wojee wrote:
He's not strong enough overhead or skilled enough at using his body in contests to be played regularly at CHF for mine.
I fear you might be right wojee. I don't think Setanta reads the game well enough for a CHF. He could possibly play a leading forward role as he did initially in the Ants (where he kicked 7 in a game in his first year) just leading up and back, but if he is getting dropped when Cloke is still in the team his future looks ordinary.
Setanta's my favourite player. I enjoy watching him and hope that one day it will all click, but I don't think Ratts wants him at the club. I don't know what went down between him and the MC but as with most falling outs I presume there was fault on both sides. Mitch did a good job of getting him to a level where he could be a solid backman very quickly and Pagan settled him in one position. Ratts has tried him everywhere, and usually in the same game, and doesn't appear much interested.
I think we are much better with Waite forward and I think if Setanta had of been perservered with as a defender instead of being moved to the ruck without ever having played there before, he might be a useful defensive stopper, with height and mobility. But his development seemed to stagnate when he was moved away from defence. Since then he has never been given time to settle into any position. And playing him in the ruck in the VFL means they aren't much interested in his future. He won't ever be an AFL ruckman.
One things for sure, I hope we don't bring in any more Irish recruits because any semblance of a development plan for Setanta over the last few years is so incredibly cunning as to be totally invisible.