MATCH PREVIEW AND TEAM SELECTION - Round 11

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

If we lose this then it will be very hard to say we have improved over the last 18 months IMO.

It's a must win.

I don't care it's at Etihad and the players shouldn't either.

Enough is enough, for the love of god stand up and show something Melbourne.

Do you realise that we have played 7 top 8 sides in our 10 games thus far?

Do you realise that we have had about an average of 8 unavailable players for most of the year?

Do you realise we have actually won 3 and performed well in 2 losses against good sides?

I don't understand why people are acting like we are dead last getting pillored every week, we are going OK. Without all the injuries and a horrific draw so far we may well be much better than OK

[olisik 4,060]

I hope we beat up on their #1 draft pick

[What 18,810]

I hope we beat up on their #1 draft pick

He aint playing

[olisik 4,060]

He aint playing

The other one

[Moneider96 1,045]

Even Gary Lyon tips Stkilda. Reminds me so much of the Richmond game.

[DemonOX 8,837]

Do you realise that we have played 7 top 8 sides in our 10 games thus far?

Do you realise that we have had about an average of 8 unavailable players for most of the year?

Do you realise we have actually won 3 and performed well in 2 losses against good sides?

I don't understand why people are acting like we are dead last getting pillored every week, we are going OK. Without all the injuries and a horrific draw so far we may well be much better than OK

Do u realise we are full of excuses and have been for the last 8 years?

I just want us to win a game which we should win.

[deanox 10,052]

Surprised Spencer was named.

The reports I read suggested Jamar was the dominant ruck at Casey. Can anyone confirm? If true that is a pretty big sign.

Edit: occurred to me that Spencer may be held over as an emergency to allow King to play as the ruck/forward at Casey. long shot, but would be tough to play all 3 in one team.

[Nasher 33,617]

Do u realise we are full of excuses and have been for the last 8 years?

I just want us to win a game which we should win.

As opposed to the ones we've won that we shouldn't have won?

[DemonOX 8,837]

As opposed to the ones we've won that we shouldn't have won?

Yes

[monoccular 17,697]

Mr Roos and players. Sunday is a huge opportunity to make a statement. A line in the sand moment. Absolutely no excuse will be accepted. Dare I say it is essentially a club defining game. This ground hoodoo must stop this weekend. No excuses.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

II know it is negative, but I've got a bad feeling about this game. St. Kilda will bring the pressure, and I just haven't seen enough to think we will cope with it, even if they are very rough around the edges.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Do u realise we are full of excuses and have been for the last 8 years?

I just want us to win a game which we should win.

so, let me just get this straight - if you are calling those things just excuses then you are saying there is no difference between playing the top side or bottom side, and there is no difference between having a full-strength side or one crippled by injuries

[What 18,810]

II know it is negative, but I've got a bad feeling about this game.

Dont worry, Saints fans are saying the same thing.

[mrtwister 652]

I've been looking forward to the McDonald Riewoldt matchup since Round 1 last year. I think Tom is Nick's identical opposite. Tall, lean, fit, run all day and cover huge distances. Riewoldt used to run his opponents off their feet, that was his strength. Tom negates that.

[Roost It 1,434]

Melbourne by 40 points

Hogan to kick 5

Garlett 4

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

I've been looking forward to the McDonald Riewoldt matchup since Round 1 last year. I think Tom is Nick's identical opposite. Tall, lean, fit, run all day and cover huge distances. Riewoldt used to run his opponents off their feet, that was his strength. Tom negates that.

PLAY TOM MCDONALD IN THE FORWARD LINE, FOOKIN' IMMEDIATELY!!!!

[mrtwister 652]

PLAY TOM MCDONALD IN THE FORWARD LINE, FOOKIN' IMMEDIATELY!!!!

But playing him as a CHF makes them not opposites any more. Surely CHB is the opposite of CHF?

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

Looking forward to this game, one we must win. Roost it beat me to it with the prediction, though I was going to say 42 points.

I would love to see both Stretch and ANB play, leave out Spencer, Terlich and either Pigdog or Mitchie.

If Riley is selected, play him as sub

[John Crow Batty 8,886]

Do you realise that we have played 7 top 8 sides in our 10 games thus far?

Do you realise that we have had about an average of 8 unavailable players for most of the year?

Do you realise we have actually won 3 and performed well in 2 losses against good sides?

I don't understand why people are acting like we are dead last getting pillored every week, we are going OK. Without all the injuries and a horrific draw so far we may well be much better than OK

Perhaps four of those top 8 sides were not well fancied as top 8 sides at the beginning of the season. Injuries, every team has them. We played relatively well first half of last season and comparable so far to this season. What worries me is how we play out the rest of this season. I don't want to go through the second half of last season again. Finishing off strong is the line in the sand for us.

[McQueen 17,867]

Respect, we want to earn respect - this is what our team is preaching.....

Well how about from this week onwards start [censored] playing 120 min of consistent, hard football that earns you this respect. Then carry it to next week, then the one after....

I'm sick of hearing 7yrs of excuses. JUST WIN!!!!!

For added impact, I urge others to read this post in Vivian's voice.

Ed: I shouldn't need to explain myself.

[Coup Cooper 610]

Tyson the only one of 7 ins named on the field.

Because he is a f u c k i n class act

[DeeSpencer 26,468]

Stretch and ANB are 2 of the fittest guys at the club if there pre draft time trials stack up. Stretch in particular has had an uninterrupted run. I think he really needs to play this week given Matt Jones and Newton are out so we are clearly looking for new options as outside runners. Hate to have a kid sub on debut but ANB might have to do it.

FB: Jetta Dunn Fitzy

HB: Grimes McDonald Cross

C: Lumumba Jones Toumpas

HF: Watts Hogan Brayshaw

FF: Garlett Pedersen Howe

Foll: Gawn Vince Viney

Int: Tyson Stretch ANB Riley

Absolutely vital that we get Watts, Brayshaw, Toumpas and hopefully Stretch involved in the play early and moving the ball quickly at Etihad to our forwards.

If we don't move the ball quickly then the saints will sit back and defend the smaller ground well and they have enough scoring power with Riewoldt and Bruce.

They play a similar pressuring game style to Collingwood (except hopefully inferior) so we need to stay calm under pressure and play with confidence.

[Demon Dynasty 17,135]

Surprised Spencer was named.

The reports I read suggested Jamar was the dominant ruck at Casey. Can anyone confirm? If true that is a pretty big sign.

Edit: occurred to me that Spencer may be held over as an emergency to allow King to play as the ruck/forward at Casey. long shot, but would be tough to play all 3 in one team.

I'd say that is Roosey's way of letting Spencil kno that he is still a required player. At least until seasons end and Gawn has been given a decent run to see whether he's an option as well.

Roos is no doubt looking through all options at Casey for remainder of season before his next clean out and Gawn should get a decent crack at it over the next month or so, just like he did with Spencil.

[Demon Dynasty 17,135]

Do you realise that we have played 7 top 8 sides in our 10 games thus far?

Do you realise that we have had about an average of 8 unavailable players for most of the year?

Do you realise we have actually won 3 and performed well in 2 losses against good sides?

I don't understand why people are acting like we are dead last getting pillored every week, we are going OK. Without all the injuries and a horrific draw so far we may well be much better than OK

C & B to avoid playing more sides who are above us so often we have to start winning. Then we will be playing more games against sides below us and not as many against sides above us.

[Brayshaw Self 847]

If we lose this game, we are a disgrace........

Saints are a bunch of children