12 hours ago, dee-tox said:

Awesome first half burst. Won on the inside and the outside. At times the kicking was amazing.

The good: May, what can you say. Best player on the league at the moment.

Brown. Such a handful for opposition. Always brings ball to ground. 

The bad: Our rucks. Max seemed to get injured in the second quarter. Jacko was beaten by two good rucks.

The ugly. WTF was Zac Jones trying to prove ironing out Angdon and elbowing Clarry. Ridiculous 

I see May gave him a heavy contact a bit later. 

4 more wins to finals!

3 minutes ago, old dee said:

I see May gave him a heavy contact a bit later. 

may looked like he was ready to kill him and then pulled out of the contest to a greater / lesser degree

1 minute ago, whatwhat say what said:

may looked like he was ready to kill him and then pulled out of the contest to a greater / lesser degree

It was still a tough one. Glad it was not me on the end of it.

12 minutes ago, old dee said:

I see May gave him a heavy contact a bit later. 

Happened right in front of me, knew the outcome seconds before it happened. Definitely made him earn that free aha

Steve May is absolutely critical. Great player but he is our General and enforcer. After years of woeful recruiting I can hardly think of a step wrong in recent times. May recruitment was a master stroke. He is on the couch tonight for those with Fox will be interesting to hear him and how he bounced back from his early setback at Dees

11 hours ago, CYB said:

I reckon there has to be something in our approach to our loads and how we play in the H and A. It seems  we have no interest in burying teams because it’s not worth the potential injury / exhaustion for a couple of %. If we get the Ws with 4-6 goal margins the overall % takes care of itself. 

It allows us to switch on the nitrous oxide in the finals without cracking the head gasket. 

 

We play to defend leads, not to put our feet down and win by 80.

In the last we knew they would come, that they would take more risks and try to attack the corridor. Our set up was all about negating that and taking the heat out of the game.

We have been doing it for a while. I suspect it will come back to bite us one day but I can see why they are doing it

9 minutes ago, Deesprate said:

his early setback at Dees

Was that the time a human being had a beer in a public space?

13 hours ago, The heart beats true said:

I just watched the replay and aside from the fact we are a very good side I love seeing Jack Viney play footy these days. He’s very comfortable with his role, and he seems genuinely happy and relaxed on field. It’s so great to see after what he’s been through. 

Agreed.  Also Viney played a really solid game in tight.  His intensity and toughness early set the tone as usual. great leadership

I watched Kozzi closely during the game and I thought he was amazing.  He chased everything at full pace.  even when the bloke for 40m metres away.  often he didn't reach the bloke before he disposed of the ball but the pressure was still there and it resulted in so many turnovers.  he could/should have had 4 goals by half time

the only blight on his game was the Selwood pushing the arm high to get a free kick I didn't like. Hopefully the coaches have a chat

I agree with previous comments that going to the footy with my family these days is so enjoyable , stress free and you can concentrate on each play and watching how the team rolls into action offensively and defensively. TMac, Kozzie and BBB played with such freedom and confidence in the first half, it was scintillating.

Gus bog for me closely followed by Lingers, Clarry and Tracc. Max was playing injured and we really missed his marking and ruck prowess but didn’t let it interfere with our game plan. Saints really challenged us but we had them covered and kept them goalless in the first. Go Dees.!!!

2 hours ago, John Demonic said:

Whenever ive seen Ross Lyon do a matchup analysis of our games on Footy Classified, in all of last years finals and this week v stkilda  , he's always tipped our opponents and said: "I think they can get it done" 

Ross was driving me spare was listing to MMM while I was at the match he kept referring to us being 19 points down in the GF and being "gettable"....um dont mention the fact we won the flag by 12 goals and no one has "got" us since!

19 hours ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Thought Hunt had another very good game, he’s very steady back there.

Thought it was his best negating game for the year. Closed the space down for Higgins and their other smaller forwards instantly. They were never able to get clean looks at goal and Hunty was a big part of that. 

1 hour ago, Engorged Onion said:

Was that the time a human being had a beer in a public space?

I’d say it was turning up to his first pre-season unfit and out of shape, as he himself has admitted, the beer was a stupid beat up, but Maysie let himself down that first year.

The Mongrel Review.

https://themongrelpunt.com/afl-season-2022/2022/05/08/melbourne-v-st-kilda-just-the-big-questions/

 

Hmmmm, is Clarry percevied as a diver??

Edited May 9, 20222 yr by Engorged Onion

I thought we were outstanding in the first half. The pressure was off the charts, little drop off in the second but we had our structure so dialed in that it really didn’t matter what the Saints were doing. And to be fair the Saints were doing everything they could, they had high pressure themselves and found some fortune with taking the game on more and using Hill off half back but in the end they were just not able to put it in the right place to get decent looks at goal, not enough anyway.

This team has now played a quality opposition and brushed them aside. Highly touted weapons this year Max King and Jack Higgins had 3 goals between them with two of those being pretty bloopy decisions, they didn’t really get near it. This is the thing about this Melbourne side, we will take your best weapons away from you and make you beat us with your worst weapons. Not to mention running, spreading, all round pressure. We just do it that little bit better.

I personally thought Gus was BOG. His workrate to get to every single contest was on display as he took 13 marks with so much courage. Quite often these were on St Kilda counter attacks that could have helped them back into the game. Ed Langdon take a bow son, not only did he get the leather poisoning with his 39 possesions but every time it was his turn to go, he went. Put his body on the line for the team and was sensational. I do wonder if Brett Ratten was emailed the answers to the exam but actually filed the email in the trash after we saw what Hawthorn did last week by tagging Langdon and forcing him back inwards. Ed was allowed to patrol down the wing freely with no-one checking his runs, he was often involved in plays that started at defensive 50 and then he’d pushed up to forward 50 unmarked. Clarry was consistent again, great contested game across 4 quarters. Trac put in another great shift and probably should have had a goal. Viney and Sparrow chipped in to make this a very good all round midfield effort.

When you see Kozzie Pickett start a game the way he did yesterday, you know he’s going to be pretty hard to stop for the rest of the game. He’s the kind of player you just can’t afford to give any space to, even that extra inch is too much. All good goals from him, onya Kozzie!

How about Charlie Spargo? He’s really the AFL version of ‘Rudy’. You can just see him at junior footy level constantly hearing “You’re too short, you’re too short” but his work rate is higher than the best kid in the team. He never gives up on a contest, even when he’s outnumbered he knows if he can just lay a tackle good enough to slow them down or force a scruffy kick he’s done his job.

Thought Harry Petty played a good game, couple of errors here and there but I thought he had his eye in and really pressed the contest. He’s only going to get better. Steven May, well let’s just say Max King might as well have been standing next to a bulldozer. King wanted the Saints mids to kick it on top of his head and his this character leaning on him all game not allowing him to get a clean jump at it. King’s biggest strength was taken away from him.

Across the board it was a huge team effort. Benny Brown and T-mac providing the targets up front, I don’t know what this means for Weid in the next few weeks now as it would have been good to see him get his confidence up against some battling teams.

I do think Clarry puts a little mayonnaise on things too often. The Jones tunnelling incident was ordinary but I don't think Clarry needed to go down like that, come in and fly the flag for sure but you're too good to be doing that stuff.

Great win Dees, hope all the mums had a great mothers day! Off to the west on Sun and hopefully lightening isn’t on the forecast this time!

I thought we maybe got a bit of the rub of the green from the men in yellow but did anybody else think that the saints were incredibly undisciplined and attempting to “rough us” at times? The Zac Jones is an obvious one but there felt like there were several examples of them taking players out after they got rid of the ball and tried to tackle “hard”. 

All for a team playing hard but I felt like they were overstepping it in an attempt to rattle us. Obviously didn’t work. 

Edited May 9, 20222 yr by Pates

23 minutes ago, layzie said:

I thought we were outstanding in the first half. The pressure was off the charts, little drop off in the second but we had our structure so dialed in that it really didn’t matter what the Saints were doing. And to be fair the Saints were doing everything they could, they had high pressure themselves and found some fortune with taking the game on more and using Hill off half back but in the end they were just not able to put it in the right place to get decent looks at goal, not enough anyway.

This team has now played a quality opposition and brushed them aside. Highly touted weapons this year Max King and Jack Higgins had 3 goals between them with two of those being pretty bloopy decisions, they didn’t really get near it. This is the thing about this Melbourne side, we will take your best weapons away from you and make you beat us with your worst weapons. Not to mention running, spreading, all round pressure. We just do it that little bit better.

I personally thought Gus was BOG. His workrate to get to every single contest was on display as he took 13 marks with so much courage. Quite often these were on St Kilda counter attacks that could have helped them back into the game. Ed Langdon take a bow son, not only did he get the leather poisoning with his 39 possesions but every time it was his turn to go, he went. Put his body on the line for the team and was sensational. I do wonder if Brett Ratten was emailed the answers to the exam but actually filed the email in the trash after we saw what Hawthorn did last week by tagging Langdon and forcing him back inwards. Ed was allowed to patrol down the wing freely with no-one checking his runs, he was often involved in plays that started at defensive 50 and then he’d pushed up to forward 50 unmarked. Clarry was consistent again, great contested game across 4 quarters. Trac put in another great shift and probably should have had a goal. Viney and Sparrow chipped in to make this a very good all round midfield effort.

When you see Kozzie Pickett start a game the way he did yesterday, you know he’s going to be pretty hard to stop for the rest of the game. He’s the kind of player you just can’t afford to give any space to, even that extra inch is too much. All good goals from him, onya Kozzie!

How about Charlie Spargo? He’s really the AFL version of ‘Rudy’. You can just see him at junior footy level constantly hearing “You’re too short, you’re too short” but his work rate is higher than the best kid in the team. He never gives up on a contest, even when he’s outnumbered he knows if he can just lay a tackle good enough to slow them down or force a scruffy kick he’s done his job.

Thought Harry Petty played a good game, couple of errors here and there but I thought he had his eye in and really pressed the contest. He’s only going to get better. Steven May, well let’s just say Max King might as well have been standing next to a bulldozer. King wanted the Saints mids to kick it on top of his head and his this character leaning on him all game not allowing him to get a clean jump at it. King’s biggest strength was taken away from him.

Across the board it was a huge team effort. Benny Brown and T-mac providing the targets up front, I don’t know what this means for Weid in the next few weeks now as it would have been good to see him get his confidence up against some battling teams.

I do think Clarry puts a little mayonnaise on things too often. The Jones tunnelling incident was ordinary but I don't think Clarry needed to go down like that, come in and fly the flag for sure but you're too good to be doing that stuff.

Great win Dees, hope all the mums had a great mothers day! Off to the west on Sun and hopefully lightening isn’t on the forecast this time!

Harmes also super reliable winning ball tackling and kicking goals

Ihave never seen him run so much contest to contest

Brilliant game

3 hours ago, David-Demon said:

So where does Salem fit into the mould.

I'd think he just slots back onto his HBF position where he is a star. However that isn't the role that Hunt's playing. The flow on effects are gonna be fascinating though as Gus is playing so well off half back that you'd be loathe to move him. Plus JJ has obviously studied the Gus 2021 playbook and is doing a terrific job of emulating him. Salo's return is a great problem to have and I'm currently clueless as to how the match committee will put all the pieces together.

12 minutes ago, Kent said:

Harmes also super reliable winning ball tackling and kicking goals

Ihave never seen him run so much contest to contest

Brilliant game

Nice spot up Kent, can't believe I missed Harmes. Worked his backside off as usual and got some reward for effort with those goals. 

I think there's a balance to be found between enjoying our wins and success but also striving for improvement. Sometimes when a constructive criticism is offered on here there is a swift condemnation, asking 'can't you just enjoy our win', 'are you never content'? But here is an interview from Steven may showing that even after great wins there is a striving for improvement amongst the team. It doesn't take away the win or joy of success but rather ensures that it will continue. I love the attitude of the club atm. It's how dynasties are made. Always hungry for more. 

AFL WEBSITE - 

St Kilda's second half against Melbourne was the real deal

“the Saints should be heartened by their effort against the reigning premiers. After trailing by nine goals to one, the Saints restricted the Dees to just five more goals for the game, while adding seven of their own.”

Wow. We know we’re a top team when we beat up the opposition by 6 goals and they get all the praise. 

Just now, spirit of norm smith said:

AFL WEBSITE - 

St Kilda's second half against Melbourne was the real deal

“the Saints should be heartened by their effort against the reigning premiers. After trailing by nine goals to one, the Saints restricted the Dees to just five more goals for the game, while adding seven of their own.”

Wow. We know we’re a top team when we beat up the opposition by 6 goals and they get all the praise. 

Agreed. Outside of us with the red and blue hearts, articles saying Melbourne were brilliant again  just isn’t an interesting story any more. It’s old news. Happy to win another flag with accolades going to teams getting within 6 goals of us. 

17 hours ago, Dwight Schrute said:

3.  it felt like we expected the Saints to really challenge us, so we really set ourselves, went bang, sat them on their bottoms and then went back into cruise control for the rest of the game. 

I think this is exactly right. Although we try to defend the ground the same way every time, we have a few modes of play in attack and you can visibly see us switch modes when the time is right. I was sitting next to my son as the last quarter was starting saying - you watch we will slow play all our attacks this quarter and soak up the clock. This is our defensive mode once we have a defensible lead. We never go 100% all game, we control the tempo. It is actually strangely effective, when we switch gears teams get confused for s while and it often opens up scoring opportunities. 

1 hour ago, Pates said:

I thought we maybe got a bit of the rub of the green from the men in yellow but did anybody else think that the saints were incredibly undisciplined and attempting to “rough us” at times? The Zac Jones is an obvious one but there felt like there were several examples of them taking players out after they got rid of the ball and tried to tackle “hard”. 

All for a team playing hard but I felt like they were overstepping it in an attempt to rattle us. Obviously didn’t work. 

Does "kicking in danger" exist anymore? Sainters did this a number of times.