Preview Round 12, 2024: West Coast v St.Kilda - Optus Stadium - Saturday 1st June, 4.35pm AEST

[PJays]

If the selected team plays anywhere to its capability, we should win. There's enough young talent and experience there to win against a team that is currently on our level.

Fair comment

This weekend's team is comfortably the oldest and most experienced team St Kilda has selected this season. Despite Crouch's absence. Collard, Hastie, Garcia, Phillipou all playing VFL and experienced guys like Membrey and Butler back.

I'm expecting a win.

And I'm not one of those people who tips us every week. Definitely didn't pick us last week!

 

[kernelT]

The 'Ross playing the kids' myth can be put to rest.

The bloke can't help himself.

 

[Brian Oblivion]

The 'Ross playing the kids' myth can be put to rest.

The bloke can't help himself.

I think Ross has now moved onto the 4th stage of grieving ..... the "clutching at straws" phase maybe ?

 

[Saint believer]

Preparing for a new low-point this week

Who does Crouch need to root to get picked

I expect it is the long flight over and back that has stopped him from being named.

 

[The Jack]

And take a look at Sinclair's form since his two BFFs Billings and McKenzie were left out on the pavement for anyone to take. We destroyed his mojo by removing his friends.

No. His mojo was destroyed when he removed his mullet. Quite obvious really.

 

[gringo2011]

Fair comment

This weekend's team is comfortably the oldest and most experienced team St Kilda has selected this season. Despite Crouch's absence. Collard, Hastie, Garcia, Phillipou all playing VFL and experienced guys like Membrey and Butler back.

I'm expecting a win.

And I'm not one of those people who tips us every week. Definitely didn't pick us last week!

As I've said before, Champion Data claim that West Coast are playing like a top 4 side at home and a bottom side away. If we can snatch a win there we will have done well.

 

[phantom13]

Surely the team getting picked puts paid to the 10 year rebuild crew now?

Why on Earth play those guys if were bottoming out and raiding the draft for the next 3-4 years.

 

[Sir Owens]

Surely the team getting picked puts paid to the 10-year rebuild crew now?

Why on Earth play those guys if were bottoming out and raiding the draft for the next 3-4 years.

Whats another 10-year rebuild

Happy with the team selections. The team needs to be picked on some sort of integrity. We could have also picked Crouch!

There's nothing wrong with players developing in the VFL side. It will be great for Poo to get his confidence back.

 

[Saintbloke]

Lyon is probably hoping to cover his a*se by getting a few senior regulars back in and hope that gets us over the line. Seems that the Saint rebuild or whatever excuse they come up with for failure, has been going on for decades- it's a very slow process that has seen generations of players and coaches come and go. Just looks like a big disconnect between players and coach on the body language I'm seeing. Hope to see a more enthusiastic bunch run out on the field tomorrow.

 

[Diehard Saint]

And take a look at Sinclair's form since his two BFFs Billings and McKenzie were left out on the pavement for anyone to take. We destroyed his mojo by removing his friends.

I’m convinced the removal that affected his form was his mullet!

 

[Diehard Saint]

Clark, going nowhere as his best mate LDU is seriously looking at coming to us.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Holding thumbs (and toes) you are correct.
I remember that Clark wasn’t so fussed about being on the trade table to North bc of their friendship a couple of years back.
So hopefully it works for us.

 

[gringo2011]

Surely the team getting picked puts paid to the 10 year rebuild crew now?

Why on Earth play those guys if were bottoming out and raiding the draft for the next 3-4 years.

President desperate for wins under pressure? Gives Rossy a call and reads the riot act? Who knows. We do lose our nerve under a bit of pressure though. SEN has had a lot of people ringing in bagging them over the last few day.

 

[TheJackal]

The 'Ross playing the kids' myth can be put to rest.

The bloke can't help himself.

I'm looking forward to watching young Garcia, Sharman, Collard, Hall, Phillipou, Hastie, Arie, Keels, Heath and even Allison do their thing in Frankganistan on Saturday.

If Ross won't focus on our future, nothing says I can't.

 

[austinnn]

The 'Ross playing the kids' myth can be put to rest.

The bloke can't help himself.

I'm not a massive fan of the selection but it's a long season, and Clark and Butler are no certs to stay in the team without further injury anyway. All 3 have experience and qualities the team needs.

I can see the logic, and anyway I think we'll see plenty more kids in the team this season, perhaps a few more debutants.

 

[True Believer]

Lyon is probably hoping to cover his a*se by getting a few senior regulars back in and hope that gets us over the line.

Really.....he's been under the spotlight for over a week in the press because our form sucks and you think he believes that spotlight will go away if we beat the Eagles? The Eagles!? So, either you think he's an idiot, or you're one......which is it?

 

[True Believer]

Just looks like a big disconnect between players and coach on the body language I'm seeing.

Do you actually believe what you write?

Please describe in specific terms, the "body language" you've witnessed that is indicative of a "disconnect".....

 

[Plugger35]

Whats another 10-year rebuild

Happy with the team selections. The team needs to be picked on some sort of integrity. We could have also picked Crouch!

There's nothing wrong with players developing in the VFL side. It will be great for Poo to get his confidence back.

Yeah it's all very well to say we should be playing more of the kids but they need to show enough form to warrant selection.

There is no point just picking young players for the sake of it if their form doesn't warrant it as we saw recently with Collard.

If older players like Membrey and Clark are showing better form in the VFL than younger players they still deserve to be picked.

Selection integrity and making players earn their spots is still important regardless of whether you are contending or rebuilding.
.

 

[Saintbloke]

Really.....he's been under the spotlight for over a week in the press because our form sucks and you think he believes that spotlight will go away if we beat the Eagles? The Eagles!? So, either you think he's an idiot, or you're one......which is it?

Nah Lyon and myself are ok, whereas you better look in the mirror

 

[Saintos The ITK]

Probably had to rush Butts back as unfortunately Lance showed nothing.

I reckon Lance would have touched the ball <10 times in the last weeks including vfl.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

Rtb is showing his pigheaded stubbornness trumps his love of winning by continually refusing to select Crouch.

 

[Broski]

I have no idea why people are assuming we are choosing the 'bottom out' brand of rebuild.

While this is clearly the most experienced team we have fielded this year, we still have a strong core of players under the age of 23 - seven players to be exact. That doesn't scream "oh look, Ross is trying to save his job".

We need to be more competitive, but that can only be achieved by having experience around the kids. Sure, put Hastie, Garcia, Hotton, Keeler etc in the team for experienced players who won't be part of our next premiership. But we are going to get the dross we have been witnessing recently - probably worse.

Does selecting Butler, Clark and Membrey for some underperforming kids move the needle in the right direction? Maybe, but it needed to be done. The kids are simply not going to develop if we play the way we are at the moment. We have to give Wilson, King, Owens, Henry, Caminiti, NWM, Windhager etc the best chance to succeed, and we can't do that when we are getting absolutely belted. Development isn't just put games into kids and a magical star emerges. Good luck developing in our team at the moment.

The senior players and coaches have to take some responsibility as well, it's a multifaceted problem. If our senior players can't perform consistently and effectively, then the kids will have no chance. Our senior players have shown in the past that they are capable of playing okay football, but our entire team is out of form and look devoid of confidence and skill. Then you can make a case about the game plan, which many have had in this forum. Whether it's an effective or dated game plan, there is no clear way to tell when the skill level being displayed is just so poor.

Long story short - there is no short-term solution for our poor performances, but experience 'should' help (I say that with blind optimism). We need to find a good balance of experience/youth. And anyone who doesn't perform shouldn't be immune from a run at Sandy. I am glad for the first time in ages that Sandy is competitive and a beneficial place to develop as a young player.

Whether it is AFL or VFL level, you learn nothing from being belted and not touching the ball.

 

[sauce_head]

So bookies have West coast as favourites coming of a 99 point loss....

I don't know how to read that

I'm led to believe our game plan is problematic but with a few tweaks we could see some blue.skies.

Maybe read it the same way we all ready is being favourites v Freo.

 

[littlecreatures]

Rtb is showing his pigheaded stubbornness trumps his love of winning by continually refusing to select Crouch.

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

Alternative universe me would currently be on QF773 heading to Perth

This universe me is at the pub in Melbourne instead. Thanks St Kilda

 

[kernelT]

Surely the team getting picked puts paid to the 10 year rebuild crew now?

Why on Earth play those guys if were bottoming out and raiding the draft for the next 3-4 years.

Are you suggesting our direction isn’t clear P13?