Deeko2

I have to admit, I don’t hate the Saints. I rather admire them this year how they’ve gone about it keeping up some very impressive intensity in there games. I agree that they deserve to play finals and as I can’t see us beating them this week. Our key weapon (Max) is returning from injury and wil be smashed from pillar to post by Marshall and Ryder who are both in good form. Either of those ruckman will then rest forward stretching our defence which I don’t think will be handle King, Membrey, Butler and Billing’s. The only way we’ll win is if our midfield really dominates but not sure if that’s likely. We should beat Sydney and Fremantle easily and I think we can take GWS. My big fear is then the bombers last round. Not just because I despise them more than any other team, not because most of my mates are bombers supporters who’d love to destroy our finals chances again but because I think people forget they can play. I enjoyed nothing more than seeing some crap the bed for the last month but it is hard to win matches with 50% of your salary cap out. They’ll be a completely different team with Joey back in and I really wish we got the chance to play them earlier when they were filth like, well, how ‘the filth’ were filth when we played them.

I’m excited to see someone get there first AA jumper and would be chuffed if May gets one as we’d be in a hell of a lot worse position if he wasn’t around. I can’t remember the year but we had Jamar, Frawley and Green in the squad at the same time with the first two getting AA guernseys. I’m thinking we would have been at best a “middle of the road team” but most likely a bottom 3 or 4 team.

I’m revisiting this thread after every game nearly now which is pretty sad.... The comforting fact against Carlton and the Doggies is our excellent percentage as you stated. Basically gives us an extra win over those two. Not concerned with either.

If we could afford either than I’d be all for it. Both very good players who would easily fit into our 22. Williams would be a great replacement for Hibberd being 5 years younger. Plus, he’d only cost $$ and not high end picks. I actually think he’s quite under rated on this forum. He played very well in the midfield and I my opinion was GWS’ best mid in the last half of the 2019 season and there finals series last year. I’m still filthy we let Papley go after his work with Casey previously. Was right there and we missed it. Anyways, he’d cost a lot at the trade table and I doubt combos of our B graders would get the job done. For me, I think we’d have to pass on Tom for now.

I wonder how Preuss is taking this. Basically came to the club knowing he’d be the number two man and is now number 3 at best. I’m genuinely shocked at Spargo. I hope he goes well and proves me wrong but he’s shown bugger all over the last season and a half. I really don’t know what he brings. Where the bloody hell is Hunt? At least he has pace and can take a grab.

I follow the live ladder here quite frequently as it’s a pretty good with the end of season predictions. https://www.liveladders.com/AFL/ Has us finishing 9th with no changes to the current 8. I can’t see the top 4 losing enough to drop out but I’m thinking the saints will still finish 5-8. I’m fairly confident that the Eagles will be there again. GWS will make finals with there talent as well. I can see the filth dropping back mainly due there key injuries. I had them as top 4 at the start of the year and possibly Geelong with some tough games. Obviosuly vs the Roos is a must win but we have a couple 8 point games coming up against the filth and GWS. I think we should be looking at pinching the Cats or Pies spot this year and will definitely be cheering against them more than usual.

Nice post JJ. One other thing caught my eye was the players you mentioned having excellent years. Other than the ones in bold above, across the whole ground I’d say only May also is having an excellent year. I’m not really adding much to this thread other than to say I’m worried that only 5 players in our squad are probably guaranteed a game at the moment. The others would all have/have had issues with job security week to week. AB is just one of a large list who has been far below the output we know he can produce and like many others on the list we need to keep backing them in.

He definitely started the first centre bounce as I was shocked to see him there. He then spent about 2 more mins on and was benched for six to eight minutes. It looked like a lot of guys in the third quarter we’re looking for him. I think Oliver and Trac both gave him the pill when I’d expect them to usually deliver longer. Maybe they’re aware and trying to bring him back into the game. His third quarter was very nice to watch but the first half I was thinking this kid is cooked. I’m still unsure of his role at the moment. All I know is he definitely can play and those talking of trading him surely know it’s always better to sell high and buy low. Right now we’d get nothing for him. If he has the desire to let them, I believe the coaches need to get him back to his best. I want him playing still and would have him above AVB, Bennell, ANB, Jones, Tomlinson, Sparrow and Harmes. I have nothing against Sparrow but I’m surprised at the midfield minutes he’s getting that should belong to Gussy

Played a wonderful game tonight and glad to see him backing his kicking again and hitting some targets. I still believe he is judged to harshly due to the performances he’s put up in the past although he’s had some fair shanks this year which I’m not sure how that’s crept in. Kids still a star in my book. Has been since day 1

Horse handled it beautifully I thought. Didn’t give the media a big headline but made sure he came across disappointed in how Clarko whinged it up.

I’ve watched most of there games and have loved Steele this season. Hard as a cats scone and is a tackling machine. Hill tonight has been ok tonight but he’s been awful this year. Most supporters were calling for his head. Anyways, I may underrate a few of them but the point I was poorly trying to make is that I’m impressed at how they’re performing as a team which I think is a direct relation to Ratten taking over

Yes definitely some talent there and some good players across the list. If you ranked the top 50 players in the comp though would they have any listed? Not sure. Rihht now they’re looking at a top 4 ladder spot which is about 10 spots higher than where I would have had them in March.

My old man and brother are mad Saints supporters so I have a bit of a soft spot for them. I do like the energy they have around the contests and there speed around the ground. If they didn’t choke with big leads against Roos and Dockers they’d be 6 and 1 this year. I don’t think there is a lot of star power there so Ratten (who I’ve always rated) is doing a cracking job getting them up and about. Hope they bring it home with a few dodgy free kicks so the crowd torch the joint. Very very jealous of those who are able to attend.

The wheels are continuing to fall off the arrogance train known as Hawthorn and it remains glorious to watch. Clarko’s clip of Tom Papley today “He milks frees as good as anyone” is cringeworthy imo. For a senior coach to have a sook like that naming another player is deadset embarrassing. Imagine the players groups mindset hearing this from your coach. Our first pick in 2020 draft continues to improve with the Hawks continuing to falter. I thought the Frost trade for a future second rounder would have netted us around 28-30 but it’s now looking like it could be around the 20 mark. Glorious

Surely this will be the case. Gives the Roos a slight edge as they’ll be in QLD already and we’ll be heading back from Adelaide. Still - a 2.5 hour flight shouldn’t impact us too much I wouldn’t have thought

I’m a fan of Hunt but if we go fishing again then we have to release some money from somewhere. He might have a little bit of trade value currency but I doubt it. Really can’t see his kicking improving anymore noting hehas been around the club for nearly 7 years now. Jones, Jetta and Hunt have been favourites of mine at different stages but if moving them on brought in another best 22 player in say a Zac Williams (that we wouldn’t have to trade for) then I’d be all for it. Would love Cameron or a King boy at our club but you need to move heaven and earth to grab a proven key forward. Ben Brown is fairly under rated here. I’d have him in our team over the current lads. If Weid/TMac finish the year poorly then I’m happy to make a key forward priority one. But right now, I’m all about simpler improvements and whilst still bringing in high quality kids.

Saad has become a really good player over the last two years. Most bomber supporters I know really rate him highly. Id prefer Williams as he can play more roles at a higher level but would be very happy with Saad. The challenge is we’d have to give up a bit to get him where as GWS are under salary cap pressures so I doubt they could match what we’d be able to offer

As long as the Weid keeps performing and showing a bit, the only spot I think we need to look at is a small defender/running defender. I agree with the above posts on Williams. If he gets his body right he’d be my only target this off season. Hibberd has turned back the clock and been great but he’s still getting towards the end. Unfortunately and sadly my little favourite in Jetta looks to be getting there quicker. Not sold on Lockhart yet or Tomlinson for that matter so Williams all the way for me. Releasing Hunt, Jones, Wagners, Spargo, KK and Brown should free up enough cash and keep drafting in young talent on a lower base wage - although I doubt many of the above would be on much.

I hear what you're saying Titan but I personally find it hard not to have a look at the run home around who's in form and who's not. I even found myself perusing opposition injury lists last night to see who's out over the next month which is something I'd never do but have found more time due to the boredom caused from lock downs. Not being able to help myself in looking, the next 5 weeks we play the top 3 teams and bottom 2 teams. If we can't beat Adelaide and North who will be without at least Sloane and Ziebell then we should pack it in. The last game sees us against the Pies who will be coming off a 4 day break without Howe and DeGoey and us off a 6 day break. I'd love us to pinch that and at least jag 3 wins over the next 5 matches. I think this is a reasonable goal as we should consider ourselves a decent team. I'd take us sitting at 6 and 5 with noting we have two 'softer' matches we should win (Freo and Sydney). We then just need to jag two wins from St Kilda, Dogs, GWS and the Bombers which are all 50/50 at this stage. So all in all, we pretty much have one hand on the cup!

I'm only up for trading to fill a genuine need which I have no idea what this is yet. A couple weeks ago I was up for trading the entire list and then after Sunday there wasn't anyone in the 22 who I'd willingly let go. Our list is hard to judge at the moment but we need to start looking towards replacement for Jetta and Hibberd (although Hibberd has been great this year imo). I have been pleasantly surprised of late with Weid and OMac. The people I'm hearing will be up include the Crouch brothers and Ben Brown but all three aren't aspirational for us right now. I'll be intrigued as to who might want out if our list remains healthy and guys aren't receiving opportunities. Not sure why Preuss, ANB and Hunt would want to stick around if they're not getting a look in. Maybe we could get an upgrade on some later picks and keep some kids coming through.

I get where you're coming from Titan and if we were to play say the last round against a settled team who haven't travelled I would completely agree. The fact we are playing all the games against teams completing just as much travel on the same break time or less gives us no excuses in my opinion. We should be confident coming in to every game and won't have a better chance in knocking off potential top 4 teams in Bris/Port/Pies. If anything, I'm taking the positive thought pattern that the more time in transit will see the player spending directly more time together, experiencing more places and challenges which will surely help with group bonding. I'd say the Pies are usually the AFLs lovechild with scheduling and there travel journey is Perth > Brisbane > Adelaide > Brisbane. I'm willing to take this on the chin with the view the next block of games we will be looked after more accordingly. If not - then I'll come a hollarin.

Have loved this bloke since his first practice match for the club. I saw him charge past a team mate I think last week to lay a tackle. Just hunts bodies and is completely fearless. One of those blokes you want in your team knowing he's always got your back. I wish he would tidy up his kicking as it has hurt a couple times but I can forgive him a lot more easily noting the time he has spent out of the game with injuries especially to his foot. It's bloody hard kicking the pill even in bush footy when the fatigue kicks in let alone still trying to build fitness while playing AFL. Just hope his body continues to hold up as he deserves a good run at the top line with what he's been through. I'm not surprised about his facial injury if that's the case, even less surprised he continued playing on. I'd be surprised if he had some time off for it however, the kids a beast.

No worries. I get the hatred of Essendon. Mine is genuinely unhealthy how mush I despise them as well. Genuine scumbags and I appreciated your rant about them

Without knowing for sure I'd think this would be the case. I'd imagine they'd complete recovery that night and in the morning and then catch a flight directly down south and start preparing there. Feels like a waste of time, resources and money to fly back to Brisvegas and then back to Tasmania - but as I said.... I have no idea

It's crap in regards to travel and turn around times LH but have a read of my post above. The teams we play over the 4 rounds have either equally bad travel/turn around times or worse. Really, we have no excuses. Lets just bank the next 5 wins and look for some prime time when we're sitting 8 and 3