Preview Saints vs Swans Sunday 21st August @Marvel - Top 4 or bust

[the hypnotoad]

Reid needs to kick goals. Especially when he's dead set in front of them. That's his bread & butter.

well, it's his butter... the marking is his bread

he does need to convert more often ... but he's not the only one who misses shots he should kick

 

[Ticky009]

well, it's his butter... the marking is his bread

he does need to convert more often ... but he's not the only one who misses shots he should kick

Very true. Heeney could have easily ended up with 5 on the weekend.

 

[Pugnacious1874]

Swans Required Score = Target Percentage * ( 1542 + Saints Score ) - 1979 + 1

Target Percentage will be known before the game starts.

Hopefully the Swans assign one person to have the spreedsheet ready but otherwise ignore it until the game is won late in the 4th.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Who is this “Hickey” fellow I keep reading about?

Now that Ruck Jesus is back, I don’t know why we’re talking about any other rucks.

 

[BloodySwan]

Who is this “Hickey” fellow I keep reading about?

Now that Ruck Jesus is back, I don’t know why we’re talking about any other rucks.

Hickey of Nazareth. Thou shall worship no false rucks but thee

 

[GoTheSwannies]

I have a theory about how this match will pan out, I may be completely off the mark, but here goes.

The saints need to win big if they're any chance of making finals. I think the saints will come out breathing fire, looking to score heavily. They will come out with an attacking, play on at all costs style, and try to attack through the middle.

The swans will be able to repel their attacking style, score on the counter, and will likely win the clearances and will establish a decent lead by the end of the first quarter. The swans defensive structure will have st kilda going back into their shells.

A quick goal or two in the second will break st kildas spirits, knowing they're up against a different beast with class all around the ground. They'll come to the realisation that they've thrown everything at us but are still trailing, and hopes of a big win and against all odds finals berth are now just a shattered dream. That's when the saints will capitulate and swans will continue to compound the misery until the final siren.

60+ point win to the swans. Saints left with a bunch of questions to ponder over the off season, including what to do with their list of high-priced underperforming recruits, and whether ratten is the right man to take them forward.

 

[Jewelsbon]

Agree about Reid. I have never considered him as a ruck.
He is in a purple patch of form.
His marking is another level.
His rucking is good.
In the best form of his career. Drawing defenders away from Buddy and Heeney.
Keep it up Ben!!

Hahahaha brilliant sir, just brilliant!

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I have a theory about how this match will pan out, I may be completely off the mark, but here goes.

The saints need to win big if they're any chance of making finals. I think the saints will come out breathing fire, looking to score heavily. They will come out with an attacking, play on at all costs style, and try to attack through the middle.

The swans will be able to repel their attacking style, score on the counter, and will likely win the clearances and will establish a decent lead by the end of the first quarter. The swans defensive structure will have st kilda going back into their shells.

A quick goal or two in the second will break st kildas spirits, knowing they're up against a different beast with class all around the ground. They'll come to the realisation that they've thrown everything at us but are still trailing, and hopes of a big win and against all odds finals berth are now just a shattered dream. That's when the saints will capitulate and swans will continue to compound the misery until the final siren.

60+ point win to the swans. Saints left with a bunch of questions to ponder over the off season, including what to do with their list of high-priced underperforming recruits, and whether ratten is the right man to take them forward.

First quarter and half is the key. Confident we run away with it in the last half, but St Kilda have nothing to lose now.

 

[Dubsforsam1]

We surely want Briabane to come 3rd (assuming we come 2nd).

Leads to Sydney v Brisbane at SCG and then either Collingwood, Geelong, Carlton or Freo at SCG.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

We surely want Briabane to come 3rd (assuming we come 2nd).

Leads to Sydney v Brisbane at SCG and then either Collingwood, Geelong, Carlton or Freo at SCG.

You seen our record against Brisbane? I’d rather Melbourne but that would be bad for the death ride

 

[caesar88]

We lost to Brisbane at the SCG earlier in the year but I think we were a different team then. If I recall correctly it was Papley's first game back from injury, our back six hadn't clicked yet whatsoever, Paddy was out with concussion, our midfield was set up way too defensive.

Very unrecognisable to the Swans team and game styles we are currently running with.

I'd back us in against them. They look bang average as soon as they are under pressure and face opponents who work both ways. We could absolutely exploit their front-running. The only reason I'd rather face Melbourne is because they're arguably the only team lazier than Brisbane.

 

[Millky95]

We lost to Brisbane at the SCG earlier in the year but I think we were a different team then. If I recall correctly it was Papley's first game back from injury, our back six hadn't clicked yet whatsoever, Paddy was out with concussion, our midfield was set up way too defensive.

Very unrecognisable to the Swans team and game styles we are currently running with.

I'd back us in against them. They look bang average as soon as they are under pressure and face opponents who work both ways. We could absolutely exploit their front-running. The only reason I'd rather face Melbourne is because they're arguably the only team lazier than Brisbane.

I think Brisbane will beat Melbourne this week. Then we're likely to get Geelong in a prelim (Geelong don't win QFs anymore)

 

[the hypnotoad]

We lost to Brisbane at the SCG earlier in the year but I think we were a different team then. If I recall correctly it was Papley's first game back from injury, our back six hadn't clicked yet whatsoever, Paddy was out with concussion, our midfield was set up way too defensive.

Very unrecognisable to the Swans team and game styles we are currently running with.

I'd back us in against them. They look bang average as soon as they are under pressure and face opponents who work both ways. We could absolutely exploit their front-running. The only reason I'd rather face Melbourne is because they're arguably the only team lazier than Brisbane.

yes, agreed (what's happened to us, c88!?)
we're a different, considerably better, smarter, more mature and more settled side now ... and i don't think brisbane have improved much, merely held their ground
i think the specific improvement in so many of our players in the past month or so also compares well against brisbane's players ... i know rayner seems to have stepped up, and i think mcluggage is class, but they have a few older players who i think we can and will expose if we meet them in a final
i've rated the lions' defence for a few years but i think we've not got a forward lineup that will cause them real trouble

 

[Jack Lord]

We surely want Briabane to come 3rd (assuming we come 2nd).

Leads to Sydney v Brisbane at SCG and then either Collingwood, Geelong, Carlton or Freo at SCG.

I'd take Melbourne in sydney then melbourne in melbourne before brisbane anywhere.

 

[Wheresbuddy]

We lost to Brisbane at the SCG earlier in the year but I think we were a different team then. If I recall correctly it was Papley's first game back from injury, our back six hadn't clicked yet whatsoever, Paddy was out with concussion, our midfield was set up way too defensive.

Very unrecognisable to the Swans team and game styles we are currently running with.

I'd back us in against them. They look bang average as soon as they are under pressure and face opponents who work both ways. We could absolutely exploit their front-running. The only reason I'd rather face Melbourne is because they're arguably the only team lazier than Brisbane.

I was at the game that day. We were very flat. Paps was a shadow of what he normally is, fresh back from his preseason hammy. Buddy still managed I think 6 and single handedly kept us in it. But Neale had a day out and smashed us.

Fast forward to now. Paps back to AA form. Buddy still doing Buddy things. And Ryan "The Clamp" Clarke will be waiting to give it to Neale. Along with everything else going well, I reckon we will turn the tables on the Lions if we meet them during the finals series.

 

[caesar88]

yes, agreed (what's happened to us, c88!?)

If we win the flag we are gonna become best friends Hypno. You heard it here first.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I was at the game that day. We were very flat. Paps was a shadow of what he normally is, fresh back from his preseason hammy. Buddy still managed I think 6 and single handedly kept us in it. But Neale had a day out and smashed us.

Fast forward to now. Paps back to AA form. Buddy still doing Buddy things. And Ryan "The Clamp" Clarke will be waiting to give it to Neale. Along with everything else going well, I reckon we will turn the tables on the Lions if we meet them during the finals series.

Clarke wouldn’t go to Neale. He’d play on one of their HB’s maybe Rich?

 

[the hypnotoad]

If we win the flag we are gonna become best friends Hypno. You heard it here first.

hmmm ... the friends i have now don't really like me

 

[the hypnotoad]

If we win the flag we are gonna become best friends Hypno. You heard it here first.

and "if" we win the flag?? i'd like to see a bit more confidence in someone i'm about to enter a new stage of friendship with

 

[caesar88]

and "if" we win the flag?? i'd like to see a bit more confidence in someone i'm about to enter a new stage of friendship with

Our first fight

 

[the hypnotoad]

Our first fight

don't start!

 

[mtooler]

He was awarded BOG in some media outlets last week.
I'd hardly say that he copped a belting.
But then again, as with Clarke, you do try to find the worst in our players.

To be fair, and posters too.

 

[BloodySwan]

We lost to Brisbane at the SCG earlier in the year but I think we were a different team then. If I recall correctly it was Papley's first game back from injury, our back six hadn't clicked yet whatsoever, Paddy was out with concussion, our midfield was set up way too defensive.

Very unrecognisable to the Swans team and game styles we are currently running with.

I'd back us in against them. They look bang average as soon as they are under pressure and face opponents who work both ways. We could absolutely exploit their front-running. The only reason I'd rather face Melbourne is because they're arguably the only team lazier than Brisbane.

I just had a run through, 6 players in that 22 aren't in our best at the moment.

Our back 6 that evening was Cunningham, Rampe, Blakey, Lloyd, T. McCartin, McInerney. 3 of those 6 are still there, and throw in Paddy, Fox and Florent our back 6 is in a great position.

Biggest turn around has been our midfield for me. While it's largely the same our middle tier has stepped up. Rowbottom has been a beast in the last few weeks, Parker and Warner take on the primary roles while Mills is moved to wherever is needed the most whether that be the wing, centre or defence.

A big strength of ours is our ability to adapt our line up and approach depending on who we are against. We can move to a run and carry, drop to defence, do a patient chip kick all depending on who we are against. Makes us very hard to match up on when you're not sure how we will attack

 

[mattpolo8]

Will we be wearing the red V ?

Couple of times this year when I thought we would be wearing that jumper we haven’t. Indigenous round fair enough but against North? Did we not wear it because they were celebrating their 1996 Grand Final win over us in the home jumper?

Obviously not the most pressing of matters but I do like to see the red V in Melbourne games.

Reckon it had to have been a clash. Predominantly white against the white of north. Considering Sydney made a big song and dance about wearing the red v for all games in Melbourne. Would be weird if they just chose not to wear it.

 

[Donza]

One step at a time.
Lets take care of the Saints first.