Autopsy Round 14, 2022: St.Kilda v Essendon *SPUD'S GAME*

[Diehard Saint]

I wouldnt say fuming but * it was disappointing. Spud game, Friday night, my first live game for the year and we do that.

The next 5 weeks make or break us. Its conceivable that we dont win any of the next 5 and go from 8-4 to 8-10.

In fact we might only start as favorites in 1 of our next 9...

Prefer we don't start as favourites actually...we seem to do better as the underdog.

 

[Saintbloke]

Inexperienced Essendon player Ben Hobbs gets rising star for his great game against the Saints- who was his direct opponent?

 

[The Punter]

Inexperienced Essendon player Ben Hobbs gets rising star for his great game against the Saints- who was his direct opponent?

He's got nothing on Michael Hurley, who won TWO Rising Star nominations for Essendon in games against St Kilda.

We have far and away the worst record for conceding Rising Star nominations FWIW.

 

[malevu]

I was interested to read that Hodge is still on board with the Saints. He reckons even with our draw we'll still play finals. I don't take much notice of the opinions of most of the media hacks. Even those coming from ex-players.

However, I've noticed both Hodge and Lewis have been slow to warm to us this year. Obviously both know what it takes to be a highly successful club so I value their opinions more than most of the others.

Here's hoping Hodge is as good a judge as he was a player.

 

[Dr Spaceman]

Spud game we turned to spuds so what will happen in the pride game - god knows.

We should know once the warm up starts

 

[Ephemeral Hope]

Gotta give Herbatron the credit. Video was still funny even when its us losing. Look at the absolute dud performances we put out last week.

 

[gringo2011]

I was interested to read that Hodge is still on board with the Saints. He reckons even with our draw we'll still play finals. I don't take much notice of the opinions of most of the media hacks. Even those coming from ex-players.

However, I've noticed both Hodge and Lewis have been slow to warm to us this year. Obviously both know what it takes to be a highly successful club so I value their opinions more than most of the others.

Here's hoping Hodge is as good a judge as he was a player.

We are still in the race but haven’t got many chances to slip up.

 

[Ephemeral Hope]

We are still in the race but haven’t got many chances to slip up.

if we beat a genuine top side like Brisbane it makes up for the essendon loss

 

[Grav]

if we beat a genuine top side like Brisbane it makes up for the essendon loss

Did laugh at the Brisbane news after we played the Lions, Brisbane beat St Kilda even after being decimated by the injury to Dayne Zorko, no mention of any St Kilda injuries.

 

[lewdogs]

In the VFL report for this week they mention that Joyce was sick all week. Wonder if there have still been bugs floating around the club and some players low on energy. Might partially explain the flat performance.

 

[D2D3]

Inexperienced Essendon player Ben Hobbs gets rising star for his great game against the Saints- who was his direct opponent?

I've been paying some attention to Hobbs because I liked the look of him in the draft period, he's shaping up to be a good player. Mostly been playing as a half forward and occasional mid in a similar vein to how we've been using Windhager. So we probably had a defender on him but doubt it was a close checking role. Not much shame there in caparison to a lot of what else went on.

 

[KingsRansom]

Sent this to Matt Finnis.....I don't even care if I get a response..I just want them to know


Dear St. Kilda FC

Every year I pay for not only mine, my wife's but also my children's memberships to this club.

And I question why? Why do I put my heart and soul into a club that has players that show no heart or soul when needed.
This week we had Spuds match, a legend of the club, the second time we have played it and the second time we have been heartless and pathetic.

Do you know how hard it is to be a St Kilda supporter? We are arguably the worst sporting club in the world statistically. We get laughed at by every other teams supporters and then let down by our very own club.

I have pulled for the players and administration against all doubters, even from within our own supporter base...but yet I'm proven wrong again and again.

Why can't out players get up for occasions? Spuds match, the Maddie's matches (apart from 2), the Good Friday match, the Anzac matches....our history is littered with wasted opportunities...no wonder we are a minnow club. We have a horrible history of bad choices, both administrative and player selection.

I know we can't change the past, but it seems we can't change the present either.
It feels like the players don't care, they have their pay cheque to go to, they have next week. This is a main reason why alot don't show up....because we are constantly let down. It hurts, it burns. It's like been scorned by a horrible lover....

We speak about mental health, we speak about the demons we have....football is our release and when we see displays like we just saw, we get mentally exhausted....knowing what we have to put up with the coming weeks.

I'm here watching the players walking off the ground.....it really looks like they don't care. Not about us, not about the club...just about themselves.

I know you probably get emails like this all the time and I guess rightly so. Essendon had a player tonight, who if you believe some, was meant to be a st kilda player...Caldwell starred for them, our midfield is (without Steele) probably one of the worst in the AFL....I dunno, it burns to see other teams like Melbourne, Western bulldogs and Richmond who have been on our level for so long have all this success and we have none....it genuinely hurts and it seems no one cares.


Yes it's just a game, but for some of us families who have great pressures like mortgages, debt, payments and daily pressures from work, to see blokes getting paid a mint to not put in...it just hurts.

So, update.....

Had a phone call from Dougal Howard lol.
Had a chat about how they were not only disappointed in them selves but also for the fans for the way they played on Friday. Felt likebthey took the opposition for granted which they shouldn't have done and really want to stand their foot on the competition over the rest of the season.
Apparently the coaching staff were breathing fire after the match with how the club let down the supporters and spud and how alot of players looked to be playing for themselves and not for the jumper or what it means to people outside of the playing group.

Really apologised profusely.

Thought that was fantastic really, to actually give me a call to see how I was lol

We had Roughy play for Gormandale over the weekend as well. He was livid over Fridays match as well. Said all the players were told to bring their mouth guards this week

 

[The Punter]

My feeling is getting stronger that we won't see Captain Fluffy on Saturday night.

 

[Miha]

So, update.....

Had a phone call from Dougal Howard lol.
Had a chat about how they were not only disappointed in them selves but also for the fans for the way they played on Friday. Felt likebthey took the opposition for granted which they shouldn't have done and really want to stand their foot on the competition over the rest of the season.
Apparently the coaching staff were breathing fire after the match with how the club let down the supporters and spud and how alot of players looked to be playing for themselves and not for the jumper or what it means to people outside of the playing group.

Really apologised profusely.

Thought that was fantastic really, to actually give me a call to see how I was lol

We had Roughy play for Gormandale over the weekend as well. He was livid over Fridays match as well. Said all the players were told to bring their mouth guards this week

That’s brilliant. Should do a group teams call with cameras on

 

[Winmar2Lockett]

In the VFL report for this week they mention that Joyce was sick all week. Wonder if there have still been bugs floating around the club and some players low on energy. Might partially explain the flat performance.

From what I've heard from a good source this week, we're in the midst of a heavy mid season training block.

It doesn't excuse the effort shown across the board on Friday but it may explain why so many blokes looked like they couldn't break out of a canter.

 

[BrutThough]

Sharman in a black jumper at training. Looks like he is back.

 

[gringo2011]

That’s brilliant. Should do a group teams call with cameras on

I’d rather they line them up and we throw rotting fruit at them.

 

[George]

So, update.....

Had a phone call from Dougal Howard lol.
Had a chat about how they were not only disappointed in them selves but also for the fans for the way they played on Friday. Felt likebthey took the opposition for granted which they shouldn't have done and really want to stand their foot on the competition over the rest of the season.
Apparently the coaching staff were breathing fire after the match with how the club let down the supporters and spud and how alot of players looked to be playing for themselves and not for the jumper or what it means to people outside of the playing group.

Really apologised profusely.

Thought that was fantastic really, to actually give me a call to see how I was lol

We had Roughy play for Gormandale over the weekend as well. He was livid over Fridays match as well. Said all the players were told to bring their mouth guards this week

Rumour has it that Doogs has been relieved of his duties as fullback and instead become the trainee receptionists understudy. Good strategic move to shuffle the magnets around by Ratts and the coaches and play him in a new position. I think he will flourish in his new role.

Saints by 12 goals

 

[UnfinishedBusiness]

So, update.....

Had a phone call from Dougal Howard lol.
Had a chat about how they were not only disappointed in them selves but also for the fans for the way they played on Friday. Felt likebthey took the opposition for granted which they shouldn't have done and really want to stand their foot on the competition over the rest of the season.
Apparently the coaching staff were breathing fire after the match with how the club let down the supporters and spud and how alot of players looked to be playing for themselves and not for the jumper or what it means to people outside of the playing group.

Really apologised profusely.

Thought that was fantastic really, to actually give me a call to see how I was lol

We had Roughy play for Gormandale over the weekend as well. He was livid over Fridays match as well. Said all the players were told to bring their mouth guards this week

Wait, is this real? On the one hand, it’s hilarious in a way I don’t like. Is this something a professional team does? Having players call up the fans to apologise? On the other hand I guess it’s a decent punishment for selfish acts, ultimate club first stuff to be ringing supporters and having a call like this, very humiliating but I guess effective? I don’t really know how I feel about this. Or maybe I’m gullible and you’ve got a great imagination?


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[bergholt]

Wait, is this real? On the one hand, it’s hilarious in a way I don’t like. Is this something a professional team does? Having players call up the fans to apologise? On the other hand I guess it’s a decent punishment for selfish acts, ultimate club first stuff to be ringing supporters and having a call like this, very humiliating but I guess effective? I don’t really know how I feel about this. Or maybe I’m gullible and you’ve got a great imagination?

Pretty sure it's real, the club gets players to ring supporters for membership stuff, I suppose this is similar. Probably just the leadership group - they might have had 10 phone calls to make each or something.

 

[CaptainRisky]

From what I've heard from a good source this week, we're in the midst of a heavy mid season training block.

It doesn't excuse the effort shown across the board on Friday but it may explain why so many blokes looked like they couldn't break out of a canter.

Not sure i see the point in doing a heavy training block when we are not winning games and cant afford to loose many more , id rather us just get into the finals and take our chances , as it is i think we will be lucky to make the 8 let alone have the luxury of doing a training block

 

[bergholt]

Not sure i see the point in doing a heavy training block when we are not winning games and cant afford to loose many more , id rather us just get into the finals and take our chances , as it is i think we will be lucky to make the 8 let alone have the luxury of doing a training block

Probably agree, the only reason it might make sense to me is that the players need to get used to it for later in their careers so if they've done it this year then maybe they'll cope better next year.

 

[The Punter]

FWIW, Adelaide won premierships in 1997 and 1998, with 14 and 13 home and away wins respectively, with a heavy mid-season training block.

 

[jwikked]

2019 to 2022 - the Dan Hannebery years.
Is the campaigner who signed Dan for 4 years still at the club?

Hannebery clearly hasn't worked out, but it was an inspired choice during a period when no other players wanted to play for St Kilda. A good idea that ultimately didn't work out.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Rumour has it that Doogs has been relieved of his duties as fullback and instead become the trainee receptionists understudy. Good strategic move to shuffle the magnets around by Ratts and the coaches and play him in a new position. I think he will flourish in his new role.

Saints by 12 goals

Ratten can only dream about being able to re-arrange the clerical staff.
The Trainee receptionist answers only to the receptionist and .......... this order must have come from the top.
Trainee receptionist understudy is a massive opportunity for Dougs.