St Kilda

[jnrmac 20,225]

Look likely not to win another game for the year. Have lost 10 in a row and 12 from 13.

10 in a row is worse the Melbourne believe it or not.

Chances are they will lose the next 7 and be 17 in a row which for a non-expansion team is rare. I think the Swans in 1993 might have lost 23 in a row.

Some are starting to suggest they deserve a PPick.

Given we did not receive one last year it has to be inconceivable they would get one. The PP has to be dead and buried surely??

Edited July 8, 2014 by jnrmac

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

Look likely not to win another game for the year. Have lost 10 in a row and 12 from 13.

10 in a row is worse the Melbourne believe it or not.

Chances are they will lose the next 7 and be 17 in a row which for a non-expansion team is rare. I think the Sawans in 2003 might have lost 23 in a row.

Some are starting to suggest they deserve a PPick.

Given we did not receive one last year it has to be inconceivable they would get one. The PP has to be dead and buried surely??

No chance imo, I reckon they'd need to stay where they are for another couple of years before they would be given one

[dazzledavey36 55,528]

Where the hell is the blowtorch on the coach and the side??!

Mark Neeld copped it left right and center in his first year yet we haven't heard a thing about this side.

Still reeling we lost to them in round 1.

[rpfc 28,853]

Look likely not to win another game for the year. Have lost 10 in a row and 12 from 13.

10 in a row is worse the Melbourne believe it or not.

Chances are they will lose the next 7 and be 17 in a row which for a non-expansion team is rare. I think the Sawans in 2003 might have lost 23 in a row.

Some are starting to suggest they deserve a PPick.

Given we did not receive one last year it has to be inconceivable they would get one. The PP has to be dead and buried surely??

This is an interesting topic.

The Saints need a PP soon.

But if they are to get one (or two) in the next few years - we must be awarded one at the end of this season.

It is ridiculous that a team that went 6 and 38 was told that Clark 'coming back' was reason to not get assistance and now we are looking like being 12 and 54 over the last three years with Clark retiring from football and Frawley possibly leaving through FA.

Equalisation includes Priority Picks given at the discretion of the Commission - if they are to able to use that in the future they must consider the MFC at the end of 2014 or remove Picks as a form of equalisation.

And who is hurt by the hubris of Evans and those that said we don't 'deserve assistance'? The Demons, Saints, Lions, Blues, and any other team with a sick list in the future.

[hulkhogan666 142]

They've already still won one more match this year than we did last year, and while they're losing each week, they aren't losing as badly as we were. They won't get the PP, if we didn't get one in the state we were in, then surely they won't get one how they are right now. The other 17 clubs were against us getting a PP and again the other 17 clubs will be against the Saints getting one.

[SaberFang 7,151]

They put themselves in this position by getting rid of all their senior players and starting a rebuild. You can't then turn around and ask for priority picks.

If anything they should go to the bottom 4 or 5 teams who are all struggling with their lists due to how devastating the expansion clubs have been for the overall competition. GCS got literally every star player for 4 years running, including the best player in the league. It's pathetic.

[John Crow Batty 8,880]

I recal there were many at St Kilda that were not happy with Ross Lyon and wanted him out. They thought his game style was holding them back. The reality is they grossly over achieved with the list they had at the time thanks to him. How deluded they were.

Edited July 8, 2014 by america de cali

[beelzebub 23,389]

So the team that played in a GF as recently as 3 ago is deserving of a PP ?

Dont think so. If they flounder for a few more seasons then maybe.

They are a victim of their own stupidity.

Picked them as the spooners after last years trade/draft

So be it

[Jaded No More 68,975]

I still think we should apply for a PP at the end of the season.

We've done everything right on and off the field, and we are still struggling. After so many bad seasons in which the draft was compromised, we deserve a PP more than any other team out there.

Happy to get a PP on the provision that we on trade it, should that make it easier for the AFL to 'award' us one.

[deanox 10,037]

Jaded, I don't expect one, but if the requirement now is that we 'apply' for one, rather than get given one, I'd be dissapointed if we didn't apply.

Wewill finish the year between 4 and 6 wins, depending on the outcomes of our games against Brisbane and GWS. It is unlikely we'll win more than that. That means we will have on 38-40 matches in 8 years, less than 5 matches per year.

Apparently the new formula is based on:

• premiership points that a club has received over a period of years (with greater weight to recent seasons),
• a club's percentage (points for/points against x 100) over a period of years (another indication of on-field competitiveness, with greater weight to recent seasons),
• any finals appearances that a club has made in recent seasons,
• any premierships that a club has won in recent seasons, and
• a club's injury rates in each relevant season.

To me, we clearly qualify in all of those criteria over the past 8 seasons.

Average of 19-20 premiership points per season over 8 years, and average of 13-16 in the past 3 years (recent results).

Our percentages in those 8 seasons have been (rounded) 75%, 54%, 67%, 85%, 95%, 75%, 63% and 78%. 5 of 8 were below 75.0% over eight years,while the most recent three are quite poor, particularly the 54%

No finals since 2006 (8 years, or a whole football generation).

No premierships in recent seasons.

No particular injury rates that have caused us to have a bad year (the West Coast rule).

To put into context how bad we are: In their last 5 seasons, Fitzroy won 27 games at an average of 5.4 per season, better than our last five seasons. In Fitzroy's last 8 seasons they won 50 games. 25% more than we have!

If we don't qualify, no one ever should.

I would argue that we have done the right things of field, put a good team into place in the admin side of the club, and that we have put together a fantastic football operations department including coaches but that we only have a limited window to get it right. If we aren't seeing results in another 12-24 months with the current coaches, and within the current period of club stability, then it will be all for nothing. Also, while we have improved on field, we have recruited players like Cross and Vince who have only a limited window, thus the normally slow rebuilding process will not be fast enough to see significant improvement, let alone maintain the status quo, as we need not only turn over the players who aren't up to it, but find/develop replacements for those older guys who are clearly in our top 10.

We need to turn over 50% of our list, but you can only realistically improve 10-15% of your list each year, the other 10-15% of changes are either effectively swapping like for like or are drafting for development; it may improve your list but not for 2-3 years. A priority pick now, that we can trade, will give us the opportunity to improve our list by 20% this season and allow us to be competitive immediately.

That's how I'd be framing it.

Edited July 8, 2014 by deanox

[Fat Tony 5,292]

The AFL needs to help the poorer clubs get off the bottom. They should exclude the top 8 teams from the first round of the draft and also exclude them from compensation for free agents defecting.

[daisycutter 29,825]

can't see any harm in asking......even if odds are low

[Machsy 2,858]

I don't think it's so much "applying" for a priority pick, so much as "appealing" for one.

Like its a wicket.

If the bowler doesn't make a carry on accordingly, the umpire is likely to think everything is fine and move on.

[John Crow Batty 8,880]

I seriously doubt we would get one, no matter how hard we try. After the help we got from the AFL and Roos coming we would be seen as ingrates who cant shed the begging bowl. I think the consesus is that we are now improving and should be able to stand on our own feet and move forward. And opposition from other clubs who are struggling will kill any chance.

[praha 11,253]

OP means Swans in 93, not '03, right?

Ironically, their losing streak ended against Melbourne...of course.

[monoccular 17,629]

Tanking, maybe?

[jnrmac 20,225]

OP means Swans in 93, not '03, right?

Ironically, their losing streak ended against Melbourne...of course.

Yep 93 sorry...

[Moonshadow 17,678]

If they get a PP and they beat us in round 1, logic says we should get 2 x PPs. Well, my twisted logic anyway. No chance Sainters, need to sin for a few more years before even getting a look in.

[beelzebub 23,389]

If they get a PP and they beat us in round 1, logic says we should get 2 x PPs. Well, my twisted logic anyway. No chance Sainters, need to sin for a few more years before even getting a look in.

They ought not get a PP they should however seek some IQ

[Whispering_Jack 31,051]

We won only 2 games in 2013 and were knocked back. They've won a game more.

I personally think they should get assistance but the precedent from last year rules it out.

Melbourne's case, based on 8 years of poor results is another thing altogether. If we're out, it's purely political and not to do with the merits of any application we might want to make.

[whatwhat say what 23,171]

They won't get one, we won't get one.

Was discussing it with a mate last night, guaranteed that only the northern markets teams will get one in future years!

[beelzebub 23,389]

If we're out, it's purely political and not to do with the merits of any application we might want to make.

As proffered before ....its ALL political. Everything is skewed and biased towards the franchise teams.

We should in honesty stop even think about PP's and get our head around how you advance your list through intelligent thinking.

PP in reality is a slackers get out of jail free pick. . Im not saying we couldnt use one but we'll never get another and as such so be it. We need to think like a clever team and stop this reliance on help

[Adzman 2,154]

Prior to Roos coming on board many thought Melbourne's issues were to do with the quality of coaching more than the quality of the list.

Roos has made massive strides, but not even the great Paul Roos can drag this mob out of the bottom 4. Given the league has seen where we stand with a good coach, perhaps the football public might have more questions about the list rather than the coaching. If that is the case, perhaps an application for a priority pick would be looked upon more favorably now that we have a great coach, and are still performing like a B-Grade football team.

As for St Kilda, they have many more years of pain ahead of them before they can stick their hand up for help. Not too long ago they were a regular finals participant.

[Moonshadow 17,678]

A faint hint of the smile would still be on my face if Melbourne were struggling yet had been in 2 grand finals only a few years ago. Fat chance Saints.

[monoccular 17,629]

A faint hint of the smile would still be on my face if Melbourne were struggling yet had been in 2 grand finals only a few years ago. Fat chance Saints.

actually three GFs