Preview Round 2, 2024: St.Kilda v Collingwood - MCG, Thursday 21st March, 7:30PM AEDT *SPUD'S GAME* *ROSS 200TH* *BYRNES 50TH*

[seasonedsainter]

Selecting Crouch when clearly not right off a 5 day break doesn't seem right to me ... Condition him at Sandy ffs, back in when ready

Also drop Seb and give Garcia a run, honestly some of these older blokes are not taking us to the promised land

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Now this is something I can get around. Good luck campaigners

 

[SteeleSaints]

Obviously a lot will depend on who is ready to play - hopefully Sinclair, Jones and Stocker are ok. Someone suggested Butler also, but I doubt he has done the work yet to be ready.

Ins: Sinclair, Jones,
Out: Crouch (not fit), Collard,

Stocker Cordy Wilkie
Naz Battle Sinclair
Hill Steele Wood
Henry Membrey Sharman
Higgins King Phillipou

Marshall Owens Windhager

Int: Ross, Byrnes, Bonner, Wilson
Sub: Jones

Rotations:
Byrnes & Windhager Mids
Henry & Owens Mids
Ross, Wilson & Hill, Wood wings
Phillipou & Higgins FP
Bonner - Stocker, Naz, Sincs HBF
Jones - ?

 

[Diehard Saint]

Have you considered divorce?

It's my sister's husband.
I guess I could work on her....

 

[The Punter]

Seb due to play his 200th game this Thursday. You should all start the five stages of grief now just to get it out of the way.

(This is not a comment on his game at Geelong, but on the likelihood he gets left out this week.)

Also, we need someone playing the Butler role - it was not apparent who was doing it last week. Butler has an exceptional record for us at the MCG BTW.

Sinclair may have to play back if Stocker doesn't come up.

 

[gringo2011]

Will be an interesting one. Sincs in, but will play most of the game as a mid?

As others (and myself before) have said, Mitch needs to be in the guts most of the time, a) to extract and muscle the ball and b) so his kicking isn't such a liability.

I reckon hang on to Crouch and drop Ross, leave everything else the same so Ross out, Crouch in. Start Wilson as the sub and let Collard get a bit of a run and hopefully some touches early.

I doubt we get too experimental and hope the space of the G gives us more room to run.

 

[St Neil]

In terms of the Collingwood game and moving fwd in general --

• Only ONE of Ross and Crouch allowed in the same team! At the minute I think it's Ross as Crouch quite literally couldn't run.
• If RTB rolls out the Steele/Ross/Crouch midfield again I swear I'll weep
• I would start Collard in the 22, back the kid in ffs, send Higgins to Sub, maybe with some of the pace off the game he could do better
• Really hope Stocker comes up but if he doesn't, think we could see Arie debut
• Pou and Owens swap roles FFS just FFS get Owens on the ball!
• Sincs in for whomever of Crouch/Ross gets left out

I agree with you about Collard. Get him in there and see how he goes. Potentially high risk high reward. But I want us to play the kids.

Higgins as the sub.

 

[SG34]

It looks like RTB MkIII is prepared to play half baked players. (i.e. recovering from injury or as ‘master apprentices’. Butler’s ankle was shot before final last year and couldn’t kick over a tin can. Membrey came in last year very underdone. Steele played at less than 100. Cut to 24’ and we see Crouch underdone and picked. Other players coming in off the short run. I can’t see it changing. They simply have to choose Ross and Crouch if ‘fit’ because they have no alternatives with all round abilities and experience. Sincs might play, but if he, too, is underdone, he wouldn’t be a midfield lock. Pou gets picked as master apprentice as Cam gets considered. Our situation is pretty diabolical on paper (mid field and forward entry options) but we give it a go and show discipline. I can’t see that being enough for Daicos and co.

 

[SteeleSaints]

It looks like RTB MkIII is prepared to play half baked players. (i.e. recovering from injury or as ‘master apprentices’. Butler’s ankle was shot before final last year and couldn’t kick over a tin can. Membrey came in last year very underdone. Steele played at less than 100. Cut to 24’ and we see Crouch underdone and picked. Other players coming in off the short run. I can’t see it changing. They simply have to choose Ross and Crouch if ‘fit’ because they have no alternatives with all round abilities and experience. Sincs might play, but if he, too, is underdone, he wouldn’t be a midfield lock. Pou gets picked as master apprentice as Cam gets considered. Our situation is pretty diabolical on paper (mid field and forward entry options) but we give it a go and show discipline. I can’t see that being enough for Daicos and co.

It comes back to player availability but RTB was infamous for exactly that during his first stint at the club. Over looking fit and available players and playing the senior players when they were obviously struggling with injury regardless.

 

[CaptainRisky]

It seems our depth is no where near what some were thinking pre season because if it was there are a few that need a run in the Two's to get some form - fitness

Our mids are a major concern ATM , Crouch looked horrible on the weekend , Seb was subbed , Jones and Clark can hardly get on the park for one thing or another and the hype put on kids like Hotton is way over the top , the kid has done nothing to suggest he will make it as of now.

Id be so tempted to play Garcia this weekend and give Windy and Owens decent game time on the ball, Pou more time forward than in the guts ATM

 

[mighty_sainters]

Crouch was outstanding last season. One average game with limited prep isn’t cause for concern.

He’ll be ready to go this Thursday.

 

[CaptainRisky]

Crouch was outstanding last season. One average game with limited prep isn’t cause for concern.

He’ll be ready to go this Thursday.

He just looked like he was limping to me

 

[saintbill]

Depth looks pretty ordinary at the moment. All of a sudden the loss of the likes of Gresham, Billings, Coffield is starting to look problematic. Its an unbalanced list. Lots of really young blokes, mixed with old blokes.

Would love to have Higgo and Ross out, but we might just have to wait until Butler and Dow are up and about.

Ins: Sinclair, Jones
Outs: Collard, Ross

Won't happen with Ross, but it should. Collard is not readIy. Its the wrong fit right now. Already got a lot of weak bodied players in the squad. Higgo on notice.

I expect us to be a much better side in 4-5 weeks. Hopefully it is not too late We are zero chance against the Pies IMO. Which means wins against Tigers and Bombers coming up are crucial. Don't want to be too down on form as either can get you on their day.

 

[Sully111]

Depth looks pretty ordinary at the moment. All of a sudden the loss of the likes of Gresham, Billings, Coffield is starting to look problematic. Its an unbalanced list. Lots of really young blokes, mixed with old blokes.

Would love to have Higgo and Ross out, but we might just have to wait until Butler and Dow are up and about.

Ins: Sinclair, Jones
Outs: Collard, Ross

Won't happen with Ross, but it should. Collard is not readIy. Its the wrong fit right now. Already got a lot of weak bodied players in the squad. Higgo on notice.

I expect us to be a much better side in 4-5 weeks. Hopefully it is not too late We are zero chance against the Pies IMO. Which means wins against Tigers and Bombers coming up are crucial. Don't want to be too down on form as either can get you on their day.

Collard could have kicked multiple goals if his mates didn't burn him. People would be singing a different tune then.

 

[Imtellingya]

Depth looks pretty ordinary at the moment. All of a sudden the loss of the likes of Gresham, Billings, Coffield is starting to look problematic. Its an unbalanced list. Lots of really young blokes, mixed with old blokes.

Would love to have Higgo and Ross out, but we might just have to wait until Butler and Dow are up and about.

Ins: Sinclair, Jones
Outs: Collard, Ross

Won't happen with Ross, but it should. Collard is not readIy. Its the wrong fit right now. Already got a lot of weak bodied players in the squad. Higgo on notice.

I expect us to be a much better side in 4-5 weeks. Hopefully it is not too late We are zero chance against the Pies IMO. Which means wins against Tigers and Bombers coming up are crucial. Don't want to be too down on form as either can get you on their day.

Encouraged to see selectors being bold. The team dynamics have changed with the insertion of some players with different skill sets.

 

[beside the seaside]

Depth looks pretty ordinary at the moment. All of a sudden the loss of the likes of Gresham, Billings, Coffield is starting to look problematic. Its an unbalanced list. Lots of really young blokes, mixed with old blokes.

Would love to have Higgo and Ross out, but we might just have to wait until Butler and Dow are up and about.

Ins: Sinclair, Jones
Outs: Collard, Ross

Won't happen with Ross, but it should. Collard is not readIy. Its the wrong fit right now. Already got a lot of weak bodied players in the squad. Higgo on notice.

I expect us to be a much better side in 4-5 weeks. Hopefully it is not too late We are zero chance against the Pies IMO. Which means wins against Tigers and Bombers coming up are crucial. Don't want to be too down on form as either can get you on their day.

If our depth is ordinary then I doubt you'd have a 200-game multiple best and fairest winner in the outs.

 

[saintbill]

If our depth is ordinary then I doubt you'd have a 200-game multiple best and fairest winner in the outs.

Nobody is disputing he has had a good career, but that is irrelevant to the value he adds right now.

 

[beside the seaside]

Nobody is disputing he has had a good career, but that is irrelevant to the value he adds right now.

If he is the depth then our depth is fine. I'd suggest if you can go to Geelong missing 7 or so best 22 players including your best player and nearly win then your depth is ok.

 

[saintbill]

Collard could have kicked multiple goals if his mates didn't burn him. People would be singing a different tune then.

He has plenty of time to work on his craft. If we are serious about trying to snag a win here, I think Jones is a safer choice. Generally happy to play kids, but we are fielded a very inexperienced side in R1. Jones is a decent sub option as he offers some pace through the midfield, something we are in serious need of.

 

[BrutThough]

Seb due to play his 200th game this Thursday. You should all start the five stages of grief now just to get it out of the way.

(This is not a comment on his game at Geelong, but on the likelihood he gets left out this week.)

Also, we need someone playing the Butler role - it was not apparent who was doing it last week. Butler has an exceptional record for us at the MCG BTW.

Sinclair may have to play back if Stocker doesn't come up.

Ross mentioned in his press conference last week Butler is the type who could come in without playing a game.

Maybe a stretch for him to come up this week, but you never know.

 

[Diehard Saint]

Saving Sinclair for the game seems like we might be focussing on it.

If he was ready to go but they held him back when he wehave helped us win on Saturday.

Ross mentioned in his press conference last week Butler is the type who could come in without playing a game.

Maybe a stretch for him to come up this week, but you never know.

Dave Misson was on the radio - can’t remember which station- an hour or so ago and said Butler would come back through the VFL.

 

[SG34]

Ross mentioned in his press conference last week Butler is the type who could come in without playing a game.

Maybe a stretch for him to come up this week, but you never know.

Butler’s ankle is a problem. From what I have seen, it’s a chronic type of injury that affects ankle health in old age. He’s already had three shots at surgery on it now. He was picked in the final last year and he could not put power into his kick. I hope we haven’t seen the best of him but I would be looking at others to fill his role. Higgo is a different beats altogether and even though he missed and screwed up last week, he still got those hands up and is a terrior. If only for some calmness he could be a Toby Green type. (Well, Toby-Green-like if you will) I think Seb just has to play. No choice. Yes, our midfield made Dangerfield and Duncan etc. look good, when at this stage, they should be jaded. I guess Pou and Owens just get the automatic games too. Selection could be interesting, but I guess it won’t really surprise us

 

[sammm]

If he was ready to go but they held him back when he wehave helped us win on Saturday.

Dave Misson was on the radio - can’t remember which station- an hour or so ago and said Butler would come back through the VFL.

He was on SEN

 

[CursingFijian]

 

[Ads734]

It seems our depth is no where near what some were thinking pre season because if it was there are a few that need a run in the Two's to get some form - fitness

Our mids are a major concern ATM , Crouch looked horrible on the weekend , Seb was subbed , Jones and Clark can hardly get on the park for one thing or another and the hype put on kids like Hotton is way over the top , the kid has done nothing to suggest he will make it as of now.

Id be so tempted to play Garcia this weekend and give Windy and Owens decent game time on the ball, Pou more time forward than in the guts ATM

hang on hang on a second, you comfortable to play Garcia but apparently Hotton's hype is way over the top. Even though Hotton has spent half a year playing vfl and Garcia has only played like half a practice match in which is had what 8/9 disposals...