Flat, MIA...and Balls last game in 2009?

[saintsRrising]

A few thoughts:


The boys looked very flat tonight. Whether this was in part due to a heavy fitness load for tapering going into the finals...or whether it was just losing focus for a game that meant little or a bit of both who knows.


The last quarter was great...but it just showed up the lack of workrate and skills for the other three quarters.

One thing that stood out to me tonight was the number of times we won the ball...but then did a sloppy handball allowing it to be stolen.. ie Kosi last handball...but he was no lone ranger in this.

Missing in Action:

Most of the team..for most of the game!!!

However in particular.....

Zac,...for the first time this year. Probably in part due to playing the Hawks last week...and partly due to not have a "big" player for a match up.

Ball and Armo both were good last week but were MIA tonight .....and with Mini and CJ waiting in the wings tonights performance may well see both miss playing in the finals this year unless injuries strike others. However Armo did snag two goals and once again showed that he does have the knack in kicking goals.


Dempster was ok...but not at the standard that he was prior to his injury. With 2 games to go he needs to show a little more despite being a "filler".

[boneless23]

Tonight really backed up that the team (especially the back half) should be picked on a horses for courses basis.

Zac was down tonight but as you said, he didn't have a match up. With the Bombers small forwards, surely Geary would have been th better option.

[Milton66]

Didn't see the game, so your feedback on Armo and Ball are appreciated.

Last week was obviously not the guide we expected re these two players.

They are persisting with Dempster as they obviously want him there. I wonder if Armo is ready to play finals, and if he'd survive under the blowtorch.

Ball is another challenge altogether. You'd want him in the trenches 100%, but has he hit a form slump at the wrong time?

[reincarnated]

Unfortunately Zac will be exposed as an average player if and when our better players fall down in their defensive games. Fact

[goodie]

We shouldn't play Ball in our forward 50. Doesn't hold the marks and can't kick the goals.

[matrix]

[borderbarry]

Dempster had a poor game. He consistently after marking just stands there and looks around, allowing everyone to be manned up, and often ends up kicking backwards to a contest...

[saintsRrising]

Bally is up there on most Saints fans "most loved list"....

But when you look at his form in the here an know...aort froma good performance againsta disinterested Hawks team other such as CJ and Min seem to offer more.

Now Bally was not alone in this game....but most of the others have a better recent track record.

For example..Raph was quiet...but it came on the back of a consistent form improvement.

The contest for our finals 22 is tight....and so somewone will get squeezed out.

[Milton66]

Bally is up there on most Saints fans "most loved list"....

But when you look at his form in the here an know...aort froma good performance againsta disinterested Hawks team other such as CJ and Min seem to offer more.

Now Bally was not alone in this game....but most of the others have a better recent track record.

For example..Raph was quiet...but it came on the back of a consistent form improvement.

The contest for our finals 22 is tight....and so somewone will get squeezed out.

He's not on my most loved list. FAct is that he has turned out to be a rather ordinaary player who quickly needs to reinvent himself as our style has changed somewhat.

I still think he'll play finals, tho.

In fairness to the guy, he had his career ruined by being played when he should have been rested. But that's another story.

[Milan Faletic]

The thing that worried me the most about Bally was when he had the ball 25 metres out and did not just turn around and kick the goal.
He propped, looked for a handball and then eventually didn't even make the distance. It was his indecision that concerned me, lack of confidence. How bad is that hammy of his?

Also they dragged Dal deep in to defence and he didn't go arm in arm with his opponent. He tried to get other players to man up so he could play loose. It didn't work and Monfries got in to the game. Was that a coaching or player strategy?

[ace]

We shouldn't play Ball in our forward 50. Doesn't hold the marks and can't kick the goals.

Can't run, jump or kick.
I fear the finals will severely expose all 3 weaknesses.

I agree based on todays game Mini and Jones are both set to replace Armitage and Ball.
I can understand and sympathise with Ball but have to be realistic - his best is in the past.
I can't understand or sympathise with Armitage - I hope his best is in the future.

[stinger]

i refuse to indulge in the bash ball feast......why do all the ones coming back into the team today who didn't perform have excuses made for them...yet ball gets crucified even though he has only been back a week..and last weeks game wasn't too bad either.....

[Moods]

I guess mini and CJ would be glad they missed tonight then....

Always good to miss when the team slips up - no-one can point the finger at you, and looks like you were missed

[Bernard Shakey]

Geary and Eddy may get a recall.

Their disposal may not be top notch, but their intensity is what was missing.

[Milton66]

I don't think anyone is bashing Ball. We all want to see him do well. He just isn't there at the moment and could miss the finals.

[Gurgman]

The thing that worried me the most about Bally was when he had the ball 25 metres out and did not just turn around and kick the goal.
He propped, looked for a handball and then eventually didn't even make the distance. It was his indecision that concerned me, lack of confidence. How bad is that hammy of his?

Also they dragged Dal deep in to defence and he didn't go arm in arm with his opponent. He tried to get other players to man up so he could play loose. It didn't work and Monfries got in to the game. Was that a coaching or player strategy?

Im not bagging ball but it you think he has a hammy problem your got hold of your wad .

[saintsRrising]

i refuse to indulge in the bash ball feast......why do all the ones coming back into the team today who didn't perform have excuses made for them...yet ball gets crucified even though he has only been back a week..and last weeks game wasn't too bad either.....

Who is bashing Ball.

IMO I just value CJ and Mini more.

If you wish to retain Ball who would you leave out?

[stinger]

i refuse to indulge in the bash ball feast......why do all the ones coming back into the team today who didn't perform have excuses made for them...yet ball gets crucified even though he has only been back a week..and last weeks game wasn't too bad either.....

Who is bashing Ball.

IMO I just value CJ and Mini more.

If you wish to retain Ball who would you leave out?

armitage for a start.....ball has to stay in......

i value the other two as well...but not as much as ball....in the end...the 22 fittest players will get picked.....i just hope ball is one of them......

[saintsRrising]

armitage for a start.....ball has to stay in......

and???

To play Mini and CJ you need to drop 2.

[Moods]

I'd still keep him in. We have to drop one of our tall defenders eventually - which will be hard, b/c they have all served us brilliantly this year. WE were too top heavy.

Blake or Zac is looking vulnerable. I actually thought that Ball did more than what his possession count suggested. Obviously CJ and mini come in, but I'd play Ball off the bench still as a clearance player. Armo kicked 2 goals but I'm still not sure about him doing much else.

[stinger]

see above...if it comes down to a choice...i would include cj, ball and mini...dempster or zac to miss out....

[stinger]

I'd still keep him in. We have to drop one of our tall defenders eventually - which will be hard, b/c they have all served us brilliantly this year. WE were too top heavy.

Blake or Zac is looking vulnerable. I actually thought that Ball did more than what his possession count suggested. Obviously CJ and mini come in, but I'd play Ball off the bench still as a clearance player. Armo kicked 2 goals but I'm still not sure about him doing much else.

yep...the mid fielders all stay...with the execption of ammo....

[maverick]

Geary and Eddy may get a recall.

Their disposal may not be top notch, but their intensity is what was missing.

Not Geary and Eddt, try Cj and Mini instead.

[stinger]

Geary and Eddy may get a recall.

Their disposal may not be top notch, but their intensity is what was missing.

Not Geary and Eddt, try Cj and Mini instead.

geary might get another game before the finals.....

[saintsRrising]

If retained Ball would want to play significantly better than he did today.....