Preview R1: Changes for 2025

[Dangarman]

I digress, but in four seasons for StK, in 3 games against Adelaide, Brad never played against his brother.

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

Solid effort. The glaring issue here is Curtin. Play him forward and that front half looks light on for pressure/speed. Quite top heavy. And Rash ain’t exactly a ‘pressure’ type player. That forward line looks much better with Keays in place of Curtin. Will be very interesting to see how he goes next year. I’m very concerned there isn’t a regular spot for him.

Curtin on the bench rotating forward. TT is backup ruckman so there will plenty of game time for him rotating with Tex, Fog and TT.

 

[Cromulent]

My round 1 team:

B: Bond - Keane - Michalanney
HB: Hinge - Murray - Worrell
C: Cumming - Dawson - Peatling
HF: Keays - Fogarty - Neal-Bullen
F: Rachele - Thilthorpe - Walker
R: O'Brien - Rankine - Soligo
I: Curtin - Draper - Sholl - Nankervis
S: Berry

Most should be self-explanatory but a few key points:

Bond - Need smalls coverage. Hok/chaos ball will 100% be the league direction
Berry - Was awesome in that sub role last year, especially vs Carlton
Curtin/Draper - Both need to play every game next year. Future of the club

Focus on players that can rotate through a number of positions - HHF, HHB, wing, mid:
Dawson, Soligo, Rankine, Rachele, Cumming, Peatling, Hinge, Sholl, Nankervis, Neal-Bullen, Keays, Curtin

Key omissions:

Laird - He no longer provides enough value with the Cumming and Peatling ins
Crouch - Same as Laird, we have other options that can play multiple positions
Taylor - Love his IQ and ability but he still needs to work on his fitness
Dowling - Love what he brings, but he'll slip behind Curtin and Draper
Pedlar/Milera/Butts - Injury layoffs. Go prove yourselves in the magoos

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Curtin on the bench rotating forward. TT is backup ruckman so there will plenty of game time for him rotating with Tex, Fog and TT.

Curtin will get more opportunities up forward in most away games as Tex likely to be managed for most, particularly longer travel.

When Tex plays, Curtin can play more midfield as well as being up forward.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Its for this reason I find it difficult to pick Butts. Worrell a better player than Butts and wouldnt want to leave him out.
Murray first picked.

Butts will play alot of games but if saints went in with that side I’d leave him out too

No doubt someone will be injured and he will play but if all available I’m with you

 

[Jeffcrowe]

The more I think of it the more valuable Bond could be , when we go up against giants and Hawks there will be 3-4 guys he can play on as zippy smalls

Lots of other clubs will start to go this structure too with small forwards , feel it in my bones

 

[Cromulant]

The more I think of it the more valuable Bond could be , when we go up against giants and Hawks there will be 3-4 guys he can play on as zippy smalls

Lots of other clubs will start to go this structure too with small forwards , feel it in my bones

Its something I hope we do more of, particularly moving into the post-Tex world.

 

[Brett Cummings]

My round 1 team:

B: Bond - Keane - Michalanney
HB: Hinge - Murray - Worrell
C: Cumming - Dawson - Peatling
HF: Keays - Fogarty - Neal-Bullen
F: Rachele - Thilthorpe - Walker
R: O'Brien - Rankine - Soligo
I: Curtin - Draper - Sholl - Nankervis
S: Berry

Most should be self-explanatory but a few key points:

Bond - Need smalls coverage. Hok/chaos ball will 100% be the league direction
Berry - Was awesome in that sub role last year, especially vs Carlton
Curtin/Draper - Both need to play every game next year. Future of the club

Focus on players that can rotate through a number of positions - HHF, HHB, wing, mid:
Dawson, Soligo, Rankine, Rachele, Cumming, Peatling, Hinge, Sholl, Nankervis, Neal-Bullen, Keays, Curtin

Key omissions:

Laird - He no longer provides enough value with the Cumming and Peatling ins
Crouch - Same as Laird, we have other options that can play multiple positions
Taylor - Love his IQ and ability but he still needs to work on his fitness
Dowling - Love what he brings, but he'll slip behind Curtin and Draper
Pedlar/Milera/Butts - Injury layoffs. Go prove yourselves in the magoos

Nicks will pick laird. Proving how much of a dud coach he is and that he has favorites.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Its something I hope we do more of, particularly moving into the post-Tex world.

Need to recruit the players for it but we’ve started

 

[AFC979810]

Entitled to your opinion but I disagree completely

Rachele had a good year in 2024 taking a big step forward by playing good games after mid season break for first time in his career

Looks likely to start 2025 in prime condition for first time in his career which should see him elevate his game further

Thats fitness not development.

His two best 5 game stretches came in the first 5 games of his first year and his first five games of his 2nd year.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

The only reason Butts doesn't take a lot more intercept marks is definitely Coach influenced.

Intercept marking and ground coverage was his absolute one wood for the 3 years I watched him at NAB League and VC level.

Never be like Keane as an intercept mark at afl level , Keane is quite freakish at that aspect given he’s short time in the game

 

[Cromulant]

Never be like Keane as an intercept mark at afl level , Keane is quite freakish at that aspect given he’s short time in the game

Anticipation is a huge part of gaelic sports, its not a massive shock.

Just needs to iron out some kinks

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Anticipation is a huge part of gaelic sports, its not a massive shock.

Just needs to iron out some kinks

Yep it’s a very offensive sport

But still alot different too

 

[aussierulesrules]

So I think most of the posts are looking at a general best 22. Personally I have no idea how the fringe players compare to each other, but for those who know, how would you match up against the Fox team's predicted StK round 1 line up?

B: H.Clark, D.Howard, J.Webster
HB: J.Sinclair, C.Wilkie, N.Wanganeen-Milera
C: M.Wood, M.Phillipou, L.Henry
HF: B.Hill, M.King, P. Dow
F: M.Owens, C.Sharman, J.Higgins
FOLL: R.Marshall, J.Steele, J.Macrae
I/C: M.Windhager, D.Wilson, L.Stocker, T.Travaglia, D.Butler

EMG: H.Garcia, A. Caminiti, R. Byrnes

And the commentary:
If history is anything to go by, the Saints look more likely than most to blood top draftee Tobie Travaglia from the get-go — much like Mattaes Phillipou only two seasons ago. New recruit Jack Macrae you would think finds himself starting on-ball, while Phillipou himself could be looking at a dynamic role in the engine room after a strong finish to his 2024 season. Exciting draftee Alix Tauru has a back stress fracture which means he faces a delayed start to pre-season, but is an exciting prospect for Saints fans. Jimmy Webster will help fill the void left by Josh Battle’s departure, while Anthony Caminiti or Angus McLennan could also step right into that void. Hugo Garcia and Ryan Bynes are developing nicely, while Arie Schoenmaker and Angus Hastie will also be looking for more senior opportunities.

FWIW, there are a few positional things there that aren’t likely to be the case.

For one, Hunter Clark has played the last two years almost exclusively in the midfield, so he won’t be playing back pocket.

Henry played almost exclusively forward this year (with spells in the guts), so he’s not likely to play wing. He’s also having significant ongoing issues with his knee, so is no certainty to be ready.

While it’s looking highly likely that the plan is for Caminiti to replace Battle down back.

No way Dow plays forward.

Here’s the sort of team I expect we’ll field, in the unlikely event that we’re at full strength.

B: Wilkie Howard Webster
HB: Sinclair Caminiti Wangmil
C: Wood Phillipou Wilson
HF: Hill Sharman Henry
F: Higgins King Owens
R: Marshall Macrae Steele

I: From: Clark Windhager Butler Jones Dow Travaglia Byrnes Carroll Stocker Garcia Schoenmaker

I think you could lock in the first 3 on the bench if fully fit and in form, then you could throw a blanket over the next 8.

A real smoky up forward though is your old boy, Isaac Keeler.

After a couple of years of finding his feet, we’re hearing glowing report after glowing report of how he’s going on the track so far this preseason.

He’s looking certain to start getting a taste next year and possibly from R1, in that forward/ruck role.

 

[Cromulent]

Nicks will pick laird. Proving how much of a dud coach he is and that he has favorites.

Oh 100% he will. That was my round 1 team, not Nicks’

 

[Big Dub]

Nicks will pick laird. Proving how much of a dud coach he is and that he has favorites.

Why would picking Laird be proof that any coach is a dud?

I'd play Soligo every game, as I expect would most Crows fans. But what does Soligo bring (now) that is better than Laird?

It's not disposals, clearances, metres gained, score assists, goal assists, disposal efficiency or clangers.

Soligo is expected to be the better player in the future, but good teams pick their best now players now. We should too, otherwise our coach is a dud

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Wait... there's Cromulent and Cromulant?

 

[FR0GGY]

Wait... there's Cromulent and Cromulant?

One way hey shorty and the other was hay shorty

 

[FullyBigKPro]

Given a good run of injury next year, our SANFL team should go close to winning the flag.

Look at who should be spending most of the year in that team... Smith, Bond, Dowling, Borlase, Butts, Berry, Shoenburg, Milera (early), Ryan, Edwards, Jones, Cook, Strachan, Burgess, Murphy...... some solid squad depth now.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Given a good run of injury next year, our SANFL team should go close to winning the flag.

Look at who should be spending most of the year in that team... Smith, Bond, Dowling, Borlase, Butts, Berry, Shoenburg, Milera (early), Ryan, Edwards, Jones, Cook, Strachan, Burgess, Murphy...... some solid squad depth now.

Need to factor in sanfl umpiring

We likely come 7th

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Entitled to your opinion but I disagree completely

Rachele had a good year in 2024 taking a big step forward by playing good games after mid season break for first time in his career

Looks likely to start 2025 in prime condition for first time in his career which should see him elevate his game further

Reid in his Podcast Interview indicated it was a deliberate move to have Rachele play a more defensive game in 2024 ....and in Reid's opinion would hold him in good stead for his career

I'd expect the reigns to be removed in 2025, and we'll see a more attacking Rachele

IMO it's taken time for Rachele to regain his zip, whilst carrying the extra muscle required ......it's not abnormal for that adjustment period

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Nah Harvey Thomas was a first year player just trying to survive

The other 2-3 more likely

If Rachele comes out and has a career best year next year they’ve handled him perfectly , got a feeling it happens with a bit more team first focus but yet keeping the dynamic parts to his game

Survive ??? ......Thomas flourished and was an automatic pick .....very very classy player, in the Zac Merrett mould

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Need to factor in sanfl umpiring

We likely come 7th

& injuries.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Survive ??? ......Thomas flourished and was an automatic pick .....very very classy player, in the Zac Merrett mould

Wouldn’t be getting too carried away

Gothart will likely go past him next year and Darcy Jones is a more dangerous player overall re creating goals and applying pressure

Harvey Thomas will be a solid player though , Zac Merrett ? Nah don’t reckon

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Wouldn’t be getting too carried away

Gothart will likely go past him next year and Darcy Jones is a more dangerous player overall re creating goals and applying pressure

Harvey Thomas will be a solid player though , Zac Merrett ? Nah don’t reckon

We're not going to go head to head again Jeff, are we .......I watched all of his games, as an owner, very composed, beautiful reader of the game .....I'll happily compare to Merrett, given what he achieved in his first year

Yep, let's get it on ....again