Saddington's future needs defence

[Reggi]

Saddington's future needs defence
By Tim Morrissey
April 1, 2004

KEY Sydney defender Jason Saddington is under pressure to hold his position in the backline going into Sunday's opening home game of the year against Fremantle at the SCG.

Saddington's future as a defender is being debated by the Swans' match committee this week in response to the lacklustre job he did on ageing Brisbane Lions utility Martin Pike.

"That was a key match-up and probably one of the main reasons Brisbane won was that Pike beat Saddington," Swans coach Paul Roos said.

Pike sparked the Lions' second-half comeback when the savvy 31-year-old outsmarted and outmuscled Saddington to turn a 19-point half-time deficit into a two-point victory.

Roos is not contemplating dropping Saddington for the Fremantle game but admits he is tossing around a positional change for the talented 24-year-old to try to develop some consistency to his game.

"We've spoken to Saddo about that ... he knows he's got some weaknesses to his game and he's got to keep on working and we've got to keep working with him," Roos said.

"We might change Saddo's role a little bit this week ... just do something a bit different. Often that will help a player's confidence as well."

In the back of Roos' mind is the Dockers' dangerous midfield led by skipper Peter Bell and Paul Hasleby, who set up Freo's stunning 47-point home win over Carlton last Saturday.

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,9150129-23211,00.html

For those of you that are suspicious, this is not an April Fools Joke

[Ryan Bomford]

Inevitable, I suppose. My guess would be that he'll play a role as flanking-link player for the Freo match. Can still a good mark out of defence and his hand and foot disposal to the running midfielders will still make him useful.

[Rod_]

With Rogers and James both looking a KKP Backmen jobs will give Saddo a needed life to play flank or up the ground. (Assuming that Schauble get fit soon)

Confidence is what he needs - 5 goals from HFF would just about do it? - or to defeat a Freo forward hands down....

Rod_

[NMWBloods]

And those saying Saddington was struggling were being lambasted!!

I particularly liked this quote - "That was a key match-up and probably one of the main reasons Brisbane won was that Pike beat Saddington," Swans coach Paul Roos said.

[Reggi]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
And those saying Saddington was struggling were being lambasted!!

I particularly liked this quote - "That was a key match-up and probably one of the main reasons Brisbane won was that Pike beat Saddington," Swans coach Paul Roos said.

You are re-writing history again - you did not say he was struggling - which is what Roos is saying, you said that he cannot play CHB.

But as per usual you change your story.

[Captain]

Originally posted by Reggi
You are re-writing history again - you did not say he was struggling - which is what Roos is saying, you said that he cannot play CHB.

But as per usual you change your story.

Fact is though, the majority of people (NMW and myself included) were saying that Saddo is struggling and needs to lift his game. Arguments were around his accountability such as punching when caught behind and his lack of strength.

No one suggested that Saddo be dropped at any time so please don't state that we were calling for his head.

On the CHB issue, the article pretty much admits CHB is not Saddo's poistion (as argued by yourself).

[Reggi]

Nope, not what I argued. I argued that previous to 2003, in fact after he got injured in 2003 he had been OK, and was being unfairly maligned.

Ergo I said it wasn't right to suggest he couldn't play the position.

Which is not what they were saying - they said outright - cannot play CHB. Now when Roos says he is struggling, you want to claim that is what you all were saying.

There is a very very big difference between the two positions. But as it is with the Saddo-Nazi's, hsitory is continually re-written to suit today's story.

So the latest spin doesn't surprise me.

My personal opinion is that he is not playing his natural game, should try and use his natural athleticism. He's no Andrew Schauble or Dunkley, he shouldn't stand side by side with guys, it is not how he plays well.

He's a far better attacking player than either of those two, to try and turn him into a pure stopper is a waste

[Ruck'n'Roll]

It will be interesting to see what Roosy has in store for Saddo (I approach the Fremantle game with great interest). . . .

He's a good mark, and tall (too skinny to hold his own in a pack though).
He's a good runner (although not fast which is why he's beaten by leading forwards).
He's ridiculously loose on his own man, although some of his best work was done supporting others.
And he has good disposal by hand and foot.

I think perhaps he could possibly function on the wing, like Embley at West Coast.
Perhaps we shall see him moved forward into Nick Davis land?
Alternately he may may just move onto a back flank.

Whatever I think Roosy's pronouncement could be seen as the end of the "turn Saddo into a centrehalfback" experiments.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Reggi
You are re-writing history again - you did not say he was struggling - which is what Roos is saying, you said that he cannot play CHB.

But as per usual you change your story.

I did say he was struggling/underperforming and I did say he doesn't play CHB very well, and as Captain notes, that's basically what Roos is saying now. How is that changing my story?

"Saddo-Nazis" How puerile!!

You, on the other hand, are one of the few who thinks he is a very good CHB.

After the weekend one of the things I said was "I wouldn't write Saddington off yet, but he really needs to improve over the weekend's performance. I think he's been an okay player for us, with some periods of being good, but I really think he needs to step up this year.

There were certainly other clangers and below-par performances, but I don't see him as a scapegoat, but simply as someone who is underperforming."

I also said "Interesting that Walls said early in the game that Saddington really needs to stand up this year. He has been around for a long time and needs to take the next step from a fringe player to a top-liner. Later in the game he commented how weak one of his efforts against Pike was. Saddington really didn't show much tonight - certainly didn't help out all his supporters on this board. Certainly needs to improve - hopefuly he can next week."

And

"Saddo's problem is that I don't think he is a good defensive specialist"

"Therefore I think it is best not to put him on the opposing team's gun, who kicks goals or sets them up. I think we have generally done this partly because we have not had many other choices and partly in the hope that he will turn into a good KPP."

"What I would prefer is to probably see him play on the opposing side's third tall, where we do not rely on his one-on-one defensive skills so much, but instead to give us some extra height and rebound.

As a third man up in contests, with his height and leap he could be useful coming over the back or from the side to punch the ball or mark, as the case warrants, against some of the better forwards we struggle to match up on."

"The rebound option is something he may look to develop too, in the Roos sort of ?quarterbacking? role. He would not be able to provide the run we get from Kennelly and Barry, but he has the potential to be the playmaker, sort of in the way Chris Johnson is for Brisbane.?

"He doesn't really play close checking defence.

He doesn't have the body strength to match it man-on-man, as aptly demonstrated against Pike.

He needs a clear run at the ball, however lacks judgement, as he demonstrated against Keating.

So if he's not strong enough to play on a key forward and not quick enough to play on a small forward, what do we do with him? Put him on their hack forward?"

"Would be nice if he was able to mix punching and marking at the right time this year. Would like to see him fire and actually play like a star we all thought he would be."

"Yep he is a decent enough footballer. He's just an okay CHB at this stage, with some work needed on his decision making and defensive skills. He's definitely not useless, but he's yet to show he is a good key defensive position player."

"This is the problem I have with Saddo in the backline.

He has a history of attempting to mark in the wrong position. He is a nice mark, but needs to understand that as a backman, you should be spoiling far more frequently than attempting to mark. Dunkley was an excellent mark, yet his spoils (attempt and effectives) were significantly higher than his marks and attempted marks.

It has nothing to do with Saddo's lack of match fitness and everything to do with his attitude/decision making."

"Saying Saddo 'can't play' is silly as he is a pretty good footballer. He just isn't a great key defensive player. I don't think he is underrated as a backman - I think he's rated about right in defensive skills. What he is useful for is a pretty mobile tall half back flanker."

"I have been one of the major critics of Saddo's defensive efforts. I think he lacks good decision-making ability of when to punch and when to mark. He is also not strong enough for his size and hasn't worked out how to use his strength (if indeed he has any)."

"I'm also not convinced he will make a great key position defender, but he is a useful sweeper/HBF and could still become much much better.?

"As I've said before, I think Saddo has talent, but really needs to work on aspects of his game, such as decision making. Given he is a 100-game player, I would have thought he would be further progressed than he is. Hopefully next year is his year to really excel."

"It's about him recognising that first and foremost he is a defender and must prevent goals. That certainly doesn't stop him from marking and running out of the backline when necessary, but he can hardly do that if the opposition is kicking a goal." "It's hardly a mutually exclusive outcome to be able to play good defensive and attacking football. However, if you want to play a key defensive position, then you need to be able to play defensive football as well as attacking."

"I don't think LRT is ready for a full game at CHB, so that should go to the appropriate one of Saddo, Schauble or Bolton."


You, on the other hand, seem to be the one changing your story. You were a supporter of him playing CHB ? you asked at one stage "Why in particular are we in so much trouble if Saddington plays CHB all year?" and I replied "Because he can't really handle the best and strongest forwards."

You also said "Saddo will be fine if we had an equal quality midfield to his abiltiy to hold down CHB we would be a certain top 4 finisher."

Now you seem to be saying that he?s not playing his natural game and should be more attacking ? that will hardly help him stop his opponent kicking or setting up goals though. Most people are saying that his defensive game and decision making need work, as well as lacking strength, and that is why it does not appear that he will make a KPP. Not really sure what you are arguing actually.

Then again, you think Nick Davis does not have much natural talent!!

[Reggi]

Weeellll.

You're the one quoting yourself, and it is very fair to say you're more than ambivalent .

You've quoted me and I have said exactly the same things consistently

When was he so bad before injuries?

Why is he the key to our problems?

Never said anything other than I thought he was being unfairly maligned and wasn't high on our list of problems

Other things come down to preference' I'm quite happy to have an attacking key defender (CHB only - not fullbacks) that has a couple of goals kicked on them. You can either have a Glen Jakovich/ Prestigiacomo type, who are all about stopping, or the Roos/ Mark Harvey/ Wellman and dare I say Leppitsch or even Peter Caven who at their best are more attacking players.

To me the best defences are attacking rather than defensive minded, of recent Premiership sides, Adelaide, S&don and Brisbane all had attacking rather than defensive backlines. I did notice that Saddington was one of our top possession getters in the first half, he trailed right off as he tried to play tight on Pike - just ain't his natural game.

Nick Davis's career at best has been cameo's. To be a top player he would need to be a lot more powerful than he is now and he ain't.

I have said for a long time that people over-rate his talent, and they do.

[NMWBloods]

I've stuck to the same issue - Saddington appears as though he has talent, but has problems with his defensive game that he needs to fix. This is apparent in the sections I have quoted.

All of the above-named players may be attacking in style, but they can also stop their opponents more effective or reliably than Saddington. All of them can really hurt their opponents on the rebound and are well-known for it, yet Saddington has not been able to do this. These are quite valid reasons as to why he is not rated that highly as a KP defender.

Given that we have a highly-effective rebounding half back line, I would have thought that at this stage, concentrating on the defensive aspects of CHB would be a wiser move.

[motorace_182]

Back to Saddo, I have been home all week and watched our game a few times in blocks, and Saddo had to go for the mark on a number of occasions against taller and stronger Bears players, beacuase if he did punch, there were a couple of small Lions charging at him to grab the crumbs, so the mark was the best option. There were a few retarded errors like trying to outmark Pike on the line, but sometimes he has to go the grab, he has a good set of hands and has the faith installed in him by Roos, otherwise he wouldnt be there.

Having said that, there are a number of areas where he must lift his game

[Barry Schneider]

Although I have been disappointed with Saddington in the last few years it has to be pointed out that he was an athletic wingman who, due to the lack of size in the Swan's defence, was forced to become a key position backman because of his height.
He wasn't strong enough then and he is't strong now.

He reminds me of a young Schauble who was quite athletic as a young player with Collingwood and very effective on the third or fourth opposition forward.
Due to their defensive inadequacies he was sent to the gym to bulk up, lost his pace and wasn't really up to marking a top quality forward.
Fortunately for the Swans he is now a decent defender although his lack of pace can cause him problems.

[Captain]

Originally posted by Reggi
Weeellll.

Other things come down to preference' I'm quite happy to have an attacking key defender (CHB only - not fullbacks) that has a couple of goals kicked on them. You can either have a Glen Jakovich/ Prestigiacomo type, who are all about stopping, or the Roos/ Mark Harvey/ Wellman and dare I say Leppitsch or even Peter Caven who at their best are more attacking players.

To me the best defences are attacking rather than defensive minded, of recent Premiership sides, Adelaide, S&don and Brisbane all had attacking rather than defensive backlines. I did notice that Saddington was one of our top possession getters in the first half, he trailed right off as he tried to play tight on Pike - just ain't his natural game.

Nick Davis's career at best has been cameo's. To be a top player he would need to be a lot more powerful than he is now and he ain't.

I have said for a long time that people over-rate his talent, and they do.

Reggi you are a dead set goose.

Saying Jackovich wasn't a defensive player is rubbish. Are you not old enough to remember the duels between Jacko and Carey?????? Jacko absolutely towelled up Carey on numerous occasions when Carey was at his peak. The mere suggestion that Saddo is capable of such feats makes me laugh until I cry.

Nick Davis is loaded with natural talent. If he matched his talent with training and attitude then he would be an absolute superstar.

Nearly all of the anti Saddo sentiments posted on here were confirmed in the article. No one has changed their tune, it's only you hotfooting around like a politician trying to say you were misquoted.

When you are wrong have the guts to admit it.

[Cheer Cheer]

Originally posted by Reggi

Nick Davis's career at best has been cameo's. To be a top player he would need to be a lot more powerful than he is now and he ain't.

I have said for a long time that people over-rate his talent, and they do.

To be a top player he has to be consistent yes - but how can we over rate his talent - he one of the top talented players in the AFL.

I think you find that you are confused. Talent - he is loaded. Consistency he has not as yet.