6 hours ago, Redleg said:

How can you be pretty clear favourites, against a side that has beaten you 14 times in a row, at the ground we are playing on, when we also play that ground terribly anyway. 

Money talks... well, I'm sure you know the rest.

(I'm the messenger on behalf of Messrs SportsBet, CrownBet, Ladbrokes et al).

9 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

I agree. I hope Goodwin is more interested in the way we want to play, rather than negating The Aints. 

All well and good but if the Saints are able to negate our style there needs to be a plan B to breaking them down. 

I think the biggest part to the game is Gawn, he was completely beaten both games last year. In an AA year for a ruckman to be beaten both games is something so I think he will have a real point to prove, which hopefully will result in him dishing it down Viney, Jones, Tyson & co's throat every contest + kicking 4 goals!

4 hours ago, Pates said:

All well and good but if the Saints are able to negate our style there needs to be a plan B to breaking them down. 

I think the biggest part to the game is Gawn, he was completely beaten both games last year. In an AA year for a ruckman to be beaten both games is something so I think he will have a real point to prove, which hopefully will result in him dishing it down Viney, Jones, Tyson & co's throat every contest + kicking 4 goals!

Gawn wasn't "completely beaten" but Hickey played very well and surprisingly at least broke even with him in an area we could expect a win.

13 hours ago, ProDee said:

Running one hard tag doesn't mean a man-on-man game-plan.

Yes but it does make a big change to our structure and we haven't been playing that in the JLT.  I'd expect us to practice that structure if we were going to use it for real.  At least for a few quarters but we haven't so I don't expect to see it. 

15 hours ago, Redleg said:

How can you be pretty clear favourites, against a side that has beaten you 14 times in a row, at the ground we are playing on, when we also play that ground terribly anyway. 

Because the odds reflect where most mug punters have put their money. It is about as reliable an indication of performance as pre-season predictions of who will be premiers.

14 hours ago, ProDee said:

I agree.

But if Steven is allowed to run amok he'll cut us up.

Running one hard tag doesn't mean a man-on-man game-plan.

I'd tag him.

Efit: they may go head to head in the first instance, but if he gets off the chain ...

Yep, I agree.

If Steven gets off the chain, I'd hate to think Goodwin will steadfastly stick to the game plan and that he'll adjust it to deal with what's happening on the field in the moment i.e. he'll put Viney, Vince or Bugg on him with instructions just to shut him down completely and back our other mids to win the ball and spread sans Viney, Vince or Bugg.

Surely the new game plan is not so inflexible that it can't accommodate one midfielder in a tagging role.

Viney and Vince have also proven that they can win their own ball even in a tagging role.

 

40 minutes ago, Ron Burgundy said:

Yep, I agree.

If Steven gets off the chain, I'd hate to think Goodwin will steadfastly stick to the game plan and that he'll adjust it to deal with what's happening on the field in the moment i.e. he'll put Viney, Vince or Bugg on him with instructions just to shut him down completely and back our other mids to win the ball and spread sans Viney, Vince or Bugg.

Surely the new game plan is not so inflexible that it can't accommodate one midfielder in a tagging role.

Viney and Vince have also proven that they can win their own ball even in a tagging role.

 

Vince won a B&F playing entierly as a ball winning tagger. Why they havent kept him doing it I'll never understand

Joey Montagna might be doubtful for Round 1, don't think he has played pre season and just reported he lasted 5 mins at training and went off with a calf niggle.

10 minutes ago, Hell Bent said:

Joey Montagna might be doubtful for Round 1, don't think he has played pre season and just reported he lasted 5 mins at training and went off with a calf niggle.

Yes calf injury for 33 year old, not a good sign (ask Daniel Wells).  He won't play and if he does he'll be a liability.

If we win Round 1 my pessimist streak will return and I will assume we'll lose the next 4 games.

However, if we lose Round 1 my optimism will make me believe that we'll win the next 4 games.

Basically I need psychological help as I don't know what I want to happen in Round 1.

 

12 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

If we win Round 1 my pessimist streak will return and I will assume we'll lose the next 4 games.

However, if we lose Round 1 my optimism will make me believe that we'll win the next 4 games.

Basically I need psychological help as I don't know what I want to happen in Round 1.

 

Im exactly like that tonight. I'm convinced if we beat the eagles we will think we are top [censored] and lose to the saints but if we lose tonight i think we will beat the saints. But of course i want us to win every game so I'm stuck wondering what i actually want to happen tonight. I think im just going to cheer for no injuries

Give up drinking. (until our next loss)

Cannot wait for this season to start. I hope all the demon faithful will be rewarded this season with a Melbourne final's birth.

There is a distinct level of expectancy about this current sqaud. Great to see.

If we beat the Saints in round one...

First - I'd mark the Saints in for a finals appearance.

Second - Start looking forward to the round 21 MCG rematch.

Third - Demand an absolutely bloody mangling of Carlton the next week.

 

Last time, Roo and Membrey killed us in their forward line.

Can anyone stop St Nick? What a magnificent player.

use capitals for a week

Be amazed. 

Be cautiously optimistic.

If we beat the Staints Rd1... I will not throw my empty VB can at the TV like I did when Montagna took the game from under our noses in the last 2 seconds of that game in 2015.

Can still get $2.15 for st kilda on Sportsbet, load up