2017 List... and looking to 2018

[enzedder]

1. Hickey - 5 games this year... not a great year/ Longer assumed #1 ruck again
2. Carlisle - 22 games this year... great year for our "new" recruit. One of our best.
3. Steven - 20 games this year... still good but will better with a full pre season, down this year but expect to bounce back
4. Gresham - 22 games this year...continued improvement and great year...hopefully one to break out in 2018.
5. Savage - 12 games this year...finished the year well
6. Ross - 22 games this year...massive year, stepped up to become one of the best mids in the comp, extremely pleasing.
7. Dunstan - 16 games this year...good year, particularly strong finish to the year...hopefully a big 2018 coming up.
8. Acres - 18 games this year...solid, glimpses of real class, think he'll be a beauty
9. Steele - 20 games this year...GWS's loss, our gain... added plenty, great get, great year.
10.Freeman - 0 games this year...next year? highlights tape playing for Sandy showed he can play. Still waiting for the big dance.
11. Montagna - 16 games this year - Retired - Thanks for the memories Joey.
12. Reiwoldt - 17 games this year - Retired - Thanks Rooey... one of our all time greats with Doc, Banger, Plugger and Barks.
13. Lonie - 12 games this year - Crossroads, tradebait. He's got talent but others can perform his role.
14. Geary - 22 games this year - Captain Reliable. Great year.
15. Billings - 22 games this year - Gun. Classy. Shooting for goal was a let down but looking forward to seeing his 2018 season.
16. Newnes - 22 games this year - Played every game but almost went backwards for mine. OK but wanting more.
17. Roberton - 22 games this year - Improved as +1 defender as expected with Brown and Carlisle in the team. One of our best.
18. Longer - 17 games this year - Back to #1 ruck. Best season after great pre season.
19. Gilbert - 18 games this year - Not my favourite, want him traded but he did alright, cough, cough, cough.
20. Armitage - 2 games this year - If he was 100% right would the mighty Saints have made the finals? Disappointing loss this year
21. Long - 4 games this year. Pacy and competitive. Time will tell. Worth persisting with.
22. Brown - 22 games this year. Solid. Best thing is he locks down a tall and frees us Roberton.
23. Goddard - 0 games this year. Will be a new recruit next year. More competition for spots.
24. Dempster - 0 games this year - Retired - thanks for the service!
25. Stevens - 15 games this year - Added grunt and strength. Great addition and provided a depth option with Armo out.
26. Battle - 1 game this year - debuted whilst still at school. Give him time.
27. Bruce - 20 games this year 36 goals Good year. Shaky when 5 metres out in front of an open goal but with no NRoo is locked in
28. Membrey - 20 games this year 38 goals. Leading goal kicker. Great third tall forward option. Provides plenty.
29. Webster - 18 games this year. Good defensively and his kicking can be a weapon. Solid year.
30. Phillips - 0 games this year
31. White - 3 games this year. Played R19-21 and suspect he may be on the chopping block/Trade bait.
32. McCartin - 5 games this year... concussion year. Worried about this guy's future. Big forwards take time but he's complicated.
34. Wright - 3 games this year...disappointing year, staggered, injury affected, list player.
35. Sinclair - 17 games this year... love what he provided on the wing, fast, breaks the lines, clever, classy #35!!!!!
36. McKenzie - 5 games this year.... depth player now it seems, disappointed that he didn't cement a spot
37. Rice - 0 games this year... will be in my SC team next year haha.
41. Minchington - 5 games this year....promising, injury affected but looks to be a depth type... potential trade bait like Lonie.
42. Pierce - 0 games this year Gone or should be
44. Weller - 18 games this year... provides plenty of contest. Good year again.
45. Holmes - 0 games this year Gone or should be... sadly...hoped to see him in the 1s doing well but not sighted in 2018.

Dempster, Roo and Monty have already gone.
Draft picks 7 ,8, 43, 57, 61.
Marshall will likely be upgraded after debuting and doing well this year. Connellan is another rookie apparently worth persisting with

At this stage my best 22 is...

B- Geary, Brown, Webster
HB - Roberton, Carlisle, Newnes
C - Sinclair, Armitage, Dunstan
HF - Acres, Bruce, Billings
FF - Membrey, McCartin, Gresham
Foll- Longer, Ross, Steven
Int- Weller, Steele, Savage, Stevens

Depth= Hickey, Gilbert, Goddard, Minchington, Lonie,  White, Wright, Rice, Long, Marshall, Freeman, McKenzie, Battle, Phillips, Pierce, Holmes

[BoredSaint]

Can't see any of Wright, Minchington, Pierce, Holmes being at the club next season..

Hickey will probably get a reprieve considering we lose 2 ruckman (see above)

McKenzie, Lonie trade bait

Expecting White to fill the Joey roll. Was good in the 3 games he played

[Peter]

While Saints got to rely a negating full back, they are going to be found wanting. Need to develop third tall and be attacking player

[enzedder]

afl.com.au best 22below
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-10-21/best-22-how-your-club-could-line-up-in-2018

B: Jarryn Geary, Nathan Brown, Dylan Roberton
HB: Shane Savage, Jake Carlisle, Jimmy Webster
C: Jack Sinclair, Jack Steele, Jack Newnes
HF: Blake Acres, Josh Bruce, Jack Billings
F: Jade Gresham, Paddy McCartin, Tim Membrey
R: Billy Longer, Seb Ross, Jack Steven
INT: Koby Stevens, Sam Gilbert, David Armitage, Mav Weller

NOTES: A relatively conservative side here, with experienced names picked over younger types. Brandon White and Daniel McKenzie will push Shane Savage hard for a spot across half-back, while Bailey Rice will be hot on their heels. Despite impressive late season form, Luke Dunstan did not make the team because of the Saints' glut of inside midfielders. The one that would have St Kilda fans excited is Nathan Freeman. His story is well-known â€" four years without a game because of a career restricted by continuous hamstring setbacks. A right ankle injury ended his 2017 prematurely but he should be in contention for an AFL spot early next year.

REMAINING SENIOR LIST: Logan Austin, Josh Battle, Luke Dunstan, Nathan Freeman, Hugh Goddard, Tom Hickey, Jason Holmes, Ben Long, Jack Lonie, Daniel McKenzie, Darren Minchington, Ed Phillips, Lewis Pierce, Bailey Rice, Brandon White, Nathan Wright

REMAINING ROOKIE LIST: Ray Connellan, Darragh Joyce, Rowan Marshall, Nick O'Kearney - Dinny Navaratnam

The only difference between that and my best 22 (posted 12 Sept) is mine has Dunstan in it and the above has Gilbert. Gilbert didn't make my team because he is an afl spaz. He is St.Kilda's only 2018 free agent...we will offer him a coke and a Mars bar to stay on.