Preview 2024 AFL Season, Round 17: St Kilda saints v Sydney Swans, Sunday 7th of July 3:20pm AEST, Marvel Stadium

[Cairnsman]

At least when King was playing you could hope he has a day out and kicks 6.

That's become a bit like waiting for Haley's Comet...

 

[ScrappyDo]

So
2 x 1st year players Ari, Wilson
1 x 2nd year. Pou (2 if hammer was fit)
3 x 3rd year players. Nas, Chito, Windy

We should get smashed but a 5 point ugly loss will do me fine.

 

[The Cobra]

Re: Essendon

I agree, but also, Meh, Essendon have a long way to go before they impress me tbh. We should have thumped them this year if not for our ineptitude to hold and capitalise on a lead and dominance.

They remind me of 2020 Saints, brought in a range of seasoned players from other clubs, have some quality youth playing well, lenient fixture, got off to a good run and kept the momentum going. Caddy looked like 2020 King last night. Merrett is phenomenal and carries them just like Steele did for us.

They might win a final like we did, hell they might even finish top 4, but for me there’s an asterisk around that given that this is the weakest top 4 I’ve seen in a long time, the comp is even as shit aside from Sydney.

I think they have a ways to go until they’re a finals threat, Collingwood were shite last night and they’re in danger of falling out this top 8 this round anyway. I would not be surprised to see Essendon drop off next year a la 2021 Saints. But who knows, they might nail that next step of development, and I’d be envious as if they take the step we didn’t.

Re: Saints

As for us, I maintain that our game plan is good. There’s always room for improvement and being able to adapt come game day, but frankly we have a greater concern with the quality of our list (and availability). We probably could play on more but then again I’m not sure that we don’t but rather our delivery and leading to kicks is just not where it should be right now, probably for a myriad of reasons.

I see no true way out except for continuing to draft and develop on our current trajectory (which I am very positive about). More kids like Phillipou, Wilson, Nasiah, Owen’s, Windhager, Shoenmaker etc, I’m on board for picks 4+5 this year. We are in a perfect window to bring in as much quality youth (ideally midfielders) as possible and develop them together.

Otherwise we will continue to have roller coaster seasons with adequate top ups and the odd great performances that see us max out at 5th on the ladder if everything goes our way. Unfortunately, this requires patience, but the way I see it is that we have been on this path, successfully, since the 2021 draft, and the club has made it clear since RTB arrived that we are taking a long term development approach here.

Yes it’s slow and perhaps frustrating, but look at the top 8, they’ve all had to do the same (some definitely aided by drafting concessions but that’s neither here nor there). In the meantime at least we are competitive enough to have many close losses to good teams. There’s easily a version of this season where we’re in the 5-8 range many some of our close losses and how tight the comp is.

Re: Tomorrow’s Game

Against Sydney tomorrow, I have no clue what to expect, but it’s nice that in my mind at least, I see a world where it’s a very competitive game despite our outs. Super keen to see Phillipou, Schoenmaker, Wilson continue to develop. Keen to see Henry, Owen’s, Windhager, Nasiah, continue in, and Sharman, Byrnes have much to offer.

To wrap this rant up, the batch of young players we have now, amidst the emerging opportunity to bring in more quality in this draft, has me enjoying the footy and feeling optimistic because it actually has some groundswell and long term potentiality to it that we have lacked for a while. Much water to go under the bridge yet, but what else can you do?

Pretty much agree - we have a developing young core - NAS, Windy, Pou, Mitch, Wilson, Schoe, Henry, Hammer plus promising in Garcia, Hastie & Keeler

We have experienced quality & regulars: Battle, Wilkes, Sincs, JWeb, Hill, Wood, Higgo, Marshall, King, Steele, Butler, Bonner (maybe?)

The jury is still out, not regulars, cooked or a bust (many should feel nervous): Campbell (age), Ross (cooked) , Members (cooked), Jones (cooked), Clark (a regular but not a midfielder in the modern game), Byrnes, Howard (a regular but many aren’t convinced) , Sharman (still not a regular) , Paton, VanEs (injured), Lance, Moose, Crouch (cooked?), Dow (know more next year), Hotton, Hayes (cooked), Cordy (cooked?), Allison, McLennan, Hall (needs time), O’Connell (needs time), Stocker (fallen out of favour?)

There is only so much churn you can do year on year & you have to aim to improve the list - but I count 22 in the last group!

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

And then he cracked it and went to the Bulldogs.

It's funny how that's all been forgotten now.

 

[sammm]

High half forward. New role, new system. No surprise his numbers aren't what they were at Box Hill. As long as he is executing his role well, he's every chance to debut soon. It's not always about statistics

FFS didn't we pick him up so as we needed more mids? What's the point of playing him HFF

 

[Miha]

FFS didn't we pick him up so as we needed more mids? What's the point of playing him HFF

Adding More strings to his bow! He’ll get mid time for sure

 

[sammm]

Ross latest mid week press conference he pretty much nails it.

We’re as good as any other team at defensive rebound and transition, poor at locking it in the front half, and (since he returned) stoppage has been our achilles heel.

Coaching will only iron out so much, but at the end of the day the players have to get the job done on game day.

Development and recruitment remain critical priorities for us right now. No point complaining about the past, just got to hit as many home runs as we can from here.

There’s still a lot to fix from a personnel perspective, I hope Dalrymple is well supported enough to be up to the job, especially when it looked like Toce was on a good run.

Dalrymple first selection of Max Hall hasn’t actually got me frothing at the mouth.

Max Hall is playing HF, he was playing midfield at box Hill. No wonder you are not frofing

 

[CursingFijian]

Max Hall is playing HF, he was playing midfield at box Hill. No wonder you are not frofing

Good point.

It’s less about where he’s playing though and more about his disposal for me. I was hoping he would be a tidier kick. He looks like he can see the game well, but his delivery hasn’t really impressed me.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Max Hall is playing HF, he was playing midfield at box Hill. No wonder you are not frofing

You'd wonder why then.

 

[Imtellingya]

The good thing we've got going at the moment is that Sandy are actually helping to develop our young players. They're playing competitive footy and vying for finals. Look at Phillipou over the last month, his game seems to have really come on.

For that reason there's no rush to bring players in to the first team. I'm happy for guys to develop at Sandy, and would love to see them have a crack at a VFL flag.

The one exception to that is Collard. Would love to see him hit some form and make his way into the first team, reckon he's a player that needs to find his feet and confidence at the top leve

You'd wonder why then.

and there are 3 Sandy guys in the midfield, why?

 

[Plugger35]

And then he cracked it and went to the Bulldogs.

I don't think it was Nicky's decision to leave us, I thought he got pushed out the door and the Bulldogs offered him a contract.

Thankfully I was overseas in 1999 and I didn't have to witness the travesty of seeing him running around in a Bulldogs jumper.

 

[malevu]

Not expecting a win against the top team in the comp but there's no reason why we shouldn't put in a decent effort at least. On our home deck with minimal outs to our best 22 I'm hoping we can show something.

I just hope we can play with some spark on the forward line with a bunch of mid sized marking targets. Let's see some movement and not stagnant predictable forward entries. Membrey, Owens, Wood, Sharman, Phillipou, Higgins can all mark the ball. Let's hope Lyon remind the mids that King isn't playing before they bomb it in as per usual.

Fingers crossed for a competitive effort.

 

[Verdun66]

Won’t surprise me in a way if we actually won. Would be such a St Kilda thing to do.

Just hope for a slight mid-season slump for the Swans. Happens. A crocked King out might just mean we are unpredictable.

Not going to live and die on the result however. Look forward to some young guys showing promise. Pou having a decent game would be really something. Arie might get some more kicking with Bonner out.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Bulldogs have been in decent form, then go & lose by 8 goals to struggling Port.
What? did we put Port back into form. Gotta shite ya.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Pou and Howard picked themselves, the other 4 names in the ins are lacking a whole lot of inspiration as inclusions.

Yeah, could of been 3 of Garcia, Heath & Keeler instead. They've all been in good decent & consistant form. Keeler was interrupted by injury.

 

[Saint Watto]

That's become a bit like waiting for Haley's Comet...

I sincerely hope your wrong there C.

I think Haley's due for a reappearance in about 2046.

 

[Dr Spaceman]

That's become a bit like waiting for Haley's Comet...

I sincerely hope your wrong there C.

I think Haley's due for a reappearance in about 2046.

You sure you’re not getting confused with Hafey’s Comet Watto?

 

[The Cobra]

Won’t surprise me in a way if we actually won. Would be such a St Kilda thing to do.

Just hope for a slight mid-season slump for the Swans. Happens. A crocked King out might just mean we are unpredictable.

Not going to live and die on the result however. Look forward to some young guys showing promise. Pou having a decent game would be really something. Arie might get some more kicking with Bonner out.

Agree with everything you wrote except Saints being a rough chance - can’t see it- quality Swans outfit with a gun midfield coming off a loss - could get very ugly. As you wrote - I’m looking for the young guys to show that we have a bright future.

 

[Verdun66]

Agree with everything you wrote except Saints being a rough chance - can’t see it- quality Swans outfit with a gun midfield coming off a loss - could get very ugly. As you wrote - I’m looking for the young guys to show that we have a bright future.

I have always been optimistic. Even in the early to mid eighties. Every now and then we’d beat a top side. Then go back to being rubbish!

Put it this way. I have the Swans in my tips.

 

[akaifu]

and there are 3 Sandy guys in the midfield, why?

And you take that same lineup that has Seb Ross at centre half forward literally, why?

 

[Fehring]

And you take that same lineup that has Seb Ross at centre half forward literally, why?

When you're at the game you'll see that Liam Henry or Brad Hill regularly line up at the CHF position for centre bounces.

 

[Brains Trust66]

In: Philipou, Byrnes
Out: Dow (injured/managed), Wilson (managed)

Pou to follow up some VFL form with full time AFL mid minutes. Let’s unleash the scud.

i agree , i think we look alot better with Philipou in the side . He can forward on on the ball which is really where we need him . Poor Mitch is having a bit of a shocker this year or have other clubs realised how good he is and are tagging him every week . Last year nobody else new much about Mitch and Pou but now they do and are paying them alot more attention.

 

[Verdun66]

Agree with everything you wrote except Saints being a rough chance - can’t see it- quality Swans outfit with a gun midfield coming off a loss - could get very ugly. As you wrote - I’m looking for the young guys to show that we have a bright future.

Told ya! Have seen this happen over the years. A win for the ages!

 

[The Cobra]

Told ya! Have seen this happen over the years. A win for the ages!

Well all that proves is that I know nothing about footy!

Happy to look like a fool!

Well done Pou - absolutely the right thing to send him to Sandy to touch the footy, play full time mid & build confidence.

What I would give for a Warner - just breaks lines!

 

[Saint12]

What is with you and your love for list cloggers, well one things for sure if we are tanking Byrnes will be in

Byrnes had a good game today I thought