Ted Lasso

If the Saints don't improve out of the middle this could get ugly, Jesse has started well and he looks like getting great supply all day

I think Jesse is going to be one of those players who if he starts well will have a day out, he seems to be a confidence player.

Vince imo is a far better player since joining us than he was at the crows for all but one season, he's aged very well so far.

I wonder if Joey and Roo will actually play, neither of them trained this week, Joey literally stood on the sidelines and watched but they've been named.

There are definitely similarities and i think Freo will have to go through the re-build process, that list is just not going to win them a flag. Fingers crossed they make a few better decisions than what we did in that period, i mean they have Ross Lyon but i'm not sure he's really the guy to re-build a club, he's the guy you hire when you're trying to make the jump inside the top 4 and competing for grand finals.

The way it's going they might as well bring in the last touch rule.

I don't rate North at all, Waite won't stay fit/hold this form all year. I think they'll be around top 4 but there are 4-5 teams that are better than them this year.

Anyone else think Stringer has gone backwards? i haven't been at all impressed with anything he's done this year.

1.5 million haha

Geez the doggies are missing Suckling, Bob and JJ

Should be a good game, i reckon North will really struggle against sides like Hawthorn and Sydney because they don't have a great defense

Bet they're regretting that now!

If you look at the two sides and who has to play well for them to win one thing really stands out for me Saints: Rewoldt, Bruce, Fisher, Dempster, Stevens, Joey, Armo, Billings vs Dees: Gawn, Viney, Tyson, Vince, Hogan, Jones, Tmac, Jeffy the age is a huge gap, there has been a handover in my eyes from Vince and Jones to gawn, Hogan Mcdonald and so on which is a stage i don't think the Saints have reached, and when they do i'm not sure the young talent they have is anything like the quality of ours. we will rise while i think they will tread water until that hand over happens

Dees by 24 points, I think the Saints still rely far to much on the older boys which is where we're a long way ahead of them, i reckon Roo and Joey if they play won't be 100% and that hurts them a lot! I think we can get on top of the mids and really give our forwards good supply against an undermanned defense, Fisher and Dempster rely on extra numbers to help them punch above their weight, last week the Giants fast ball movement really exposed how much they struggle one on one with the big forwards

Lets be honest, if Jesse stays or goes he's going to be getting Tom Boyd level dollars on his next contract unless he has a very serious injury.

Sure, but the MFC would clearly be able to pay him the dollars he's worth as well, and allow him to play at the MCG every other week, and not have to fly every second week.

Just bought my cat an armchair membership. get around it guys! 40k members and finals in 2016

Fyfe has a serious injury so who knows where he's at, Neale is seriously considering outside offers, Hill is a good player but Sheridan and Taberner are no better than okay and will be exposed when the better players aren't around them. If Lyon doesn't change his plan in a pretty big way they're going to be well off the pace come 2017 If us improving is so big a factor for Jesse's decision, why would he then leave when we do improve and Freo are a huge chance for the wooden spoon?

Agree DD, i think Dawes has done what we needed him to do and mentor Hogan to a point, but going forward i think another club like the Lions or Blues for example might have more use for an expeiernced key forward

While i agree that it's not as simple as saying, he's done his hammy so that's misso's fault, i think the same posters who have held the view the injuries in the past have been his fault should currently be enjoying some humble pie. I personally believe a lot of our injuries have been a result of the intense running based pre seasons we'd been having, this season we have had a much more footy focused approach and we are basically injury free on the most part, the real test will be how we go as the year goes on

I know some posters have had a crack at Dave Mission and the fitness staff at times on here, but hats off to them this year! we have what 2-3 genuinely injured players? JKH, King and Vanders is sort of injured sort of having a break? How many teams enter round 6 with say 41 of 44 players basically ready to go? bloody good position to be in

Will be very interesting to see how he goes re-building a team.

He's been bought in to win a premiership and it's totally backfired on him because he's to arrogant to change his outdated plan.

Agreed, but i think it'd be foolish to think the club hasn't been aware of the type of Salary Hogan would command on this offer, no doubt they've structured things in the right way to retain all our talent at the right price.

especially with guys like Neale potentially looking at other options.