SIMON McPhee is a St Kilda development coach and also coach of the Sandringham Zebras in the VFL. He sat down with SAINTS.com.au this week and reflected on the first two months of the season.
3 games, 20.3 disposals avg.
He’s improved each game and found the footy. Blake earned his spot in the AFL team and was tracking well prior to his injury.
2 games, 17.5 disposals avg.
Josh has been very good for us at VFL level. He’s attacking, has shown leadership and has forced his way into the senior team.
Trent Dennis-Lane
6 games, 10.7 disposals avg, 2.3 goals avg.
Trent is very consistent for us. He always does the team thing and tackles really well, plus he also hits the scoreboard every week. He’s going well.
5 games, 16.4 disposals avg, 7.6 marks avg, 1.4 goals avg.
Sammy has been very consistent. Again, he shows excellent leadership and can impact games of footy with his strong marking and good work-rate. He’s been pushing for senior selection for a few weeks now.
Jason Holmes
6 games, 6.2 disposals avg.
Holmesy is improving. His ruck-work is very good and we will continue to coach him in getting his hands on the ball around the ground with his positioning. He’s going well and will only get better.
Tom Lee
6 games, 12.5 disposals avg, 4.2 marks avg, 1.5 goals avg.
Tommy has been going OK. He’s been competing and was able to hit the scoreboard earlier in the year. We just need him to try and influence games a little bit more with his work-rate. If he can crash a few more packs and be a bit more aggressive I’m sure the goals will come for him.
2 games, 11 disposals avg
Billy was dominant for us in the couple of games he played. He was especially good in the hit outs and he also took a few marks – so it’s good to see him playing AFL football.
4 games, 10.2 disposals avg, 5 marks avg, 1.2 goals avg.
Beau started well and always works hard. We just need him to stand up more consistently but his greatest strength is his competitiveness and to that end he’s been good.
Daniel Markworth
6 games, 15.3 disposals avg.
He’s obviously coming back from his knee reconstruction and he’s probably just starting to get back to where we thought he was before he did his knee. Dan is finding more of the footy and getting more confident with his run and carry each week which is exciting.
5 games, 12.5 disposals avg, 4.2 marks avg, 1.5 goals avg.
Terry was very good for us when he played. His ball use and his ability to find the ball was especially valuable and it was great to see him get another crack at AFL footy before the bye.
6 games, 13 disposals avg, 4.7 tackles avg
Minch is working really hard and he’s been really tough in the contest, we just need him to get a little bit more of the ball. His tackling has improved and he’s really impacting in that department. Overall his work-rate has improved, but we just need that to link to more disposals. He’s going pretty well.
McPhee and Dunstan (Photo: Dave Savell)
Brodie Murdoch
6 games, 12.5 disposals avg, 4.2 marks avg.
Brodie missed a lot of the pre-season and he’s just starting to impact games of footy. He’s an interesting player because he doesn’t need a lot of the ball to really have an impact – he’s a strong mark and he’s a beautiful kick.
Lewis Pierce
1 game, 6 disposals
Lewis had a massive amount of time off so it was good to see him back in the action two weeks ago. So he just has to play some more footy and I’m sure he will improve consistently the more he plays.
Dylan Roberton
6 games, 17 disposals avg, 4.2 rebound 50s avg.
When he’s with us Dylan is always finding the footy. He can probably be a little bit more attacking at times and just find a bit more of the ball – but he’s been OK.
Seb Ross
5 games, 26.8 disposals avg, 6.2 clearances avg, 1.4 goals avg.
Seb has been outstanding for us in two of the last three weeks – his form has been great. He’s spreading hard, he’s winning contests and he’s getting plenty of the ball - so we are pleased with how he’s going.
3 games, 18 disposals avg.
Shane has played three games for us and has been good. He’s been heavily tagged the last couple of weeks and we probably need to help him out a little bit more when that happens. But at the same time he needs to work a bit harder to shake the tag. Shane’s best footy is very good.
Cam Shenton
5 games, 20.4 disposals avg, 4 rebounds 50s avg.
Cam has been just outstanding. He’s been playing good footy for Sandringham for quite a while. He’s attacking, aggressive and takes the game on. It’s great to see him take the jump to the senior team and he was very good against the Suns.
5 games, 14.2 disposals avg, 5.2 marks avg, 6.8 marks avg, 5 rebound 50s avg.
Tom is always very good for us. We just need him to get more of the footy and be more attacking running out of defence. He plays confidently at VFL level and we just need him to do this in the AFL. Tom’s a very good defender and is very hard at the ball.
Arryn Siposs
5 games, 12.5 disposals avg, 4.2 marks avg, 1.2 goals avg.
Sippo has made an adjustment this year – his attitude is outstanding. His work-rate has improved and he’s been very competitive. He’s played a series of good games for us and it is good to see him get that opportunity at AFL level – he just needs to apply that same mindset when he plays for St Kilda.
4 games, 22.8 disposals avg, 8.2 tackles avg, 5.5 clearances avg, 1.5 goals avg.
Mav was outstanding and dominant for us at VFL level. He had a 38 possessions I think and three goals in one game and he’s a good vocal leader who works extremely hard.
RELATED: VFL alignment working well
Blake Acres3 games, 20.3 disposals avg.
He’s improved each game and found the footy. Blake earned his spot in the AFL team and was tracking well prior to his injury.
RELATED: Acres to debut
VIDEO FEATURE: Acres' and Weller's Saints debut
Josh Bruce2 games, 17.5 disposals avg.
Josh has been very good for us at VFL level. He’s attacking, has shown leadership and has forced his way into the senior team.
Trent Dennis-Lane
6 games, 10.7 disposals avg, 2.3 goals avg.
Trent is very consistent for us. He always does the team thing and tackles really well, plus he also hits the scoreboard every week. He’s going well.
RELATED: Dennis-Lane throws hat into the ring
Sam Dunell5 games, 16.4 disposals avg, 7.6 marks avg, 1.4 goals avg.
Sammy has been very consistent. Again, he shows excellent leadership and can impact games of footy with his strong marking and good work-rate. He’s been pushing for senior selection for a few weeks now.
Jason Holmes
6 games, 6.2 disposals avg.
Holmesy is improving. His ruck-work is very good and we will continue to coach him in getting his hands on the ball around the ground with his positioning. He’s going well and will only get better.
Tom Lee
6 games, 12.5 disposals avg, 4.2 marks avg, 1.5 goals avg.
Tommy has been going OK. He’s been competing and was able to hit the scoreboard earlier in the year. We just need him to try and influence games a little bit more with his work-rate. If he can crash a few more packs and be a bit more aggressive I’m sure the goals will come for him.
RELATED: Lee earns his stripes for Zebras
Billy Longer2 games, 11 disposals avg
Billy was dominant for us in the couple of games he played. He was especially good in the hit outs and he also took a few marks – so it’s good to see him playing AFL football.
VIDEO: Longer to debut
Beau Maister4 games, 10.2 disposals avg, 5 marks avg, 1.2 goals avg.
Beau started well and always works hard. We just need him to stand up more consistently but his greatest strength is his competitiveness and to that end he’s been good.
Daniel Markworth
6 games, 15.3 disposals avg.
He’s obviously coming back from his knee reconstruction and he’s probably just starting to get back to where we thought he was before he did his knee. Dan is finding more of the footy and getting more confident with his run and carry each week which is exciting.
RELATED: The forgotten Saints man
Terry Milera5 games, 12.5 disposals avg, 4.2 marks avg, 1.5 goals avg.
Terry was very good for us when he played. His ball use and his ability to find the ball was especially valuable and it was great to see him get another crack at AFL footy before the bye.
RELATED: Milera gets his chance
Darren Minchington6 games, 13 disposals avg, 4.7 tackles avg
Minch is working really hard and he’s been really tough in the contest, we just need him to get a little bit more of the ball. His tackling has improved and he’s really impacting in that department. Overall his work-rate has improved, but we just need that to link to more disposals. He’s going pretty well.
McPhee and Dunstan (Photo: Dave Savell)
Brodie Murdoch
6 games, 12.5 disposals avg, 4.2 marks avg.
Brodie missed a lot of the pre-season and he’s just starting to impact games of footy. He’s an interesting player because he doesn’t need a lot of the ball to really have an impact – he’s a strong mark and he’s a beautiful kick.
Lewis Pierce
1 game, 6 disposals
Lewis had a massive amount of time off so it was good to see him back in the action two weeks ago. So he just has to play some more footy and I’m sure he will improve consistently the more he plays.
Dylan Roberton
6 games, 17 disposals avg, 4.2 rebound 50s avg.
When he’s with us Dylan is always finding the footy. He can probably be a little bit more attacking at times and just find a bit more of the ball – but he’s been OK.
Seb Ross
5 games, 26.8 disposals avg, 6.2 clearances avg, 1.4 goals avg.
Seb has been outstanding for us in two of the last three weeks – his form has been great. He’s spreading hard, he’s winning contests and he’s getting plenty of the ball - so we are pleased with how he’s going.
RELATED: Competition spurs Seb
Shane Savage3 games, 18 disposals avg.
Shane has played three games for us and has been good. He’s been heavily tagged the last couple of weeks and we probably need to help him out a little bit more when that happens. But at the same time he needs to work a bit harder to shake the tag. Shane’s best footy is very good.
Cam Shenton
5 games, 20.4 disposals avg, 4 rebounds 50s avg.
Cam has been just outstanding. He’s been playing good footy for Sandringham for quite a while. He’s attacking, aggressive and takes the game on. It’s great to see him take the jump to the senior team and he was very good against the Suns.
RELATED: Shenton elevated
Tom Simpkin5 games, 14.2 disposals avg, 5.2 marks avg, 6.8 marks avg, 5 rebound 50s avg.
Tom is always very good for us. We just need him to get more of the footy and be more attacking running out of defence. He plays confidently at VFL level and we just need him to do this in the AFL. Tom’s a very good defender and is very hard at the ball.
Arryn Siposs
5 games, 12.5 disposals avg, 4.2 marks avg, 1.2 goals avg.
Sippo has made an adjustment this year – his attitude is outstanding. His work-rate has improved and he’s been very competitive. He’s played a series of good games for us and it is good to see him get that opportunity at AFL level – he just needs to apply that same mindset when he plays for St Kilda.
RELATED: Keep it simple, Siposs
Maverick Weller4 games, 22.8 disposals avg, 8.2 tackles avg, 5.5 clearances avg, 1.5 goals avg.
Mav was outstanding and dominant for us at VFL level. He had a 38 possessions I think and three goals in one game and he’s a good vocal leader who works extremely hard.
RELATED: Mav's the man
