We lack PACE SKILL & FITNESS
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We lack PACE SKILL & FITNESS
The sad fact is that over the last 2 yrs we have been passed by other teams in these critical area.
The skill level of the eagles was singificnatly better than ours, even with their key stars out/injured they still had the edge in skill, pace & fitness.
Another sad fact is that most of the interstate teams can unearth top level talent with their vast resources and knowledg of their states. (e.g. pridis)
We need a classy & pacy goal-kicking & marking half-forward, 2 talented & pacy mid-fielders, and a class, mobile ruckman....& maybe a backman.
IF we have a lot of luck, Garder could fill the ruck role, and with a miracle Hamil could fill that half-forward role (though lacking in pace)....But who would fill the mid-field roles...???
We have 1 elite player, another possible elite player in Dal....and that's it...
We also DEPERATELY need a strong pre-season. Start early and put a lot of work into the clarkes, lenny, get ball right, etc....
The skill level of the eagles was singificnatly better than ours, even with their key stars out/injured they still had the edge in skill, pace & fitness.
Another sad fact is that most of the interstate teams can unearth top level talent with their vast resources and knowledg of their states. (e.g. pridis)
We need a classy & pacy goal-kicking & marking half-forward, 2 talented & pacy mid-fielders, and a class, mobile ruckman....& maybe a backman.
IF we have a lot of luck, Garder could fill the ruck role, and with a miracle Hamil could fill that half-forward role (though lacking in pace)....But who would fill the mid-field roles...???
We have 1 elite player, another possible elite player in Dal....and that's it...
We also DEPERATELY need a strong pre-season. Start early and put a lot of work into the clarkes, lenny, get ball right, etc....
Last edited by kaos theory on Sat 25 Aug 2007 1:05am, edited 1 time in total.
- The_Dud
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- widereceiver
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I disagree - I assume you mean Roo is the elite player. The other one in my view is Lenny Hayes, back to pre-knee form.
Dal goes missing too often as does Joey Montagna.
While we are on the subject of elite players, the unsigned Kosi is potentially a better CHF than Roo and it's sad he has to be sacrificed as an ordinary ruckman.
I do agree we lack fitness and skills - but we were looking quick in the first quarter tonight - so it's not pace.
Dal goes missing too often as does Joey Montagna.
While we are on the subject of elite players, the unsigned Kosi is potentially a better CHF than Roo and it's sad he has to be sacrificed as an ordinary ruckman.
I do agree we lack fitness and skills - but we were looking quick in the first quarter tonight - so it's not pace.
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There is no way Lenny is elite in 07. Yes in 05 & early 06 before his injury, but atm he is very good, but not elite. Watch a tape of a few games in 05/06 and watch how he has an explosive mix of skill & agression about his play.The other one in my view is Lenny Hayes, back to pre-knee form.
He has done really well since his knee reco, but reality is that players need 2 seasons to get fully over such a big injury...Hope next yr he takes it up to his very best...
The most disappointing aspect of this season for me is how our skills and fitness have fallen away.
In hindsight, given the preseason we had and the early season injuries, we probably shouldn't be suprised.
However, I don't think skills costs us tonight. When we had WC under the pump they had some shockers too. At the start of the 3rd it was like a clanger contest (commentators made comment about there being something wrong with the ball).
West Coast kept at it and were harder when it counted.
In hindsight, given the preseason we had and the early season injuries, we probably shouldn't be suprised.
However, I don't think skills costs us tonight. When we had WC under the pump they had some shockers too. At the start of the 3rd it was like a clanger contest (commentators made comment about there being something wrong with the ball).
West Coast kept at it and were harder when it counted.
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The OP is on the money......footskills were on the whole much better by the eagles...
Yes they had some clangers too....but mainly when they were being harried.
On about 4 or 5 times we had players in the clear who went to pass to other Saints either in the clear or on good leads....and who could get no where near them and instead popped it out on the fal.
Vss and Joey were two culprits...
We simply ahve to many guys that turn the ball over too easily....or cannot hita forward target.
A HUGE plus to me is the game plan....the players are obviously now well versed in the defensive side of our gameplan when the opposition has the ball.
For most of the night we CLAMPED down on the Weagles and they were no where as free running as they normally are.
last year with that much ball the Weagles would have pumped us by 60 points.
As an aside...how good is Cox. Beautiful tap work......our mids would love him.
Yes they had some clangers too....but mainly when they were being harried.
On about 4 or 5 times we had players in the clear who went to pass to other Saints either in the clear or on good leads....and who could get no where near them and instead popped it out on the fal.
Vss and Joey were two culprits...
We simply ahve to many guys that turn the ball over too easily....or cannot hita forward target.
A HUGE plus to me is the game plan....the players are obviously now well versed in the defensive side of our gameplan when the opposition has the ball.
For most of the night we CLAMPED down on the Weagles and they were no where as free running as they normally are.
last year with that much ball the Weagles would have pumped us by 60 points.
As an aside...how good is Cox. Beautiful tap work......our mids would love him.
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I agree SR - its the best Ive seen us "shut down" the Eagles game plan in a long time.saintsRrising wrote:The OP is on the money......footskills were on the whole much better by the eagles...
Yes they had some clangers too....but mainly when they were being harried.
On about 4 or 5 times we had players in the clear who went to pass to other Saints either in the clear or on good leads....and who could get no where near them and instead popped it out on the fal.
Vss and Joey were two culprits...
We simply ahve to many guys that turn the ball over too easily....or cannot hita forward target.
A HUGE plus to me is the game plan....the players are obviously now well versed in the defensive side of our gameplan when the opposition has the ball.
For most of the night we CLAMPED down on the Weagles and they were no where as free running as they normally are.
last year with that much ball the Weagles would have pumped us by 60 points.
As an aside...how good is Cox. Beautiful tap work......our mids would love him.
Next year the challenge is to upgrade the group where we can AND get the 4 qtr consistency and execution of our game plan and it will be interesting..
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- widereceiver
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Maybe I'm just quibbling kaos, you are right that he hasn't quite recaptured the pre-knee form. The last two weeks he has been been far and away our best mid, dunno what it says about the others! but without Lenny we would have been pumped tonight.
"Winning's not everything, it's the ONLY thing!" Vince Lombardi.
Sam Gilbert #1 booster - always on the attack!!!
Win more for Winmar
Sam Gilbert #1 booster - always on the attack!!!
Win more for Winmar