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

[g_TRAIN]

Saints seven goals in the first three quarters with Max King, five goals in the last quarter without Max King.

Yeah but are you really so stupid you can't see the reason we kicked 5 in the last quarter? I don't think you are but easy to lay the boot into Max isn't it.

We dominated around the ball for the first time in months in the last quarter.

 

[luca77]

He's absolutely unique. He's going to be a frustrating player always IMO but he's got something intangible. He's as fashionable as his hairstyle but good stuff happens when he touches it.

He looks like he's stuffing things up but somehow the ball dribbles through traffic out the back or rolls along instead of bouncing. It looks like he's a slow, poorly skilled half arsed footballer but good stuff seems to happen around him that works.

If he can stay on the park he's got the cult hero role sewn up. Especially if he goes bald on top and keeps the long back and sides. That would be sweet. The sex offender science teacher look is vastly underrated.

Yeah, I'm not sure his current hairstyle is something we'll have to worry about for very long. Seems to be thinning out and slipping back year by year.
I think his best option would be to embrace the Bruce Doull within him. I'm sure supporters would embrace it. Maybe not his GF.

 

[g_TRAIN]

Steele looks like he isn't enjoying footy right now. He was playing brilliant footy early in the year. Seemed to hurt a knee and has been labouring since. I wouldn't be surprised if Lyon is riding him hard. He seems like his spirit is broken.

Was thinking this too, looks like he's carrying the weight of the whole clubs performance on his back.

He looked grumpy as **** when they panned to him sitting on the interchange

 

[Saintos The ITK]

NEXT BARRAMUNDI!!!!!!!

 

[Sainter1873]

A bloody good win. That was always going to be a slog but to come out on top is promising.

Wood, Dow, Clark and Wilkie were terrific. Henry was classy and composed and there were plenty of other contributors across all lines. Windhager put the clamps on Reid but I thought he lost his head anyway after the Wilson tackle.

Still need to tighten up those inside 50 kicks. Getting the ball in Henry’s hands more often will be important for that.

 

[luca77]

Was thinking this too, looks like he's carrying the weight of the whole clubs performance on his back.

He looked grumpy as **** when they panned to him sitting on the interchange

He looked positively cheery compared to how Simmo looked at the end of the game. Poor bugger, I quite like Simmo and think he's a damn good coach.

 

[Saintbloke]

We just need to put in better first quarters, and not let the opposition get settled in, as we seem flat in many games until later in the game. Our second half effort last night should be there from the start of the game. Lost too many games with slow starts.

 

[seasonedsainter]

Feel like the gyrations have just shifted, clearly the better team across the 4 quarters. Starting to see things come together. Most impressed with Dow, imagine him with a buzzcut. Great to have Clark back. Caminiti is very mobile and handy, he's got plenty of upside and defintely my pick of the Hammer/Membrey/Sharman trio. I've never seen Howard in such good form, bodes well if he stays or goes. Thought King was just working into it when injured, having said so, we look more dangerous with the mobile forward line and imo it brings Owens back into the frame too. Love Marshall but I'd really like to see us experiment with him/the ruck role. Garcia needs to play in front of Ross. Windy should tag most weeks. Other Clubs will replicate what we did to Reid, he'll work through it but not for a while, we seriously got under his skin all night, wasn't just Windy, Clark Steele everyone was having a crack. Great coaching. I've seen enough of Bonner. Please never get injured again Henry. Great to see Dad Wood and some others enjoying their footy. David King undersands our team, the gameplan and players very well. It's pretty clear where the major flaws are, when we hit up the intermediate target approaching the forward 50 we look so much better. Was very relieved to see the long down the line kick, prevalent in the first half, diminsh in the second. The WCE crowd can EAD. So can Adam Simpson tbh just for good measure. The end.

 

[luca77]

We just need to put in better first quarters, and not let the opposition get settled in, as we seem flat in many games until later in the game. Our second half effort last night should be there from the start of the game. Lost too many games with slow starts.

Despite somehow kicking the first goal in over 80% of the games.

 

[MUFASA12]

Feel like the gyrations have just shifted, clearly the better team across the 4 quarters. Starting to see things come together. Most impressed with Dow, imagine him with a buzzcut. Great to have Clark back. Caminiti is very mobile and handy, he's got plenty of upside and defintely my pick of the Hammer/Membrey/Sharman trio. I've never seen Howard in such good form, bodes well if he stays or goes. Thought King was just working into it when injured, having said so, we look more dangerous with the mobile forward line and imo it brings Owens back into the frame too. Love Marshall but I'd really like to see us experiment with him/the ruck role. Garcia needs to play in front of Ross. Windy should tag most weeks. Other Clubs will replicate what we did to Reid, he'll work through it but not for a while, we seriously got under his skin all night, wasn't just Windy, Clark Steele everyone was having a crack. Great coaching. I've seen enough of Bonner. Please never get injured again Henry. Great to see Dad Wood and some others enjoying their footy. David King undersands our team, the gameplan and players very well. It's pretty clear where the major flaws are, when we hit up the intermediate target approaching the forward 50 we look so much better. Was very relieved to see the long down the line kick, prevalent in the first half, diminsh in the second. The WCE crowd can EAD. So can Adam Simpson tbh just for good measure. The end.

I’ll have a dose of whatever you’re having lmao

 

[seasonedsainter]

One thing I've noticed about Steele this year, particularly yesterday is he looks like s**t on game day. By that I mean his face in the closeups pre-game; last night it looked like he'd barely slept the last couple of days, it's that dark shading around the eyes that gives it away. It must be affecting performance.

Bit of a digression, but one player I really noticed this about is / was Weideman; he basically always has that same haven't-slept-a-wink look but much worse, and wonder how many players who don't make it (and get called spuds and whatnot) just get way too anxious the night before the same and can just never get themselves properly right.

I think the weight of the captaincy needs to come off him and tbh the only leadership group member suitable is Wilkie.

Steele also seems p1ssed off all the time at stoppages. Whether at players or umpires. Not sure if good or bad.

Reid is a fantastic player and has some sort of ego on him too I'd guess. He actually pointed directly at the umpiring giving lip after being done by NAS for holding lol.

 

[luca77]

Was very relieved to see the long down the line kick, prevalent in the first half, diminsh in the second.

But was worrying to see it come back when the game needed to be won in the last quarter.
Goes to show just how much of the problem is psychological - we're still not backing ourselves to be brave with the ball under pressure. We'll be under pressure a lot in our next 3 games.

 

[seasonedsainter]

I’ll have a dose of whatever you’re having lmao

It's 2am and I'm stone cold sober, I'm not sure how I can help you sir lol.

 

[seasonedsainter]

But was worrying to see it come back when the game needed to be won in the last quarter.
Goes to show just how much of the problem is psychological - we're still not backing ourselves to be brave with the ball under pressure. We'll be under pressure a lot in our next 3 games.

Agreed baby steps though.

I want to see them run more. Just take off with the ball in hand instead of giving the quick handball or slam on boot.

Can't believe how late we're getting our Bye this year too. Another little thing which hasn't gone our way.

 

[Leap of Faith]

I'm not sure if Windhager was on Reid from the start (I was watching from a pub on mute from a distance), but the match up from the get go is a no brainer. Explosive, accountable, tough, as I said, a no brainer.

The irony that Reid did the dangerous tackle on his good mate which will probably hand that good mate a rising star award. Ah, who am I kidding, AFL will find a way to let him off.

Not really surprised that our forwardline actually functioned after Max went off.

Never cared so little for a good interstate win, completely checked out which is a worry.

Same. Absolutely indifferent to the result. Pretty much lost interest. Must be a heartbeat though coz I’m still on here.

 

[D2D3]

Saints seven goals in the first three quarters with Max King, five goals in the last quarter without Max King.

Only worked out that way because Wood lifted when Max went off and Windy went to Reid and completely shut him down

 

[Saintbloke]

Despite somehow kicking the first goal in over 80% of the games.

One goal doesn't make a quarter

 

[luca77]

Agreed baby steps though.

I want to see them run more. Just take off with the ball in hand instead of giving the quick handball or slam on boot.

Can't believe how late we're getting our Bye this year too. Another little thing which hasn't gone our way.

Yeah, the thing that worries me is that Nas walking the ball out of WC's backline all evening was a big factor in us winning last night, but I've still got memories of those Freo players charging straight at him and our other ball users a few weeks ago.
Until we show that we can handle that kind of heat and still be brave instead of bombing it long to make it someone else's problem it's going to be more of the same in the 2nd half of the year I think.

Still, if Henry and Dow continue on their current trajectory since coming back, it will really help Nas, Sincs and Hill a lot and things should logically get better. Especially if Crouch gets back to full fitness. Crouch/Clark/Henry/Dow/Steele is a midfield we simply haven't seen all year.

 

[NasiahToKing]

Can we talk about NAS?

 

[seasonedsainter]

Can we talk about NAS?

David King wants to mate him.

 

[Sainter1873]

Can we talk about NAS?

Sure. But what’s with capitalising the A and S? I see it all the time. Why not Nas? Or NWM?

Or just Wang.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

Hopefully a wake up call for rtb the most stubborn man in Australia. Forced into making a few changes due to Max being subbed off and it paid off big time.
He needs to try being a bit more flexible and thinking outside the box a bit more often even though it did cause him a migraine. Plus get on the probiotics they can help with that.

 

[Saint Watto]

OPSM, Adam.
I’m sure they have them in Perth!

Like the North game I try not to take too much out of a win against a team like that when they’re missing key players, but I guess a win over there is always a good effort.

I’m staggered that Windy as a mid was one of the few shining lights this season and Ross tried to take that away too. Second half plays where he should and plays well, shock horror.

Sinclair at HB is our whole offense. His combination with Nas is the only thing that gives us any chance of scoring. Our poor patch in the middle of last season coincided with Sinclair in the middle. He’s a good mid but with this poor offensive system he’s too important at HB. Nas could be freakish but we need both of them there.

Any more Liam Henry’s out there? We need another two of him. How in gods name did we luck into him.

I'm not an overly greedy guy......but I'll take 5 Liam Henry's....thank you very much.

Was dazzling yesterday.......and that goal. .. .luckily I was wearing my rain jacket otherwise it would have been just embarrassing.

 

[gringo2011]

Was thinking this too, looks like he's carrying the weight of the whole clubs performance on his back.

He looked grumpy as **** when they panned to him sitting on the interchange

Every bit of joy seems to have evaporated from him. He's giving off vibes like he wants out. There was talk last year that Lyon gave him some hard truths about his performance and set the bar much higher than he set for himself.

A lot of our players got softened under the old regime with guys playing to a decent standard got held up as superstars and paid like it. When you feel like you've reached the top of the mountain and someone gives you binoculars and you realise it's only base camp it's probably quite confronting and galling.

Lyon is a pretty demanding coach and players that can give more and don't aren't let off.

 

[gringo2011]

Hopefully a wake up call for rtb the most stubborn man in Australia. Forced into making a few changes due to Max being subbed off and it paid off big time.
He needs to try being a bit more flexible and thinking outside the box a bit more often even though it did cause him a migraine. Plus get on the probiotics they can help with that.

Really don't think it was Max, it was Reid getting shut down which let our midfield get on top. Max King would have had 6 goals if we'd delivered to him like we did in the last quarter.

Thought big Maxy was good.