Saints - under the radar but right in the mix

[catempire]

I recall 5-6 weeks ago St Kilda were being written off for 2010 given the style of game they were playing and Riewoldt's absence.

All of a sudden, they are back in 2nd spot and only a game and percentage behind Geelong.

With Roo a chance to return shortly and some chance to play a big role in the 2nd half of the season and finals, I don't know that they are getting the respect they deserve.

They battled through this period without Roo well (albeit, in an unattractive way) and should now be clear 2nd faves for the flag IMO.

 

[collingwood1992]

All of a sudden, they are back in 2nd spot and only a game and percentage behind Geelong.

I know that nobody cares about the Queens birthday other than melbourne supporters, but there is still one more game to be played this weekend

 

[Rough_Edges]

St. Kilda 9-3 BAD
Collingwood 8-3 GOOD

 

[catempire]

Haha. My bad. The essence of my post still stands.

 

[collingwood1992]

St. Kilda 9-3 BAD
Collingwood 8-3 GOOD

Collingwood were behind Adelaide (maybe Brisbane?) at the start of the year on betting for the premiership. St Kilda were up there with Cats and Dogs.

 

[The Spike]

Gram & Rewioldt to return soon. Gram has been a big loss to our run and ball movement, he is often forgotten about, but it very important to our mid structure.

Gram should be back for the next game, then Roo is due round 14-15. Currently he is right to go, the club is just holding him back a few extra weeks.

So all in all, doing ok and flying under the radar......

 

[mysainters]

Shhhh!

 

[rose jam]

Dreaming if you think Roo will be back that soon and not tear that thing straight back off his bone.

Agree about Saints though, their backline and midfield has got its confidence back and are starting to choke sides again but still don't look like putting a decent score against a good side.

 

[Junk Time]

We are still that far ahead of anyone else it doesn't really matter

 

[Stoddy]

We are still that far ahead of anyone else it doesn't really matter

lets hope bomber and the boys think like that as well

 

[mysainters]

Dreaming if you think Roo will be back that soon and not tear that thing straight back off his bone.

Agree about Saints though, their backline and midfield has got its confidence back and are starting to choke sides again but still don't look like putting a decent score against a good side.

Sorry to be a crowd killer here, but he never tore it off the bone.

 

[THOMO_31]

We are still that far ahead of anyone else it doesn't really matter

Yeh u's prob are, but wouldnt get to far ahead of yourself mate. does 2008 ring a bell

 

[Vdubs]

I recall 5-6 weeks ago St Kilda were being written off for 2010 given the style of game they were playing and Riewoldt's absence.

All of a sudden, they are back in 2nd spot and only a game and percentage behind Geelong.

With Roo a chance to return shortly and some chance to play a big role in the 2nd half of the season and finals, I don't know that they are getting the respect they deserve.

They battled through this period without Roo well (albeit, in an unattractive way) and should now be clear 2nd faves for the flag IMO.

As you know, I have said this all year, and still believe they are = favourites. Either way, I'd be shocked if they are not contesting the GF this year. They WILL be there. That style of theirs should not falsely lead people away from their effectiveness. We saw them beat Pies and Dogs without Roo, Freo twice, and the teams that beat them will not feature deeply this September. They are MORE dangerous this year, I believe, because they have learned to function without Roo, and he will return, and the fact they played in a losing GF last year is HUGE.


Pies, Dogs, Hawks, Freo, Blues are also excellent, but Saints are the real deal no doubt

 

[Rough_Edges]

Dreaming if you think Roo will be back that soon and not tear that thing straight back off his bone.

Agree about Saints though, their backline and midfield has got its confidence back and are starting to choke sides again but still don't look like putting a decent score against a good side.

I suppose we better believe you rather than the best medical team in the game.

Being the sensational doctor you are.

One thing wrong with your prognosis Doc - He never tore it off the bone

 

[Blaster]

St Kilda v Geelong Grand final - lock it in.

 

[rose jam]

I suppose we better believe you rather than the best medical team in the game.

Being the sensational doctor you are.

One thing wrong with your prognosis Doc - He never tore it off the bone

not yet

 

[Falchoon]

Collingwood were behind Adelaide (maybe Brisbane?) at the start of the year on betting for the premiership. St Kilda were up there with Cats and Dogs.

the baby bonuses were delayed?

 

[jeemak]

Full credit to the Saints. They've shown a great deal of character to continue to put wins on the board in the face of what pretty much everyone thought was an injury that would seriously compromise their season.

I guess it goes to show you that to be competitive against the top teams and occupy a spot in the top two or three sides you need to have a balanced team. Sure Roo is the star and main man for them when he's up and firing, but he's only as good as he is and influences games like he does because of the solid players around him.

It will be intersting to see how they play when he comes back. For me they've shown that they have the balance to let him work his way back into form from a forward pocket without having to go to him all the time.

 

[Brett5150]

St Kilda v Geelong Grand final - lock it in.

I can smell a replay too. Saints are just cruisin' nicely.

 

[Stoddy]

Full credit to the Saints. They've shown a great deal of character to continue to put wins on the board in the face of what pretty much everyone thought was an injury that would seriously compromise their season.

I guess it goes to show you that to be competitive against the top teams and occupy a spot in the top two or three sides you need to have a balanced team. Sure Roo is the star and main man for them when he's up and firing, but he's only as good as he is and influences games like he does because of the solid players around him.

It will be intersting to see how they play when he comes back. For me they've shown that they have the balance to let him work his way back into form from a forward pocket without having to go to him all the time.

wouldnt say we're the most balanced team in the world

our top ten are pure class

bottom 5 arent superstars by any stretch of the imagination

its the structures and defined roles for players thats been the key to our success

we're balance in the sense that everyone knows their role in the team and in most cases they do what is required of them

mini mcqualter is good example of this, hes no world beater by any stretch of the imagination but the tackling pressure etc means that his contribution is valuable.

its the stars and collective effort of the role players that have filled the void of riewoldt IMO

 

[mysainters]

Full credit to the Saints. They've shown a great deal of character to continue to put wins on the board in the face of what pretty much everyone thought was an injury that would seriously compromise their season.

I guess it goes to show you that to be competitive against the top teams and occupy a spot in the top two or three sides you need to have a balanced team. Sure Roo is the star and main man for them when he's up and firing, but he's only as good as he is and influences games like he does because of the solid players around him.

It will be intersting to see how they play when he comes back. For me they've shown that they have the balance to let him work his way back into form from a forward pocket without having to go to him all the time.

Well balanced post

After a bumpy few weeks, we certainly seem to have addressed our over reliance on him, with our midfielders showing a lot of growth during his absence.

Trick now is to not fall into bad habits, and have a good spread of goal kickers on his return.

I am thinking they may play him FF initially to limit his running game?

 

[bulletproof]

Not going as well as last year, so not sure they should be feared, however, they are good enough to win it if others fall over.

 

[Stoddy]

Not going as well as last year, so not sure they should be feared, however, they are good enough to win it if others fall over.

if by all the others u mean geelong, we've beaten collingwood, freo and the dogs without riewoldt

so not saying we are certainties against them (because we are not)
wont exactly require a stephen bradbury against them like your making out tho

 

[Tom12]

We'll be right up there during finals, but there is still so many unanswered questions about our side don't pencil anything in just yet.
If we make top four I'm prepared to think we can go to the GF and really challenge for the loss last year.

 

[CF]

The saints are getting back to their ugly best. Ugly I mean in that constricting defensive style they play with. Looks horrible to watch, but effective. Should be a good game in a few weeks ...the irresistable force (Geelong) meets the immovable object (the saints)