The big questions for the Saints in 2010 are can they retain the form of 2009 & can they settle after the Luke Ball/Andrew Lovett trade fiascos??
To answer the first question, to improve on 20 wins the odds are 87.5% on average to win 22 games. The second answer comes down to human nature of the players & thus far it’s been unaffected gaining entry into the NAB Cup final without full strength line ups.
The strength of the Saints list saw an average of 1340 points per player in 2009 with an average price in 2010 of around $327,700.
Former Bulldogs midfielder Farren Ray has emerged from a bit player to a key player for the Saints and racks up the Dreamteam points.
Best Buys
Jason Gram (defence) $406,300 – Gram averaged 91.9 from 21 games with that weird thigh injury (possible suspension) costing him all 22 games. Gram racked up 30 or more disposals 5 times with a career high 17 kicks .vs. Port Adelaide in round 5 & equal career highs of 34 disposals & 22 kicks .vs. Adelaide in round 16 & 6 tackles .vs. Adelaide in round 2.
Gram ranked 2nd in inside 50s & inside 50s per game, 9th in kicks & 15th in kicks per game. A small discount of $9,600, but Gram gets plenty of the ball.
Farren Ray (midfield) $393,500 – It’s going to be tough to find a Saints special, so we’ll start with Ray who averaged 89.5 in 2009. he racked up 30 or more disposals twice including a career high of 39 disposals, 19 kicks, 20 handballs & 13 marks .vs. Adelaide in round 16. He also had a career high 10 tackles .vs. Sydney in round 18.
With the likes of Montagna, Dal Santo & Hayes too high, Ray would be your 1st option for a Saint with an estimated $26,600 discount thrown in.
Sam Fisher (defence) $373,300 – A combination of a tall defender that gets plenty of the footy, Fisher averaged 84.9 in 2009 & racked up 30 or more disposals twice saving his career high of 42 disposals & 25 kicks .vs. Collingwood in the out of scoring qualifying final.
Fisher ranked 5th in marks & 8th in marks per game. Marks are always combined with a disposal so those stats count for a lot in this game with an estimated $15,600 discount.
Adam Schneider (forward) $348,000 – The Swans didn’t want him & how they must be feeling now. Averaging 79 .2 as a small forward, Schneider’s best game was 24 disposals & 11 handballs .vs. Brisbane in round 9.
With a ranking of 18th in tackles, Schneider comes with an estimated $21,000 discount & should get plenty of crumbing chances.
Jason Blake (defence) $320,600 – Averaging 73.0, Blake is also used as a ruckman if he’s called upon to do so. His 1 game of 30 disposals or more were career highs of 31 disposals, 16 kicks & 15 handballs .vs. Western Bulldogs in round 17.
Blake ranked 4th in marks & 9th in marks per game which could be classed as an equal to Fisher but with the lower price tag & an estimated $43,300 discount.
Stephen Milne (forward) $326,500 – Milne’s averaging 74.3 & arguably isn’t a popular choice amongst Dreamteam coaches when he comes with his own lowlight reel.
But, Milne had career highs of 26 disposals, 12 handballs & 11 marks .vs. Melbourne in round 22. Milne ranked 13th in goals, 14th in goals contributed, 19th in goals per game & 20th in goals contributed per game. Like him or hate him, his stats are ok & he has an estimated $12,300 discount.
Justin Koschitzke (forward) $306,300 – Arguably as maligned as Milne, Kosi averages 69.7 & never really kicked ahead in bounds like his forward partner in Riewoldt apart from his career high 6 goal haul .vs. Nth Melbourne in round 11, the day the Kangaroos were left short.
Kosi ranked 12th in marks & goals & 17th in goals per game whilst coming with an estimated $21,700 discount.
Risky Bargain Buys
Andrew McQualter (forward) $283,900 – McQualter is on the rise with an average of 64.6 in 2009 with career highs in all categories bar goals in a breakout year.
McQualter ranked 12th in goal assists & 19th in tackles with an average of 4.7 per game. That’s around 16-20 points. There’s also an estimated $32,000 discount so grab a cheap forward who’s going places.
Steven Baker (defence) $263,000 – Averaged 60.0 per game & he’s one of the most annoying yapping taggers in the AFL. Not a bad average if you’re going to run your mouth off. Baker racked up 30 or more disposals once in his career highs of 32 disposals, 18 kicks & 13 marks in round 16.
Baker comes with an estimated $51,000 discount so have a think about it for those who need a cheap defender who still gets points.
Michael Gardiner (ruck) $279,900 – Arguably the career saving comeback of 2009 highlighted by “that” mark .vs. Geelong. Gardiner averaged 63.9 & is ranked 9th in hitouts & 10th in hitouts per game. A small $9,700 discount awaits & he’s a good price for a top 10 ruckman.
St Kilda Top 10 2009
- Leigh Montagna (midfield) $509,100
- Nick Riewoldt (forward) $468,100
- Nick Dal Santo (midfield) $457,200
- Brendon Goddard (defence) $455,700
- Lenny Hayes (midfield) $478,500
- Farren Ray (midfield) $393,500
- Jason Gram (defence) $403,600
- Sam Fisher (defence) $373,300
- Sam Gilbert (defence) $391,500
- Adam Schneider (forward) $348,000
Your Feedback
Will you be having any St Kilda players in your Dreamteam this year? Last year they along with Geelong where the only team to have more than one player in the top 10 most Dreamteam points scored.
Have you found a cheap St kilda player who can be the steal or will you only choose the premiums like Montagna, Riewoldt, Dal Santo, Goddard and Hayes?
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