Review Round 21, 2024 - St. Kilda vs. Brisbane Lions

[mpal6]

Neale - (4,4)

Rayner (3,3)

Big O 5,0?

Clug 5,0?

Stace1,2

Joe 2,0

Harris 0,1?

Absolute raffle as to who got what.

Could be this too

Lyon would've given 3 for Starce for beating Higgins and 5 for Oscar as he beat Rowan Marshall comprehensively, giving us a big leg up at source. Once you slot those two for Lyon and put Neale as 4/4, rest sort of fall in place.

Fagan loves players stepping up at crucial stages so Rayner kicking those goals and standing up at Q2 to wrestle momentum our way would've got a 5.

 

[BuntonRules]

Super sub Brucey

It was not then, but after his next possession I could hear the Bruce chant on the telly.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

St Kilda v Brisbane
8 Lachie Neale (BL)
6 Cameron Rayner (BL)
5 Oscar McInerney (BL)
5 Hugh McCluggage (BL)
3 Brandon Starcevich (BL)
2 Joe Daniher (BL)
1 Harris Andrews (BL)

Dunno If I can take this seriously any more. MaCrae keeps giving Daicos charity votes.

 

[M Malice]

Dunno If I can take this seriously any more. MaCrae keeps giving Daicos charity votes.

I want to see Cam Rayner steamroll over the top of Nick Daicos in the middle of the MCG in round 23.

 

[Paul Mac]

Could any of the songs after goals be heard after goals? The bay a couple across from ours in the top tier behind the goals tried to get a few of them going (Charlie, Cam, Zac, Hugh) but by the time the rest of us cottoned on, it was kind of over. And meanwhile you often had the cheer squad down below doing their own chant.

Think it has a lot of potential on the road if it can somehow be better coordinated!

We were next door in bay 1 on top level where the songs were coming from. It was awesome stuff. Yep all different groups of our supporters are all over the shop. Could become awesome if we are all on the same page. Someone needs a megaphone in our crowd.

 

[ZoBlitz]

ZoBlitz, card this man!

I began to type out strident reply but then I controlled myself.

 

[Nunez]

I began to type out strident reply but then I controlled myself.

You disappoint me, friend.

 

[matwt73]

Outstanding win, so dominate we believe it that much and loose the next game.

We had our foot on their necks all game and pressed down with our heels in the last Qtr, we thing we have it all now, believe our own press and loose the next game.

It was great to see Fagan almost immediately talk about GWS next week.

****, just keep our heads in the right space, the job is not done but by god it looks like it. We are a much better TEAM than we were last year we are covering for each other and everyone is contributing.

I don't know if we are a 'much' better team than last year. Rayner and Berry are playing better, Hugh's goal kicking is better. But I think Charlie and Joe were both in better form this time last year and we are missing Coleman's X factor.

Having said that the manner in which Fages has adjusted to the outs and the younger players have stepped us is fantastic and has revealed real depth.. I think our best 30 at the moment is probably better than last year's best 30 but would not say our best 22 is much better.

 

[mpal6]

I don't know if we are a 'much' better team than last year. Rayner and Berry are playing better, Hugh's goal kicking is better. But I think Charlie and Joe were both in better form this time last year and we are missing Coleman's X factor.

Having said that the manner in which Fages has adjusted to the outs and the younger players have stepped us is fantastic and has revealed real depth.. I think our best 30 at the moment is probably better than last year's best 30 but would not say our best 22 is much better.

I think your opening statement has the answer in itself - we are definitely playing much better as a TEAM right now. There is no heavy reliance on one player in any line and we're sharing the load as a unit across the board. Charlie loves it as he doesn't feel obligated to find those goals anymore and he's happy playing his chase n tackle role across the ground. Same with Neale, Andrews etc. We have left a few new energizer bunnies on the ground like Lohmann, Brain, Morris who run all over the ground to cover in defense. Similarly when its time to counterattack they all mad dash the other way.

The best example I can think of is against the Saints, in spite of the massive lead - at one point we had all 17 packed inside the D50 trying to block or intercept a Saints entry. Previously our mids will randomly run and stand to block space, now there is a clear agenda - knowing where to run as well as whom to mark in the vicinity. Communication is excellent amongst the group, may long it continue.

Yep, this TEAM is playing way better than last year.

 

[Ceebee]

He doesn’t get mentioned much , but young Fletch has been putting together some nice games of late .
A quiet achiever .

 

[Gadzorks]

Smith has shown incremental improvement from his first game in the seconds. Played as well as I hoped he could at this stage of his development. Even early in the game his body language was good, like he felt he belonged. A couple of times he lead to really good places and drew two defenders, who spoilt but our spare got the ball. Resulted directly in a goal at least once.

Need to moderate our expectations but peak Smith (4 years time maybe) could be very good.

Also we can't exist consistency from a player with less than ten games. Or even 20.

Sure he went OK, but he is just as likely to stink it to in the next game.

I'm not on the don't bring hippy back, just leave Smith in train this early in smith's senior career.

 

[Gadzorks]

Darren Upandabout is back in town!
Great game! I heartily endorse most of what’s been said.

I want to give special shout out to Charlie.
His pressure in the forward line was amazing.

There was one play when it was four opposition and Charlie near the where 50 arc metres the. sideline. Charlie won that with his pressure (ball up or out, can't remember exactly). Was insane.

 

[Darren Downunder]

There was one play when it was four opposition and Charlie near the where 50 arc metres the. sideline. Charlie won that with his pressure (ball up or out, can't remember exactly). Was insane.

Yup! Charlie’s pressure lead to a turnover and Rayner goaled.
Charlie may not have got the stat but he caused the goal.

 

[KissKiss]

Could only be my perception but it seems like there are less ACL/Ankle/Shoulder injuries later in the season when the bolded starts to have an effect?

Not sure if there are statistics on what stage of a season injuries occur, it would be an interesting stat.

I've heard some state that when they did the big study into dropping the interchange numbers, it apparently included a large amount on injury trends. A big part of the study did recommend that lower interchanges, lead to more fatigue, slower play and hence less injuries.

 

[Grasshopper17]

I've heard some state that when they did the big study into dropping the interchange numbers, it apparently included a large amount on injury trends. A big part of the study did recommend that lower interchanges, lead to more fatigue, slower play and hence less injuries.

It would have been more insightful I think to see the breakdown between collision injuries vs muscle fatigue injuries.

 

[martinson]

With all the love every man and his dog has copped on this thread I get a little disappointed that Ah Chee never gets a wrap.

There wasn't much difference between his and Kai's game on Sunday , they both get up the ground and are very good defensively. Cal does a lot of little selfless things that puts the spotlight on others.

In fact a big part of our recent wins has been our small forwards playing the team game and not focusing on personal touches and goals . We somehow got the selfish side of Kai out of him and he's been a far better player for it. Cal has always been a team first player . Charlie is I think appreciating the support and found a way to contribute without thinking he has to perform any miracles.

 

[bungalow_bill]

From the Cats board

 

[Schache_off]

The 2nd quarter felt a bit like watching our 1st quarter against Carlton in opening round. Starce, Andrews, Rayner and Lachie couldn't lose a contest and we had so many attacking plays down the wing using handballs more so than our usual style of kicking. I was a bit worried about this game considering how close it was last time we played them but that team looked so organised and and confident.

 

[Viceregal]

This understated line from The Mongrel Punt review of the game brought a smile to my face... "This is about the simple fact that the Lions are quite a bit better than the Saints at football-related activities"

 

[Jivlain]

Watching the replay and smiled watching one moment early in the second. Charlie is facing three opponents, pressures each of them one by one, tackles the third, interferes with the kick enough that Lohmann intercepts and sticks it on Rayner's chest. Goal.

Afterwards, Joe makes a beeline for Charlie to give him a big hug. You can really see how the players are bought into team-first play and into appreciating each other's contributions to it.

 

[Sproj]

Watching the replay and smiled watching one moment early in the second. Charlie is facing three opponents, pressures each of them one by one, tackles the third, interferes with the kick enough that Lohmann intercepts and sticks it on Rayner's chest. Goal.

Afterwards, Joe makes a beeline for Charlie to give him a big hug. You can really see how the players are bought into team-first play and into appreciating each other's contributions to it.

Yeah it was great and they did the same with Smith when he gave Daniher the goal assist.

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

The real benefit of Cam finally arriving as elite is that now it makes it really hard for teams to defend against our midfield. Who do you tag? Lachie probably but then Cam comes in and blows you apart with bursts. Tag Rayner? Can't really afford to but if you do, Lachie is off the leash. Then you've got Dunkley and Berry mopping everything up and then you are forgetting about Cluggs. Even if somehow you can nullify all of that, WAshcroft is looking ready to explode back in to form as well. Ok let's say you an contain them, sub in Bruuuuuce and you've got a laser look foot to deal with and another big body.

Then on top of all of that, you've got Lohmann literally popping up all over the ground to provide another option and Fletcher who while not as good, is also proving capable of finding something in big moments. Exciting times.

I am salivating at the prospect of Lohmann on the ball. Big, strong, fast and can take a grab. He could be an upgrade on Dunkley and Berry, or maybe a composite of the best of both of them.

 

[Schache_off]

I am salivating at the prospect of Lohmann on the ball. Big, strong, fast and can take a grab. He could be an upgrade on Dunkley and Berry, or maybe a composite of the best of both of them.

Big? Much smaller body so very little chance he could be an upgrade on either of them in their position. He's one of our better players every week in his current position, he should be left where he is thriving.

 

[KissKiss]

Big? Much smaller body so very little chance he could be an upgrade on either of them in their position. He's one of our better players every week in his current position, he should be left where he is thriving.

Another case where we have a player thriving in a specialist role and then people want to cram them onball where there is already a glut of players who cant get a look in there. Not every player needs or should play on ball. The team is way better off with players doing well in other roles

 

[Dalions]

Another case where we have a player thriving in a specialist role and then people want to cram them onball where there is already a glut of players who cant get a look in there. Not every player needs or should play on ball. The team is way better off with players doing well in other roles

He did start to get filtered into the team on the wing a bit.
As it stands he plays forward but gets up to both wings and down back with critical saves at times in defence.
He is playing so well in his current role, so just let him develop there for now.