle and Goddard (where currently they have Coughlan, Delaney and Lee who are solid if required). Ideally Coughlan develops well and a trio of Goddard, Carlisle and Coughlan, of the players already on the Saints list become good defenders for the club.
How your AFL team will fare in 2016: St Kilda Saints
Thanks Matty.
Keep in mind the power rankings ladder doesn’t take into account the amount of talent a club has bought in per say, but rather the players they picked up at their respective selections. Carlton bought in some very good talent and I don’t believe it will be a failure. At the beginning of the rebuild I think they’ve done well to identify some key position staples that will be 12+ year players for them in Weitering and McKay (along with Curnow). Despite ranking some midfielders ahead of a few of these players, it is clear that the Blues have identified a need to bring in some key position talent (which they’ve been lacking) and they have done that pretty well.
Similarly with Melbourne, while I didn’t rank Oliver and Weideman as high as they were picked, most of the negatives came from Mitch King who I ranked around the 60-70 mark despite being picked up at 42, it just goes to show that the exercise is fairly fragile. Forgetting my opinions on where Oliver and Weideman in particular are ranked, they are two pretty good prospects to add, although I think Parish would have added some needed outside class to the Demons midfield which is already fairly well stacked for inside types. Although there is definitely something explosive that the recruiters have identified in Oliver. It will be interesting to track these two players over their careers.
The complete review of the 2015 AFL Drafts
Correct Col. Curnow has constantly been compared to Jake Stringer which I disagree with. He’s definitely not as explosive or as quick and at his height he won’t be a pure key forward. Steve’s description of Curnow being a third tall midfielder who can pinch hit in the midfield matches my sentiments exactly. I see him more as a Jack Darling type. He’s a good lead up forward but I’m not quite convinced at this stage whether he can develop as a genuine effective midfielder, but there are a few tools to work with.
On Weideman, I don’t find him to be elite at anything in particular. He has reasonably good skills and a solid mark of the ball. His endurance needs work but I don’t hold that against him too much as it can easily be improved upon once he gets into training at an AFL club, but generally I don’t see anything that amazes me in Weideman, but rather a good player who is relatively even with most aspects of his game which of course is nothing to scoff at either.
The complete review of the 2015 AFL Drafts
You make a good point, the power rankings concept definitely isn’t perfect, but I haven’t seen anyone utilise it and I’m sure it can be improved upon!
The complete review of the 2015 AFL Drafts
Thanks mate.
Regarding GWS, I rated Hopper and Kennedy slightly above where they were picked, but due to the nature of the system, Himmelberg at pick 16 is much higher than I rated him which affected GWS’ ladder position. Carlton ending up in the negative is due to Curnow and Cunningham, who I ranked at 19 and 28 respectively (while being picked up at 12 and 23).
The complete review of the 2015 AFL Drafts
First of all, big effort to get through the whole draft. Nicely done. Personally I highly doubt that Sam Skinner goes at pick 19, very high for someone who has been injured most of the year, would expect him to go at least in the second round or slide even further because of this.
A complete mock AFL draft, from pick 1 to 112
Too many people bought into the “best of all time” propaganda by paid celebrities. Not enough respect was paid to Holly Holm in the lead up to the fight. It was an impressive victory and Holm will now get the recognition she deserves.
Highlights: Holly Holm KOs Ronda Rousey at UFC 193
Would say if Mathieson is there at 14 he will come under serious consideration by the Saints.
The trade, draft and hope for 2016
I think everyone would rather pick the player they deem to be the 5th best player the 60th best player Don, and while there are a few late pick outliers (Hird, Grant, etc)- look through the draft pick ranges of 5-35 to 35-60 and the quality players drafted from those positions are evidently toward the favour of higher draft selections. For that reason of course many do and will continue to think that top end draft selections are statistically better than the later picks; because they are.
Seven untold stories of the trade period
I’m not sure I completely agree with you regarding Redden at the end of #3. If I were West Coast and we had just made it to the Grand Final but wanted more good midfielders, I’d totally go for 17 for Redden. The past 5 years he averages 23.9, 25, 21.9, 23.9 and 23.6 disposals a game. Upwards or around 5 marks a game and 6-7 tackles a game. He is turning 25 and approaching his prime too, will be valuable support beside Priddis, Masten, Gaff, Shuey and the like. I think West Coast win in the trade, I don’t think they overpaid at all. Nevertheless, where would you personally rate Redden in terms of a draft pick?
Seven untold stories of the trade period
Savage is a half back who will spend very little time up forward, but solid article. The Saints have some exciting talent coming through with Billings, Dunstan, Acres, McCartin, Goddard, McKenzie, Lonie, Webster, Newnes, Sinclair, Templeton, Longer and the like, things are definitely looking up. Once this year is completed and they bring in another two top 20 or so picks, the hardest part of the rebuild will be done and from 2016 onwards I think we’ll start seeing signs, slowly at first but gaining momentum into 2017 and 2018 I’d say, similar to the Dogs this year.
The St Kilda Saints will be marching again soon
I believe he could be, I can’t think of someone off the top of my head. Mundy is 192, Fyfe, Watson, Kennedy and the like are listed a couple cms shorter. Greg Clark, a WA boy in this year’s draft crop might rival him however, being listed at 193cm already.
ROSE and RYAN: Reassessing The Roar's pre-season top 50 players
I think the Farren Ray trade worked out for both clubs. While he never became a star, Ray’s efforts in the Saints’ ’09 and ’10 years were very good, averaging over 20 disposals, 4 tackles and 5.4 marks a game. He helped the Saints midfield depth, and despite the Bulldogs not getting what they wanted with a pick 4, they did well to turn him into Roughead, who is now very capable down back.
The sweet and sour of the AFL drafts: Western Bulldogs
Liking the name, ‘Statistic Skeptic’.
Fact or Fiction: The away team is at a clear disadvantage
Nope. Sylvia was a Free Agent. Bernie Vince was traded for pick 23, who the Crows used on Matt Crouch.
Bernie Vince the unsung hero
Good article Tiarne. Jack Steven being picked up as a 17 year old the year before has been a massive pay off.
The sweet and sour of the AFL drafts: St Kilda Saints
I wouldn’t say he’s necessarily a key position back or forward, in the sense he’s the number one big man. But at 190cm and probably growing another couple of centimeters puts him at a good size to be the second or third tall for sure, which he seems to be playing now. Isn’t dissimilar to Brendon Goddard in my opinion as a guy who can play both ends to good effect, whether his midfield game gets to BJ’s level is yet to be seen. I see him favouring either end of the ground rather than the middle though.
AFL draft stocks: Under 18 Championships, Week 4
Rice has to choose between the Saints and the Blues, and has gathered 8 disposals in round 1 (88%) and 5 disposals in round 2 (100%) of the Champs, would like him to become a bigger accumulator but is playing down back most of the time. Is a lovely kick however. Silvagni had 8 disposals and 3 marks in round 1 of the Champs and 7 disposals and a goal in round 2 of the Champs. Bradley wasn’t selected in the squad so will continue playing TAC Cup.
AFL draft stocks: Under 18 Championships, Week 2
Or maybe it’s because of the perception that he slides into packs with his knees, or so he did not too long ago. Maybe the fans just don’t like him and how he goes about it, and MAYBE the media is making this a racial issue, when it isn’t.
The idiot's guide to booing Adam Goodes
NOTE:
Very strange one this week with Shane Savage not playing, is an important player out of the Saints backline and should be a shoe-in selection in the 22 each week, especially going on some good form in the last few weeks. Some experience comes back in this week which may be the cause, albeit strange too see Sav of all out.
Only reason I can think of is the Lions mosquito squad in Zorko, Taylor and Green needing more defensive backliners and Savage doesn’t fit the bill for this particular game as a player who provides far more attack of half back then defensive work.
Supercoach best buys: AFL Round 9
If Jack Steven doesn’t have match winning ability I don’t know who does… he’s 26, so I’m guessing you mean younger guys.
Along with Jack Billings as guys with “super elite match-winning skills,” look no further than the trio of Jade Gresham, Blake Acres and Paddy McCartin, Paddy has been unlucky this year but hopefully gets a good run at it next year. Acres is your modern prototype midfielder, tall with elite endurance and his contested work is awesome; dodges the opposition like a politician dodges pre-election promises and cuts through tacklers like a hot knife through butter. Took him a little while to really learn how to use his body and size to his advantage but seemed to have figured it out and was one of the Saints best in the last 2 months or so. Gresham is incredible, amazing goal sense (see goal vs Geelong) and whenever he’s ready for the midfield (tank probably holding him back as just a first year player in 2016) then he also looks to be a gun midfielder in the future, his sidestep is brilliant has an absolute weapon of an outlet handpass. All of these guys have the ability to break games open if their development continues the way it’s going.
St Kilda setting themselves for a humongous trade