TELL THEM THEY'RE NOT TRYING

[Ned 156]

Nate Jones is going to be our Lenny Hayes. Morton had a go. Embarrassed when he slapped the hands of a Saint at a stoppage. Tonight's performance have grounds for hope.

[Grapeviney 9,720]

Looked like we ran out of puff in the last quarter to be honest - hence they started to get first to the ball and we lost the run and spread we showed earlier in the night.

Much more consistent application and pressure were the big positives for mine - we seemed to cover the stoppages better rather than all players being on one side of the contest.

We really missed Clark... Sellar never looked like taking a grab and Watts didn't seem interested tonight. Give me Martin before Sellar any day of the week.

Grimes had a fair bit of the footy but his disposal really lets him down at times.

Jones was super in the first half, he's really thriving under Neeld

[Jaded No More 68,915]

Had a look up at the TV during 3/4 time and they showed Neeld on the TV yelling "Get so and so off the f*ing ground NOW". Anyone watching at home know who he was talking about? My lip reading abilities only extend to profanities.

[titan_uranus 25,018]

A really good performance tonight I thought. Felt like two evenly matched football sides for the first time this year. I don't feel disgraced and I don't feel like I can't see a future.

McKenzie was outstanding on Goddard, McDonald was amazing on Riewoldt, Jamar dominated the ruck, and Jones gave us some leadership early. However, Dunn was insipid once again, MacDonald is still a liability with the ball in hand, Grimes can't kick, Trengove can't move (OP? Leadership? Something's not right with JT). Sellar is slow. So there are plenty of things that are still wrong.

We're going to be in for a long, tough, 7 weeks. We're unlikely to get close to winning any of them. But we might at least get a contest or two if we play with the endeavour and structure that we brought tonight.

[Akum 2,660]

Can't agree with this. He smashed Sam Fisher. Subbing Dunn let Fisher off the hook and Sylvia gave us nothing in return. Stupid move. Should have been Watts wearing red tonight.

Agree with both parts of this. First, that subbing off Dunn let Fisher off the hook. And second, that Watts should have worn the red, much as I'm a fan.

Also couldn't understand why Howe & Trengove & Davey were kept in the forward line the whole of the last qtr when all the play was in our defensive half of the ground. Howe was good last week further up the ground and we needed somebody in the play who could use it well enough to get us past the centre.

[Sideshow Bob 2,386]

Gee 2 weeks ( or was that last week?) ago I was guilty of saying Tom McD wasn't up to it, fumbles galore. Tonight he gave Riewoldt a good old fashioned bath. Jordie Mac really got up Goddards nose. Tapscott had some massive moments, as did Rohan Bail ( fast becoming my favorite Dee). Everyone's favorite whipping boys Barty and Joel Mac did some serious goal saving efforts. Riv, who many including me thought the game may have slipped past him, was good. may well have pinched it with Frawley and Clark playing.

There were some really really positve signs, I want to know where this desire, this attack on the man and on the ball has been this year ( and for the most parts the last 2 years). Is it just a confidence thing? Confidence in each other, confidence in the game plan, confidence in their own ability? What ever rocket it was that Neeld used tonight he needs to bottle it - we will win more games than lose playing this brand of football.

We may have lost tonight, but I really don't feel bad. We got done by a very small margin that may well have gone the other way but for a couple of tiny lapses in the last quarter when both sides were out on their feet. The mix up (one can only presume it was a mix up) that sent Wilkes to be subbed off may well have cost the saints tonight - really don't understand that -he was te one guy that we didn't cotrol in their forward half

[dees189227 12,394]

My frustrations tonight was around the packs stkilda had players supporting each other and got the ball out where we didnt seem to have a lot of support int he 2nd half. The saints players were just there to tackle us.

Moloney missing that easy shot for goal in the 3rd quarter was frustrating and at the strat of the last quarter he got selfish and thought he could take on 3 saints and got caught holding the ball.

The last quarter. Its 2012. How can a team not score in the last quarter. We played so well for the first 3.

We proved we can kick goals without Clark although he may have been handy tonight.

McDonald was great. When I saw him go to riewoldt I thought oh no he will kill him, but he managed to cpmpete with him and even win the ball himself. Much better than last week.

I just hope we come out witht he same intensity next week and every other week.

[titan_uranus 25,018]

I agree with this. Dunn had dulled Fischers influence and Watts was not having a great game.

Don't disagree that Watts was poor.

But I don't agree that Dunn was doing well on Fisher. Fisher, to me, had a good game. Dunn didn't do anything to stop him or to negate him. As per usual, he waved his arms around and didn't zone up properly.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,177]

Don't disagree that Watts was poor.

But I don't agree that Dunn was doing well on Fisher. Fisher, to me, had a good game. Dunn didn't do anything to stop him or to negate him. As per usual, he waved his arms around and didn't zone up properly.

Fischer had Watts on him in the first quarter and had 10 touches. Dunn then went to him and he had 13 for the rest of the game. May have been coincidence?

[LJW 9]

Something to be excited about after tonight. My disappointment is well tempered by their serious endeavour.

Bartram's inside out banana after dodging a tackle in the driving rain was pretty special.

[DemonDave 1,089]

Plenty to like about tonight, albeit not with the result we wanted.

Four quarters of effort for the first time this year (despite not scoring in the last it wasnt for lack of trying. The Saints also got a couple of dubious frees

that pushed them deep forward despite the umpire not paying many frees for long spells)

We broke even in the disposal count for the first time this year, when we've been conceding 100+ more disposals every week previously.

Tommy Mc had a great learning game on Riewoldt. A couple of his disposals early were astray again but then he gained composure and confidence. THats

what I've been waiting for, in the preseason games the last two years he'd shown that sort of assuredness but it had not surfaced at senior level.

Morton and Bate, both much maligned on here were good tonight. Conditions suited Bate, and Morton really kept at it, his run was good.

Garlands job on Milne. Was outstanding. Similarly Rivers on Stanley.

McKenzie for the second week in a row takes a big scalp. Has created himself a niche role amongst a midfield group of plodding burrowers.

Improved performance from the previously underwhelming Bail.

Jamar 55 hitouts dominated. Also got a few taps directly to Moloney like the good old days.

The coaches passion and involvement in the coaches box. Is this the first time we've seen such animation from him?

A bit of a return to the Grimes of old. Racking up stats, reading the play beatifully and putting his body on the line

It wasnt all good.

Sellar is an absolute liability. Has not shown a single thing in his senior games. 4 games for 31 disposals. Cant wait till Martin to be fully fit again

Dunn. Mercifully subbed just as he made his first meaningful contribution of the night. Surely on the chopping block along with Sellar this week.

Watts. Poor game.

Trengove -plods along nowadays doesnt he? It was obvious last year that players were blowing past him but he was playing OK. This year its

even more obvious when he's out of form.

The coaches timing of the substiute. It was obvious as early as the second quarter both Dunn & Sellar were offering nothing and are too similar,

the trigger shouldve been pulled earlier on bringing Sylvia in

Get back Clark, Frawley, Martin and Jurrah back (for Sellar, Dunn, Macdonald and Tapscott) and we'll be pretty close to best 22.

[McQueen 17,864]

Great desperate mark by Col Garland late in the game. He came down hard on his bum - do hope he's okay.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,053]

The last quarter. Its 2012. How can a team not score in the last quarter. We played so well for the first 3.

Two things happened.

Firstly, we changed our tactics and let them have an extra man in defense. For the first three quarters we refused to give on this and kept sending people into our forward line to man them up and it worked. For some reason in the 4th we stopped and let them get away with it.

Secondly, we subbed Dunn out of the game. He'd been doing a good job of sitting on Fisher.

This combination meant that not only did they have a spare man in defense, but that the spare man was Fisher and he proceeded to rip our forwards to shreds and rebound at will. The only real hope we had at this point was a running 50m goal from the midfield.

[Buzzy 992]

I must admit, not as many glaringly bad things were offered up by Dees tonight. But...

What the hell was with the St Kilda Ruckman outrunning Tapscott in the last qtr?

Is Joel MacDonald the dumbest footballer in the AFL? Even though the umpires had been pinging blokes all night for deliberate out of bounds, he still attempted the world's most exaggerated paddle out of bounds in the last qtr. Luckily he completely missed the ball. God I want him out of this team.

Rivers was fantastic. Bartram is so dependable. Bate was our best/only target at half forward and worked his guts out. Tom Mc is going to be a ripper when he builds up his skills and confidence. Jamar can tap like a boss but is useless in every other facet of the game. Morton was surprisingly ok, as long as he avoids any 1 on 1 contest.

Morton & Watts must be the 2 worst 1 on 1 players in the comp. I'm convinced that if they played on each other, neither of them would ever take possession. At least Morton seems to get space. Watts just fairies around in no mans land. Disappointment.

Surely Petterd is a better option than Dunn. Surely Stef Martin can offer more than Sellar...can that guy ever get the ball?

I agree re Trengove, he really isn't a dynamic player at all.

Bloody Lenny Hayes. That was a good goal.

[Chook 15,013]

Had a look up at the TV during 3/4 time and they showed Neeld on the TV yelling "Get so and so off the f*ing ground NOW". Anyone watching at home know who he was talking about? My lip reading abilities only extend to profanities.

If we're referring to the same moment, I think he said "UP the f*ing the ground." I've got poor hearing, so I rely on reading people's lips more than most, and I'm pretty sure that's what he said. Of course, we might be thinking about different times we saw our coach cursing.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Nah RM, we ran out of puff and suddenly they had numbers behind the footy and we were chasing. I saw it being largely a fitness issue.

We spent a lot of tickets in the 2nd quarter and couldnt convert.

Dunn was ripped off because he failed to follow instructions and centred the ball when it was not on. Neeld would have been seething.

[Mac7 309]

Really physical and tough game. Thought that the saints bigger more experienced bodies got the better of us in the last quarter.

[Jaded No More 68,915]

If we're referring to the same moment, I think he said "UP the f*ing the ground." I've got poor hearing, so I rely on reading people's lips more than most, and I'm pretty sure that's what he said. Of course, we might be thinking about different times we saw our coach cursing.

Maybe. I still don't get why Dunn was subbed out, so I thought maybe Neeld was furious with him for something so dragged him.

It was odd that he got subbed out after kicking such a good goal, especially when Tappy can hardly run, and Magner had about 8 different broken limbs.

Mind you, late in the third he tried to centre the ball on our 50meter line and turned it over like an idiot and they got a goal out of it. Should have gone deep down the line. Maybe Neeld dragged him for that.

Edited April 28, 2012 by Jaded

[Gorgoroth 12,950]

It may have been like the saints with Wilkes, the paper work goes through, then they lift before being able to do the actual sub and you can't take back the paperwork once submitted.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,053]

Dunn was ripped off because he failed to follow instructions and centred the ball when it was not on. Neeld would have been seething.

1 poor decision and he's dragged well after the event and after he's kicked a 50+m goal? Why not drag him when he did it? I do agree it was a massive screw up, but to me it warrants a bake from the coach, not being substituted when there are others who are hurting the team worse.

[DemonDave 1,089]

Dunn was ripped off because he failed to follow instructions and centred the ball when it was not on. Neeld would have been seething.

As much as this game style has been proven a success by Colingwood, it is frustrating seeing players on their own in the middle of the

ground, screaming out for the ball, and players with the ball, clearly under and following instructions, hug the boundary and kick to a

contest. Who is more culpable here, the guys in the middle of the ground not being in the right position (wide) or the guy with the ball

that ignores the free man. Bail was on his own many a time tonight in the centre but was largely ignored.

[Pipefitter 2,159]

I must admit, not as many glaringly bad things were offered up by Dees tonight. But...

What the hell was with the St Kilda Ruckman outrunning Tapscott in the last qtr?

Is Joel MacDonald the dumbest footballer in the AFL? Even though the umpires had been pinging blokes all night for deliberate out of bounds, he still attempted the world's most exaggerated paddle out of bounds in the last qtr. Luckily he completely missed the ball. God I want him out of this team.

Rivers was fantastic. Bartram is so dependable. Bate was our best/only target at half forward and worked his guts out. Tom Mc is going to be a ripper when he builds up his skills and confidence. Jamar can tap like a boss but is useless in every other facet of the game. Morton was surprisingly ok, as long as he avoids any 1 on 1 contest.

Morton & Watts must be the 2 worst 1 on 1 players in the comp. I'm convinced that if they played on each other, neither of them would ever take possession. At least Morton seems to get space. Watts just fairies around in no mans land. Disappointment.

Surely Petterd is a better option than Dunn. Surely Stef Martin can offer more than Sellar...can that guy ever get the ball?

I agree re Trengove, he really isn't a dynamic player at all.

Bloody Lenny Hayes. That was a good goal.

That ruckman was Rhys stanley. Actually one of the quickest men in the league.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

1 poor decision and he's dragged well after the event and after he's kicked a 50+m goal? Why not drag him when he did it? I do agree it was a massive screw up, but to me it warrants a bake from the coach, not being substituted when there are others who are hurting the team worse.

You can make your own judgements, i am just giving you the likely reason.

[frankie_d 1,471]

As much as this game style has been proven a success by Colingwood, it is frustrating seeing players on their own in the middle of the

ground, screaming out for the ball, and players with the ball, clearly under and following instructions, hug the boundary and kick to a

contest. Who is more culpable here, the guys in the middle of the ground not being in the right position (wide) or the guy with the ball

that ignores the free man. Bail was on his own many a time tonight in the centre but was largely ignored.

I wonder if this will change over time. This loss was CLOSE - and that's not something we've seen for a long while - and it seems that there has been a huge step up in defensive pressure. Did anyone else notice all the options from behind kickouts - including Morton taking the man on? We transitioned out ok. A HUGE improvement over "bomb it long to Jamar on the members wing" of the last 3 years.

I think the flair will be released when the defense is sorted.

Go Dees

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Sellar was terrible, but Stef Martin would be a step backwards.

Time to blood another youngster.

Jack Watts looked so relieved he survived his first real physical clash - terrible wet weather footballer.

Grimes was sensational - so gutsy and ferocious.

I'm drenched and a bit cold, but I loved being out there tonight watching my team scrap and scrap and scrap. Keep it up, boys.