Preview St Kilda vs Western Bulldogs @Etihad Sat 2nd 7:25pm. Nick Riewoldt's 300th

[The Punter]

I think we need one more tall in the side, and against the Doggies, that should probably be a forward.

As long as Lonie is kicking bags we don't really need Minch in the side.

I love Sinclair.

My changes: McCartin & Sinclair in for Dunstan and Gresham. I just think Templeton's a bit quicker than the other two and we may need that against the Doggies.

 

[bird_man]

I think we played pretty well against Port and every player contributed in one way or another so I think the only change will be McCartin in. For who I'm not sure. Sinclair and Minch obviously had a field day but it wasn't against the strongest opposition so I'd say they will play round 1 in the VFL.

 

[hayes]

McCartin in for Gresham/Eli.

What's happening with Longer is he ready to go?

Massive Sinclair fan but too early to bring him back.

Stringer is a matchup nightmare for us. Gilbert did a good job on him in the second game last year but he's a midfielder now. Don't like anyone else on him, probably have to go with Dempster.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

It's nothing against Gresham but you need to ask yourself what the selection criteria is.

We need to be rewarding form. Players don't stay in the team because they didn't do anything wrong, they get picked on what they produced against what they were asked to do. I'm still unaware of any meaningful stats that he has produced to warrant his selection.

If i'm asking what the selection criteria is, i'd be asking where Tom Curren sits.

 

[bird_man]

McCartin in for Gresham/Eli.

What's happening with Longer is he ready to go?

Massive Sinclair fan but too early to bring him back.

Stringer is a matchup nightmare for us. Gilbert did a good job on him in the second game last year but he's a midfielder now. Don't like anyone else on him, probably have to go with Dempster.

Longer is right, but I can't see him coming in after Hickey's dominant performance. It's great to have two good ruckmen battling it out!

 

[The Punter]

Against a taller team with stronger ruckmen (West Coast come to mind) then perhaps Longer and Hickey, but the way the game is going and the fact we're playing the Doggies, Hickey should suffice.

That doesn't mean I like Bruce doing any rucking.

 

[TassieSaint]

McCartin in for Gresham/Eli.

What's happening with Longer is he ready to go?

Massive Sinclair fan but too early to bring him back.

Stringer is a matchup nightmare for us. Gilbert did a good job on him in the second game last year but he's a midfielder now. Don't like anyone else on him, probably have to go with Dempster.

Any of Dempster, Fisher and Gilbert match up well to stringer in theory.

 

[bird_man]

Against a taller team with stronger ruckmen (West Coast come to mind) then perhaps Longer and Hickey, but the way the game is going and the fact we're playing the Doggies, Hickey should suffice.

That doesn't mean I like Bruce doing any rucking.

Did Bruce ruck on weekend? I don't remember seeing him in the ruck at all.

 

[Saint Shags]

Did Bruce ruck on weekend? I don't remember seeing him in the ruck at all.

Bruce did do some small stints in the ruck during the game.

 

[Loyal Sainter]

These caps are being sold at the match. $5 for members and $10 for non members. Great price! Hope they sell out!!

 

[The Punter]

Bruce did spend a little time in the ruck.

 

[Hayes4PM]

To be fair, Geary caught Robbie Gray on the jaw with a bump but peep hasn't been made of it either.

 

[Pugz89]

Odd solid punch to the jaw caught on camera. Guess we all know the AFL has its favourites.

Jumper punch. Guess there was insufficient force. Don't be sour, thought you'd want us at our best so we have no excuse if we lose...

 

[Adam H]

Jumper punch. Guess there was insufficient force. Don't be sour, thought you'd want us at our best so we have no excuse if we lose...

Jumper punch LOL punch flush on the jaw. We have blokes suspended for tummy taps. Guess the under manned Saints returning from interstate will battle on.

 

[Loyal Sainter]

I actually want Stringer to play. After all it was thanks to Stringer that we won the comeback game against the Doggies last year

 

[FlyingSledghamer]

I actually wouldnt bring Paddy in. Nothing wrong with the fwd line and nothing wrong with him developing at Sandy.
Maybe Minch for Dunstan. Thats it..
Team played well just ran out of puff.
Hickey showed he can run all game no need for Longer yet either.

 

[Loyal Sainter]

Definitely need Paddy back in. He and Bruce need as much game time together as possible.

 

[mad-saint-guy]

I'd love to see McCartin, Sinclair and Minchington in for Geary, Templeton and Dunstan but that won't happen. I'd say Paddy will come in at the expense of Gresh or Eli.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I actually wouldnt bring Paddy in. Nothing wrong with the fwd line and nothing wrong with him developing at Sandy.
Maybe Minch for Dunstan. Thats it..
Team played well just ran out of puff.
Hickey showed he can run all game no need for Longer yet either.

Just trying to understand the logic, why Minch rather than Curran?

 

[bird_man]

Just trying to understand the logic, why Minch rather than Curran?

Minch offers more outside run, we don't need another inside mid IMO

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Minch offers more outside run, we don't need another inside mid IMO

Curren appears closer to the cusp considering he's been emergency for our last two games and was in Adelaide for Round 1.

However Minch couldn't have done much more to put his name forward for Sandy.

 

[jonathons11]

Curren appears closer to the cusp considering he's been emergency for our last two games and was in Adelaide for Round 1.

However Minch couldn't have done much more to put his name forward for Sandy.

Tough isn't it.
By being the emergency it means he should be next in line but it also means other people (Minch) have the opportunity to leapfrog him and he couldn't do anything about it.

 

[Saintbloke]

We needed another tall forward against Port- Bruce was swamped when the ball went there, and Roo just didn't have enough presence..we went in too small I reckon..the forward line didn't function well as a whole, though the delivery into the forward line was ordinary (as usual). The last quarter fade out was too bad to ignore, and really, if players are putting their hands up in the VFL, then they must get a game. Sinclair shouldn't be gifted games if Minch is in strong form.

 

[RoundCubic]

Dunstan will go out if injuried. Eli is most likely on performance. Gresham needed to experience AFL intensity he will dominate at VFL level and needed perspective, will still likely be given another game or two to adjust.

Paddy, Sinc and Minch all earned a recall on their preformances. Paddy and Sinclair may have the edge Paddy just needed to demonstrate match fitness while Sinclair is an extremely effective user of the ball which we really need but without seeing the Sandy game its hard to say who was the better between Minch and Sinc.

I also think Sincs in the VFL was a bit of tough love because they have very high expectations on him as a midfielder rather then small forward.

Agree Bruce was double teamed in the second half needs help

All of Sinclair, Curren, Minchington and the rest will play games there will be injuries and opportunities long season but we have a fairly stable best 22

Gilbert played as well as I can remember we just have to bringing it up the left or centre

Hickey was fantastic Longer will now have to wait till Hickey or Roo get an injury to get back. Post Roo retirement think the 2 big men will be a great duo but for now they overlap too much. Longer played forward as a junior so a VFL apprenticeship as a forward may not be a bad thing. My only worry is Hickeys knee problems as a 1st ruck but he seemed to have had no issues so far.

Think the Saints are gonna struggle with fitness this year at the end of quarters and in the 4th. the off season focus seems to have been game plan and skills and it worked for nearly 3 quarters very excited for the future but the majority of our guys need 50 game ex and another preseason.

My biggest worry next week is the difference between the dogs disposal efficiency and ours but that may be partly due to the opposition we each faced.

 

[Monika72]

I'm not expecting a good result this weekend, but I'm there to watch a great of the St Kilda Football club play his 300 game. It's Nick's big day regardless of the result so just enjoy like a west indian, Go Saints.