2 hours ago, Roost it far said:

I think he’s referring to Collingwood upping the training not us

Nup, was referring to us.

2 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I hope that's not the case

I'd be prioritising the game we have a better chance of winning, otherwise we run the risk of losing both games.

Yep, i can see that logic, and of course i'm just guessing so there's every chance i'm way off base.

I just wonder, given how poorly we have played in the Queens, Kings birthday game in the last few years (ironically, in large part because, IMO, we have been loading at this point in previous seasons) if the idea might be to be cherry ripe for the game.

6 hours ago, Colm said:

@binman I know it’s getting a bit of topic for this thread but I wonder if the opposite might be true for Collingwood heading into the Kings birthday game. They have a 10 day break before that game and a 12 day break after.

Would you be thinking that they will ramp up their loading ahead of our game and look to put in a really good block over that 22 period? They are top and can afford to risk losing one or two to be cherry ripe for the business end.

We might be getting them at a good time is what I hoping for.

I reckon there's a reasonable chance you're right - it would make sense on a few levels.

One, as you suggest the timing works in terms of the breaks they have.

Two, again as you say they can afford to risk losing a game or too (just as we could in 2022 and 2023)

Three, and this one hurts a bit - they might have assessed us a game they could take that risk and still win.

As i noted above it would be ironic if we are cherry ripe in that game and they are fatigued from loading.

Edited yesterday at 07:061 day by binman

11 minutes ago, binman said:

Nup, was referring to us.

Yes, I was thinking of Colm’s reply to your post. The Pies may well hit a loading phase. I’m not sure we can afford to overwork and risk dropping games especially considering we’ve got a heavy block of games that include travel.

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

I’d love Culley to get a game if say Sparrow got a niggle, a patch of games to see how he goes. I don’t like seeing players waste away playing at Casey.

Sestan has been better than both!

1 minute ago, picket fence said:

Sestan has been better than both!

Sparrow is having an excellent season. Would be happy to try Sestan ahead of Culley if Sparrow was to be out with a niggle. Almost forgot the exclamation mark AND THE CAPITALS!!

41 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Sestan has been better than both!

Agree Sestan has been a standout with his disposal & has been good for several games.

Could replace Salem in defence & move Salem to the mids.

One thing to consider is the dimensions of Traeger Park make it difficult to flood/congest. It is 9 metres longer and 3 metres wider than Marvel. If Ross wants to try to congest the contest, he risks us getting on the outside and leaving lots of space for our forwards to work in.

7 out of the 10 games played there have had at least one team that scored over 90 points.

Edited yesterday at 07:531 day by Stu
Restructured paragraph

8 minutes ago, Stu said:

One thing to consider is the dimensions of Traeger Park make it difficult to flood/congest. It is 9 metres longer and 3 metres wider than Marvel. If Ross wants to try to congest the contest, he risks us getting on the outside and leaving lots of space for our forwards to work in.

7 out of the 10 games played there have had at least one team that scored over 90 points.

Ta Stu, that's interesting.

You're spot on that will hinder the Saint's ability to claim up our forward line.

And even if they flood back into our forward line (which they will) if we're on we are smashing teams when the ball hits the deck inside 50.

The only way I see us losing is

If the saints turn it into a slog

And we don’t convert the chances we manage to create

Not a highly unlikely scenario

Critical we kick straight. Do that and I reckon we win no matter how hard the saints make it for us.

7 minutes ago, BDA said:

The only way I see us losing is

If the saints turn it into a slog

And we don’t convert the chances we manage to create

Not a highly unlikely scenario

Critical we kick straight. Do that and I reckon we win no matter how hard the saints make it for us.

Bound to be a slog/ arm-wrestle. That said it's a bit of acreage to tie up..

Lyon knows he has to bottle us up....or get carved up.

I see it more as StKilda trying to negate us more than us stopping them.

Interesting tussle awaits ...

Viney in according to Channel 7

Jed Adams in.

Reckon Lever will be mystery injury of the week.

1 minute ago, Demonland said:

Jed Adams in.

Reckon Lever will be mystery injury of the week.

If lever is injured, why isn’t TMac selected?

4 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Jed Adams in.

Reckon Lever will be mystery injury of the week.

Jed Adams in the squad. Not necessarily selected to play

6 minutes ago, Bleasey as that said:

Jed Adams in the squad. Not necessarily selected to play

10 to 1 ..emergency

Where is T Mac?? If he plays at Casey the club have Lost the plot. He has been the outstanding defender thus far. DEESGRACE if so!!

I see we've drawn the short straw again and have old mate umpire #22, Nathan Williamson.

I've pre-emptively kicked the cat, thrown my beer at the TV screen and sworn loud and long.

11 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

If lever is injured, why isn’t TMac selected?

My best guess is they will give Lever every chance to play right until gameday. Assuming there is doubt on his fitness.

Given T-mac didn't get a run at either level last week, they probably want to get guaranteed match load into him at Casey rather than run the risk of him missing games two weeks in a row.

Casey play a day before as well so a call was probably made early to go down this path unless a clear spot opens up prior to Casey's game on Saturday.

Doesn't hurt to give Adams a taste of being a travelling emergency and show that he's not far from the match committees thoughts either.

Edited yesterday at 10:571 day by Random Task

Off to the Red (and Blue) Center to play the Saints on Sunday.

Good team selections and it will be interesting to see who will be the sub. After last week's game I could see Viney in for Spargo the only change with Sharp as Sub once again. That would mean besides the named 18 there would be McVee, Turner, AJ and Rivers on the bench.

The three that miss out, Laurie, Adams and Henderson as emergency cover.

Never know, they might decide to have another look at Laurie or give Adams a taste.

Over the last 5 or 6 weeks the team have learnt how to play the game and win. they know what it takes to win. not just to win but how to defeat the opposition. A subtle difference, but an important one I think. It gives the players a good reference point to reset during a game. They know what bringing the pressure game feels like and how to execute it and that i important. The early part of the season they did not know and then something clicked.

Really good to watch them play at the moment.

Dees by 22 points in a strong last quarter.

If Adams is to debut is it May having a rest?

Spargo broken scapula. I broke my right scap in a bike stack. It’s super hard to brake as it’s covered in muscle. Must’ve been a big whack.

Darcy Wilson dropped, a bad case of the 2nd year blues

10 minutes ago, adonski said:

Darcy Wilson dropped, a bad case of the 2nd year blues

I was super impressed with his debut season last year. Had a real X-factor which is something that is sorely lacking from St Kilda.

56 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Jed Adams in.

Reckon Lever will be mystery injury of the week.

From what I've seen from Casey matches this season, Jed Adams has come on quite nicely this year. He's bulked up and has gained significant confidence in his marking ability. If he doesn't play this weekend, I think he'll get a go sooner or later.

Edited yesterday at 09:231 day by Demon Jack