Roos vs St.Kilda

[Cororoo]

Thanks for the reports people.

Anybody see Tim Rogers there today?.....I heard him interviewed on SEN on the way home.Apparently Aussie Jones gave Rogers a mouthful after Tim criticised one of Milne's efforts......Apparently Austin told Rogers to shut his gob or he (Jones) would do it for him........Tough guy Aussie?

 

[Woodson]

Pratt tried to belt Sam Fisher. McIntosh should have gotten more game time.

Saw that.. wasn't pretty. If that ELBOW connected then I don't think Pratt will be playing for a month. Looked savage but I thought Fisher should of been penalised for holding Pratt. Big H wasn't given much of a run as I spoke to someone saw al of the game and said he thought Hamish came on for the last 5-10 minutes of each quarter. I wasn't convinced with his 2nd half. (that's all I saw).

 

[Z_K]

We overeact more than any group of fans in the comp. We jump on after a win, we lose all hope after a loss.

Amazing stuff.

 

[Woodson]

We overeact more than any group of fans in the comp. We jump on after a win, we lose all hope after a loss.

Amazing stuff.

We'll have to get Blighty onboard as he likes rollercoasters. We are Rollercoaster Roos.

btw...isn't it so Flippin' typical after a 'contract / extension' is announced publicily that things go amiss. ie: JYD's 'big Salad' 2 year extension. Kouta, Mercuri, Hird, ect ect

 

[TheHeatleyStand]

i was at the game as a neutral.
I thought it was a god send that Corey came off. He really isnt attacking the footy with any confidence and would be a negative influence on the kids whom i thought did ok.
Petrie was anonymous.
Archer tried hard but its his last year, the magic is gone.
Grant and Stevens worked hard but lacked support.
Harvey kicked a couple but he dint do enough.
Grima worked hard but isnt fast.
The defence did ok i thought but Riewoldt, Gehrig , Hamill and Clarke were missing in attack for the opposition.
Too much space was given out to lose StKilda players who were very predictable in switching the ball wide and running it in.
McKintosh wont make it. He might be a big guy but he doesnt think quickly and runs out of puff for the ruck.
Hale tried hard and some of the stuff he did was encouraging, still disappointing at times with his efforts.
Sav, doesnt look like he has much left in him.
Sanisbury did ok
Picone gives 100% but he lacks finishing polish to be effective at this level.
I thought you guys should have overun them .. you used a bigger squad (on the team lists anyway) and they had alot of players out..Ball, Dal Santo, Goddard, Riewoldt, X Clarke, Gehrig, Hamill etc.
Really disappointing performance i reckon.

 

[Woodson]

Sav, doesnt look like he has much left in him.

....Really disappointing performance i reckon.

Don't agree with your Sav comment THS. Sav had very little fwd structure (no crumbers) and was clearly outnumbered on countless occassions with poor delivery not helping but if you noticed Hales quick stab pass in the third to a leading Sav from 50m and BANG !! No problemo. I seriously think that the Blues / Pagan hard ball game will make us look completely out of our depth if we don't step up considerably or it's going to be a DOGFIGHT ! Can't see North cruising for an easy win like I would have wished it to be.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

Hard to judge Sav when it was a three and four on one every contest.

Hamish should play round one, far and away our best centre square ruckman.

 

[Pres]

I got there at 6.10pm after getting held up at work and walked up Linton St as what seemed like 10 million Saints fans were streaming out. Ie did not see a kick! Only by running into Karen Lyon who was interviewing Stevo Snr did I find out that we got rolled.

To those who were there what would the crowd have been? I know one estimate was 4500 odd but it seemed a hell of a lot more than that. They really have a lot of fans. I imagine there would have been a fair bit of atmosphere there.

Corey has done an AC joint - I overheard him talking to someone as he left the rooms. Not a good injury. Cannot see how this can be a positive. Surely McIntosh is not ready to play every week all of a sudden having never played a senior game previously?

Great to hear that Mick Stevens did well. That bloke has 110% commitment. Hopefully Grima keeps his spot as well (although the reports on his pace concern me a bit). I have been fairly happy with Picioane's games so far but I'll admit I did not see any of tonight.

 

[Event Horizon]

I was at the game. Must admit that I wish i was the optimist that Carlos is. I mean I still hold faint hope that we will come out as a different side against Carlton, but what I saw today wasn't pretty. To me we looked a bottom 4 side today.

IMHO played no better than we did against West Coast last week, only being helped by the fact that St Kilda played a second rate side and lacked polish.

Our defence was the positive today, but Brown spend a lot of time up forward with Baird playing as a third tall, and doing well. Although that was a good sign, it was not our plan to have Brown up forward this season, so whether it served a lot of purpose I don't know.

Watt was good, but with Gehrig, Hammil and Riewoldt missing, what does this tell us?

We came out of defence ok, but we had a lot of practice doing it. The ball spent 70% of time in our backline. Unlike what Carlos observed I thought we were killed in the guts in the second and third quarter, and killed in the ruck by a bunch of no names (Brooks and Ackland). Hale tried hard but is only a good second ruckman ATM.

Hamish needed more game time but I thought it was still easy to see where he is at. A huge talent, with every marking contest he was in, he looked like marking it only to be spoiled by a third or a fourth man in. Took one great grab on Kozitske right next to where I was seating, at half back after we were kicking out after a behind was scored. However, he still looked lost in general play a few times purely due to the pace of the game. At one stage he received a bit of a hospital handpass, but still had enough time to dispose of it. Yet he stood there for a second and was tackled. A lot to be excited about but probably still too raw for senior footy.

I thought Petrie looked shocking. Lead well at CHF but kept dropping mark after mark. I know they were at full pace in front of his face which isn't easy but you got to take at least some of them. The way the ball was coming back out from our forward line was pathetic. We couldn't even force a ball up there, it was just being cleared out in training drill style. When we did force a rare ball up in our attacking 50, we invariably lost the clearance anyway.

Petrie did take a great hanger when he was on the ball in the last quarter and you could see how he gained confidence from that, but it was late in the game when Brown was playing CHF.

Rocca had crap service all day. Kicked one long goal from outside 50.

I thought Harvey did ok, and was VERY impressed with Watson. Didn't get a lot of touches but was back to the quality we know he is capable of. Attacked the ball at high speed, got it and kicked it into 50 several times. Just wish we had another game to give him before the season starts. As it is he probably hasn't done enough to get a game in round 1 but he is not far away, with too many blokes out of form.

Mick Stevens was good. Makepeace was probably our best. Sansbury I wouldn't have anywhere near the best players. Yes he did get around 20 touches at half back but couldn't lay a tackle on Milne as if he was covered in almond oil. As a defender Eddie is just too casual and too loose. To me he is another Shannon Motlop without the long kick. Looks good with the ball, but can't be relied upon to do the job.

The only reason the margin was close was their lack of forward power but as we know they have 3 somewhat handy forwards to come back. We also came back in the last term when Robert Harvey and Andrew Thompson went off.

Like I said, there were positives if you wanted to look for them, but we better start playing some good footy when it counts. Or finishing 10th or 11th will be as good as it gets.

 

[Flaymin' Maurie]

You would all have to be joking for criyng out loud....

It was a practice match!!! I would hate to see all the analysis if it was a season proper match!!!

A practice match!!! Sheeeeeesh!!!

 

[Thewlis Dish]

You would all have to be joking for criyng out loud....

It was a practice match!!! I would hate to see all the analysis if it was a season proper match!!!

A practice match!!! Sheeeeeesh!!!

Cop out.

We're going to magically turn it around for round one, are we?

We were second to every contest all day, outplayed by a second string Saints outfit and our attack on the footy was second rate.

But it's only a practice match!

 

[TheHeatleyStand]

I was actually shocked to see that the Pagan influence had all but been washed out of North today.
Just mucked around with the ball and the team made no space for the forwards.
I thought Sav looked past it. He is a big guy but in a real game i reckon he will get towelled up.. he had NO lateral movement at all and thats why he looked like he was triple teamed. HE WAS! because he was very predictable for the defenders.
I really dont see what all the fuss is about with McKintosh.. its the fourth or fifth game ive seen him play now. He isnt a fast man but he isnt overly fit and his brain doesnt tick over fast enough.
Petrie is a worry!! He is a shadow of his former self.
I thought when Harvey and Lenny Hayes came on the game turned and didnt change till a couple of the senior StKilda midfielders (read 34/35 year old Harvey came off) Smashed inside.

 

[Dingster]

Corey has done an AC joint - I overheard him talking to someone as he left the rooms. Not a good injury. Cannot see how this can be a positive. Surely McIntosh is not ready to play every week all of a sudden having never played a senior game previously?

I'd ruck Hale and have him changing off the bench with Petrie. That might help Drew and will give us targets like Motlop, Jones and Arch to help support Sav and Thommo. Much better balance imo.

The lack of support for Corza on this board despite his ordinary pre season form is fordinary imo.

 

[Event Horizon]

You would all have to be joking for criyng out loud....

It was a practice match!!! I would hate to see all the analysis if it was a season proper match!!!

A practice match!!! Sheeeeeesh!!!

I am not saying how important or unimportant the game was. I am just reporting on what I saw. Like I said I hope we come out in two weeks time and belt Carlton, but as good judges say, good form is winning form. We wouldn't have got any confidence out of today.

 

[Woodson]

The only reason the margin was close was their lack of forward power but as we know they have 3 somewhat handy forwards to come back. We also came back in the last term when Robert Harvey and Andrew Thompson went off.

Like I said, there were positives if you wanted to look for them, but we better start playing some good footy when it counts. Or finishing 10th or 11th will be as good as it gets.

You'd think Robert Harvey had BAD BO or something as nobody wanted to go near him. Wonder if JYD deliberately planned this to work on a Judd like tactic when we meet them in Rnd 3....interesting what JYD has in mind. If Harvey gets easy touches in Round 3 I'll be FUMING !! especially if we get smashed and R.Harvey gets the votes.

As for finishing 1oth or 11th...nah, let the games begin as anything between 4th and 15th is possible for us and 11 teams. Lose the amount of games after leading for much of the game is the sign how far down. Likewise for winning the ones we don't really look like winning but still do to get one or two places up & hopefully a berth in the eight.

North are paying $2.80 on Vic Sports Bet for the 8 and $61 for the flag.

West Coast + Melbourne Storm double = $105

 

[hilly]

I know it's only a pre-season game but I didn't like what I saw. Although it's good for him long-term, Motlop missing is a huge blow to our forward line.

Positives:

McIntosh looked good. Moved better than I had anticipated, is strong in the air and seems to put himself in the right place 90% of the time. Can also mix it in the centre circle.

Although he didn't get a lot of it, Watson seemed to gain confidence after a nice bit of play in the centre square. He'll surely get another chance in 2005 at senior level.

Harris seemed to still lack something but he seemed to move a lot better than against WC, Port and Geelong.

Colbert was solid as always.

Baird seemed to handle himself well enough. Given our lack of quality talls he may be another one who can prove himself in the seniors.

Sansbury was ok but he looks a bit lost at times. Grima battled hard, still think he needs time in the VFL. Michael Stevens looks a bit better as well.

Negatives:

McKernan was ordinary in the ruck (as always) before getting injured.

Hale needs to show more.

Harvey and Simpson were quiet, although they both spent a fair amount of time on the bench.

Petrie was his out of form self.

Picioane I thought might give us something in the middle in terms of a bigger body but he's just too crap around the ground.

Although it's only a practice game we'd want to show a lot more than that in 2 weeks time against a Carlton side which will be full of confidence. I could easily see us sitting at 0-4, although I hope our form can improve as quickly as it seemed to go away.

 

[Passmore]

That Heatley Stand bloke really has something against Hamish. Not sure why. Has knocked him relentlessly since we drafted him. Thought he did ok in his FIRST senior game today. A couple of grabs around the ground, won most ruck duels when on,laid a few tackles. Not sure where this bloke is coming from. May be a personal issue there.Do not listen to what this bloke says. HE WILL BE A PLAYER. No question.

Sansbury was probably the stand out. Showed a bit today. Needs to tighten up in defence though.

Watson did a couple of really brilliant things, but couldn't finish off his work. Didn't see much of him in the second half.

Drew was very ordinary. Started ok, finished with a hanger but was really poor in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Really looks to be hanging his head.

Piccione tries hard, has a dip, but is rubbish.

Grima did ok. Started well, battled to find any space later. Looked a little sluggish. Definetly worth perservering with though.

Hale did ok around the ground, but he really has to start imposing himself at the centre contests. Looked a little timid at times.

In all it was a very poor game all round. One of the lowest standard games I've ever seen. By both sides. I have never seen so many turnovers.

I know they had plenty out, but don't forget that Simpson, Grant, Harvey, Rawlings and Brown barely played a half each. Bare in mind that they are a top 2 side and we are batlling for a spot in the 8. They have a way better list than us.

Our boys looked flat and listless. Possibly a side effect of last weeks humid conditions. And it was flipping hot in the sun.

Too sum up the game as a whole, has anyone seen Adam Simpson put in such a shocker, for the short time he was on the ground?

Pre- Season over. Bring on round 1. I think

 

[Archer_11]

Mark McGough was St Kilda's best early

Man if that aint the weirdest sh*t to read!

 

[TheHeatleyStand]

Passmore, there is a r3eason why Hamish hasnt played much more than ressies VFL football for 2 season and why North have tried to draft more talls and traded for Corey and Thompson even though Hamish is at the club playing ressies VFL footy..... He doesnt have a tank to be a a bone fide ruckman. Any AFL recruiter will tell you he had one of the worst beep tests ever in his draft camp.
Second.. he doesnt read the ball and the game properly. There were times he could have 'gone' today and didnt.. he just watched.

He might still make it.. talls take longer.. but he just doesnt have it if you ask me. (Not that many people are asking me)- just my 2c worth

 

[Snickers]

In the Herald Sun it says the scores are 61 to 46?
But everyone seems to think it is 61 to 52.
It doesnt matter im just curious which one it is.

 

[Harris 10]

61 to 52 for mine

 

[Thewlis Dish]

Mark McGough was St Kilda's best early

Until a five minute period when he made every mistake imaginable and had just about every Saints fan around me groaining and cursing.

 

[Event Horizon]

61 to 52 for mine

61:52 definitely. It wasn't a fun game to watch so I don't blame the media for leaving early...Btw, as crap as we played had the game gone for another 10 minutes we would have probably won. But at times in the third quarter when we were down by 20 points or so, the game looked like a 50 point loss more than a 3 goal game.

 

[Passmore]

Passmore, there is a r3eason why Hamish hasnt played much more than ressies VFL football for 2 season and why North have tried to draft more talls and traded for Corey and Thompson even though Hamish is at the club playing ressies VFL footy..... He doesnt have a tank to be a a bone fide ruckman. Any AFL recruiter will tell you he had one of the worst beep tests ever in his draft camp.
Second.. he doesnt read the ball and the game properly. There were times he could have 'gone' today and didnt.. he just watched.

He might still make it.. talls take longer.. but he just doesnt have it if you ask me. (Not that many people are asking me)- just my 2c worth

The Heatley Stand,

We have been through this before. I will try again.

In 2003, most of the season in the PM 2's. This is not unusual for blokes his size. He did actually play some games in the seniors including one, maybe two finals.

In 2004, he played the first 10 rounds in the seniors before breaking his ankle against Gellong at SS. In those 10 rounds he was one of PM's best players, possibly making it as an emergency for the seniors (I could be wrong with this). Due to said broken ankle, his season was over

The reason for his poor beep test, was the fact that he virtually never trained at the Bushrangers due to distance issues. Check this with Neville Stibbard, who is an AFL recruiter by the way.

This probably explains why his fitness was below other potential draftees.

Of course you are entitled to your 2 cents worth. However, when you are listing points to back up your arguement,make sure at least some of these points are factual.