RD 1 2014 - v St. Kilda @ Etihad Saturday Night

[Sir Why You Little 34,556]

Good round 1 considering the 'G is busy.

Will have to ask my brother how to get there!!

All his tribe will be there in enemy colours.

Smash them Demons.

[loges 6,090]

Lets just hope its not a repeat of the last 2 years. Season over after round 1

[GawnWithTheWind 604]

Their backline better get used to playing with each other by round 1... because our forward line could be potentially verrrrrrrrrrrry potent!

McDonald already has rooeys picture on his dartboard.

Jones has Stevens face tattooed into his fist.

Game on!

[old55 21,356]

Right now they're not a happy team at Seaford:

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/laidley-latest-to-join-exodus-from-saints-20131031-2wjah.html

I think Pelchen is on the right track with their list and their midfield is still better than ours.

But there's clearly problems with Watters situation which elevate our chances.

They've got us and the GIANTS both at home in the 1st 2 rounds. Anything other than 2-0 and Watters will be in big trouble.

[titan_uranus 22,443]

Right now they're not a happy team at Seaford:

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/laidley-latest-to-join-exodus-from-saints-20131031-2wjah.html

I think Pelchen is on the right track with their list and their midfield is still better than ours.

But there's clearly problems with Watters situation which elevate our chances.

They've got us and the GIANTS both at home in the 1st 2 rounds. Anything other than 2-0 and Watters will be in big trouble.

They may have us covered in the midfield, but we've got them beat at both ends.

As will be the case with us and opponents around us on the ladder, it's going to come down to midfield competitiveness. If we can compete there, we'll be in with a pretty decent shot of a win. If not, then we're cooked.

[Deestroy All 14,262]

Relax, we've got this.

[The team we love 416]

Montagna is suspended for round 1 2014 further depleting their experience. We must win the midfield battle!

[hardtack 10,127]

Their backline better get used to playing with each other by round 1... because our forward line could be potentially verrrrrrrrrrrry potent!

Well, the same could be said for our forward line.. none of Dawes, Clark or Hogan have played together at this level.

[Bitter but optimistic 21,285]

FMD the optimism has started already. I remember well last season how we were talking about the favourable draw and how 6 wins were likely before.... FMD! Hello fellow groundhogs (WTFTA).

[Maldonboy38 5,929]

I actually admire what Watters is doing a the Saints. The leadership culture at that club has been abysmal for a decade - they would have won a flag or two if they have stopped all the drinking, whoring, texting, and other rubbish that wasn't only tolerated it was promoted. Ross Lyon aimed for the stars on the back of Grant Thomas' recruiting but failed to develop much young talent. He is doing the same now at Freo on the back of Mark Harvey's recruiting. The Saints need kids with talent and character, and Watters is undertaking this task at a very quick rate.

Their stars are guns, but aging guns. Therefore, if we can break even in the middle we win the match.

• Play Gawn in the ruck, and run Fitzy through the ruck off the bench.
• Jordie to stifle Stevens.
• Set N Jones, Trengove, Viney, Tyson and Toumpas to make sure disposals, tackles, inside 50's from the 2 midfields are about even.
• Fit and firing Dawes, Hogan and Clark will be far too much for the Saints defense.
• McDonald to run all night with Riewoldt
• Blease and Watts to play wide in the run-and-carry roles

With this set up, the odds are in our favour. But I will be very, very nervous. Round 1 has been a nightmare for 8 years!

[Bitter but optimistic 21,285]

I actually admire what Watters is doing a the Saints. The leadership culture at that club has been abysmal for a decade - they would have won a flag or two if they have stopped all the drinking, whoring, texting, and other rubbish that wasn't only tolerated it was promoted. Ross Lyon aimed for the stars on the back of Grant Thomas' recruiting but failed to develop much young talent. He is doing the same now at Freo on the back of Mark Harvey's recruiting. The Saints need kids with talent and character, and Watters is undertaking this task at a very quick rate.

Their stars are guns, but aging guns. Therefore, if we can break even in the middle we win the match.

• Play Gawn in the ruck, and run Fitzy through the ruck off the bench.
• Jordie to stifle Stevens.
• Set N Jones, Trengove, Viney, Tyson and Toumpas to make sure disposals, tackles, inside 50's from the 2 midfields are about even.
• Fit and firing Dawes, Hogan and Clark will be far too much for the Saints defense.
• McDonald to run all night with Riewoldt
• Blease and Watts to play wide in the run-and-carry roles

With this set up, the odds are in our favour. But I will be very, very nervous. Round 1 has been a nightmare for 8 years!

Like your work M'boy but don't you think it is a tad early for a pre-game analysis?

Edited October 31, 2013 by Bitter but optimistic

[titan_uranus 22,443]

Like your work M'boy but don't you think it is a tad early for a pre-game analysis?

I don't mind it. It's the kind of discussion that we usually don't get to do during the season because we're all to busy arguing over which player to drop and when we're going to sack our coach.

[What 18,810]

McKenzie will get the job on Jack Stevens.

And he will smash him.

[Maldonboy38 5,929]

Like your work M'boy but don't you think it is a tad early for a pre-game analysis?

Just responding to a request made above. After the past 7 years, anticipation gilded with hope is always better then bitter and despairing reflection.

[dazzledavey36 48,852]

McKenzie will get the job on Jack Stevens.

And he will smash him.

The job he did on Ablett would have given him massive confidence.

Jordie will be alright next year.

[Je Roos Salem 661]

I'm going. Taking the mrs who is a Saints supporter. God damn I hope we put on a good performance as it will be a long week or possibly year with her giving it to me

Hey, at least you've got certainty in the future of your marriage

[What 18,810]

The job he did on Ablett would have given him massive confidence.

Jordie will be alright next year.

I cant believe the hate he gets on here

always does the job on the oppositions best midfielder, in fact he makes some of those stars look very average

Paul Roos and all the other new coaches will love him cos he will run all day, he will go in hard he will tackle every chance he gets and he will play to instructions

he has limitations sure. But i am calling it he plays all 22 games next season (injurty permitting)

[Je Roos Salem 661]

The job he did on Ablett would have given him massive confidence.

Jordie will be alright next year.

I think his fall in form was due to his role changing and poor coaching. He should be taking the best midfielder each week and that job on Ablett was sensational, only annoying to watch because the commentators kept moaning that he was holding Ablett illegally at every stoppage (such rubbish bias)

[monoccular 16,101]

View this as an enormous opportunity not a setback.

A huge opportunity to break several hoodoos - winning at Doglands, winning round 1, beating the Saints, playing Saturday night.

Have faith....without it what is there?

[angrydee 842]

FMD the optimism has started already. I remember well last season how we were talking about the favourable draw and how 6 wins were likely before.... FMD! Hello fellow groundhogs (WTFTA).

Suckling at the breast of fantasy in the off season is one of the few joys (if not the only one) left to our supporters. A poor memory helps immensely.

[Bitter but optimistic 21,285]

Suckling at the breast of fantasy in the off season is one of the few joys (if not the only one) left to our supporters. A poor memory helps immensely.

I have to say that is the first time that image has been conjured up in my mind during a footy discussion.

Just responding to a request made above. After the past 7 years, anticipation gilded with hope is always better then bitter and despairing reflection.

Fair enough M'Boy. I think I've been a supporter so long that "bitter and despairing reflection" has become automatic.

[timD 994]

Relax, we've got this.

That is not funny.

I think 6-10 goal loss for us. We don't know how to win. We have a midfield that has not played together. We have a forwardline that has not played together. The players and coaches have shown 0 ability in 7 years to use a preseason to good effect.

Right now we are hoping that a new bloke can do it - we've all done that before. He has a new team and new methods. We've heard that before. The players are enthused. Whoop-de-do.

The team has no spirit. They talk it but cannot 'do' it. They talk about leadership but on-field do not show it.

Expect to lose until the team learns to win. I don't expect change until late in the season at best. And that is optimistic IMO

[Its Time for Another 4,054]

I think his fall in form was due to his role changing and poor coaching. He should be taking the best midfielder each week and that job on Ablett was sensational, only annoying to watch because the commentators kept moaning that he was holding Ablett illegally at every stoppage (such rubbish bias)

His fall in form was caused by being an onballer who has to run all day who missed the whole preseason while he was on a modified program due to an achilles injury. Then had groin injuries during the season which have not been operated on post season. Not sure what that means for this pre season. Without a fitness base he will always struggle. With it he will be a weapon.

[old55 21,356]

I think 6-10 goal loss for us. We don't know how to win. We have a midfield that has not played together. We have a forwardline that has not played together. The players and coaches have shown 0 ability in 7 years to use a preseason to good effect.

Right now we are hoping that a new bloke can do it - we've all done that before. He has a new team and new methods. We've heard that before. The players are enthused. Whoop-de-do.

The team has no spirit. They talk it but cannot 'do' it. They talk about leadership but on-field do not show it.

Expect to lose until the team learns to win. I don't expect change until late in the season at best. And that is optimistic IMO

Bluey's got Tim's password.

[beelzebub 22,225]

Expect to lose until the team learns to win.

The only thing i agree with.

However whilst you seem to envision this as in the distance at best I think that learning will occur this preseason and practice games etc.

I really think the injection of Roos , Stone and others will radically change not only the thinking of the players but their output and belief on the field.

Your's is a glass half empty....mine's filling