St Kilda gone for 2011!

[South of the Yarra]

I find it very amusing that some people are writing off the Saints for 2011. I can't believe it. They were one point from being Premiers. Any team with Riewoldt, Goddard, Hayes, Fisher, Dal Santo, Montagna, etc will be right in the mix. I think they are certainties for top 4 again.

 

[Beamsmagic]

I find it very amusing that some people are writing off the Saints for 2011. I can't believe it. They were one point from being Premiers. Any team with Riewoldt, Goddard, Hayes, Fisher, Dal Santo, Montagna, etc will be right in the mix. I think they are certainties for top 4 again.

Yeah so are the Bulldogs but doesn't mean they can go the extra step and win the flag. Besides the saints have been up for a long time with no reward - their spuds (and they have a few) will start to see them fall back to the pack.

 

[grammyboy]

Half the Collingwood supporters I know have spoken with a lot of sense this week, but the other half just let ya's down.....

What is your reasoning for us falling back?

And I would like to know where you found this excellent defensive pressure and gameplan? *cough* St Kilda 2009 *cough*

 

[robertg22]

St Kilda are still quality.... just need to sus out the roles (better) of the guys at the bottom of the best 22 and they will be ok.

 

[PP34]

their not gone Geelong is gone so they have another chance at a GF the bulldogs looked ordinary but who knows what they'll do Collingwood will be in the Top 2. So who else will challenge the Saints maybe a fullstrength hawks? But they're far from gone.

 

[Brilliant]

And I would like to know where you found this excellent defensive pressure and gameplan? *cough* St Kilda 2009 *cough*

lol, you can't even beat your own gameplan.


I'm not sure how they will go if they keep the same style of play.
Matty Knights may have been one of worst coaches going around but he did teach everyone how to beat St Kilda.

 

[absfab]

Yeah so are the Bulldogs but doesn't mean they can go the extra step and win the flag. Besides the saints have been up for a long time with no reward - their spuds (and they have a few) will start to see them fall back to the pack.

Yeah you're right.

This Collingwood side's going to win half a dozen flags, and nobody can stop them.

Then again, that's what Leigh Mathews thought in 1990.

 

[i_need_a_pencil]

I don't know whose being saying they won't be top 4... maybe overreactions after GF 2.

As for a flag... unless they improve what most people saw as a deficiency in the replay as their attack/goal scoring, and their lower tier of players standing up, they probably won't make the next step for me. Especially against younger sides who are improving.

But will make top 4, and therefore have every chance of winning a flag.

 

[woopedazz]

Half the Collingwood supporters I know have spoken with a lot of sense this week, but the other half just let ya's down.....

What is your reasoning for us falling back?

Next year other clubs will improve, St. Kilda will not. Name one aspect of St. Kilda's game that will improve? Kids, etc. They will be absorbed back into the pack and it's the speed at which opposing teams pass them that will determine whether they finish 2nd, 3rd or 4th next season.

And I would like to know where you found this excellent defensive pressure and gameplan? *cough* St Kilda 2009 *cough*

England invented cricket.

 

[grammyboy]

So tell me why everyone else will improve and we wont?

I personally think we have a hell of a lot of room for improvement. the gap between our 2010 footy and 2009 footy was huge and if we can get back to the way we were playing.....look out!

 

[stfan]

I am not making excuses, for you either win or you don't. So congrats to the Pies on winning the flag in 2010..

However in 2010 the Saints had lot more injuries than they did in 2009.

Zac Dawson was ill last summer and lost weight, and was bagged all year as having been a one year wonder. Lyon maintained the faith though and as he got fitter, so did his form improve.

Using the Saints B+F results for the four final matches Zac actually scored higher than all other Saints. With a full pre-season and more kg of muscle he should be solid in 2011.

Gram missed 7 games in 2010, had an operation, but was never the Gram of 2009. If he gets his body right it is effectivelya new recruit.

Dal Santo was not right for the last few games. Having both he and Gram well below their best was a big disadvantage.

Jack Steven announced against the Cats that he was ready to arrive. Unfortunately OP arrived as well. But watch out for Jack in 2011.

Raph Clarke... well we he plays, he is good for the Saints. But yes he seems to be permanently going onw, and so I won't count him as plus for next year. But if he does play finals, watch out!

Only King is basically retiring, and he was not a real factor in 2010 anyway.

McEvoy will continue to improve, but yes the saints need gardine for anoter year.

Miles, Stanley and A Smith are primed to push up into the 22 next year. two are express quick and the third quick. Stanley may still be a bit light next year, but there is no doubt that this guy is going to be a good player.

Armitage unfortunately had several injuries set-backs as well.. 2011 will be his make or break year. But he has show that he can play. He just needs to get his body and mind right.


And

Roo was flying when he did his hamstring. In 2011 I think you will find that he will have his best year yet.

Goddard is only just now reaching his potential. Watch out in 2011.

Gilbert is likely to play forward in 2011. Lyon experimented with it pre-season in 2010, but witha few key backs injured or ill including Zac Lyon kept him back for most of 2010. The two GF's showed the way of the future where Gilbert pace, marking and tackling abilities will be moved forward on a more permanent basis.


2011
Baker Zac Miles
Clarke Blake Fisher
Dal Santo Hayes Montagana
Gilbert Riewoldt Steven
Schneider Stanley Milne

Gardiner Goddard Jones

McEvoy Gram Ray Peake (or Smith or Geary or Armitage)

 

[sainter12riewoldt]

r u seriously surprised???


2004 at round 11 when we lost our first game they rode us off me made prelim and lost to premier
2005 start of season written off. made prelim and lost to premier again
2006 had the same fate finished 8th but lost to melbourne
2007 (ross' 1st year so cant expect too much) just missed finals
2008 written off at start of year looked like they were right half way through then we stepped it up a gear and made another prelim. but yet again lost to the premier.
2009 written off at start of year won 19 in a row made a grand final
2010 written off yet again made 2 grand finals

im not surprised anymore. people just dont want to admit that they fear us.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Saints will be top 4 because they are a well coached disciplined side. Whether they can take out the flag or not depends on Riewoldt.

 

[woopedazz]

So tell me why everyone else will improve and we wont?

I personally think we have a hell of a lot of room for improvement. the gap between our 2010 footy and 2009 footy was huge and if we can get back to the way we were playing.....look out!

That's more like recovering form as opposed to improvement. I think if you look closer St. Kilda didn't lose form in 2010, other teams just caught up and there was (extremely minor injury concerns that will happen next year and the year after and the one after that...Like in every team). Next year it will be worse again.

It's only my personal opinion that everyone else will improve or stay constant. Those who stay include Geelong, Bulldogs and yourselves, perhaps West Coast, Collingwood or Brisbane if things end badly. Everyone else will improve, because they have more kids or had below par years. You had a par year and have not brought in kids. The only way you go up is if you perform well outside the norm and I just don't see it happening.

NB: Professional BigFooty opinion of course.

 

[didaka]

If they can get some improvement out of the next rung of players whom are all pretty much kids, then they can definitely fire another shot at winning a flag.

Their next rung of players to play senior footy are Stanley, Armitage, Lynch, Heyne and Steven.

If they can improve at the rate you'd hope they would with another pre-season under their belt being talented kids, then they could potentially move some of that dead wood out, much like we were able to do this season gone with Reid, Sidebottom, Beams, Macaffer, Blair etc replacing O'Bree, Lockyer, Davis, Fraser and rejuvinate their best 22 a little.

 

[Beamsmagic]

r u seriously surprised???


2004 at round 11 when we lost our first game they rode us off me made prelim and lost to premier
2005 start of season written off. made prelim and lost to premier again
2006 had the same fate finished 8th but lost to melbourne
2007 (ross' 1st year so cant expect too much) just missed finals
2008 written off at start of year looked like they were right half way through then we stepped it up a gear and made another prelim. but yet again lost to the premier.
2009 written off at start of year won 19 in a row made a grand final
2010 written off yet again made 2 grand finals

im not surprised anymore. people just dont want to admit that they fear us.

Quite seriously the funniest thing I have read on here for a long long time - pisser

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

I genuinely believe they are finished. The impact of an ageing list, an out dated game style and the crushing psychological blow of not winning any of the three GFs they have played in in 3 years is going to be too much take I think. Time will tell though, I maybe wrong

 

[Brilliant]

Another factor to consider is if the players will still believe in the gameplan. Will they still be well disciplined or try to break out and do what they think the team should be doing?

They have lost 3 Grand finals, a Night Grandfinal and the gameplan has been rubbished by all and sundry. People can only show faith for so long.

 

[woopedazz]

If they can get some improvement out of the next rung of players whom are all pretty much kids, then they can definitely fire another shot at winning a flag.

Their next rung of players to play senior footy are Stanley, Armitage, Lynch, Heyne and Steven.

If they can improve at the rate you'd hope they would with another pre-season under their belt being talented kids, then they could potentially move some of that dead wood out, much like we were able to do this season gone with Reid, Sidebottom, Beams, Macaffer, Blair etc replacing O'Bree, Lockyer, Davis, Fraser and rejuvinate their best 22 a little.

Do you honestly think they will improve at a greater rate than the teams around them? Only players to cut loose are the young ones who don't do anything, and they're the very players they rely on to take the next step.

 

[bedford]

Half the Collingwood supporters I know have spoken with a lot of sense this week, but the other half just let ya's down.....

What is your reasoning for us falling back?

And I would like to know where you found this excellent defensive pressure and gameplan? *cough* St Kilda 2009 *cough*

And where do you reckon you got your boring gameplan from

 

[Big Bryza]

And where do you reckon you got your boring gameplan from

Sorry champ, but while our defensive play may resemble St Kilda, we actually know how to attack and score goals. Whereas they rely on 1 bloke to kick 4-5 every week. If anyone thinks Collingwood plays a boring brand of Football then they seriously have no idea.

 

[woopedazz]

Sorry champ, but while our defensive play may resemble St Kilda, we actually know how to attack and score goals. Whereas they rely on 1 bloke to kick 4-5 every week. If anyone thinks Collingwood plays a boring brand of Football then they seriously have no idea.

Erm...He was referring to the fact St. Kilda stole their gameplan and didn't conjure it up themselves. He was making fun of St. Kilda and it had absolutely nothing to do with Collingwood.

 

[bedford]

Erm...He was referring to the fact St. Kilda stole their gameplan and didn't conjure it up themselves. He was making fun of St. Kilda and it had absolutely nothing to do with Collingwood.

Thank you. But they didn't exactly steal our gameplan Lyon has just taken it to another boring level, FFS if you had a forward as good as Nick why wouldn't you get it in there quick.

 

[forwardflanker]

i am so sick all this whining coming from saints supporters. You guys just gotta accept that you have at least 10 players on your list that dont deserve a premiership

 

[mysainters]

Admittedly I always go in to a new season with high expectations, this year will be no different.

There are some things we need to work on though for sure.

For ages I read and heard football people talk about our defence, and how while it was very good as a team, it was actually very poor one on one. It was said that our backmen needed the zone defence to protect our defenders from being one out.

To be honest, up until this year, I kind of agreed.

However the growth this year in our defenders, namely Gwilt and Dawson towards the end of the season, has shown that there isn't much of a weakness anymore. Even Dempster showed that we have someone to take over the Baker role when he retires.

No excuses now, time to focus on the forward line, and it needs some focus.

However with Gilbert, Stanley and Steven being amongst the plans, I am optimistic.