Perspective on the road ahead

[Sanctorum]

With St Kilda nicely positioned in the top 8 at the halfway mark of the year it is possible to draw some conclusions about how the rest of the season is going to play out.

After 11 games the Saints realistically need to win only another 5 out of 11 remaining to play finals, but based on past results it is far from certain that our team will do more than just get over the line after the Round 3, and could well miss out altogether.

The main concern is that in the remaining 11 matches St Kilda will meet 8 of the current teams that are in finals contention and unless they can remedy the team's woeful conversion rate when in position to score, questions remain about their credentials to play finals.

Whilst the team enjoys a relatively healthy percentage of 123.8 that has been entirely due to St Kilda's excellent defence, conceding just 770 points - 3rd lowest in the comp.

In contrast, St Kilda's forward line has put just 953 points on the board which is only 12th highest in the comp.

I have mentioned in an earlier post that after 10 matches, St Kilda had won only 50% of the 40 quarters played, and although in the last game against bottom team North Melbourne they won all four, with just 23 scores from 58 forward 50 entries, and although winning by 53 points, they should really have buried the pathetic Kangaroos by much more.

So I would expect the coaches and players to place heavy emphasis on working out what they can do to get the St Kilda forward line to get better bang for the buck, because unless they do, I fear they will not achieve the team's real potential.

It's not impossible, far from it, and with only 4 of the remaining games played away (including the hapless Eagles at Optus), the chances are very good.

Looking at the fixture, the forthcoming games against Essendon and WC Eagles are virtual "gimmes", but Hawthorn are quite capable of causing an upset and I wouldn't as yet put money on the others:

Brisbane (A)
Sydney (A)
Carlton (H)
Fremantle (H)
Western Bulldogs (H)
Geelong (A)
Brisbane (H)
Sydney (H)

[Saintmike65]

With St Kilda nicely positioned in the top 8 at the halfway mark of the year it is possible to draw some conclusions about how the rest of the season is going to play out.

After 11 games the Saints realistically need to win only another 5 out of 11 remaining to play finals, but based on past results it is far from certain that our team will do more than just get over the line after the Round 3, and could well miss out altogether.

The main concern is that in the remaining 11 matches St Kilda will meet 8 of the current teams that are in finals contention and unless they can remedy the team's woeful conversion rate when in position to score, questions remain about their credentials to play finals.

Whilst the team enjoys a relatively healthy percentage of 123.8 that has been entirely due to St Kilda's excellent defence, conceding just 770 points - 3rd lowest in the comp.

In contrast, St Kilda's forward line has put just 953 points on the board which is only 12th highest in the comp.

I have mentioned in an earlier post that after 10 matches, St Kilda had won only 50% of the 40 quarters played, and although in the last game against bottom team North Melbourne they won all four, with just 23 scores from 58 forward 50 entries, and although winning by 53 points, they should really have buried the pathetic Kangaroos by much more.

So I would expect the coaches and players to place heavy emphasis on working out what they can do to get the St Kilda forward line to get better bang for the buck, because unless they do, I fear they will not achieve the team's real potential.

It's not impossible, far from it, and with only 4 of the remaining games played away (including the hapless Eagles at Optus), the chances are very good.

Looking at the fixture, the forthcoming games against Essendon and WC Eagles are virtual "gimmes", but Hawthorn are quite capable of causing an upset and I wouldn't as yet put money on the others:

Brisbane (A)
Sydney (A)
Carlton (H)
Fremantle (H)
Western Bulldogs (H)
Geelong (A)
Brisbane (H)
Sydney (H)

We’re a chance to beat Brisbane at the Gabba this week, after that we’re a chance of knocking off most sides.
Agree we’re not converting well enough but that tends to improve when confidence grows.
I doubt the players fear any side..we just have to have the mindset of winning anytime/ anywhere.
The mood and vibe amongst the players is the best I’ve seen!!

[chook23]

we could fall out of the eight by seasons end

we have a very tough fixture

[Vortex]

we could fall out of the eight by seasons end

we have a very tough fixture

I'm expecting it also but hoping for a finals spot.

I've said it for a while now, our list is still fragile and lacks considerable depth and part of our unexpected good performance to the half way mark, is largely due to significant improvement in many senior players as well as very unexpected contributions from the debutants, however we have had a relatively easy fixture and it's likely our debutants won't be able to sustain their contributions as the season gets longer and also through a very tough draw.

[CURLY]

We really do get nailed hard with the fixture. Joke really did we finish top 2 last year or something.

[desertsaint]

if we finish top eight with that run home, we're a top four side. doomed.

[asiu]

we are gunna hit the finals at ramming speed
.... good

give us the best to beat to earn our place
.... good

if not , pick up our chins and go again
until we do

i cannot see a negative

[bangaulegend]

Hard draw for sure but I'm bullish that we can make the 8 .I very much doubt we can get top 4 but who knows , IMO it will depend on injury to key players & how we cope with the pressure of expectation but we have given ourselves a decent chance & so far so good

[Devilhead]

Out of the 18 teams there is only one team that plays 4 sides in the current top 8 in their 5 double up games ...... St Kilda

We play Sydney, Geelong, Brisbane & Freo twice

There are a few teams that have 3 double ups with teams in the current top 8 ..... but we are the only team that has 4

Hardest fixture easily

[Otiman]

Out of the 18 teams there is only one team that plays 4 sides in the current top 8 in their 5 double up games ...... St Kilda

We play Sydney, Geelong, Brisbane & Freo twice

There are a few teams that have 3 double ups with teams in the current top 8 ..... but we are the only team that has 4

Hardest fixture easily

Hard fixtures put us in the best place to win finals.

[chook23]

Out of the 18 teams there is only one team that plays 4 sides in the current top 8 in their 5 double up games ...... St Kilda

We play Sydney, Geelong, Brisbane & Freo twice

There are a few teams that have 3 double ups with teams in the current top 8 ..... but we are the only team that has 4

Hardest fixture easily

Hard fixtures put us in the best place to win finals.

Only if we make it.......and then not certain to be in best place to win one

[WellardSaint]

Remember how the Doggies had that dream run in their flag year?
We've got the opposite.
The guys need to work out why they can't convert.
Higgins, King in particular.
Need better accuracy esp in F50.

That's the only way we'll win close games (Pies, Power come to mind).

There were games last year that we SHOULD have won, but lost due to 1.6 from Higgins and the other one (Geelong?)

Gotta get better.
They're getting there, the backline is great, guys like Sincs n Hill are AA, Ross is reborn, but accuracy will screw us

[Ghost Like]

we are gunna hit the finals at ramming speed
.... good

give us the best to beat to earn our place
.... good

if not , pick up our chins and go again
until we do

i cannot see a negative

This!

No point making the 8 then whinging that the other teams are too good. If we make the 8 playing the best teams, I guarantee there will be more worried supporters than just St Kilda supporters.

[CQ SAINT]

we are gunna hit the finals at ramming speed
.... good

give us the best to beat to earn our place
.... good

if not , pick up our chins and go again
until we do

i cannot see a negative

This!

No point making the 8 then whinging that the other teams are too good. If we make the 8 playing the best teams, I guarantee there will be more worried supporters than just St Kilda supporters.

Id like to think that the Lions supporters, all 50 of them, would be crapping themselves right now.

[Teflon]

we could fall out of the eight by seasons end

we have a very tough fixture

Which is why I would not rush to sign coach
No need
Let the back half season play out and see
Our transition to forward 50 where we still bomb under pressure has been an issue for a long time
King looks far better leading up at the footy and our structure at times amazes me that we don’t capitalise on that

[CQ SAINT]

we could fall out of the eight by seasons end

we have a very tough fixture

Which is why I would not rush to sign coach
No need
Let the back half season play out and see
Our transition to forward 50 where we still bomb under pressure has been an issue for a long time
King looks far better leading up at the footy and our structure at times amazes me that we don’t capitalise on that

We could easily be 4-7 too. But we aren't.
If we speculated on fear, as many on here do, 4-7 was realistic. Last week, many here were hedging bets for a loss to North. But there have been no real blow-outs and poor kicking is the only reason we aren't 10-1 or at the worst, 9-2. Have we signed him or just put pay to the rumours.
We are stable and improving in all facets of club business.
A reset with a bloke like Clarkson, just means less soft cap and probably loss of other staff who have already impacted through their roles and deserve more pay, not less.
The thought of change seems more absurd to me than reacting to media speculation about who Clarkson may and may not want to coach.
We have his stats man, his coaching coach, one of his senior assistants and a former captain already.

[asiu]

Finnus said something along the lines of

playing the 3 kids shows you that Ratts
is playing the long term game
not the ... i've got to make finals to keep my job game

he was genuinely effusive regarding Rattens leadership skillset across the (whole of) Entity
that is the 'Club'
... basically describing him as the perfect fit

management are ALL IN on Ratts
... no doubt about it (imo)

[asiu]

even said something like

nuh , i wont be ringing Clarkson.


***

prediction : they'll sign him for 3 years in 4 weeks

[Yorkeys]

Reasonable to expect improvement from Windhager, Owens and NWM? Paton overcoming leg break, also improving. Clark working back into the side. And Jack Higgins. Max still has improvement in him and I can see Sharman becoming a weapon if given consecutive games - can't double/triple team Max and not let Cooper have a few shots, which he rarely misses.

Hopefully have tried and discarded the idea of Butler as a non scoring forward. There will be games lost to good sides which can be useful learning exercises and no one plays well always. The team is tight though, with flexibility and proactive coaches.

That perspective on the road is opportunity. Go for it.