Team AFL Draft Review: St Kilda Saints
Draft Table Talk:
Ross Lyon knows Sydney won due to their midfield dominance, and the Saints will benefit as Lyon brings his ideas to the Saints and tweaks their list and gameplan. Acquiring Gardiner and Birss in trade week will help them in the middle next season, and with their first two picks in the draft they went for more midfielders. Armitage, Hislop and O'Keefe would have been options at pick 9. Armitage is a bit quicker so the Saints picked him.
The Saints might have been getting ready to pick Shane Edwards in the second round, but Richmond took him one pick before the Saints selection, so they went with Howard who is another fast option for the midfield.
The Saints would have had a bit of a discussion for who to pick at 9 and 27, but when Jarryd Allen was still available at pick 59 it was an easy pick to make.
The Saints said they were always bringing back Ferguson, and then they passed on their remaining selections. They didn't take a veteran ruckman, like Keating, but there is a chance they take him, or another ruckman, in the preseason draft.
2006 Draft vs 2005 Draft:
The Saints traded for Watts last season, that cost them their first round pick. The players that the Saints did take in the 2005 draft, which included Rix and Gilbert, were mainly tall players. The 2006 draft addressed the midfield more, although they did also get another quality tall in Allen. For a new coach, who only arrived during the trade week, they have done very well in bringing in new players and filling needs.
Player: Pick 9 David Armitage, 184cm 80kg (Morningside)
Comparison: Jason Cripps
ETA: Early Rounds of 2007
Possible position: Midfielder
Player: Pick 27 Brad Howard, 181cm 72kg (Redlands)
Comparison: Brad Campbell
ETA: 2008
Possible position: Midfielder
Player: Pick 59 Jarryd Allen, 193cm 88kg (Calder)
Comparison: Luke Penny
ETA: Middle Rounds of 2007
Possible position: Tall Forward, Tall Defender
Player: Pick 74 Matthew Ferguson, 187cm 87kg (St Kilda)
Comparison: Mark Gamble
ETA: 2008
Possible position: Medium Defender
Ross Lyon knows Sydney won due to their midfield dominance, and the Saints will benefit as Lyon brings his ideas to the Saints and tweaks their list and gameplan. Acquiring Gardiner and Birss in trade week will help them in the middle next season, and with their first two picks in the draft they went for more midfielders. Armitage, Hislop and O'Keefe would have been options at pick 9. Armitage is a bit quicker so the Saints picked him.
The Saints might have been getting ready to pick Shane Edwards in the second round, but Richmond took him one pick before the Saints selection, so they went with Howard who is another fast option for the midfield.
The Saints said they were always bringing back Ferguson, and then they passed on their remaining selections. They didn't take a veteran ruckman, like Keating, but there is a chance they take him, or another ruckman, in the preseason draft.
2006 Draft vs 2005 Draft:
The Saints traded for Watts last season, that cost them their first round pick. The players that the Saints did take in the 2005 draft, which included Rix and Gilbert, were mainly tall players. The 2006 draft addressed the midfield more, although they did also get another quality tall in Allen. For a new coach, who only arrived during the trade week, they have done very well in bringing in new players and filling needs.
Player: Pick 9 David Armitage, 184cm 80kg (Morningside)
Comparison: Jason Cripps
ETA: Early Rounds of 2007
Possible position: Midfielder
Player: Pick 27 Brad Howard, 181cm 72kg (Redlands)
ETA: 2008
Possible position: Midfielder
Player: Pick 59 Jarryd Allen, 193cm 88kg (Calder)
Comparison: Luke Penny
ETA: Middle Rounds of 2007
Possible position: Tall Forward, Tall Defender
Player: Pick 74 Matthew Ferguson, 187cm 87kg (St Kilda)
Comparison: Mark Gamble
ETA: 2008
Possible position: Medium Defender
