HS just reported that Ablett isn't playing the next NAB Cup game and is in serious doubts for round 1.

Good for us, although saints were decimated with injuries last year and we all know how that turned out.

That was totally unacceptable to lose to St Kilda with Montagna, Hayes, Steven amongst others missing.

Ablett will probably play even if he's not ready while O'Meara will miss I reckon.

Even if both Ablett and O'Meara don't play, and with Lynch out, Harley Bennell still scares the bejesus out of me. He is freakishly talented and on any given day can turn the game around.

To be perfectly honest i couldn't care less who is not in the GC team it hasn't helped us in the past.

We just need to forget about it and win a bloody rd 1 game for the first time since I can remember.

Just saw a tweet: "Wet training session for the Suns today. Ablett still wearing the orange cap for no contact and O'Meara moving freely."

Anybody's guess at this stage just who will be lining up for the Suns.

Ablett has apparently been super conservative in his recovery, including his decision to forego the remainder of the season to have surgery when advice existed that he could delay. From what I understand, a lot of the current reluctance to engage in contact has been driven by him.. interesting.

Wouldn't surprise me if he was looking at us Rd 1 and thinking, "I can probably sit this one out".

My money's on him sitting.

Ablett has apparently been super conservative in his recovery, including his decision to forego the remainder of the season to have surgery when advice existed that he could delay. From what I understand, a lot of the current reluctance to engage in contact has been driven by him.. interesting.

Wouldn't surprise me if he was looking at us Rd 1 and thinking, "I can probably sit this one out".

My money's on him sitting.

To be fair, if he wants to avoid heavy contact then playing against Melbourne is the perfect opportunity.

just looking at my team for round one and its difficult to leave players out for the first time in 8 years

When Howe/Vince are back, we could be leaving out players such as Toumpas, Frost, JKH, Bail. Cant remember this ever being the case.

if they are missing O Meara and Ableet and we lose.... well, no comment.

if they are missing O Meara and Ableet and we lose.... well, no comment.

You're kidding yourself if you think they're nothing without those two players.

Gold Coast have serious talent and good depth.

We're in for a tough game whether it's with Ablett and O'Meara or without them.

Edited March 19, 201510 yr by stevethemanjordan

You're kidding yourself if you think they're nothing without those two players.

Gold Coast have serious talent and good depth.

We're in for a tough game whether it's with Ablett and O'Meara or without them.

No doubt but it was clearly evident that the Suns didn't cope with The loss of Ablett last season.

Add no Dixon and lynch to O'Meara and possibily Ablett, we shohld win. Not to mention others like Prestia have had a restricted pre season

I agree that the outs, (Ablett is still no certain out) as they stand obviously help our chances.

But I rate Gold Coast. They have serious skill and speed. We don't.

It will be our contested work around the ball and ball movement that need to be spot on if we're to win.

Add no Dixon and lynch to O'Meara and possibily Ablett, we shohld win. Not to mention others like Prestia have had a restricted pre season

Yeah i have heard all that before.

Yeah i have heard all that before.

And we still lost.

Yeah i have heard all that before.

Difference between GC this year and St Kilda last year is that GC without a few key players is worse off, sure, but still a quite decent side.

I'll forever consider that loss to St Kilda as one of the worst losses we've had through this prolonged period of despair.

Difference between GC this year and St Kilda last year is that GC without a few key players is worse off, sure, but still a quite decent side.

I'll forever consider that loss to St Kilda as one of the worst losses we've had through this prolonged period of despair.

Your underestimating Gold Coast.

Their depth will start to pick up this year and we'll see a few surprise packets this year i reckon.

We must stop Harley Bennell. He always seems to run rings around us every time.

Edited March 19, 201510 yr by dazzledavey36

I think we have next to no chance of winning this. Gold Coast are ready in my opinion, with or without Gazza. Rocket is a superb coach to boot.

I think we have next to no chance of winning this. Gold Coast are ready in my opinion, with or without Gazza. Rocket is a superb coach to boot.

That could be interpreted in more than one way ... :)

We only lost by a kick last season.

Let's win by a kick this season.

Winning a round 1 match will be totes-amazeballs.

I think we have next to no chance of winning this. Gold Coast are ready in my opinion, with or without Gazza. Rocket is a superb coach to boot.

Agree with that.

GC would have to have about 10 out in order for us to have a good chance of winning.

Melbourne simply don't win games.

Agree with that.

GC would have to have about 10 out in order for us to have a good chance of winning.

Melbourne simply don't win games.

Your underestimating Gold Coast.

Their depth will start to pick up this year and we'll see a few surprise packets this year i reckon.

We must stop Harley Bennell. He always seems to run rings around us every time.

No I'm not - the point of my post was to say that you can take Ablett and O'Meara out of Gold Coast and we're still going to have a good opponent in Round 1, whereas we took those players out of the Saints last year and were faced with a rubbish side (and lost).

In other words, it won't be as despicable for us to go down in Round 1 even if Ablett etc. don't play.

Eade is a good coach.

With the likes of Swallow, matera, prestia, bennell,day, Mckenzie, Thompson, malceski, Martin, smith

I'll think they can cope with out or two. They'll be top 4 or near enough for the next 5 years thanks to the ridiculous draft concessions they got

I'm not saying we have no hope, But it is very unlikely we will win round one

Err go dees