Prediction St.Kilda Best 22

[Michael Goodinski]

Overall it's a pretty friendly fixture and l don't believe a hop to Adelaide is that taxing on the players. So long as lessons have been learnt regarding traing loads and a pinch of luck from the gods we'll have opportunity to make good.

Have you been to Adelaide? The emotional trauma of travelling back to the 50s takes an incredible psychological toll. Having said that, we should have the Adelaide based teams covered with our fast ball movement, pace, endurance and tactics compared to their 1950s brand of football.

 

[Tyrian Lonestar]

I still think Marshall will be first ruck, he’s training forward mainly due to recovery from wrist surgery..back up ruck will be interesting!

I'm actually liking the idea of a forward line with Marshall FF, King CHF plus Sharman, Butler, Higgins and another small / resting mid.

 

[saintmike65]

I'm actually liking the idea of a forward line with Marshall FF, King CHF plus Sharman, Butler, Higgins and another small / resting mid.

Unfortunately Marshall’s the only AFL quality ruckman on our list..Dodson will be in time

 

[SaintWrld]

I really do not understand people wanting Marshall forward. He is a legit top 3 ruckman in the league, and not only our best and most productive player but probably also our best “midfielder”. He’s a 9.5/10 ruckman and a 6.5/10 forward. Why lose an elite ruckman for a slightly above average forward. His lack of hitout winning ability is meaningless and the most overrated stat in footy. 2023 the power finished 3rd after the home and away season with Jeremy Finlayson as their main ruck. The crows O’brien leads league hitouts by a huge margin, but not a single supporter would rather o’brien over Marshall as their ruck.


Harry Boyd is going to be great for sandy, playing the Tom Campbell role for maybe the next 4 or 5 years. But man there is no chance I would be sacrificing Marshall around the ball for this guy, for the sake of the occasional once in a blue moon 3 goal game from Marshall the forward.

Him playing forward in match sim in December wearing a Fluro non contact hat while the two young ruckman try to prove themselves doesn’t mean anything. Why would Marshall be rucking in December against people wanting to prove themself, whilst returning from wrist surgery. Herald sun journalists trying to make a story out of nothing.

 

[Mavefromdelburn]

Unfortunately Marshall’s the only AFL quality ruckman on our list..Dodson will be in time

What about Boyd mate?

 

[saintmike65]

What about Boyd mate?

Don’t go there..Harry has a few fans on big footy

 

[SG34]

If you are going to run a comp like that, you need to give posters a fair bit more time
Talk to the mods or to Boydie and see what might be available for prizes
Start a thread announcing the competition and set out the rules and prizes
Then establish a record of posters entries
If you are so inclined, you can publish a weekly update of results

OK ..let’s it. Or rather, I’ll do it and keep scores.
Here is a question I’d like to run by you or anyone interested.

VERSION SIMPLE Vs VERSION ADVANCED
Simple: each of us nominates 22 players and one point per pick. No changes. Tough luck.
Advanced: each of of nominates 8 Premium players that pick up two points each time they play? The other 14 on your list just get the one. No changes, again, tough luck.

And when should the cut-off date be?

The whole idea is to try and accurately anticipate who will get the most games this year, but should we wait until February, when some practice games are being played? Isn’t that compromising it? Or not?

Opinions welcome.

 

[Tyrian Lonestar]

Unfortunately Marshall’s the only AFL quality ruckman on our list..Dodson will be in time

Dodson looks a beauty alright. Will be our best tap ruck since Ryder by a long long way imho.

FWIW, I think you're being a bit harsh on Boyd. Mumford was a short immovable object ruck and had a great career. I'd be happy to give the kid a crack and see how he goes. Moose has this year to kickstart his career but now seems behind the pack imo. Keeler looks closer to getting a run but Dodson might go past both sooner than later as has a bit of size about him than the others when they started.

 

[Jade Buddha]

I just listened to this, , and who are we to disagree.

Our forward line sucks hairy tennis balls (on a matting pitch that’s water logged) bottom four .. atrocious.

Especially given our excellent defence and arc-to-arc movement.

I think it is fair to say that so many players have flatlined or failed.

I know, I know, it’s the season to be optimistic but it is fair to say, Owens, King and even Sharman have not blossomed. Butler can’t do much and Higgins can scrap it with the best of em, but he is still a battler. Membrey was horrid and only got good when we were done for at seasons end. Pou didnt do much, it is just that he did some nice things when he came back , to keep us watering the plant of hope. Sharman has nice reach and hands but what about ground and body level? Owens good around the shoulder height ball and a bit of flashy but .. Wood was Ok before injury. Our only surprise up forward was Marshall kicking a few!! Boy I hope they pull something out of the hat!! After hearing this I ask myself, no matter how we improve in our good areas, if that f50 is Death Valley, them wagons aren’t gonna get California gold!!

King was injured. Sharman showed good signs but there’s an argument that Owens stagnated. Prefer it when he takes the first option rather than take on too much.
We had injuries and suspensions in the early to mid part of the year so not surprising we didn’t push up. Have a bit of patience.

 

[Jade Buddha]

Have you been to Adelaide? The emotional trauma of travelling back to the 50s takes an incredible psychological toll. Having said that, we should have the Adelaide based teams covered with our fast ball movement, pace, endurance and tactics compared to their 1950s brand of football.

The Fk.

 

[SG34]

Remember when we won in Adelaide !I think it was in successive weeks during Covid. Beat ‘em both!!

Our win record vs
Adelaide 35% (all venues)
Port Adelaide 29% (all venues)

Our record in Adelaide against these teams? Not sure if it would double digits.

Isn’t it funny that we always say, the players are gone, it’s a new team entirely, a new opposition etc. etc. and yet the trend is there!

Easily our worst city and worst enemies of all the post- VFL era teams.

 

[saintmike65]

Remember when we won in Adelaide !I think it was in successive weeks during Covid. Beat ‘em both!!

Our win record vs
Adelaide 35% (all venues)
Port Adelaide 29% (all venues)

Our record in Adelaide against these teams? Not sure if it would double digits.

Isn’t it funny that we always say, the players are gone, it’s a new team entirely, a new opposition etc. etc. and yet the trend is there!

Easily our worst city and worst enemies of all the post- VFL era teams.

Good sides win anywhere…we haven’t been that since 2009 & 2010

 

[stfan]

Easily our worst city ..

Shanghai, Wellington.....

 

[SG34]

Shanghai, Wellington.....

Oh my.. don’t mention them.. the horror, the horror, shiver me Timbers….oh do the cross protect me my Lord.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

What about Boyd mate?

Harry doesn't mind if he doesn't make the scene.
He's got a daytime job, he's doing alright.

 

[CursingFijian]

Harry doesn't mind if he doesn't make the scene.
He's got a daytime job, he's doing alright.

Saving it up for Friday nights

 

[SG34]

Good sides win anywhere…we haven’t been that since 2009 & 2010

Mmm. Where have I heard that before?

(Excuse - I’m on antibiotics for ear infection, and my brain is nuts)

Judging by this, https://afltables.com/afl/venues/adelaide_oval.html

Just for AO now..

North have never won in Adelaide. 0/11.

But they don’t play (nearly as) much there.

Only three Melbourne teams play a decent amount over there,

Melbourne 19 times for twelve wins
Bulldogs. 16 times for five wins
Saints 18 times for three wins.

AO started for us 2012

Since 2012, including of course some atrocious seasons;

Non AO: St Kilda has won 44.5%
At AO: St Kilda has won 16.6%

We seem to be specialists at losing over there. I like the ‘play anywhere, win anywhere’ mantra. What’s wrong with it? Nothing of course. Clean as a whistle.

We should bitch about the fixture IMO. It does help in the long run, but it might look bad in the meantime. And that’s an issue too.

 

[saintmike65]

Harry doesn't mind if he doesn't make the scene.
He's got a daytime job, he's doing alright.

But for how long..