Preview Round 17, 2023: St.Kilda v Melbourne - Marvel Stadium, Saturday 8th July, 7:25PM AEST *STEELE 150TH*

[dudeintheswamp]

What was pretty concerning to watch from last week was the ease in which Luke Shuey

13

Luke Shuey

Age

34

Ht

184cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.7

5star

K

13.0

5star

HB

10.7

5star

M

3.3

3star

T

4.9

5star

CL

5.6

5star

D

18.7

4star

K

10.8

4star

HB

7.8

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.7

4star

CL

4.3

5star

D

17.0

5star

K

9.2

4star

HB

7.8

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.8

5star

CL

1.4

4star

was able to push off Jack Steele

9

Jack Steele

Age

29

Ht

187cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.9

5star

K

8.7

3star

HB

12.2

5star

M

3.7

4star

T

6.8

5star

CL

3.6

5star

D

21.3

5star

K

10.0

4star

HB

11.3

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

5.8

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

16.8

4star

K

5.0

2star

HB

11.8

5star

M

2.6

3star

T

6.4

5star

CL

3.6

5star

a couple of times at centre bounces for clean breakaways through the front of the centre square. That strength at the contest has kinda been the cornerstone of Steele's game, quite disturbing watching that unfold tbh. Could easily get touched up by Petracca and Viney in the same way if he ain't careful.

 

[SteeleSaints]

What was pretty concerning to watch from last week was the ease in which Luke Shuey was able to push off Jack Steele a couple of times at centre bounces for clean breakaways through the front of the centre square. That strength at the contest has kinda been the cornerstone of Steele's game, quite disturbing watching that unfold tbh. Could easily get touched up by Petracca and Viney in the same way if he ain't careful.

Jacks tackling and pressure has dropped away quite a bit since his AC and knee injuries. Im amazed Lyon & Hayes keep asking him to play that role when he has obviously been restricted. Its poor player management in my view.

 

[saintbill]

What was pretty concerning to watch from last week was the ease in which Luke Shuey was able to push off Jack Steele a couple of times at centre bounces for clean breakaways through the front of the centre square. That strength at the contest has kinda been the cornerstone of Steele's game, quite disturbing watching that unfold tbh. Could easily get touched up by Petracca and Viney in the same way if he ain't careful.

Steele's stats massively flatter him, even despite the drop off. Watching live he seems to be regularly getting torched by his opponent.

He has lost his strength advantage, but is getting worked over on the spread as well. Has become a genuine liability in there.

 

[Saintbloke]

What was pretty concerning to watch from last week was the ease in which Luke Shuey was able to push off Jack Steele a couple of times at centre bounces for clean breakaways through the front of the centre square. That strength at the contest has kinda been the cornerstone of Steele's game, quite disturbing watching that unfold tbh. Could easily get touched up by Petracca and Viney in the same way if he ain't careful.

That was a worry, and it's not just that game, or Steele, where opposition mids just pushed off our players to get a clear run at the ball- our mids continually allow themselves to get behind their direct opponent. Lenny and Lyon seem to be a bit stuck with how to get the strategy around centre bounces working.

 

[FQFjt]

Jacks tackling and pressure has dropped away quite a bit since his AC and knee injuries. Im amazed Lyon & Hayes keep asking him to play that role when he has obviously been restricted. Its poor player management in my view.

Yes and no, because there is no where else Steele can play and (especially with Bytel's latest injury) no one who can reliably do a better job. Hopefully with the return of Clark and Jones we will see some improvement but save for an acute injury I can't see Steele being rested.

 

[St Kilda Death]

Shows the depth of our midfield really when Steele due to injuries is running at about 75% and is still our 2nd best mid.

 

[L_W_P]

Apologies haven’t been following that closely but Campbell in to give Marshall a chop out against Gawn & Grundy?

We struggled against Brisbane’s height and no Battle this week.

Heath not ready especially against Gawn & Grundy - hopefully next year.

Should happen. Won't happen.

I think Sharman comes in to take Battle's role and maybe we see Billings in for Hill? Although Ross says he's a forward and not a mid yeah? So maybe Jones comes in? Is Dmac fit?

 

[Remboy]

Should happen. Won't happen.

I think Sharman comes in to take Battle's role and maybe we see Billings in for Hill? Although Ross says he's a forward and not a mid yeah? So maybe Jones comes in? Is Dmac fit?

I’d like to see Jones come in. DMac’s done his calf again unfortunately. Don’t think we’ll see him again.

 

[L_W_P]

I’d like to see Jones come in. DMac’s done his calf again unfortunately. Don’t think we’ll see him again.

Is he out of contract?

Of all the players on the list, I thought DMac would end up being an absolute Ross Lyon love child. I hope we get to see what he can do in this team with this coach.

He needs 27 games to be the first man with his name on the #36 locker as well.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Is he out of contract?

Of all the players on the list, I thought DMac would end up being an absolute Ross Lyon love child. I hope we get to see what he can do in this team with this coach.

He needs 27 games to be the first man with his name on the #36 locker as well.

Yep out of contract this year. With his calves dodgier and dodgier, you'd have to think he'd be worried about the next contract. Be a shame to end like this for him.

 

[Ephemeral Hope]

Shows the depth of our midfield really when Steele due to injuries is running at about 75% and is still our 2nd best mid.

Reminds me of shit Carlton being carried with cripps with a ****ed back

 

[phantom13]

The Tigers have three premierships from the same style so it's not a disadvantage if you can work around it. It's harder work though. Bursting out of the middle before the defences can set up would be much less effort.

Geelong and Sydney both made the GF off lesser midfields who often conceded.

I think the problem is were not conceding, were just having every player get drawn to the ball and leaving space if they win it and giving it back in the stoppage if we do.

If you wanna "concede" the stoppage properly you have to set up so that cant get it clean and out the front. Richmond scrapped everything so the hack forward was cut off or nuertalised. Let em walk it out the front their either finding a target or getting deep inside 50.

 

[gringo2011]

I think the problem is were not conceding, were just having every player get drawn to the ball and leaving space if they win it and giving it back in the stoppage if we do.

If you wanna "concede" the stoppage properly you have to set up so that cant get it clean and out the front. Richmond scrapped everything so the hack forward was cut off or nuertalised. Let em walk it out the front their either finding a target or getting deep inside 50.

I think we are crap but that looks like what Lyon was doing early in the season. It just looks very ordinary because our entire midfield outside Crouch is down on form. You could see them trying their arses off against the lions but they were always losing that next contest.

 

[Premium]

I think we are crap but that looks like what Lyon was doing early in the season. It just looks very ordinary because our entire midfield outside Crouch is down on form. You could see them trying their arses off against the lions but they were always losing that next contest.

What I would do is start with Marshall - Crouch - Sinclair - Higgins and have Gresham change out with Higgins in short spells rotating in the forward line.
People forget Higgins was a outstanding midfielder in the u/18s and won the 2017 TAC Cup Morrish Medalist after a superb season in the midfield --- he most probably doesn't have the speed or endurance to compete with the Touk Millers etc but used pinch hitting with Gresham I would expect them to have the football IQ to get a few more clearances than we are currently getting.

 

[Premium]

Shows the depth of our midfield really when Steele due to injuries is running at about 75% and is still our 2nd best mid.

I would currently have him behind Crouch , Sinclair and really Steele shouldn't be in the midfield until he can hold his own.
For sure he is our best midfielder - but he is not right and if they keep playing the way he is going they will completely stuff him up.
You can't keep playing under performing midfielders because it throws the game plan , structure way out of kilter.
Ross is in the same boat - time to run a few changes - Owens , Windhager , Higgins , Gresham , Phillipou - even give Hill , Milera a burst but we can't let teams take control of the game from the middle.

 

[BrutThough]

No Owens or Higgins today at training.

Hill, Seb, Bytel and Keeler started the session with a fitness test away from the group then all join in, with Seb and Hill only doing half the match sim.

Battle trained separately with Membrey. Good sign that his concussion was minor.

Clark did the full session. Coffield and Allison both in with the main group too. Looks like we plan on Allison playing wing. He was following Wood around everywhere.

Ross and Harvey spent a while post session talking to the forwards separately - King/Caminiti/Butler/Billings/Byrnes. Phillipou was with that group during match sim but not apart of the conversation.

Windy was playing half back. Cordy looks like Battle's replacement. Sinclair and Gresh trained fully midfield today - Gresh has typically been spending a lot more time with the forward group so thought the change was notable.

Jones looked great. I hope we take the chance with him this week.

 

[The Cobra]

Training today (I couldn’t watch very closely as the phone kept ringing again so take the following with a grain of salt).

I am very positive about the future and RTB and his assistants but I thought the players were generally poor today and despite the wind the skills were ordinary at best. Enthusiasm seemed lower than usual. Pity because there was a lot there given school holidays.

Saints at the moment remind me of a good batsman in cricket. Early in the season we were well prepared, confident and making runs for fun. Now we have had a run of low scores we are questioning ourselves, tweaking our technique and searching for answers. Every run is hard to get and we can’t time the ball.

Apologies for the cricket analogy but I reckon the coaches are as frustrated as anyone & also searching for something to get us out of the doldrums.

If we serve up on Saturday what I saw today we are in real trouble. Having said that training before the Eagles game was very good - so who knows!

 

[bergholt]

King is due imo. If we aren’t negligent of their intercept defenders (wouldn’t hold my breath), I think he dominates at Marvel. Just a prediction

They have the second highest interceptor in the comp in Lever. Top for average intercepts per game:

9.33: Sicily (22 against us)
8.93: Lever (not played yet)
8.87: Ballard (8 against us)
8.80: Wilkie
8.67: Moore (9 against us)
8.40: Balta (10 against us)
8.15: Vlastuin (11 against us)
7.87: Aliir (6 against us)
7.64: Stewart (not played yet)
7.53: Andrews (14 against us)

Seems unlikely Lever will have less than 10 intercepts, probably more like 15 if history is any guide. We're very good at making guys look like stars.

 

[ARCHIE66]

No Owens or Higgins today at training.

Hill, Seb, Bytel and Keeler started the session with a fitness test away from the group then all join in, with Seb and Hill only doing half the match sim.

Battle trained separately with Membrey. Good sign that his concussion was minor.

Clark did the full session. Coffield and Allison both in with the main group too. Looks like we plan on Allison playing wing. He was following Wood around everywhere.

Ross and Harvey spent a while post session talking to the forwards separately - King/Caminiti/Butler/Billings/Byrnes. Phillipou was with that group during match sim but not apart of the conversation.

Windy was playing half back. Cordy looks like Battle's replacement. Sinclair and Gresh trained fully midfield today - Gresh has typically been spending a lot more time with the forward group so thought the change was notable.

Jones looked great. I hope we take the chance with him this week.

Great post, Why wasn’t Owens training?

 

[SaintSlayer]

They have the second highest interceptor in the comp in Lever. Top for average intercepts per game:

9.33: Sicily (22 against us)
8.93: Lever (not played yet)
8.87: Ballard (8 against us)
8.80: Wilkie
8.67: Moore (9 against us)
8.40: Balta (10 against us)
8.15: Vlastuin (11 against us)
7.87: Aliir (6 against us)
7.64: Stewart (not played yet)
7.53: Andrews (14 against us)

Seems unlikely Lever will have less than 10 intercepts, probably more like 15 if history is any guide. We're very good at making guys look like stars.

Highlights there‘s insufficient contestable ball in our forward line.

Is it our forward structure, are we missing a tall forward, are we lacking a strong lead up forward, do we need leadership in the forward line, is it our defensive game plan up the ground, is it the delivery to our forwards, etc. Personally it‘s a combination and no doubt RTB and team are trying to address, however it may take time to tweak the jigsaw to get the desired result.

 

[FQFjt]

No Owens or Higgins today at training.

Hill, Seb, Bytel and Keeler started the session with a fitness test away from the group then all join in, with Seb and Hill only doing half the match sim.

Battle trained separately with Membrey. Good sign that his concussion was minor.

Clark did the full session. Coffield and Allison both in with the main group too. Looks like we plan on Allison playing wing. He was following Wood around everywhere.

Ross and Harvey spent a while post session talking to the forwards separately - King/Caminiti/Butler/Billings/Byrnes. Phillipou was with that group during match sim but not apart of the conversation.

Windy was playing half back. Cordy looks like Battle's replacement. Sinclair and Gresh trained fully midfield today - Gresh has typically been spending a lot more time with the forward group so thought the change was notable.

Jones looked great. I hope we take the chance with him this week.

Not in love with Byrnes moving from the wing to the forward line.

 

[PostmanBish]

Not sure if it’s the one you mention ( think it may have been Richo actually) I remember the one when Joey beat them with a goal in the last 30 seconds or so.
Just that time we has a Dees supporting mate - a nice guy actually- sitting in our Saints enclave and I had just turned to congratulate him on winning the game - and whooshka! Joey goaled pretty much on the siren.
I think it was straight down there from a centre bounce.

The last two minutes video of that game is a corker, focusing in on this poor little Melbourne supporter, where you can basically see his heart break, after being in the throes of ecstasy a few moments earlier ...



Was sitting in goalzone that day, and almost lost my crap as badly as Richo when Joey banged it through

 

[beside the seaside]

The last two minutes video of that game is a corker, focusing in on this poor little Melbourne supporter, where you can basically see his heart break, after being in the throes of ecstasy a few moments earlier ...



Was sitting in goalzone that day, and almost lost my crap as badly as Richo when Joey banged it through

I was in standing room that day and it was absolute pandemonium. One of my best football memories.

 

[gringo2011]

They have the second highest interceptor in the comp in Lever. Top for average intercepts per game:

9.33: Sicily (22 against us)
8.93: Lever (not played yet)
8.87: Ballard (8 against us)
8.80: Wilkie
8.67: Moore (9 against us)
8.40: Balta (10 against us)
8.15: Vlastuin (11 against us)
7.87: Aliir (6 against us)
7.64: Stewart (not played yet)
7.53: Andrews (14 against us)

Seems unlikely Lever will have less than 10 intercepts, probably more like 15 if history is any guide. We're very good at making guys look like stars.

Wilkie with the 0.13 less a game though. Their shit forwards might have the same issues without Bailey Fruit's hair to aim for.

 

[gringo2011]

Not in love with Byrnes moving from the wing to the forward line.

Byrnes plays starting off the high half forward but runs the ground. Pretty normal now days. They are just extra wings.