Saddo to be dropped.

[sharp9]

Just to demonstrate the point I would like to start a new thread on a topic that has had a little airing.

I can't see any Saddo threads running (except for a slanging match which doesn't count) and I would like people to read my opinion. They won't do this if I put my comment at the end of 8 pages of nonsense.

The thread title is the headline I would like to see.

I notice, Robbie, that you made a comment recently to the effect that "nobody is suggesting Saddo should be dropped." Wrong. I am.

Powell, Doyle, Rogers (for a start) would have been more effective yesterday (IMO). Showed glimpses, but really!

Give him a go in the twos to get used to having the ball in his hand and doing something quick and effective with it. He was a liability yesterday, I thought. Not absolutely terrible, but I reckon we have other players who can play better than that.

[TheHood]

Look out, here comes another Saddo tidal-wave!

I am angry that Saddo is playing ahead of Powell. Why does Saddo historical (fast becoming ancient) form deny a very skillful inform young player?

If Roosy is up for the tough decisions, he has to drop his former protoge IMO until he can justify inclusion ahead of those in far better form.

[NMWBloods]

This will be interesting to watch!!

The only comment I will make is that I saw Saddington play in the reserves last year and I'm not sure if playing with them will do him any good. He looked pretty disinterested and when he bothered to get involved appeared to be clearly better than most players out there.

BTW - a slanging match normally involves both sides. I don't recall slinging abuse.

[Dave]

Powell in, Saddo out would be OK by me.

Saddo just hasn't really gone as far as he should have IMO. This year there should be no passengers.

[stellation]

you can't leave well enough alone can you

anyways...

I would suggest that LRT should be dropped before Saddo is, and I (personal view) just don't see that right now Powell is a better player (than Saddo).

going by the Hun Saddo had 14 disposals and 6 tackes in firsts, and a few touches should help him on the road to getting his confidence back. I tend to agree that he would be a bit too above the other players in Canberra that it may no be valuable. I am not saying that senior players shouldn't be dropped, but if we are looking for him to play into some form and not just for fitness sake I am not sure putting him in a competition where he could possibly just easily run riot if he wanted to would be valuable...

[TheHood]

Originally posted by Dave
This year there should be no passengers.

Now that is a quote worth repeating! Says what we are all thinking.

[hardluck_harry]

I thought Saddo was a good contributor yesterday, he held Pavlich to an extent early and linked well later when he was playing half-forward/wing.

Also, read somewhere Roosy praising Saddo's contesting in the forward line that resulted in a goal.

[liz]

Saddo made some mistakes yesterday - some of them quite basic.

That said, he was given the job of minding Pavlich for much of yesterday's game, and performed that role decently - ie Pavlich certainly didn't have the impact he is capable of having on matches. We probably forgive the likes of Crouch and Kirk the odd skill error when they manage to keep a Buckley, Bell, Farmer, Akermanis etc to below their normal level of effectiveness.

To me he seems a player well down on confidence, not surprising given the discussion around his name in the press midweek. Steve drew a parallel on another thread between the situation Goodes was in midway through 2002 to that which Saddo now finds himself in. I am not trying to suggest that Saddo has the potential to be as good as Goodes but he has done enough in his career thus far to demonstrate he can clearly play AFL football.

Personally I would rather him be given longer to refind his confidence in the firsts than in Canberra. I don't think playing in that comp will help him much, and will put the pressure on when he returns to the seniors.

I acknowledge the argument about the youngsters needing opportunities but too many at one time can be a problem. In yesterday's team we had 6 players with less than 30 games experience - 4 with less than 10 games.

Regardless of his current form, and taking into account the number of other youngsters in the team, I still reckon Saddo was a more valuable player for us out there yesterday than Powell would have been. Would Roos' have trusted Powell to run with Pavlich? I doubt it highly.

[BAM_BAM]

Originally posted by NMWBloods


The only comment I will make is that I saw Saddington play in the reserves last year and I'm not sure if playing with them will do him any good. He looked pretty disinterested and when he bothered to get involved appeared to be clearly better than most players out there.

I agree, I watched that game and he was clearly more skilled, but it was more like going through the motions having a run for match fitness before coming back to the seniors.

I cringed each time he made an error yesterday, but he did limit Pavlich. IMO the jury should still remain out on this one. For at least another couple.

[Bart]

Originally posted by lizz
To me he seems a player well down on confidence, not surprising given the discussion around his name in the press midweek.

Jeez, I hope he doesn't drop in here for a look

[stellation]

Originally posted by Bart
Jeez, I hope he doesn't drop in here for a look

yep... kind of annoys me when people start bitching too hard about a player who they feel is lacking in confidence... which is just a personal pet annoyance than anything and I freely admit that they have a right to go ahead and bitch... I have no idea how many times I used to get in arguments at the footy with the people sitting around me that were booing Stafford whenever he did something wrong/came off the ground/went on the ground... if the player's confidence is the concern, having their home crowd groaning whenever they go near the ball probably doesn't help...

Saddo made some wrong decisions yesterday, but he was hussling and getting to the ball...

[penga]

.

[boroboy]

Didn't anyone else pick up on the loud, ironic cheer from the O'Reilly stand yesterday when Saddo kicked straight to a team mate...(just after a couple of clangers)?

[chammond]

I wonder what Freo will do with Haddrill now?

He obviously doesn't have the strength to go body-to-body with the bigger forwards, and he's not quick enough for the leading forwards.

Maybe he could play on the wing?

Or maybe a run in the reserves?

It'll be interesting to see what Connolly does.

[CureTheSane]

I thought Jason started to show something yesterday.

To me what is more of a concern is Nicks Mathew and Rowan using up positions in our side where I will be surprised if they get a game all year.

Anyway, I say let him play.
I would hate to let him go and have him come into form somewhere else.

He WAS a star for us a few years ago.

IIRC some here were calling for Adam and Michael to be traded not so long ago.

The problem is, when the spotlight is firmly on you every bad move is questioned and criticised.
I like Jason on the half forward flank personally.
I would play him there next week.
And against Geelong, where we have a potential big win, perhaps he can come back into some form.