14.12 in the last quarter, ANB burns Woewodin on the outside, dummies back on the inside, ignore Ben Brown on the lead alone and then kicks long to Charlie Spargo top of the goal square. He needs a serious lesson on decision making. Gives his all, but too often makes extremely poor decisions. Did it earlier in the game running inside 50 and had the whole goals open and went for a pass to the pocket that was easily defended. It’s been years of watching him do it. Last week, is inability to execute the 45 kick inside 50 probably cost us the game. Get it fixed Nibbler!

I thought that was a very good win against a very tight defensive unit.

Trac and May were both brilliant and we looked well balanced and I even like Brown and Melksham work.

Thought Jordon and sparrow were good too.

3 hours ago, watchtheeyes said:

My god the negativity on this site is too much sometimes… you realise they were fifth right? And any impact for fewer subs would’nt have played a part until later 4Q.

Was it perfect? No. But there were still things to like including some awesome individual performances.. and straight kicking. 
 

Enjoy the wins when they come people. Yeesh

Spot on.

They are a good team - as you say 5th to our 4th on the ladder well past the halfway mark of the season.

They would have taken our spot in the 4 if they'd won - classic  eight point game.

Excellent sytem that the players are fully invested in.

And well coached and hard to score against - particularly at marvel, their home deck.

Marshall was awesome - he is a star. As is Sinclair.

And they have some real quality young players. 

8 hours ago, layzie said:

Well done to Trac, the man that can't 'kick straight'

Turning myself in as someone skeptical about playing him forward.

He found his inner Dusty.

And four straight. Match winning effort.

Get well soon Oliver, we have a new forward.

I still think just one more tall up forward would be good.

Edited July 8, 20231 yr by leave it to deever

6 hours ago, kev martin said:

Not sure about concussion. He coped a hit in the 4th just in front of me. Appeared a bit groggy and the trainers were slow to get out to him. Hope the sub was more about precaution. 

Anyone watching at home know more about it?

C7 mentioned he copped to knocks on his back but not sure if they knew what was what.

4 hours ago, binman said:

Spot on.

They are a good team - as you say 5th to our 4th on the ladder well past the halfway mark of the season.

They would have taken our spot in the 4 if they'd won - classic  eight point game.

Excellent sytem that the players are fully invested in.

And well coached and hard to score against - particularly at marvel, their home deck.

Marshall was awesome - he is a star. As is Sinclair.

And they have some real quality young players. 

Good call. I though the Saints played very well. They ran hard and tackled relentlessly. Their mids were dominant. They were playing at home in front of a pro crowd and vying for top four.

If not for May we probably would have lost this. Remarkable game by him. Oh and Trac going from a dreadful four behinds to four very good goals certainly helped.

 

Edited July 8, 20231 yr by leave it to deever

6 hours ago, The heart beats true said:

Riiiggggggghhhhhhhhhhtttttttt?

Theres a lot of ‘from my couch the players look lazy’ going on.

Are those that went to the game doing wind sprints in the aisles?

Give me a break. 

6 hours ago, A F said:

Yes and no. Tonight we got some of our slingshot ball movement going again that's been missing since Round 10.

Coast to coast goals have been rare in the last 6 weeks, but we got a few of them tonight.

We relied heavily on stoppage goals early, so our turnover game was not there, our press was cut through early too. Quick teams will always do well against a press. Thankfully May is a great backstop.

It was hard to see on TV but we looked like we weren’t as aggressive with the high press and allowed more chains off half back - by definition it creates more spaces for forwards if you with it quick.

30 minutes ago, rpfc said:

Are those that went to the game doing wind sprints in the aisles?

Give me a break. 

Agree, [censored] comment.

People who live interstate and physically can't get to the games are now not allowed to give an opinions and observations on the game? Spare me alright.

Anyway, my take on the game from the benefit of my couch.

The Saints will be fine under Ross. He's a very good coach and even being out of the time he's tinkered his game plan and added new elements. Saints will be an interesting watch over the next few years. Still need to add some talent of depth and I think they'll be knocking on the door.

It was a nearly game for us. At times we looked like we were going to pile on the goals but whether that was still the last kick inside 50 thay costs us or a simple turnover then it's something we still need to get better at.

I think the Gawn/Grundy comments have been valid. Unfortunately Max was poor where as upon reflection Brodie wasn't as bad as I thought. At least when he's in the ruck he's trying to stay involved in the game with his follow up work and tackling.

This might put people off but imo I think I'd rather Grundy be given more minutes as a starting ruck and let him work his way into the game. Have Gawn as a bit of a supporting act for thr next few weeks. Wouldn't hurt to start Gawn on the bench just to have him cherry ripe for finals.

Melksham had an almost game as well. So unlucky not to have taken at least 2 of those near attempted marks in front of goals. Would have easily had 4 goals on the night. 

With our forward structure, still think we are still lacking a tall forward up there. I really want to see how the JVR/Brown combo looks. I reckon Brown taking the number 1 defender eases so much pressure on Van Rooyen. He's just too good to be not playing senior footy.

Our backs were absolutely super last night! Didn't realise Lever was being tagged which just shows how highly regarded he is within coaching ranks, especially by Ross Lyon. May turn thr clock back and was back to his 2021 All Australian best. Keep that form up and we'll be fine.

Bowey completely shut down Dan Butler, Petty was great until he went off, hopefully nothing serious. Thought Rivers ball use was poor but still won some crucial one on ones.

And finally, Woewodin looked like a senior player. Didn't realise how clean he was, but he's certainly got some class. Didn't one bit look like a kid that was overawed by the occasion. 

It's the little things that you notice such as his beautiful kick to Petracca's advantage to set up that goal. The attack on the ball in the last to then win it and dish it off near the half forward as well as his left foot kick into deep 50 to set up Langdon. He certainly gets a game next week that's for sure.

 

Edited July 8, 20231 yr by dazzledavey36

Just saw the post game pressers. Lyon is sarcastic and arrogant and says some curious things. But at least he's interesting. Goodwin? Win or lose, he's dull, bland and repetitive. Pointless listening.

Not sure if has been commented on.

 

May broke three of their players.

1.  king’s shoulders popped out when he hit his iron hard chest
2. seb ross pulled a hammy running away from may
3. Cordy got knocked out from may’s knee in that hanger

the human wrecking ball

 

Number 2 is pushing it a little

Edited July 8, 20231 yr by Rocknroll

Salem is one tough cookie. 

3 injuries for Saints speaks to a team that came out hard and put their bodies on the line. They really wanted this win and couldn’t get it. Roll the dice again - they’d still end up with injuries.

Saints were kicking straight enough, different to the Demons last week. When they were getting set shots they were hard - that is the Demon’s defence at work.

Great to see the Demon’s systems stand up against one of the top teams this year.

8 hours ago, demon3165 said:

Change plans and make him the main ruckman, with plenty of game time and Grundy coming off the bench..

yes its not rocket science !

7 hours ago, Demon Jack said:

Another well timed reminder for St Kilda that they took Paddy McCartin ahead of Christian Petracca at #1 at the 2014 draft.

Cheers Sainters.

I’m not sure we’ve earned the right yo mock clubs draft choices…..Dustin Martin and Jack Riewoldt say hi

5 minutes ago, Kent said:

yes its not rocket science !

Except that gawns ruck craft has become one dimensional at stoppages

its push the opponent under the ball grab it and hack it fwd

he can’t or won’t jump in the contest and we don’t see any palming to advantage or punches fwd 

I think his main game is marking in field play 

9 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

What a woeful performance if they kicked straight like we did the Saints would have won. What a game by May hate to see how bad we would be without him. 21 is a distant memory. Not good enough to win the flag this year. Kossie must be dropped.

We hit the post 4 times,  them 3

3 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

I’m not sure we’ve earned the right yo mock clubs draft choices…..Dustin Martin and Jack Riewoldt say hi

CP was drafted as a fwd who could play mid

6 hours ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

14.12 in the last quarter, ANB burns Woewodin on the outside, dummies back on the inside, ignore Ben Brown on the lead alone and then kicks long to Charlie Spargo top of the goal square. He needs a serious lesson on decision making. Gives his all, but too often makes extremely poor decisions. Did it earlier in the game running inside 50 and had the whole goals open and went for a pass to the pocket that was easily defended. It’s been years of watching him do it. Last week, is inability to execute the 45 kick inside 50 probably cost us the game. Get it fixed Nibbler!

He does my head in. That simple hit up kick to Bbb missed and then kicking a high ball to Spargo was peak stupidity. 

Should be dropped for that alone. Has been garbage that past 4 weeks

44 minutes ago, Rocknroll said:

Not sure if has been commented on.

 

May broke three of their players.

1.  king’s shoulders popped out when he hit his iron hard chest
2. seb ross pulled a hammy running away from may
3. Cordy got knocked out from may’s knee in that hanger

the human wrecking ball

 

Number 2 is pushing it a little

Something that flew under the radar a little was handballs v kicks.

First quarter we had more handballs than kicks.

Next three quarters we had more kicks than handballs.

Our overuse by hand has been an issue for the past month or so in my opinion, so to see a shift in game like that is a real positive for mine and a trend I hope to see continue.

 

My view from at the ground - i might need to watch the replay to see what the couch peloton saw - was a tough game against a defensive focused team.  

The saints always were positioning themselves defensively of the contest to outnumber any ball movement opportunities. Marshall smashed our rucks = i have to ask, what’s up with Max?  Hardly holds a mark and is rarely threatening.  He marks and we look so much better. Really worry that the whole ‘tap bros’ is not paying dividends yet.

May was outstanding.  The backline held up well.

The saints started with incredible pressure and it took us 1/2 the first quarter to adjust to this.  It looked like we were really trying to take the game on rather than control the tempo, and many times it just did not come off.  More experiments perhaps?

Nibbler v good early.

Kosi - not a shadow on his normal self

Trac - mainly forward tonight, which meant it was Viney and the kids vs the Saints midfield.  JJ did really well, and I think Woey Jnr did enough to hold his spot.  Shame about the goal miss…

BBB - very busy and added value to the team.  Melk did OK, might make way for JVR??

We took the 4 points in a tough encounter.  I will watch the TV replay and see what I missed.  A good result after the tou8gh slog of the last 4 weeks.

go Dees!

15 minutes ago, —coach— said:

Something that flew under the radar a little was handballs v kicks.

First quarter we had more handballs than kicks.

Next three quarters we had more kicks than handballs.

Our overuse by hand has been an issue for the past month or so in my opinion, so to see a shift in game like that is a real positive for mine and a trend I hope to see continue.

 

Worth noting that we kicked 5 straight in the first Qrt. And after an initial 10 minutes period of high-pressure football from Saints we looked quite dominant

Unsure of any correlation to handballs, but we played some really good football in Q1

Was willing that Woey goal to go through but will be nicer to have him mail his first at the G. Really impressed with his debut. Hope they keep him in for next week.

I have nothing to add, as to why it would be the case, but it felt pretty pronounced early in the last when Max took a contested mark, I thought I have barely seen him hold one all year... and I then thought, we'd be on for the win.