Run Free like 03

[SainterX]

I may be wrong about this, but seems to me it is time to go back to basics.

Time to free the arms, cut the shackles and run again.

GT may not have been a rocket scientist but he had the right idea. Free flowing positive football, and record scores rather then trying to restrict our opposition to scores lower then some rugby league and union sides make each week.

It took a while to learn but by the end of 2003, Rounds 17 to 21 we won every game by 10 goals plus, and apart from a last round loss down in Geelong I think we ended the season pretty well.
And of course we all know how the next season began

People may say this style would not work anymore, but surely taking it down the middle quickly every time we can will still work. Teams may still flood back, but the quicker we bring it down the less time they have to do so, and the sooner they get worn down, rather then simply letting them toddle back at their leisure, as we have let them do on occasion this season.

People may also say we don't have the players to do this anymore. I am sure I remember a game against Melbourne several years back where Nick kicked 9 goals in a losing effort, without Gehrig playing, I believe. So we do. Nick has a bigger engine then anyone, plant him in the forward line and let's see how many people can beat him one on one for the entire game. Get the ball in quickly, keep Nick inside the 50 at all times and watch him smoke anyone and everyone again. After all even Carey would have struggled to do much of anything with 3 guys on him all the time.

Seriously, I wonder how many teams would be shocked if we suddenly turned things around from Rossys game plan of "you will score less then us" to his predecessors game plan of "we will score more then you".

Personally I would rather see us lose 130 - 129 then 39 - 38, but maybe that is just me.

Run free like '03

[Enrico_Misso]

I have to say that despite all the H&A success of the last couple of years those magic days of the first 10 rounds of 2004 were much more enjoyable.

[SainterX]

And apart from one Wanganeen kick out of his ass in 2004 we would have made the GF then also

[Tom_Sainter]

Loved those saturday night games at Telstra Dome, where we would smash teams in the first quarter.

[Teflon]

I have to say that despite all the H&A success of the last couple of years those magic days of the first 10 rounds of 2004 were much more enjoyable.

I preferred making multiple GF's, dominating for a whole season and having a chance to win the clubs second flag in 100 yrs myself.

"The Streak" vid leaves me cold.

[SainterX]

I don't see any difference between 04-05 and 09-10 results apart from some Wanganeen ass magic and a skinhead cry baby named Bazza.

[Enrico_Misso]

I don't mean the big picture.
Obviously finals and Premierships is what it is all about.

I am referring to the feeling of going to the footy during the streak.
Yes it leaves me hollow now too as it ultimately led to nothing.

But at the time it felt fantastic.
Better than those ground out wins of 2009.

[jonesy]

It would be nice to enjoy watching us again,can't see it happening for a while but

Thank god for supercoach

[saintsRrising]

I may be wrong about this, but seems to me it is time to go back to basics.

Time to free the arms, cut the shackles and run again.

GT may not have been a rocket scientist but he had the right idea. Free flowing positive football, and record scores rather then trying to restrict our opposition to scores lower then some rugby league and union sides make each week.



Run free like '03

You would get slaughtered. 03 Saints got worked out...and today's pressure football would again hurt the Saints.....and indeed is hurting the Saints.

The Pies changed things by getting numbers around the ball carrier and constant pressure on and around the contest.

Completely free flowing football would be a disaster.


What we need to do is what we ave started to do which is more attacking football(YES), but with pressure around the contest.

Problem is tat we keep lapsing back to 2009/2010 habits of stop and prop football where we look to set things up.

This now means that when we win the ball that we are under huge pressure and if the first opponent dose not cause a turnover, then the second or third will.

So yes you have to play on quicker, to kick quicker and kick more often longer and handball less....but make no mistake you have to get numbers at the contest when the opposition have the ball.

Problem with the football that we need to play is that good footskills are even more important than ever, and we lack them. Players have lest time to kick...and have to kick to targets under more pressure.

however if we are quicker then we do have some good contested marks....and players like Milne and Schneider who can get free. Stop and prop kills them though.


So:

* Always pressure the contest and get numbers to the contest...quickly. fail to do this and your opposition will slice you open.
* Play on quickly..if in doubt just kick it long...
* in packs do not try and run free....as their is normally a squad of opponents
* fast track players with better footksills into the team like Siposs
* players who are only defensive need to be minimised in numbers.


Football is always evolving. Lyon changed it...and Malthouse changed it again.

We need Saints football 2011 style...and not 2003 style.

Evolve...or be left behind.

[Spinner]

I have to say that despite all the H&A success of the last couple of years those magic days of the first 10 rounds of 2004 were much more enjoyable.

I preferred making multiple GF's, dominating for a whole season and having a chance to win the clubs second flag in 100 yrs myself.

"The Streak" vid leaves me cold.

This. Spot. On.

[lefty]

True to try and run free, but you can't just "do it".

Would take the AFL to change the rules for next year by...
A. Having 4 players on the bench (remember the sub bs)
B. Limiting interchange to 20 per quarter.

That way, teams would not be able to flood back for the entire game with only 20 rotations, and imo, is much better than this sub rule bs which hasn't limited interchange rotations one bit nor stopped the flood....

[Spinner]

I don't see any difference between 04-05 and 09-10 results apart from some Wanganeen ass magic and a skinhead cry baby named Bazza.

Is this a serious post..?

04-05 we were no where near the level we were in 09-10.

Brisbane and port had our measure easily. Pretty sure we got smashed in the first final against the lions. We were third best that year easily.

05 very far from the top pack as well.


09 we were the dominate team. Easily. Deserved to be first, but it doesn't work that way.

10 was a mammoth effort when everything went wrong.


Sorry can't take this post seriously.

[SainterK]

What wasn't enjoyable about the second half Monday night, or the Richmond game?

I like the balance we seem to be slowing working towards, still quite a defensively minded side, but one that can play on and score quickly. I wouldn't call it attacking, but I'd call it more free flowing than we're used to seeing.

[Teflon]

I may be wrong about this, but seems to me it is time to go back to basics.

Time to free the arms, cut the shackles and run again.

GT may not have been a rocket scientist but he had the right idea. Free flowing positive football, and record scores rather then trying to restrict our opposition to scores lower then some rugby league and union sides make each week.

It took a while to learn but by the end of 2003, Rounds 17 to 21 we won every game by 10 goals plus, and apart from a last round loss down in Geelong I think we ended the season pretty well.
And of course we all know how the next season began

People may say this style would not work anymore, but surely taking it down the middle quickly every time we can will still work. Teams may still flood back, but the quicker we bring it down the less time they have to do so, and the sooner they get worn down, rather then simply letting them toddle back at their leisure, as we have let them do on occasion this season.

People may also say we don't have the players to do this anymore. I am sure I remember a game against Melbourne several years back where Nick kicked 9 goals in a losing effort, without Gehrig playing, I believe. So we do. Nick has a bigger engine then anyone, plant him in the forward line and let's see how many people can beat him one on one for the entire game. Get the ball in quickly, keep Nick inside the 50 at all times and watch him smoke anyone and everyone again. After all even Carey would have struggled to do much of anything with 3 guys on him all the time.

Seriously, I wonder how many teams would be shocked if we suddenly turned things around from Rossys game plan of "you will score less then us" to his predecessors game plan of "we will score more then you".

Personally I would rather see us lose 130 - 129 then 39 - 38, but maybe that is just me.

Run free like '03

This sounds nice but totally ignores the defensive pressure Pies built into their side on the back of us. One thing to "kick it long down the guts" but in todays rebound footy of zones I reckon you might get burnt to much on the rebound.

[SainterX]

I don't see any difference between 04-05 and 09-10 results apart from some Wanganeen ass magic and a skinhead cry baby named Bazza.

Is this a serious post..?

04-05 we were no where near the level we were in 09-10.

Brisbane and port had our measure easily. Pretty sure we got smashed in the first final against the lions. We were third best that year easily.

05 very far from the top pack as well.


09 we were the dominate team. Easily. Deserved to be first, but it doesn't work that way.

10 was a mammoth effort when everything went wrong.


Sorry can't take this post seriously.

Do you appreciate I am saying in results alone? And very far from the top pack in 05? Didn't we finish 4th that year, same as 09 but go on to beat the 1st placed team, Adelaide in Adelaide in the first final rather then get knocked off by Geelong in the first week of 09 finals?

Yep we were so much better in 09 right

And Port had our measure easily in 04? Which would explain how it took a super goal to beat us by that margin in the 04 prelim. They were so great alright.

[dcstkfc]

Loved those saturday night games at Telstra Dome, where we would smash teams in the first quarter.

We did that in 09-10 as well.

[I Love Peter Kiel]

I don't mean the big picture.
Obviously finals and Premierships is what it is all about.

I am referring to the feeling of going to the footy during the streak.
Yes it leaves me hollow now too as it ultimately led to nothing.

But at the time it felt fantastic.
Better than those ground out wins of 2009.

I have to agree EM! maybe it's partly nostalgia...it was certainly great to see all those big wins over traditional rivals like carlton in '03 and '04.

Especially after 3 1/2 on the bottom of the ladder!

[Spinner]

I don't see any difference between 04-05 and 09-10 results apart from some Wanganeen ass magic and a skinhead cry baby named Bazza.

Is this a serious post..?

04-05 we were no where near the level we were in 09-10.

Brisbane and port had our measure easily. Pretty sure we got smashed in the first final against the lions. We were third best that year easily.

05 very far from the top pack as well.


09 we were the dominate team. Easily. Deserved to be first, but it doesn't work that way.

10 was a mammoth effort when everything went wrong.


Sorry can't take this post seriously.

Do you appreciate I am saying in results alone? And very far from the top pack in 05? Didn't we finish 4th that year, same as 09 but go on to beat the 1st placed team, Adelaide in Adelaide in the first final rather then get knocked off by Geelong in the first week of 09 finals?

Yep we were so much better in 09 right

And Port had our measure easily in 04? Which would explain how it took a super goal to beat us by that margin in the 04 prelim. They were so great alright.

Getting confused with 08 and 09...?

09 we won 19 straight. And played in the gf.

[kosifantutti23]

I don't see any difference between 04-05 and 09-10 results apart from some Wanganeen ass magic and a skinhead cry baby named Bazza.

Is this a serious post..?

04-05 we were no where near the level we were in 09-10.

Brisbane and port had our measure easily. Pretty sure we got smashed in the first final against the lions. We were third best that year easily.

05 very far from the top pack as well.


09 we were the dominate team. Easily. Deserved to be first, but it doesn't work that way.

10 was a mammoth effort when everything went wrong.


Sorry can't take this post seriously.

Is this a serious post?

04 we played the eventual premiers on their home ground in a prelim and lost by a goal but we were third best "easily"

05 with a side decimated with injury we led going into the last quarter of the prelim after having knocked off the top side in Adelaide with a bunch of our second stringers. But somehow we were "far from the top pack" We also smashed the Swans the only time we played them during the home and away in '05.

Are you getting these years confused with '08?

Sorry can't take this post seriously.

[dcstkfc]

04 We were an up and coming brilliant but inconsistent team. We went from 10-0 to 16-6 so it'd be hard to argue we where in top gear come finals time. Monstered by the Lions in week 1, we were incredibly gutsy to put in two special efforts v the Swans and Port, and would have been a sniff v the Lions at the G. Overall we were the third best team, and that's how it finished.

05 Started 6-7. That's not much chop. We were really floundering. All turned around when Rooey did his shoulder for the second time v the Dogs at the G in Rd 14. Kosi stood up that day and then played that month where he gpt 11/12 Brownlow votes. We turned it around to win 8/9 going in to the finals, our sole loss coming on the back of Justin Longmuir's after the siren goal in the 'whispers in the sky' game. Having said that we hadn't beaten the other three top 4 teams in that streak, it just happened that we played them between rds 8-10. Nonetheless we hit the finals every bit as dominant as the other side. We had the 2nd best percentage in the league behind Adelaide.

Unfortunately, this coincided with a horrific run of injuries. The amazing thing about the Qualifying Final win in Adelaide was that it was done with neither Maguire nor Hudghton, with Ferguson and Fisher having to play key defence, and Fisher did his foot during the game. Hamill was also no where near fit.

In the end through a combination of bringing in injured players, and having guys out which meant the overall quality of the 22 was down from it's best, we had too many passenger and the Swans (largely Schneider and Hall) tore us apart in the last quarter. You'd never see a team tear a final to shreds like they did in the first 10 minutes of the final term. Never.

09 We were one of the best single-season teams in history, but we had lost a little by the finals and we happened to run in to one of the best teams in terms of an era ever. Had we kicked straight we would have won.

10 We were gutsy all year but no where near 09 brilliance. Still we got the double-chance, got every last ounce out of ourselves in the finals and nearly pinched it off a team who over the course of the year had been considerably better than us.

[widereceiver]

I still believe our best chance was in 04. The Power had a very lucky win after we had them on toast and the Lions were clearly sore on GF day even though had the wood on us in that time.

Last year's effort was very brave but, undoubtedly the best team we've fielded was 09.

[True Blue Sainter]

I still believe our best chance was in 04. The Power had a very lucky win after we had them on toast and the Lions were clearly sore on GF day even though had the wood on us in that time.

Last year's effort was very brave but, undoubtedly the best team we've fielded was 09.

Wouldn't say they had the wood over us. We beat them at Etihad in 03 & 04 in two absolute classic games, even though they beat us comfortably enough in the first week of the finals...

Think we would have probably knocked them off in the big one ...

The "joys" of being a Saints fan

[desertsaint]

aside from 09 - where we enjoyable to watch because we were just so good at our craft - the lyon years have seen the ugliest footy we have ever played.
so from an aesthetic viewpoint who wouldn't prefer to turn back the clock.
i really have to grind out a game, and that's just watching.

and i agree with posters above - the only difference between us making the gf in 04 was that ounce of luck, just as it was the difference in us winning in 09. but the 09 team was more disappointing - no team has lost from the position and form we were in - poorly managed at the end, or just simply exhausted from such an intensive year. it started with the essendon game. we have never been as good and won't ever be with this current team and coach.

doesn't mean we can't win a flag as the 09 team up until rnd 19 was one of the best ever.

[Thinline]

aside from 09 - where we enjoyable to watch because we were just so good at our craft - the lyon years have seen the ugliest footy we have ever played.
so from an aesthetic viewpoint who wouldn't prefer to turn back the clock.
i really have to grind out a game, and that's just watching.

and i agree with posters above - the only difference between us making the gf in 04 was that ounce of luck, just as it was the difference in us winning in 09. but the 09 team was more disappointing - no team has lost from the position and form we were in - poorly managed at the end, or just simply exhausted from such an intensive year. it started with the essendon game. we have never been as good and won't ever be with this current team and coach.

doesn't mean we can't win a flag as the 09 team up until rnd 19 was one of the best ever.

I quite like the slog and admire the inherent brutal physical challenge of it. And I maintain that slog-like footy has given us four of the best GF's I've ever seen. Both WC / Swans games, Saints/Cats, Saints/Pies No 1.

[bigred]

LOL @ THE STREAK.