Round 2 v Kangaroos

[AFaiL]

Looks like we will be without Kosi for 2-4 weeks - and while at times I've felt he should be dropped, his importance to our structure is huge.

Out: Kosi
In: Gardiner

Moving Big Ben to the forward line rotating with Gardy. Some will ask for Stanley to get a run, but we all know he won't.

Only other players to come into the squad are Fisher and then to a lesser extent Raph and Dempster. Let's hope the backline keeps them out.

Watching the Roos v the power now, and they are getting a belting in the rain. But these buggers always find a way. Will need to work hard around the contests to beat them.

 

[Murraj1966]

Vengeance! I was suitably pissed off in Round 21, and now I want some revenge. We haven't lost on a Saturday night at the dome since early 2003, so lets keep the trend going Saints

 

[Plugger35]

Assuming Kosi gets rubbed out, I guess Gardiner would be the logical replacement with McEvoy going forward.

Still wouldn't mind seeing Stanley get a run though as I think he could be more dangerous up forward than McEvoy, however it probably won't happen given Lyon's conservative approach to playing our young players.

Can't see them making too many other changes unless there are injuries.

 

[dan0z]

dont know about that afail, Lyon took kosi out of the forward line late last night cause he was a bit top heavy..

for me
In: Gardiner, Stanley
Out: King, Kosi (suspended)

If Gardiner not fit leave king in.

 

[lewdogs]

I'd like to see The Knife get a run if he's fit. Looks like Kosi is going be gone for a few weeks, and Stanley is the obvious replacement.

 

[Squizz]

Kosi has pretty reasonable form against the Roos, probably becuase Scott Thomspon fires him up off the ball. He would be missed.

Kazak left the ground early in the VFL, so not a great hit out for him.

Macca to the forward line and Gardi in for mine.

Who knows, maybe an extra runner in and I get my wish on the Red Bull!!!

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Armo had 15 touches and 10 tackles last time these two met.

With my higher expectations, 30 touches and 20 tackles shouldn't be out of the question!

Anyone see any of the Port/Roos game? They fought back in the last, but had a shocking start. Same again next week and we'll be putting the final nail in 15 minutes into the 1st.

 

[Rough_Edges]

I think the obsession with Stanley is a bit full on, his been encouraging yes but I don't think we will see him this week.

Armitage struggled last night, but 8 tackles keeps him in the side.

CJ was beaten against sydney IMO, needs to tighten up, likely on Wells or Harvey? Not sure.

Ross doesn't like making changes, so logicially it will be

In: Gardiner
Out: Koschitzke

 

[Pykie]

Cunnington looks like debuting this week, if passed fit.


We'll be taking a very young midfield in.

 

[AFaiL]

Cunnington looks like debuting this week, if passed fit.


We'll be taking a very young midfield in.

Nooooooooooo! My DT needs him playing game #3 in about 6 weeks time!

 

[dan0z]

I think the obsession with Stanley is a bit full on, his been encouraging yes but I don't think we will see him this week.

Armitage struggled last night, but 8 tackles keeps him in the side.

CJ was beaten against sydney IMO, needs to tighten up, likely on Wells or Harvey? Not sure.

Ross doesn't like making changes, so logicially it will be

In: Gardiner
Out: Koschitzke

giving him a game is not being obsessive, its round 2 and we are down a key forward why not see how he goes?

 

[StFly]

giving him a game is not being obsessive, its round 2 and we are down a key forward why not see how he goes?

Because technically he's not a forward and Lynch is a better prospect as a forward to then bring in.

If Dawson does get suspended as well I can see Johnson being given a go with Blake to take key (given if Miles does indeed have stress fractures) it's a new look Roos and they did go rather tall at times with McIntosh, Goldstein and Hale lining up with Warran and Thomas, that's 3 big boys with two can play medium forward to then match with Blake, Gilbert Dawson/Johnson, Baker and Gram/Geary/Goddard/Ray.

I'd say only changes would be suspensions and on worst case scenario I'd go;

In: Gardiner, Johnson
Out: Kosi (susp), Dawson (susp)

 

[sainter]

Cunnington looks like debuting this week, if passed fit.


We'll be taking a very young midfield in.

It is a very exciting young midfield but I'd like to think our bigger bodied midfielders will be physical and test them out.

Gardiner should be back which will be important against McIntosh in the ruck. That will hopefully make things a little harder for your midfield. I wouldn't be so confident of doing that with just King and McEvoy doing the ruck work.

I must say I'm happy that your young midfield doesn't include Michael Barlow who played for your VFL affiliate. I realise every team overlooked him but being at Werribee I'm surprised the Roos weren't interested. He's a star!

It should be an interesting game. Last year the Kangaroos beat us in a manner that in soccer circles you would describe as a "smash and grab" victory. They kicked 5 goals to 0 in the first 17 minutes of the match and then only had another 7 scoring shots for the final 3.5 quarters.

However they are now under the leadership of a new coach so I'm sure they will have a more positive approach this time around.

From our perspective I'm looking for further improvement on last night and I'm sure we'll be helped out by the return to Docklands where we have created an unenviable home record.

 

[dan0z]

Because technically he's not a forward and Lynch is a better prospect as a forward to then bring in.

If Dawson does get suspended as well I can see Johnson being given a go with Blake to take key (given if Miles does indeed have stress fractures) it's a new look Roos and they did go rather tall at times with McIntosh, Goldstein and Hale lining up with Warran and Thomas, that's 3 big boys with two can play medium forward to then match with Blake, Gilbert Dawson/Johnson, Baker and Gram/Geary/Goddard/Ray.

I'd say only changes would be suspensions and on worst case scenario I'd go;

In: Gardiner, Johnson
Out: Kosi (susp), Dawson (susp)

what do you base any of that on?

he has played up forward in the pre-season, and showed more potential than lynch in doing so?

Im not saying he will definately play (heard he had a niggle for sandy) im just going on what we have seen..

 

[sainter]

Not to mention that they are totally different kind of players.

Lynch is your typical lead-up forward that would be better suited to play alongside 2 tall forwards whereas Stanley is an athletic tall forward.

 

[StFly]

what do you base any of that on?

he has played up forward in the pre-season, and showed more potential than lynch in doing so?

Im not saying he will definately play (heard he had a niggle for sandy) im just going on what we have seen..

The man can drift forward and take a contested mark, this does not make him a forward, this makes him a man who can drift forward and is capable of contested marking. Stanley is a ruckman, albeit a roaming ruckman but he is not a forward in the sense of the word like someone like Lynch. Lynch is a forward by trade.

Going by what we have seen Ross has altered his philosophy somewhat in training the young guys. We saw when he came to the club an emphasis on defense that saw slander at suppressing natural flair and aggression now we see the trademark being pressure, emphasis on the forward line presure and how best to instill this pressure in the midfield/forward group than to stick them in that F50 in a defensive role?

This is what Stanley's role was.
This is what Heyne's role was.
This is what Lynch's role was.

All 3 were used as options because they were in or around the forward line, all we have seen is options being used and kids being instilled the values of Saints Footy. Nothing more, nothing less.

It's also why you generally wouldn't consider Nat's a forward, nor would you consider Hmac, Jolly, Mumford, Fraser or Gardiner as a forward. They can drift, they can hold a forward post and they can mark and convert opportunities, but by and large they are ruckmen first and foremost.

 

[mysainters]

For mine I'd bring in Lynch.

We will be missing a tall in Kosi, but likewise they are missing Petrie. Bring in Gardiner to alternate with McEvoy in the ruck, both taking turns to rest up forward.

 

[Plugger35]

Stanley would have to be ahead of Lynch for a key forward position.

I think they'll probably just bring in Gardiner though and push McEvoy forward. Nice to have a few options up our sleeve though.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

The man can drift forward and take a contested mark, this does not make him a forward, this makes him a man who can drift forward and is capable of contested marking. Stanley is a ruckman, albeit a roaming ruckman but he is not a forward in the sense of the word like someone like Lynch. Lynch is a forward by trade.

Going by what we have seen Ross has altered his philosophy somewhat in training the young guys. We saw when he came to the club an emphasis on defense that saw slander at suppressing natural flair and aggression now we see the trademark being pressure, emphasis on the forward line presure and how best to instill this pressure in the midfield/forward group than to stick them in that F50 in a defensive role?

This is what Stanley's role was.
This is what Heyne's role was.
This is what Lynch's role was.

All 3 were used as options because they were in or around the forward line, all we have seen is options being used and kids being instilled the values of Saints Footy. Nothing more, nothing less.

It's also why you generally wouldn't consider Nat's a forward, nor would you consider Hmac, Jolly, Mumford, Fraser or Gardiner as a forward. They can drift, they can hold a forward post and they can mark and convert opportunities, but by and large they are ruckmen first and foremost.

Wow it must be genetic. "You were born a ruckman son, dont try anything else".
So I expect that Stanley has been training mainly with Gardiner, King, and McEvoy yeah?
http://http://www.heraldsun.com.au/...-slam-dunks-myth/story-e6frf9jf-1225837501011

I'd think that Stanley would be also pretty good at running off an opponent, and probably better at ground level than Kosi.

Having said all that, I expect Lyon to pick Gardiner, with McEvoy as full forward.

 

[StFly]

Wow it must be genetic. "You were born a ruckman son, dont try anything else".
So I expect that Stanley has been training mainly with Gardiner, King, and McEvoy yeah?
http://http://www.heraldsun.com.au/...-slam-dunks-myth/story-e6frf9jf-1225837501011

I'd think that Stanley would be also pretty good at running off an opponent, and probably better at ground level than Kosi.

Having said all that, I expect Lyon to pick Gardiner, with McEvoy as full forward.

Of course it's not, bu right now people are trying to bloody well shoehorn the kid into any position just to get him a game at the senior level. He was drafted as a floating ruckman and until such time as the coach comes out and says he's a forward he's a bloody ruckman!

 

[Zvim]

It is a very exciting young midfield but I'd like to think our bigger bodied midfielders will be physical and test them out.

Yes, it will be a big advantage in terms of physical strength. Greenwood and Lower were very important last time we met because they provided the hard bodies, with them both injured it leaves us a tad light.

Gardiner should be back which will be important against McIntosh in the ruck. That will hopefully make things a little harder for your midfield. I wouldn't be so confident of doing that with just King and McEvoy doing the ruck work.

I think the ruck battle will be fairly even.

I must say I'm happy that your young midfield doesn't include Michael Barlow who played for your VFL affiliate. I realise every team overlooked him but being at Werribee I'm surprised the Roos weren't interested. He's a star!

Don't get me started! He and Sewell even trained with us over the pre-season and we looked keen. I was saying from pre-draft last year that he would be a great pickup.

It should be an interesting game. Last year the Kangaroos beat us in a manner that in soccer circles you would describe as a "smash and grab" victory. They kicked 5 goals to 0 in the first 17 minutes of the match and then only had another 7 scoring shots for the final 3.5 quarters.

I think that game was much like the previous match earlier in the year, slow start by Saints and we piled on some early goals and you guys slowed the game down and got back into it. Sadly, we had 6 players go down that game so was hard to even be competitive towards the end.

However they are now under the leadership of a new coach so I'm sure they will have a more positive approach this time around.

The danger for the Saints is if we got on an early roll, if Saints start well then should out-muscle us out of the game.

From our perspective I'm looking for further improvement on last night and I'm sure we'll be helped out by the return to Docklands where we have created an unenviable home record.

The ground shouldn't be much of a factor. If you have a good team then they are problematic on any ground.

 

[Squizz]

Greenwood and Lower were very important last time

Don't get me started! He and Sewell even trained with us over the pre-season and we looked keen.

From memory I think Greenwood roughed Dal Santo up a bit? Was quite effective and don't remember Dal getting too many touches.

Don't worry too much about Barlow - he trained with the Saints before you guys!

I think Kosi's absence gives us an opportunity to be a bit less predictable up forward. Hopefully we take the opportunity rather than just plonking McEvoy in the square (although he should certainly rotate through there if the match-up is right).

Petrie's absence offsets Kosi to a fair degree - he had a huge game last time and kicked them from all angles.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Of course it's not, bu right now people are trying to bloody well shoehorn the kid into any position just to get him a game at the senior level. He was drafted as a floating ruckman and until such time as the coach comes out and says he's a forward he's a bloody ruckman!

I'm guessing that people got that Idea from the coach, who played him in the forward line during the NAB cup - Actions not words ?

I agree that he's not our most ready player though. I'm not sure what his time on ground was, but I'd say he wouldn't have had 50% TOG during any NAB cup games. Lynch and McEvoy would probably run out a game better and I'd be going for McEvoy as a proven solution.
Pity Sam Fisher is out, as his presence could provide some other options ie Fisher, Gilbert, or Goddard in Kosi's spot.

 

[seanralphsmith]

Cant see Stanley getting a game this year without a lot more injuries/suspensions than we have atm. Ideally he wont be needed. Would have been nice to have Sam Fisher up and running as he could have gone forward eliminating the need to effectively play three ruckman (technically Kosi is a FF). In his absence though i feel McEvoy will spend most of his time forward as his ruckwork is still a long way behind Gardiner and King (only 7 ho's Saturday night) but is perhaps the ost suited to a forward role out of the three with his kicking and marking.

 

[Plugger35]

I agree that McEvoy is probably a more likely option to replace Kosi at full forward but I'd still like to see Stanley given an opportunity this year at some stage. With Kosi out for 3 weeks, now would be as good a time as any to give Stanley a run.

Stanley showed in the NAB Cup he is more than capable at this level and can make a real impact, well as a forward at least. He probably needs to build up his strength before he plays in the ruck.