seventyfour

2021 feels more and more like a lucky flag in an asterisk* year. We couldn't win a final in 22 or 23 and this team is far worse. Will be years before we contend again.

At this rate we'll lose enough percentage to drop out of the 8

In 2021 we had Jones, Hunt, Melksham, Tomlinson all miss out on the GF, unlucky or injured. This year we can barely field a first 22 with a very healthy list.

Our lack of depth will kill us this year. There's no-one who can replace Billings but he simply doesn't deserve a game. Spargo is my only hope.

Game is being played as a really fast pace. Feels very deliberate from West Coast.

North robbed of a second early goal, ridiculous umpiring. LDU would look great in the red and blue...

If Webster got 7 then this can't be any less. Worse in my opinion.

Doesn't tell the full story. The chart above suggets St Kilda have a cruisy run, but it's wrong. St Kilda played at 7 different venues in the first 9 rounds. This includes trips Geelong, Launceston, Canberra and two different venues in Adelaide. Those a short trips so they don't show up as KMs travel, but they've had no continuity. After Round 14 they will have played at 9 venues. They end the season with something like 8 of 9 games being at Marvel, but by that time their season will be done. On the other hand we just played 4 straight at the MCG. Our trip to Adelaide sucked for a range of reasons, but at least it was at Adelaide Oval both times.

I'd take an underdone Salem over Laurie any day. Sure you could argue that Laurie has had limited opportunity due to being the sub, but what about Woewodin? He manages to have an impact even when coming on in the fourth quarter.

To the suggestions of moving TMac or May forward... how about we don't mess with the only thing in our team that is actually functioning like a premiership side, our defence. Fullarton and Brown sounds like suicide, especially if McGovern is fit to play. I'd think about trying a smaller forward line, replace Turner with Koltyn.

We only play one WA game in July. We play West Coast in Perth this week. The second West Coast game in July is at the MCG. Even if it was, 6 day breaks are normal. These are elite athletes we're talking about. Geelong play Sydney on a Sunday afternoon in June, then Carlton the following Friday. St Kilda have played at 7 venues in 9 rounds. By round 14 they will have played at 9 different venues. It happens to everyone. Our fixture early in the season was unfair, yes, but our upcoming fixture is fantastic and completely normal.

Great fixture. A good spread of 6 to 8 day breaks. Night games against good sides. Lazy Sunday arvo games against the Perth sides. I would've liked the Bombers on a Friday but otherwise I can't find anything to fault. At this stage we have the best game of Round 24 too (against Collingwood), which would likely be a Friday night.

Getting it out of the way earlier this year so we'll have better luck come finals?

Hopefully Yeo and Waterman stay out for another week. They would be two of the Eagles top five players this year. I doubt they'd risk Yeo with a groin strain, while Waterman apparently had a hamstring niggle to go with the concussion. Yep, I think so - he should be told that he's not going back to defence again this year. Focus all his attention on being a midfielder.

I don't rate Hunter but he must be a chance to play. He is tough and he shows up. McAdam a chance if he is fit and has a good game for Casey today. I think it might be time for Riv to get a full game in the midfield. Woewodin or Hore can take his spot down back. The latter would mean we lose some run, but at least he'll be solid defensively. Something has to change in the midfield and Riv is the only option I can see until Salem is fit. Petracca up forward is a game-winning option and looks like our only chance to win the flag, which means we need to spend the next 14 games figuring out the right midfield mix when he's not there.

McAdam, step up to the plate. Our forward line is desperate for someone experienced and dynamic. A good game, a full game, and you can come in for Billings.

Three years from now, Gawn and May will be gone, possibly Viney too, and players like Trac, Salem, Langdon, Lever, ANB will all be over 30. We'll be bottoming out when Tasmania have first access to all the draft talent. A rebuild will take an eternity. The coaches and the players need to get this [censored] figured out. I can deal with the second half of the decade being [censored] if we can win a [censored] final or two this year.

The grand final is starting to hurt now. I can't deal with the fact we won it in Perth, then somehow haven't won a final in Melbourne since. And looks like we're on the same trajectory again.

The team completely lost my trust last night. I won't believe we'll win a final until I see it happen, which is going to make for a long, long year. Our scoring issues have been around for 2+ years now. They aren't going away.

Hope they review the first quarter and nothing else Rest of the game doesn't matter

This game was over at quarter time. Nothing like the QF

The final siren in 2021?

4th consecutive game we've kicked 3 goals or less in the first half.

Give up and go home/turn the game off. Not worth it for your mental health. It's a long season but a winless finals exit sure looks on the cards again.

These are elite athletes coming off extended breaks prior to the 5 day break. Carlton had two consecutive 6 day breaks. Rest is no excuse at all. We're just not that good