Dempster

[Jeffers1984]

A mistake to compare him to Mattner. Mattner is nowhere near as hard.

Aye? Mattner is definitely hard at it. He is one of the best tacklers in the league.
Very good acquisition. Seems similar type of player to Laidlaw IMO. Hope they can both fit in somehow.

[Danzar]

Remember also that players can suddenly flourish (in a variety of different ways) when placed with a new club.

Think Ted Richards and Barry Hall.

[SthMelbDieHard]

I was also at the game and I thought Dempster was okay at best. He was playing against an unknown and he didnt seem to take advantage of his size in packs. However, I will say he looked very fit and ran out 4 reduced quarters pretty well.

[smasher]

The Saints seem to have a very strong list.Quite a few didn't play but they still looked smooth.I don't know if Dempster will hold a spot,wait and see,but he does look quite buffed.

[reigning premier]

Remember also that players can suddenly flourish (in a variety of different ways) when placed with a new club.

Think Ted Richards and Barry Hall.

I'm thinking Paul Chambers and Scott Russell.....

[royboy42]

I agree with the Richards/Hall theorists...and,of course, that's all it can be!..But players do flourish under new coaches and new conditions...remember a bloke called Adam Goodes..oh , and another called Brett Kirk????

[Plugger46]

The Saints seem to have a very strong list.Quite a few didn't play but they still looked smooth.I don't know if Dempster will hold a spot,wait and see,but he does look quite buffed.

I don't buy that they've recruited really well. They've recruited Gardiner, King, Dempster and Schneider. Gardiner and Dempster are both fairly ordinary footballers in my opinion. King is injury prone, and well past his best. Schneider will be handy for them, but I suspect that he'll always be inconsistent. Then you've got Michael Gardiner who still hasn't played a game for them, as well as Fraser Gehrig who had lost the passion for the game only 6 months ago.

As for Dempster, only time will tell - but I'm fairly comfortable with the decision to trade him.

[dread and might]

Hmmm my Dempster Mattner call was more made on the basis of (correct me if i'm wrong): did we not use the resultant pick from the saints to get Mattner?

[Plugger46]

Hmmm my Dempster Mattner call was more made on the basis of (correct me if i'm wrong): did we not use the resultant pick from the saints to get Mattner?

No. We traded our initial 2nd round pick for Mattner, before the trade with St.Kilda went through.

[connolly]

Playing out of position. Should have been groomed into a FB. Would be suprised if he doesn't finish his career playing in the back 6.

Big future IMO. Bad trade....particularly for nothing. A mistake to compare him to Mattner. Mattner is nowhere near as hard.

Hard? The only time Dempster actually made physical contact with anyone was when he accidently collided with the slowest man in the AFL big Tony Rocca. Dempster was dumped because he was the softest player in the AFL. His match ups with that other bruiser Embly were classics of synchronised non-contact.

[Lucky Knickers]

Poor Sean looks out for a few weeks according to this.

[dread and might]

No. We traded our initial 2nd round pick for Mattner, before the trade with St.Kilda went through.

Ahhh.

[satchmopugdog]

Poor Sean looks out for a few weeks according to this.

Sean Dempster......Henry Playfair.....1-1. All square so far.

[Nico]

I told everyone when we swapped Schneider and Dempster that it was the curse of the number 13.

Saints fans laughed at such mastery of mind, but it is there for all to see. Schneider no.13, Dempster no.26 and drafted for pick 26 = 13's all over the place. Schneider "rested" and already Dempster had a knee problem that threatens his season. As if the poor old Saints season after season of injuries wasn't enough, and now they fall for the "numbers". Life is a numbers game, someone please tell them.

By the way what is Henry's number? Please don't tell me no.13.

[Nico]

Just checked Saints injury list on Big Footy - Schneider - Quad - 2-3 weeks as at 13/2.