Pre-Season Snapshot

[Desipura]

Very true, but I think we will try him in different roles to the ones he played with Sydney.

With the sub rule coming into force this year there will be a greater emphasis on running power so Barlow ticks that box... Let's hope he can play footy too.

If nothing else, he has risen the bar in terms of pushing yourself to the limit. At his height and weight, thats impressive in itself. Can he get the footy and dispose of it? Probably not. haha

[Mofra]

Sounds good but I have heard that Barlow was Sydney's best trainer yet hardly got a game in the last 2 seasons. Fitness freak. Lets just hope he can add something to our team.
Can't wait for the footy season to start and its only the start of Jan

Plenty of Sydney fans have said the same thing about Barlow - pre-season specialist. The descriptions were of someone who has to be played as a running player, not a KPP despite his height.

[Mantis]

If nothing else, he has risen the bar in terms of pushing yourself to the limit. At his height and weight, thats impressive in itself. Can he get the footy and dispose of it? Probably not. haha

I have heard that he is quite a good kick, but as you and the others have alluded to he needs to get it first.

[Desipura]

Mantis, we have heard how they are impressed with Wallis's attitude to training.
Who has been some of our best trainers thus far? I know they have only been back a day however who was tearing it up on the track prior to Christmas?

[Mantis]

Mantis, we have heard how they are impressed with Wallis's attitude to training.
Who has been some of our best trainers thus far? I know they have only been back a day however who was tearing it up on the track prior to Christmas?

The standard overall has been good lead by the leadership group who are all training strongly.

Most players are either setting PB's or maintaing the standards previously shown.

[soupman]

It's almost bizarre not having Cross come first in the time trial.

[Ghost Dog]

Unfortunately they think they can turn athletes into footballers as opposed to the other way around.

yep. Two don't go hand in hand. Andrew Walker springs to mind. I have some Carlton fans as friends and he drives them crazy with his disposal.

[chef]

yep. Two don't go hand in hand. Andrew Walker springs to mind. I have some Carlton fans as friends and he drives them crazy with his disposal.

Walker was a extremely good junior footballer as well as being a great athlete.

[Ghost Dog]

Right. Unfortunately it hasn't translated but as I understand it, as much through injury than anything else.
Needs a shoulder injury free year.

[LostDoggy]

Williamstown will be happy at how well Stack and Minson are going.

Spoken like a St Kilda supporter. Do we have an intruder?

[Mofra]

Spoken like a St Kilda supporter. Do we have an intruder?

Realistically, neither are in the best 22.
Stack fades in and out of games (although rumours of him switching to HBF this pre-season may see his role changed), and Minson is a good no 1 ruck but not a good no 2 ruck - Roughy offers more forward which is likely to be a requirement given the new sub rule.

[mjp]

Spoken like a St Kilda supporter. Do we have an intruder?

Explain? I don't understand what you mean...

Are you saying I am a Saints fan because I don't think Minson or Stack will play? Doesn't that really mean I think we have players better than guys you apparently rate very highly.

We wont play 3 ruckman and I think that Hudson and Roughead are better options. So apparently do the club who tried to trade Minson at the end of last year.

I don't see a spot for Stack because he continuously fumbles and wont run through the line of the ball. I have heard the half-back rumors and to me that smacks of a desperate attempt to try and replace Harbrow - Harbrow is clean with his hands and Stack is not - unless there has been a dramatic change Stack will not be a successful defender.

Not every player on the list can be a superstar you know.

[Remi Moses]

When I hear players winning time trials I immediately think of Chambers who went from W/Coast to Carlton .
I think he won their time trials in everything but unfortunately couldn't play!
Unfortunately I think Barlow fits into that category.

[Desipura]

Explain? I don't understand what you mean...

Are you saying I am a Saints fan because I don't think Minson or Stack will play? Doesn't that really mean I think we have players better than guys you apparently rate very highly.

We wont play 3 ruckman and I think that Hudson and Roughead are better options. So apparently do the club who tried to trade Minson at the end of last year.

I don't see a spot for Stack because he continuously fumbles and wont run through the line of the ball. I have heard the half-back rumors and to me that smacks of a desperate attempt to try and replace Harbrow - Harbrow is clean with his hands and Stack is not - unless there has been a dramatic change Stack will not be a successful defender.

Not every player on the list can be a superstar you know.

Totally agree and lets not forget only Gold Coast showed mild interest in Minson. I hear the talk that people think he will take over from Huddo when Huddo retires, he would want to have his best year yet.

[soupman]

I think in Minson's defence he is actually a half decent 1st ruck, and given the responsibilities proper for a period of over a season he would be a very good player in this role.

However, much like Hudson he isn't a second ruck. He offers too little around the ground for this. I believe that the clubs line of thinking with trading him is not that he isn't good enough but that he isn't in our best ruck combo (Hudson and Roughead), and with his age meaning he'd be on some decent money (nothing too much but enough) it would be better for all concerned if he went somewhere where he would fit in that best ruck combo.

Brennan Stack is a different matter. I'm not sure he is good enough. He has some good attributes but as MJP said, he fumbles too easily which will limit him playing at AFL level. Harbrow excelled in this area across half back, but Harbrow also played this role well because he was one of a handful of players who went at 100% intensity 100% of the time. Stack lacks this intensity and unless it improves (which is hard, ask Josh Hill) I can't see him making it at AFL level, even if other attributes improve.