Preview St Kilda V North Melbourne Sunday 3:20 Etihad Stadium

[Fred]

There's no reason they can't move Bruce back if their tall forwards are a problem and put Membrey at FF.

 

[holllywood]

Glad Gresh is having another game and hope he can be a decisive factor in a win against his mentor/friend, Boomer.

 

[Murraj1966]

Meatball will need a big one I think, just to stop that D word creeping up on him.

There's a few D words he wouldn't want to hear actually.

Would've thought Hugh would get a run considering how undersized we are but I guess not.

 

[VDS66]

All signs are that Richo has raised the bar in terms of selection and expectations this year. Witness what Acres has said.

I'd expect that to apply across the board which is why Lee was dropped.

People are calling for the inclusion of an extra tall down back. But frankly, neither Lee nor Goddard have shown enough to warrant selection. I don't see the logic in gifting them games just because they are defenders. That said, HG will probably get a run and make me look the fool.

Almost appears that they will gamble on a short defense until such time others put their hand up for selection.

 

[StKing11]

Hey guys, I hope you don't mind interruptions, but I thought this was an interesting point.

We were comprehensively beaten in the middle by the Dees and the Dogs yet our tall forwards still had decisive influences on those games. A majority of our scoring has come from turnovers with our speed of ball movement on transition allowing our forwards to have space and isolation on their direct opponent. I think Richardson mentioned something similar recently, but our pressure has been outstanding this season.

I'm aware that it's not as simple as it sounds, but the best way to nullify our tall forwards is to limit your turnovers or stop our quick transition after the turnover so that you have time to get numbers back in support of your key backs. I haven't seen a lot of the Saints this season but from what I have seen it seems like you have a very quick side, both in terms of leg speed and ball movement. I think this might help in terms of limiting our ability to apply pressure on the outside as well as help in slowing our transition. The question remains whether your younger side has the ability to maintain that level across four quarters against a side that is obviously older and naturally, more developed.

For these reasons I anticipate that this could well go down to the wire this weekend. Obviously I hope that we can run away with it in the latter part of the game but if we do win I think it will be because we finally shake you off late. If you win, I expect it will be because you've used the ball really well early and established enough of a lead to render our late charge unsuccessful.

Limiting our turnovers and transition defense are unfortunately the two things we are generally terrible at..

No disrespect to your mob who are favorites going in, but I think this game depends on which version of St Kilda shows up. If it's the Dogs/GWS version then you should pump us by 75+, if it's the Pies/Hawks/Dees version then there's no reason why we can't win. The difference between our best and worst this season is staggering.

 

[sammm]

It probably just makes us too tall with no smalls with Bruce as well. Members is a lead up forward still despite his height.

From what I read, isn't Membrey only 188cm? If so , that isn't tall

 

[stfan]

From what I read, isn't Membrey only 188cm? If so , that isn't tall

Exactly. Stevie J is a cm taller than Tim.


These days talls only start at 191+

Membrey is reasonably nimble which is why some have touted about him playing as a mid.

We recruited him to play HFF, and not to be a KPF.

 

[Persevering Saint]

Fact is, given the form of the Kangas' tall forwards, bringing in Lee or Goddard wouldn't make a scrap of difference. So instead of bringing them in only to lose their position, we'll have an extra midfielder.

 

[bergholt]

Would've thought Hugh would get a run considering how undersized we are but I guess not.

We've been undersized every week since the start of the season, what would be different about this week?

Membrey is reasonably nimble which is why some have touted about him playing as a mid.

Nimble? He changes direction like the QE2. Bruce looks more nimble than Membrey to me.

 

[Cornish]

I was speaking to a bloke yesterday who has known Members since he was a kid at Traralgon and Gippsland Power, he reckons we aint seen nothing yet.

Thats coming from a pies supporter, he also reckons the pies are all over Richos boy as a father son.

 

[sammm]

Exactly. Stevie J is a cm taller than Tim.


These days talls only start at 191+

Membrey is reasonably nimble which is why some have touted about him playing as a mid.

We recruited him to play HFF, and not to be a KPF.

Also the guy is just about to turn 22. Only played a a handful of games. I think Membrey cand be that HFF. it would really hurt the opposition with

Membrey, Mccartin Sinclair
Lonie, Bruce, Reiwoldt

 

[pebblesofsand]

Is it Sunday yet???

 

[Mowman]

Is it Sunday yet???

No

 

[plugger66]

No

What day is it?

 

[Proper Gander]

What day is it?

Monday. You overslept and you're late for work

 

[CursingFijian]

The Saints must get off to a good start. The last month it feels like we have been giving up 18 points before we start to find our groove. We just can't afford to do that this week. I have noticed that when St Kilda does get out the back consistently it can cause opposition teams to get a bit nervous and start to change their setups, which affects their structure moving forward. I hope we can do that from the get go this weekend.

 

[plugger66]

Monday. You overslept and you're late for work

Shit. I'm off then. See you in 8 hours. By the way did Ormond and the saints win?

 

[Persevering Saint]

Monday. You overslept and you're late for work

Careful, you'll become a Saints supporter if you stay here much longer... (I wouldn't mind that, I like having you around PG )

 

[dewah07]

There's no reason they can't move Bruce back if their tall forwards are a problem and put Membrey at FF.

i would hate that

 

[bergholt]

I was speaking to a bloke yesterday who has known Members since he was a kid at Traralgon and Gippsland Power, he reckons we aint seen nothing yet.

Hope so! But he was a tallish full-forward when he played down there, now he's a shortish 3rd tall. Different game required. Not to mention he was seen as a very good kick at goal and that doesn't seem to have carried through (similar to Siposs and maybe Lee).

 

[aussierulesrules]

I was speaking to a bloke yesterday who has known Members since he was a kid at Traralgon and Gippsland Power, he reckons we aint seen nothing yet.

It needs to be remembered that in his 2 years in the TAC Cup, Membrey kicked more goals than any of McCartin, Boyd, Daniher, or Patton kicked in their respective two years in the same comp (and averaged more goals per game than Patton or Daniher did) and that he also kicked 9 goals in a TAC Cup prelim (playing with I think it was an ankle injury), so it's not like he doesn't have a lot of ability.

Had he been 6 or 7cm taller and had the same attributes (that he had/has at 188cm) and impact on games that he was having, I see no reason why he wouldn't have gone as high in the draft as the likes of Paddy, Boyd and Patton did.

Just remains to be seen how well he's going to be able to play at AFL level being that 6 or 7cm short of that ideal KPF size, but last weekend was a huge step in the right direction. I don't see why he couldn't play games like that reasonably regularly down the track. Sounds like he's really built his tank up with all the running he did over the preseason while he wasn't able to train, so that ought to help.

 

[TassieSaint]

I think a few players are a bit stiff here. I understand no changes after a win but we only beat Melbourne FFS, it's not like we just thrashed the ladder leader.

Pretty concerned about North's tall forwards too.

 

[VDS66]

It needs to be remembered that in his 2 years in the TAC Cup, Membrey kicked more goals than any of McCartin, Boyd, Daniher, or Patton kicked in their respective two years in the same comp (and averaged more goals per game than Patton or Daniher did) and that he also kicked 9 goals in a TAC Cup prelim (playing with I think it was an ankle injury), so it's not like he doesn't have a lot of ability.

Had he been 6 or 7cm taller and had the same attributes (that he had/has at 188cm) and impact on games that he was having, I see no reason why he wouldn't have gone as high in the draft as the likes of Paddy, Boyd and Patton did.

Just remains to be seen how well he's going to be able to play at AFL level being that 6 or 7cm short of that ideal KPF size, but last weekend was a huge step in the right direction. I don't see why he couldn't play games like that reasonably regularly down the track. Sounds like he's really built his tank up with all the running he did over the preseason while he wasn't able to train, so that ought to help.

People putting too much emphasis on height IMO.

Members will be great. Just not tall. as a mid-forward he reminds me of Hamill, who was just on 180cm.

 

[VDS66]

I think a few players are a bit stiff here. I understand no changes after a win but we only beat Melbourne FFS, it's not like we just thrashed the ladder leader.

Pretty concerned about North's tall forwards too.

You can't have it both ways. If you reward selection for effort then you can't just drop players after a win, unless their form was real poor.

Players did what was asked of them last week... doesn't matter who the opposition was.

 

[Rors]

I think a few players are a bit stiff here. I understand no changes after a win but we only beat Melbourne FFS, it's not like we just thrashed the ladder leader.

Pretty concerned about North's tall forwards too.

No, thrashing the ladder leader comes tomorrow mate