CJ

[saintsRrising]

The ONE player who stepped up and improved beyond the average of their seasons form today..was CJ..

Well done

[Sam23]

bulls***.

His aim was to stop Bartel and Bartel was BOG.

I don't care how many good things he did but the players he was tagging got 34 touches.

[Batnoe]

i really enjoyed his game.....

He really tackled hard and had Bartel under the pump. I think you will find he only played on Bartel after half time and tackled him a lot...

20 possessions to half time, 34 for the game

he only got 14 possessions on Jones after half time... Really showed some run and pressure.. will be a player

[saintsRrising]

bulls***.

His aim was to stop Bartel and Bartel was BOG.

I don't care how many good things he did but the players he was tagging got 34 touches.

You are wrong....see Batnoe's post.

[SAINT JUMP]

CJ PLAYED ON BARTELL FOR ONEHALF QRT

[bergsone]

Agree ,IMO was our best today,and did step up,especially early when others were really struggling.Unfortunately CJ being our best means others really struggled

[Batnoe]

Agree ,IMO was our best today,and did step up,especially early when others were really struggling.Unfortunately CJ being our best means others really struggled

it is good to see him play well, but for him to be our best, i agree- we had passengers

I am glad Ross threw some match ups in the air, but they didnt really pull off this week.. Roo and Milne on the wing for one... i really think our midfield let us down today with shocking entry into fwd 50 and not enough pressure on the cats as they seemed to be able to mark it too often

Marks inside 50 in first half -8 to 1 to them

[nicko016]

Disregarding what Bartel did, I thought CJ was fantastic and probably our 2nd best behind Sam Fisher. He was one player who could actually stick a tackle and put Geelong under some pressure.

[saint66au]

bulls***.

His aim was to stop Bartel and Bartel was BOG.

I don't care how many good things he did but the players he was tagging got 34 touches.

DO you have to swear in ALL your posts Sam?

CJ was definately in our best today...as otrhers have said he wasnt on Bartel prior to halftime when he did all his deamage?

Now...who was on Ablett AFTER half time? Eddy it seemed at times? Tore him a new one if so. Eddy's 1st half was OK

[sunsaint]

I am still constantly amazed at how some supporters still bag the bejeebies out of Jones. He was clearly in the top five today, regardless of who was a passenger or not, he played a game of footy today.

[BigMart]

Sam Fisher was our best player by the length of the flemington straight....

Lenny battled hard but was not helped and his possesions did not do ANY damage...

Goddard was OK...

CJ was hard-working but generally ineffective....his touches are less than damaging...

I though Raph played OK and Gilbert was serviceable when he was moved off SJ

[ozrulestrace]

At least he had a go.
Running, chasing etc whilst others just stood and watched.
Has the skills of trying to smother a ball disappeared?
I swaer there players turning away away from the opposite number who were kicking the ball. Tackles are high in number, so how about we match it with smothers.

[Ghost Like]

To me it felt like the only ones tackling and endeavouring to apply any pressure on their ball carriers were Lenny and CJ (The Mascot). CJ is a ripper and has won me over, another player our more talented can learn from.

[saintsRrising]

Sam Fisher was our best player by the length of the flemington straight....

YEs BUT my OP was about CJ stepping up and playing better tha his average season form.

Sam was very good...but no beter than his normal good form.

Now I am not knocking Sam...jsut making the point that most Saints were down....and that IMO that CJ was the only Saint to play better than his average season's form.
many of our players went missing.

The Cats I am afraid have too much quality.

[St Fidelius]

CJ play possibly his best game for the us today...

His disposal efficiency was way up there

Gee he has improved in that area

[kaos theory]

Ok, CJ has the endevour & commitment that few others showed. He chased, harassed, and put his body on the line time & time again.

BUT....we will never win a flag with this type of player. He has limited ability to hurt the opposition, Too often in 50/50 situations he will not be able to win, and his only weapon is to allow the opposition player to win the ball, then try to chase him down & tackle him.

He will ultimately need to be replaced with a player that has similar commitment, but more skill & ball winning ability. Take alook at the cats if you don't see what I'm saying. They have no such player as Jones.


The sad fact is that we lack talent in the midfield, with Ball out, and amartage a little slow (and another yr away), and geay another 2 yrs away from solid contirbutions, we are not able to handle the very best mids in the game.

I know some of you might think I'm disrespecting his efforts. I'm not. He gets the best out of his abilities. Just saying if we want to go that step futher, we need more talent in our midfield.

[mad saint guy]

He was one of the few who could land an effective tackle today. The conditions did suit him and credit to him for stepping up in his first final.

He still isn't a player you would want in your best 22, but today he performed far better than many of his more talented team mates.

[SAINT JUMP]

WEVE GOT TALENT, BUT WHERE WERE THEY TODAY.

[Winmarvellous]

Was pretty much the only bloke who could stick a tackle, especially when the game was still there to be won. Played good, one of the few who could say that.

[Teflon]

To say we wont flags with guys like Jones in the side is a slur.....its akin to saying you wont win flags with giys like A Thompson in your side cause in may respects to em Jones mirrors Thompson (both ordinary kicks - Jones better tackler).

[saintsRrising]

Ok, CJ has the endevour & commitment that few others showed. He chased, harassed, and put his body on the line time & time again.

BUT....we will never win a flag with this type of player. He has limited ability to hurt the opposition, Too often in 50/50 situations he will not be able to win, and his only weapon is to allow the opposition player to win the ball, then try to chase him down & tackle him.

He will ultimately need to be replaced with a player that has similar commitment, but more skill & ball winning ability. Take alook at the cats if you don't see what I'm saying. They have no such player as Jones.


The sad fact is that we lack talent in the midfield, with Ball out, and amartage a little slow (and another yr away), and geay another 2 yrs away from solid contirbutions, we are not able to handle the very best mids in the game.

I know some of you might think I'm disrespecting his efforts. I'm not. He gets the best out of his abilities. Just saying if we want to go that step futher, we need more talent in our midfield.

I don't disagree with what you say.....but if a few others who are more gifted than CJ could aply themselves as much as he does...the Saints would bea much better team.


The Cats have ample talent true,,,,,but what really sets them aside is that all who wear the hoops at present are fully committed with superb workrates and teamplay. This is making a very good team...a great team.

[JeffDunne]

If our so called senior players matched his effort we may have put up a contest.

He made some mistakes but seemed to be the only player in red, white & black that understands the intensity required in finals.

[saintsRrising]

If our so called senior players matched his effort we may have put up a contest.

He made some mistakes but seemed to be the only player in red, white & black that understands the intensity require in finals.

100% agree...

[St Fidelius]

To say we wont flags with guys like Jones in the side is a slur.....its akin to saying you wont win flags with giys like A Thompson in your side cause in may respects to em Jones mirrors Thompson (both ordinary kicks - Jones better tackler).

agreed...

Jones = better kick to position than Gram...

Jones is less likely to turn the ball over that results in goals against than Gram...

CJ's disposals have improved

[Richter]

BUT....we will never win a flag with this type of player. He has limited ability to hurt the opposition, Too often in 50/50 situations he will not be able to win, and his only weapon is to allow the opposition player to win the ball, then try to chase him down & tackle him.

He will ultimately need to be replaced with a player that has similar commitment, but more skill & ball winning ability. Take alook at the cats if you don't see what I'm saying. They have no such player as Jones.


The sad fact is that we lack talent in the midfield, with Ball out, and amartage a little slow (and another yr away), and geay another 2 yrs away from solid contirbutions, we are not able to handle the very best mids in the game.

I know some of you might think I'm disrespecting his efforts. I'm not. He gets the best out of his abilities. Just saying if we want to go that step futher, we need more talent in our midfield.

Absolutely spot on.

What the Cats showed us today is that every one of your team needs to be able to win contested ball. Jones cant do it. his disposal by foot is poor but he can overcome this by running and handballing and selecting his targets sensibly.

Inability to win ball in a contested situation though - how do you overcome that? By being a good tackler? Not enough IMO