Gone backwards

[taz]

In my view, going on last night's performance we have gone backwards from last year.

Our backline is strong and will continue to Be a major concern to the other clubs. Our midfielders star-studded. However, there are cracks starting to appear and our forward line is major problem.

Age and lack of pace now appeared to be a major problem. I suspect that the position of the following will come under close scrutiny... Kosi, Schneider, Milne, Baker, Blake, Gram, McQualter.

Riewoldt appears extremely cramped. He is clearly being outmanned due to the fact that there are no other options down forward. Unfortunately, I don't think that Gamble is the answer.

As a result Saints games will continue to be marked by low scoring , frustrating, grinding affairs that will invariably expose us and fail to and deliver the premiership.

Is it time to blood the youth and rebuild now.....I think so

[ralphsmith]

We have proven we cant win a grand final with our style.

Now, what to do.

We need to be threatening up forward.

Poor old Riewoldt is the only target and opposition coaches simply have to make sure two or three players are near him at any time and the forward line does not function.

[Statsman]

Stagnation is decline in the AFL. We need to take a risk and try something new in an attempt to find the improvement required to win the flag.

So why did we start 2011 with the same players and the same game plan that didn't deliver in 2009 and 2010? Why not inject some youth into the team? Why not add some players with run and flare? Why not change things up and try some players in new positions?

Instead, we rolled out the same old game plan. Still stifling in defence, but still impotent up forward. Still relentless with our pressure, but still slow when we win the football. Still getting most of our numbers behind the football, still bombing it to Riewoldt one on three inside 50.

We've proven that this lockdown football will beat most teams in the competition and get us into the top 4. However we've also proven that it isn't good enough to win us a premiership.

If we want to win a premiership, we must re-invent ourselves and move forward. We cannot simply remain as we are and hope it works.

Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Let's plead temporarily insanity for last night's game and hope for some improvement in round 2.