We can win this game if we apply enough pressure for long enough. High pressure footy nulifies their speed advantage on the outside. Are our players capable of going hard enough for long enough? History says no.

We should be motivated to knock off another team that should be at a similar stage to us. Especially one who's coaching staff in recent years approach games vs MFC with only one basic instruction for preparation: high intensity for long enough and they will give up...they always do.

Saints by 40+ for mine.

46 minutes ago, Kumamoto_Ken said:

Three kegs of homebrew in the kegerator: a Belgian Ale, an American Pale Ale and an Export Stout. 

I'm not sure it'll be enough, might drop by the bottlo this arvo just in case. 

"An American Pale Ale" !!!!

I cannot imagine how such a thing would be drinkable Ken!

Received a nice bottle of cognac this morning for my birthday which I think will get a good thrashing tonight. 

Edited August 29, 20205 yr by Ethan Tremblay

2 hours ago, Nelo said:

This could be messy tonight. Season will be officially over after tonight. 

Not with the dogs loss last night, we still have a game in hand, they have a bye next week and we play swans, in all likelihood we will be in the 8 at the conclusion of round 15 win or loose today

We consistently lost to the Saints when they were crap, now that they’re good, we might win. 

7 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Received a nice bottle of cognac this morning for my birthday which I think will get a good thrashing tonight. 

'A good thrashing' reminds me of an episode from Ripping Yarns (Tom Brown's Schooldays).

Can only hope your Cognac is not the only thing that gets a thrashing - St Kilda FC being the other.

I think every supporter is well within their right to feel slightly ill about this game.  The Saints play a similar brand to the Dogs with their run and carry, and if last week is anything to go by, then we could be in for a similar fate.

The Cats, who are a better side than us it has to be said, showed how it can be done - they don't possess a lightning fast side by any means, yet they stuck to their task and wore the Dogs down with some good, hard, disciplined footy.  We have the capacity to do this, but I wonder if we have the discipline to stick to our guns for long enough to get ourselves a win.

Battle will be won, as it often is, in the middle.  If we can win our fair share of clearances and up the pressure then we can beat them.  We play the ground at Alice quite well so that is something in our favour.

Also, I hate the Saints and I hate that they have the wood over us a little.  I'd love to knock them off tonight!

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

The idea that we had NT support was always a furphy

 

We have good support in communities like Nyrripi and Imanpa, as the play as the Demons (I have Imanpa Demons tracksuit pants) both though over 200km from Alice, so hard for them to attend games

Am one of the lucky few in town to have tickets, can’t wait to go tonight!

5 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Well the cats have created an opportunity for us to play finals this year.

 

Lets see if the lads take it.

And just how good was Chris Scotts game day coaching. masterclass in mid-game issues management

17 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I think every supporter is well within their right to feel slightly ill about this game.  The Saints play a similar brand to the Dogs with their run and carry, and if last week is anything to go by, then we could be in for a similar fate.

The Cats, who are a better side than us it has to be said, showed how it can be done - they don't possess a lightning fast side by any means, yet they stuck to their task and wore the Dogs down with some good, hard, disciplined footy.  We have the capacity to do this, but I wonder if we have the discipline to stick to our guns for long enough to get ourselves a win.

Battle will be won, as it often is, in the middle.  If we can win our fair share of clearances and up the pressure then we can beat them.  We play the ground at Alice quite well so that is something in our favour.

Also, I hate the Saints and I hate that they have the wood over us a little.  I'd love to knock them off tonight!

Two saints mates of mine are not confident and believe we will bash them in the middle.

Naturally I laughed and told them they are kidding themselves, because I am a pessimistic Melbourne supporter who is scarred for life.

2 minutes ago, Beetle said:

Two saints mates of mine are not confident and believe we will bash them in the middle.

Naturally I laughed and told them they are kidding themselves, because I am a pessimistic Melbourne supporter who is scarred for life.

That's interesting - if I was a Saints fan I would be feeling pretty confident about this game.  They normally have us covered quite well and there is no indication that the outcome should be any different tonight.

Our mids are probably slightly better than theirs overall, however, it will be how we use it that will tell us all we need to know.  If we're blasting away and they mop it up easily off half back then we're in for a long night.

9 minutes ago, Rod Grinter Riot Squad said:

Am one of the lucky few in town to have tickets, can’t wait to go tonight!

Enjoy it mate and trust we get over the line for you. Play 4 quarters of hard footy and we can win. Emphasis on 4 quarters.

I think people underestimate the value of good onfield leadership and it’s critical role in enabling the team to implement the coaches plan under game pressure. 

We are thin in this area and need more leadership from our emerging midfield guns in Petracca, Oliver and Brayshaw. Too often with Maxy out it appeared left to Jack Viney to lift the intensity of the team alone. 
The lack will be massively addressed with Maxy back in, fit and firing. 
looking forward to a rejuvenated and dominant display from our midfield.

Win there and we do the Saints. 
 

Edited August 29, 20205 yr by PaulRB

54 minutes ago, M_9 said:

'A good thrashing' reminds me of an episode from Ripping Yarns (Tom Brown's Schooldays).

Can only hope your Cognac is not the only thing that gets a thrashing - St Kilda FC being the other.

Are there likely to be a few crucifixions on the chapel wall if the result doesn't go our way?

I thought we would struggle against the Dogs, but I also feel we somehow perform better against the Saints (maybe my memory is failing me?).  I'm not dismissing our chances for today. 

Want to see Weid have his first ever 4+ goal game tonight. 

He has been so consistent kicking 2 and 3 goals each week and now he deserves a big reward.  5 goals in a win.

35 minutes ago, Beetle said:

Two saints mates of mine are not confident and believe we will bash them in the middle.

Naturally I laughed and told them they are kidding themselves, because I am a pessimistic Melbourne supporter who is scarred for life.

This will be a classic rebound loss to the Saints.

Gawn to our mids... bomb to our 35 and then like the proverbial sling shot back it comes to a loose Saints forward.

Goodwin knows no other way

Spargo and KP are not exactly forwards capable of locking the ball in.

13 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

This will be a classic rebound loss to the Saints.

Gawn to our mids... bomb to our 35 and then like the proverbial sling shot back it comes to a loose Saints forward.

Goodwin knows no other way

Spargo and KP are not exactly forwards capable of locking the ball in.

I would argue, they're the only two capable of the required pressure and that is the problem.

Two players can't lock the ball in a forward line.

Our mids play a massive role in this as well. If they can't put good pressure on around the ball, then our forwards get sucked up to help, then when we win it, we don't have the required numbers at the drop of the ball and they waltz it out.

 

Edited August 29, 20205 yr by Cheesy D. Pun

11 minutes ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

I would argue, they're the only two capable of the required pressure and that is the problem.

Two players can't lock the ball in a forward line.

Our mids play a massive role in this as well. If they can't put good pressure on around the ball, then our forwards get sucked up to help, then when we win it, we don't have the required numbers at the drop of the ball and they waltz it out.

Yep, and the problem is, it's been largely left to Spargo and Pickett to provide the forward pressure. Hannan, Melksham and Fritsch all poor in that area, especially the last month or so. Combine that with our delivery going gradually backwards again and it's a recipe for scores from turnovers, a big weakness. Dogs kicked 5 of their 6 goals from turnovers in that 3rd quarter last week.

7 hours ago, Deesprate said:

The Saints had a pretty tough game last week whereas we played bruise free football against Dogs. With a week rest there is simply no excuse to drop this one. However the fact are a quarter of our team has been turned over plus other than a depleted Pies outfit we have beaten no one above us. Lose this and another season wasted win it and redemption is possible. I think where a 40/60 proposition. A loss confirm we are a 10/14 team a win put us in the 5-8 bracket. Big game for club and Goody. This site will meltdown if we lose. 

I think before this game, we are all already in meltdown, waiting for the 'Crown of Learnings' to abdicate as the parliament tends to desire. Call me insensitive if you like, but one can only tolerate gout for a short period of time. 

The Saints are no heavyweights. Our inconsistency will work in our favour and we’ll come out hard and beat them around the contest. They’ll get some goals on the rebound but we’ll win by 3 points with three demonlanders suffering coronaries during the game 

6 hours ago, doc roet said:

A 100 pt drubbing should do the trick. 

If 'the trick' is the immediate appointment of another coach!

Gawn Trac Clarry Viney/Gus

Vs

Ryder Steele Jones Ross - not really sure who else goes on. Billing’s usually fwd

we have a significant advantage in the centre and stoppages. Hopefully we have a plan to this advantage!!

langdon, rivers, Wagner and Jones are going to crucial on the outside 

I know this sound critical but when we swing the team changes and we bring in Wagner it hardly instill confidence. We then drop our leading goal kicker for sleeping in. Seriously is it only me that this reason doesn’t stack up. Just fill mean with trepidation about today!