Saintsational

Haven't opened a 'preview' thread yet...not sure if they have one...  Will add later if it appears.

Big Footy

Early on it was outrage at playing in Cairns, selling a home game and doom and gloom over their one pt loss.  Then they realised the sky wasn't falling and not only were they still in the 8 but top 4! 

Unlike our opps in recent weeks they are quite chirpy about our game.

Not so much Doom and Gloom.  

• Our boys will be absolutely rooted after this game. At least we’ve got an easy kill next week. Well done club.

• Don't go there. You know he'll (Dunstan) be stepping up to rub Ratts face in it. Hopefully the club catches Covid and can't field a side.
• You obviously haven't watched much of Melbourne before. We need to re think how we play because if we have 2 players that can score big bags and not much else we will get taken apart.

• Expect the third quarter to be definitive. Both Melbourne and St Kilda have been third quarter teams this year. Which makes me think a fast start in the first two quarters could go a long way this game.

• Now we enter the storm. I'm not optimistic...and am fine with that.

• Overall I think we'll give it a red hot crack. If we pull a win out the port game is forgiven. I hope the boys have a sour taste in their mouths from cairns. Use that fire in their belly as the fuel to get a win this Sunday.
• I'd love to be the team that knocks Melbourne off.
• We are talking levels of delusion much further than previously explored as a supporter of this team.

Optimism:

• In hindsight I thought we were really good just unlucky.  Should account for Melbourne then Geelong pretty comfortably considering our form and mental toughness.
• I think we can give them a real shake and possibly even get a win if we play as well we did the last time we played at the MCG against the Hawks.

• What a way to win redemption if we can knock off the Dees at the MCG, I watched them today and they are ripe for the picking, let's knock them off.
• Actually think we’ll win this. Have felt like it for a few weeks.  Do I think we’re better than Melbourne? No.  But I think they’re ripe for the picking, and we get them at the right time
• You know what they say about things that bleed… I think Melbourne are far from invulnerable. Yes, they’re bloody resilient and at their best they will beat anyone. But, it’s our job to know what their best is and deconstruct it. It’s our job to match their resilience. I think we may flourish being the hunter.

• I'm hoping that the loss last night really hurts them and has also blow away a few egos.  That's the only reason I'm tipping a win.

• I just don't fear Melbourne like other great teams of the past. That's not to take anything away from the dees. They're a great team and deserve all the praise. But compared to the Geelongs, Hawks and Tigers, those teams were just absolutely amazing on their day. I remember facing them and wondering how the hell do we beat them. But with this Melbourne team, idk what it is, it just doesn't scare me as much.

 My favourites:

• I can't see us winning. But I can see us winning. But I can't, but I can?

• 70pt win to us to paper over cracks further, Dees only loss for the season and they utterly pump us in finals as is right.  50/50 but it's us, so no actual chance except May to maybe break records for intercepts.

Apart from Round 1, this is our first real challenge for the season.

This is not a game we can just cruise along in and play a sensational 15 minute burst in the third quarter and win.

If we go in flat, and underdone due to Covid then I think the Saints will win it. 

 

40 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Apart from Round 1, this is our first real challenge for the season.

 

You should listen to Goody and learn to respect the opposition a bit more.  Have a look at some of the footy (say) the Hawks played. It was fantastic. Beating all teams is a challenge. Thankfully the players and staff understand this. 

Have seen the Saints pretty closely this year and what i will say if you look at Higgins for example, he scores so many out the back goals that we just won't allow, Membrey and King are threats in the air, but we have good match ups for them. and our midfield should have the quality to create enough chances to win. 

bottom line is i think the Saints offensively have been able to score goals in ways better teams won't allow and with that method restricted, i don't know if they have the quality as a straight up footy side to beat us over 4 quarters, while acknowledging they're much improved and could easily win enough games to play finals and even win a final, just don't think they're in the bracket of the Melbournes, Sydney, fremantle, Brisbane teams yet

Looking forward to this challenge against the Saints, they are in pretty good form, hard slog up in Cairns and only just missed out on the win. I think they come at a good time for us too, we aren't playing awesome footy, but we are finding a way every week to win, and winning in different ways too. 

There are two very weak teams out of 18 in the eagles and north, everyone else is capable of causing an upset, and they are all trying to work out how to pick apart our game. Hawthorn scored more against us than I think any other team this season and that will be noted by other teams too.

5 hours ago, Baghdad Bob said:

You should listen to Goody and learn to respect the opposition a bit more.  Have a look at some of the footy (say) the Hawks played. It was fantastic. Beating all teams is a challenge. Thankfully the players and staff understand this. 

I take nothing away from anyone we played. But I don’t think so far we’ve played anyone who is a serious contender. Saints could be a serious contender. 
 

All credit to Hawthorn but if we don’t lose 5 players to Covid during week and a defender during the game we win by 6+ goals. 
We ran out of gas in the last and had a poor defensive week missing some really key players. We did extremely well to win. Most other teams would not have, especially doing what we’ve done all year and playing 15 blistering minutes then parking the bus. 
It worked against Hawthorn but it won’t against the Saints. 

Edited May 2, 20222 yr by Jaded No More

29 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

I take nothing away from anyone we played. But I don’t think so far we’ve played anyone who is a serious contender. Saints could be a serious contender. 
 

All credit to Hawthorn but if we don’t lose 5 players to Covid during week and a defender during the game we win by 6+ goals. 
We ran out of gas in the last and had a poor defensive week missing some really key players. We did extremely well to win. Most other teams would not have, especially doing what we’ve done all year and playing 15 blistering minutes then parking the bus. 
It worked against Hawthorn but it won’t against the Saints. 

They also had Jiath, M.Lewis and their 2 ruckman out so had to rely on Max Lynch to nullify Gawn which he couldn't. Jiath and Lewis are both guns. And because they aren't as deep as us their losses are just as big. Throw in Grainger-Barrass who is an exciting up and coming defender. We can't mention our outs without mentioning theirs.

Edited May 2, 20222 yr by Deedubs

From Saintsational forum:

TheirThread Title:  "I honestly believe we can beat the dees if: "

• ...Ratten leaves his ego in the locker room and makes a statement. Just like when Dal and Milne were dropped...
• ...Gawn, Oliver, May and Petracca all contract COVID before the weekend. But it will still be close!  More seriously, even the best teams can be beaten if they have an off day. But, if Melbourne play to their usual form, they are certain to win
• ...if we swap midfields.
• ...we start playing 2 hours before they do and we don't kick a point!
• If we are to have any chance, which is unlikely, we need to make a few few changes to improve our skills, pace and decision making.
• The Dees haven't be blowing teams out of the water, I don't think they're invincible by any stretch of the imagination.
• Not writing us off because off a bad game in poor conditions but let’s be real, the demons are good, real good. That is not underselling our ability but I think Melbourne is just better so I am hoping they have an off day and we play well
• Yeah , we can beat the dees. All we have to do is kick a bigger score than they do. Easy peasy.
• Wouldn’t it be a great way to announce ourselves as genuine contenders. Not just beat them, give them a real spanking

My favourite:

The game will go 3 ways

1. We play our best , they are slightly off , we win by a close margin .
2. We play our best , they play their best , they have too much class and win by 2 to 5 goals .
3. We play [censored] , they play their best and smash us , 6+ goals.

           Chances:     1 about 10%.   2 and 3 90%

Edited May 3, 20222 yr by Lucifers Hero

I’ve been looking forward to this game since they started playing some good footy, don’t ask me why but I love the idea of a genuine rivalry building between us. Saints vs Demons, heaven & hell and all that. 

I also think the Saints when they’ve played their best have a really good “brand” of footy. King is a star in the making, so it will be interesting to see who we play in him. The obvious choice is May but I think it’ll end up being Petty. 

We’ve had a few frustrating weeks of poor connectivity in the HF/Forward part of the ground. We’ve got more than a few capable players who can kick bags, and while I love that Brown got himself 4 last week he got a couple of soft free kicks and he didn’t seem to attack the contest to mark the ball as much as he has in the past. Fritta is always capable of breaking a game open but just seems to be travelling along at the moment. Then comes the conundrum of Weid vs TMac, who gets the spot and will be see the best of them?

I’m happy with the way we’re going at 7-0 but I just wait for that day that the players don’t go at their full potential and expect the game to go their way. I think the Saints will go as hard as they can early on and potentially tire at the end, so if we’re in from the 3qtr time I could see us cantering away. 

But totally respect them and their best is capable of knocking anyone off. 

Would expect Hunt to have the shut down role on Higgins, possibly Petty/May on King/Membrey.  They don't have many other avenues to goal.

As an aside, In a footy show they showed how Hill is blocking for King, sometimes illegally but because he is ahead of the ball the umps don't notice it.  Hill runs straight toward where King is as if he is heading toward the ball.  Then he runs between King and his opp or 'accidentally' runs into or bumps King's opp enabling King to break away and mark.  Worked every time.  Hill's op needs to detour him so we can get genuine 1vs1 or 2vs1 with KIng with Lever a chance to intercept.

6 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Would expect Hunt to have the shut down role on Higgins, possibly Petty/May on King/Membrey.  They don't have many other avenues to goal.

As an aside, In a footy show they showed how Hill is blocking for King, sometimes illegally but because he is ahead of the ball the umps don't notice it.  Hill runs straight toward where King is as if he is heading toward the ball.  Then he runs between King and his opp or 'accidentally' runs into or bumps King's opp enabling King to break away and mark.  Worked every time.  Hill's op needs to detour him so we can get genuine 1vs1 or 2vs1 with KIng with Lever a chance to intercept.

Thanks you've given me something to watch, which show?

On 5/2/2022 at 8:00 AM, Lucifers Hero said:

We are talking levels of delusion much further than previously explored as a supporter of this team.

Thanks Luci! My fave ⬆️
😂

…and this one ⬇️ which should be cut and pasted into every club’s forum…

“I'd love to be the team that knocks Melbourne off.”

 

Edited May 3, 20222 yr by WalkingCivilWar
Left out an apostrophe. The horror… THE HORROR

51 minutes ago, DEE fence said:

Thanks you've given me something to watch, which show?

It was one of the Fox shows. 

Its also discussed in this article:  is-this-saints-tactic-legal-star-recruit-sacrifices-his-own-game

Edited May 3, 20222 yr by Lucifers Hero

12 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

It was one of the Fox shows. 

Its discussed in this article:  is-this-saints-tactic-legal-star-recruit-sacrifices-his-own-game

Thanks Luci.

This relies on Hill being free to go, and there being enough time for him to impact the contest.  If we slow ball movement, then there is no way Hill gets a free run and can be ‘escorted’ to the contest.  It also means Hills opponent is free for fast outlet.  We use a second tall to come across (like petty) to impact the contest where we can, and have a great result in minimising inside 50 marks for opposition teams.

Hills tactic is now in the open so expect scrutiny, umpires to watch for it and hopefully an accidental elbow in the head from Maysie if he gets in the way….

If Hill tries that on the weekend May will put him on his [censored] and they’ll be a man down 😆

I hope Petty is right to play this week. He is the perfect matchup for King.

I think May takes Membrey so he can help us peel off and give Petty a hand.

This will be a really good game. I expect it to be close, as Saints have played some great footy.

I think our midfield will outclass them, and I hope our forwardline connection finally improves because we can push their defence if we just kick better going inside 50. 

Maybe just maybe, our players finally going up against a top 4 side, will come out interested in playing a full game instead of toying with the opposition for 15 minutes. We all know that when we are at our best, nobody is better than us.

Will be so interesting as well to see if Saints play their natural game and go head to head, or if they go defensive and try to shut us down like so many other sides have done. 

Saints will surely struggle after that game in FNQ ..

Hopefully the team will rise to the occasion and play a good brand of 4 quarter footy. Really stamp our authority on the season, which is what i expect will happen.

They play a similar offensive brand to the Hawks, Crows, Blues. If you stop their quick ball movement and hit them on the turnover, their lack of defensive system will be exposed for all to see. 

Looking forward to this game, most of my friends are saints supporters so we always pencil this game in at the start of the year. It's helped that the partner of one of my friends is a dees fan so I'm not so outnumbered and don't have to dish out all the insults. 

In fairness to them they all jumped on the dees bandwagon last year and helped me celebrate our drought breaking flag. They way they talk about their footy at the moment, hopeful but full of doubt and waiting for an enevitiable collapse, resonates all too well. I genuinely hope they continue on their good form and push for a flag in the coming years, and I'll happily celebrate with them too. Of course if it's against us they can all go get stuffed and drown in their own salty tears when they lose, as they can on Sunday as well.

33 minutes ago, CYB said:

Hopefully the team will rise to the occasion and play a good brand of 4 quarter footy. Really stamp our authority on the season, which is what i expect will happen.

They play a similar offensive brand to the Hawks, Crows, Blues. If you stop their quick ball movement and hit them on the turnover, their lack of defensive system will be exposed for all to see. 

This site has good stats https://www.wheeloratings.com/afl_stats_team.html  There is a play on % stat (I'm not sure what the % is of), which I would normally equate to an offensive brand, and Crows and Saints are bottom 3.  Interestingly Hawks were near the bottom, and then last week they played on nearly 50% more than normal against us.  Port are high up, but then against us they decided to change it and played on 50% less and were hopeless.  

Sides that take the game on can hurt is (like the dogs for a qtr), but that comes unstuck against us when we bring pressure.  Our pressure has been down this year compared to last year, and all the related stats are down (pressure acts, tackles, ground ball gets etc). For Tackles we were #1 last year, and this year are #16.  I hope we can turn the pressure on when needed. Would be good to do it this week.   

 

 

19 minutes ago, Watson11 said:

This site has good stats https://www.wheeloratings.com/afl_stats_team.html  There is a play on % stat (I'm not sure what the % is of), which I would normally equate to an offensive brand, and Crows and Saints are bottom 3.  Interestingly Hawks were near the bottom, and then last week they played on nearly 50% more than normal against us.  Port are high up, but then against us they decided to change it and played on 50% less and were hopeless.  

Sides that take the game on can hurt is (like the dogs for a qtr), but that comes unstuck against us when we bring pressure.  Our pressure has been down this year compared to last year, and all the related stats are down (pressure acts, tackles, ground ball gets etc). For Tackles we were #1 last year, and this year are #16.  I hope we can turn the pressure on when needed. Would be good to do it this week.   

 

 

Interesting stat re tackles.  Last year we were the hunters, this year the hunted?  Teams have tried to go around us and we seem to like creating a contest and clearance, but tackling should be one of our KPIs!

4 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Thanks Luci! My fave ⬆️
😂

…and this one ⬇️ which should be cut and pasted into every club’s forum…

“I'd love to be the team that knocks Melbourne off.”

 

Yes I like that one as well he must be five years old

Wonder what the thoughts of Cooper Grech are about this game?

I don't think we've actually beaten anyone this year.  Hawthorn were OK but the rest have been awful.  Saints will give us an indication where we really are.

Saints are glass cannons - I don't think their midfield or defence are that flash but they're still a quality side

I'd love to put them away convincingly after the nonsense in the media of hawks finding the blue print to beat us