Twas the last chance to win a grand final for a long time
Moderators: Saintsational Administrators, Saintsational Moderators
- ralphsmith
- SS Hall of Fame
- Posts: 2420
- Joined: Sat 25 Jul 2009 10:36pm
- Has thanked: 3 times
- Been thanked: 17 times
Twas the last chance to win a grand final for a long time
Yes that's right.
It was the last chance. Everything went right for us this year. Injuries weren't crippling, our game plan was superior, players at the right age.
Opposition teams will analyse the crap out of us over the pre-season and our gameplan will be destroyed. We will be thereabouts for 1 or 2 more years. Then when Riewoldt retires we're finished.
We have good list. It's not elite, it's not great. Just good but when Ross applied the gameplan and discipline it turned us into the best home and away team. With the gameplan ruined after it is studied and countered we will be struggling in many games next year.
That was the last chance to win a flag. Chances come so rarely. SO RARELY.
Hurahh.
It was the last chance. Everything went right for us this year. Injuries weren't crippling, our game plan was superior, players at the right age.
Opposition teams will analyse the crap out of us over the pre-season and our gameplan will be destroyed. We will be thereabouts for 1 or 2 more years. Then when Riewoldt retires we're finished.
We have good list. It's not elite, it's not great. Just good but when Ross applied the gameplan and discipline it turned us into the best home and away team. With the gameplan ruined after it is studied and countered we will be struggling in many games next year.
That was the last chance to win a flag. Chances come so rarely. SO RARELY.
Hurahh.
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 18600
- Joined: Thu 11 Mar 2004 1:36am
- Has thanked: 1924 times
- Been thanked: 852 times
Re: Twas the last chance to win a grand final for a long tim
we are going to improve and have another shot at it in 2010.
we were first in defence and fourth in attack last season. Next season we will be first in both.
we were first in defence and fourth in attack last season. Next season we will be first in both.
Re: Twas the last chance to win a grand final for a long tim
You are kidding, right?ralphsmith wrote:Yes that's right.
It was the last chance. Everything went right for us this year. Injuries weren't crippling, our game plan was superior, players at the right age.
Opposition teams will analyse the crap out of us over the pre-season and our gameplan will be destroyed. We will be thereabouts for 1 or 2 more years. Then when Riewoldt retires we're finished.
We have good list. It's not elite, it's not great. Just good but when Ross applied the gameplan and discipline it turned us into the best home and away team. With the gameplan ruined after it is studied and countered we will be struggling in many games next year.
That was the last chance to win a flag. Chances come so rarely. SO RARELY.
Hurahh.
Of course other teams are going to study our game plan. However, meaning they can copy it and get their team to follow it SUCCESSFULLY, is highly doubtful. Do you honestly believe that Ross has finished tinkering with our game plan and that it will remain exactly the same next year? If you do, you are delusional. Besides, trying to imitate or replicate someone else's idea/plan usually ends in tears.
In regards to Riewoldt, no, our team is not finished when he leaves. He will be a massive loss, but teams move on. I don't believe that 5-10 years ago anyone thought we could survive the loss of Robert Harvey to retirement or Plugga being drafted to Sydney prior to that. We have and we have moved on. There is always another star waiting in the wings.
I take great offense at your comments that our players are not 'elite'. Surely you don't believe that the likes of Roo, Dal, Hayes, Montagna, Goddard and co are not elite? Just because they play a role in a strong team structure that requires TEAM efforts, do not make the mistake of believing this team is ordinary. It takes elite players to pull off the their roles in the team game plan that Ross has devised.
Fortius Quo Fidelius
- ralphsmith
- SS Hall of Fame
- Posts: 2420
- Joined: Sat 25 Jul 2009 10:36pm
- Has thanked: 3 times
- Been thanked: 17 times
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4661
- Joined: Thu 28 Dec 2006 8:34am
- Location: Jurassic Park
Gee, everybodies studied the crap out of the Geelong gameplan, since 2007. Hasn't stopped them making the Grand Final over the last two seasons with a list, which has hardly changed, everyone rated at about the same, if not behind us at the start of 2007.
Except for the sanity nothing much has been lost.
-
- SS Life Member
- Posts: 3266
- Joined: Fri 16 Mar 2007 4:05pm
- Been thanked: 390 times
As I put in another post, the changes to the St Kilda list post the 2005 season have been dramatic.
The list has been replenished around its core, class players, Riewoldt, Koschitzke and Hayes who is the oldest at 29 years of age.
Plus we have the likes of McEvoy, Stanley, Steven, Lynch and Armitage ripe to introduce in 2010 - along with Lovett and Peake who they traded for.
Compare Geelong's 2005 list and you see a marked difference from where St Kilda is now at.
Geelong rely on basically the same list they had in 2005. Very mature with age catching up rapidly.
Those older players on our list, such as Milne and Baker are well covered by younger talent who will be snapping at their heels and the heels of others if the others under perform.
This dynasty will continue whilst Riewoldt and Koschitzke continue to be AFL footballers and play in the central attacking positions as they do now.
So the window is well and truly open for the next 5 years.
And my expectation is that we will dominate as we dominated in 2009 - including in the GF.
Why wouldn't we with Lyon and his staff setting the benchmark?
The list has been replenished around its core, class players, Riewoldt, Koschitzke and Hayes who is the oldest at 29 years of age.
Plus we have the likes of McEvoy, Stanley, Steven, Lynch and Armitage ripe to introduce in 2010 - along with Lovett and Peake who they traded for.
Compare Geelong's 2005 list and you see a marked difference from where St Kilda is now at.
Geelong rely on basically the same list they had in 2005. Very mature with age catching up rapidly.
Those older players on our list, such as Milne and Baker are well covered by younger talent who will be snapping at their heels and the heels of others if the others under perform.
This dynasty will continue whilst Riewoldt and Koschitzke continue to be AFL footballers and play in the central attacking positions as they do now.
So the window is well and truly open for the next 5 years.
And my expectation is that we will dominate as we dominated in 2009 - including in the GF.
Why wouldn't we with Lyon and his staff setting the benchmark?
- On the Bench
- Club Player
- Posts: 402
- Joined: Sun 20 Nov 2005 10:41pm
- Location: Perth. Where Foxtel has now allowed me to watch my beloved Saints each week.
- Been thanked: 2 times
Hey Ralphy,
you been listening to a little bit too much Leonard Cohen?
I've always loved his music to "slash your wrists".
Yes, the Saints will be the hunted next season.
Yes, other sides will improve phenomenally.
But yes the Saints still have a fantastic line up who have all shown they want to improve, a very impressive and innovative coaching panel that is big enough to admit its errors and are willing to learn.
I think the future is for a very competitive Saints. I can't ask for a lot more.
(But I can wish for a lot more)
you been listening to a little bit too much Leonard Cohen?
I've always loved his music to "slash your wrists".
Yes, the Saints will be the hunted next season.
Yes, other sides will improve phenomenally.
But yes the Saints still have a fantastic line up who have all shown they want to improve, a very impressive and innovative coaching panel that is big enough to admit its errors and are willing to learn.
I think the future is for a very competitive Saints. I can't ask for a lot more.
(But I can wish for a lot more)
I am still hurting from 71;
my gut churns thinking of 97;
2009 was agony,
2010a was a pleasure to watch only to be devastated by 2010 b.
It hurts barracking for the Saints
my gut churns thinking of 97;
2009 was agony,
2010a was a pleasure to watch only to be devastated by 2010 b.
It hurts barracking for the Saints
- saintsRrising
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 30091
- Joined: Mon 15 Mar 2004 11:07am
- Location: Melbourne
- Has thanked: 711 times
- Been thanked: 1233 times
- bobmurray
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 7828
- Joined: Mon 03 Oct 2005 11:08pm
- Location: In the stand at RSEA Park.
- Has thanked: 515 times
- Been thanked: 234 times
We'll have to draft them first...saintsRrising wrote:IMO we have an excellent chance while both Lenny and Roo are at their best.
They are are two elite players and the players that we most rely on.
Whether our "era" extends past this will depend on whether others can emerge as true elite's.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
The list changes for 2025 have begun, always an interesting time for an avid supporter.
- saintsRrising
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 30091
- Joined: Mon 15 Mar 2004 11:07am
- Location: Melbourne
- Has thanked: 711 times
- Been thanked: 1233 times
Re: Twas the last chance to win a grand final for a long tim
I think under Lyon that our gameplan will keep evolving. 2010 Saints will be different than in 2009.ralphsmith wrote:
Opposition teams will analyse the crap out of us over the pre-season and our gameplan will be destroyed. .
We have already seen with Lovett and Peake that pace will be injected..
Flying the World in comfort thanks to FF Points....
- saintnick12
- Club Player
- Posts: 1877
- Joined: Thu 24 Sep 2009 2:08pm
Re: Twas the last chance to win a grand final for a long tim
"Our list is not great"...surely you cannot be serious!! Thats why guys like Max and Luke Ball can be forced out of the team. And why those on the up such as Armitage, Steven, McEvoy, Geary etc get forced back to Sandringham , unable to force their way in, even though they would in most teams.ralphsmith wrote:Yes that's right.
It was the last chance. Everything went right for us this year. Injuries weren't crippling, our game plan was superior, players at the right age.
Opposition teams will analyse the crap out of us over the pre-season and our gameplan will be destroyed. We will be thereabouts for 1 or 2 more years. Then when Riewoldt retires we're finished.
We have good list. It's not elite, it's not great. Just good but when Ross applied the gameplan and discipline it turned us into the best home and away team. With the gameplan ruined after it is studied and countered we will be struggling in many games next year.
That was the last chance to win a flag. Chances come so rarely. SO RARELY.
Hurahh.
What a positive outlook you have. I hope the saints don't get you as our motivational speaker this year. They may as well not even bother turning up...its all over.....
- saintsRrising
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 30091
- Joined: Mon 15 Mar 2004 11:07am
- Location: Melbourne
- Has thanked: 711 times
- Been thanked: 1233 times
Re: Twas the last chance to win a grand final for a long tim
Though while they will try and do this...one thing they will struggle with is the team committment.ralphsmith wrote:Opposition teams will analyse the crap out of us over the pre-season and our gameplan will be destroyed. .
This a BIG reason for the success we had in 2009. Equal committment in 2010 will see us thereabouts again.
Flying the World in comfort thanks to FF Points....
- bobmurray
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 7828
- Joined: Mon 03 Oct 2005 11:08pm
- Location: In the stand at RSEA Park.
- Has thanked: 515 times
- Been thanked: 234 times
I think by the last part of the season and the finals the opposition had already worked us out,it will be very interesting next year,a couple of injuries and it could all come down with a THUD....
You can't rely on the saying .."There is always next year" because it's not specific......
You can't rely on the saying .."There is always next year" because it's not specific......
The list changes for 2025 have begun, always an interesting time for an avid supporter.
If they worked us out and we were still level with 4 minutes to go in a GF after kicking poorly then i think we will continue to be a very good side next year.bobmurray wrote:I think by the last part of the season and the finals the opposition had already worked us out,it will be very interesting next year,a couple of injuries and it could all come down with a THUD....
You can't rely on the saying .."There is always next year" because it's not specific......
-
- SS Life Member
- Posts: 3119
- Joined: Sun 27 Mar 2005 8:29pm
- Has thanked: 9 times
- Been thanked: 66 times
Re: Twas the last chance to win a grand final for a long tim
I agree that flags are hard to come by however I don't agree with your reasons as to why we are gawn.ralphsmith wrote:Yes that's right.
It was the last chance. Everything went right for us this year. Injuries weren't crippling, our game plan was superior, players at the right age.
Opposition teams will analyse the crap out of us over the pre-season and our gameplan will be destroyed. We will be thereabouts for 1 or 2 more years. Then when Riewoldt retires we're finished.
We have good list. It's not elite, it's not great. Just good but when Ross applied the gameplan and discipline it turned us into the best home and away team. With the gameplan ruined after it is studied and countered we will be struggling in many games next year.
That was the last chance to win a flag. Chances come so rarely. SO RARELY.
Hurahh.
From the time David Misson took over the fitness at Sydney the Swans have been in the top 4 every year for the least players used, and even after he left they are still having very few soft tissue injuries... I don't think his influence on them was just coincidence. I assume he'll have similar results with us.
As for the game plan I believe that the only way to beat us is to out pressure us with pace and precision kicking. Study it all you like I don't think it matters.
Our game plan is so successful because of what we do when we don't have the ball. We zone, pressure and tackle sides into turning the ball over then we attack with precision (with the exception of 3 games). The sides that troubled us were the ones that took risks and kicked with precision. Essendon and the Roos beat us in the midst of a tappered training regime that left us vulnerable as we didn't have the fitness to apply our game plan effectively. As for the GF we kicked ourselves out of it. The game plan stood up IMO, our nerves under pressure didn't.
Not to mention the fact that Ross will iron out any obvious defiencies in our game plan, and I'm sure he'll tweak a thing or two, to make sure we're not too predictable for our oppositions next year
Also the Cats actually won it, so while clubs will be paying close scrutiny to our game plan, the Cats are still the bench mark.
The age and experience of our players will not be effected next year IMO. I believe that with the extra year we'll improve. The only possible issue could be our aging ruck stocks, yet McAvoy showed that he was more than capable at stepping up, especially with the extra preseason under his belt.
I truly believe we'll be a genuine flag threat for at least the next 2-3 years, the only thing standing in our way will be serious injury, but that's the case with any club. Anyway as mention above Misson will take care of that.
Last edited by Leo.J on Sat 17 Oct 2009 2:47pm, edited 2 times in total.
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 6043
- Joined: Mon 21 May 2007 5:31pm
- Location: Currumbin, Quoinslairnd
Re: Twas the last chance to win a grand final for a long tim
So a la Geelong '09 perhaps in '10 things won't come so easily and we'll be better for it.ralphsmith wrote:Yes that's right.
It was the last chance. Everything went right for us this year. Injuries weren't crippling, our game plan was superior, players at the right age.
Opposition teams will analyse the crap out of us over the pre-season and our gameplan will be destroyed. We will be thereabouts for 1 or 2 more years. Then when Riewoldt retires we're finished.
We have good list. It's not elite, it's not great. Just good but when Ross applied the gameplan and discipline it turned us into the best home and away team. With the gameplan ruined after it is studied and countered we will be struggling in many games next year.
That was the last chance to win a flag. Chances come so rarely. SO RARELY.
Hurahh.
Chin up, fella.
Don't want you tripping over that doodums bottom lip of yours.
"The inches we need are everywhere around us. They're in every break in the game. Every minute, every second. On this team we fight for that inch. On this team we tear ourselves and everyone around us to pieces for that inch. We claw with our fingernails for that inch. Because we know when we add up all those inches that's gonna make the f***in' difference between winning and losing! Between living and dying!'
- saintnick12
- Club Player
- Posts: 1877
- Joined: Thu 24 Sep 2009 2:08pm
Re: Twas the last chance to win a grand final for a long tim
Well said Leo.JLeo.J wrote:I agree that flags are hard to come by however I don't agree with your reasons as to why we are gawn.ralphsmith wrote:Yes that's right.
It was the last chance. Everything went right for us this year. Injuries weren't crippling, our game plan was superior, players at the right age.
Opposition teams will analyse the crap out of us over the pre-season and our gameplan will be destroyed. We will be thereabouts for 1 or 2 more years. Then when Riewoldt retires we're finished.
We have good list. It's not elite, it's not great. Just good but when Ross applied the gameplan and discipline it turned us into the best home and away team. With the gameplan ruined after it is studied and countered we will be struggling in many games next year.
That was the last chance to win a flag. Chances come so rarely. SO RARELY.
Hurahh.
From the time David Misson took over the fitness at Sydney the Swans have been in the top 4 every year for the least players used, and even after he left they are still having very few soft tissue injuries... I don't think his influence on them was just coincidence. I assume he'll have similar results with us.
As for the game plan I believe that the only way to beat us is to out pressure us with pace and precision kicking. Study it all you like I don't think it matters.
Our game plan is so successful because of what we do when we don't have the ball. We zone, pressure and tackle sides into turning the ball over then we attack with precision (with the exception of 3 games). The sides that troubled us were the ones that took risks and kicked with precision. Essendon and the Roos beat us in the midst of a tappered training regime that left us vulnerable as we didn't have the fitness to apply our game plan effectively. As for the GF we kicked ourselves out of it. The game plan stood up IMO, our nerves under pressure didn't.
Not to mention the fact that Ross will iron out any obvious defiencies in our game plan, and I'm sure he'll tweak a thing or two, to make sure we're not too predictable for our oppositions next year
Also the Cats actually won it, so while clubs will be paying close scrutiny to our game plan, the Cats are still the bench mark.
The age and experience of our players will not be effected next year IMO. I believe that with the extra year we'll improve. The only possible issue could be our aging ruck stocks, yet McAvoy showed that he was more than capable at stepping up, especially with the extra preseason under his belt.
I truly believe we'll be a genuine flag threat for at least the next 2-3 years, the only thing standing in our way will be serious injury, but that's the case with any club. Anyway as mention above Misson will take care of that.
The hurt should spur these guys on for success. They seemed determined as anything at the start of the season when we really had nothing to prove...imagine them now. They now know what it's like to lose a GF and they will never want to experience that pain again. I got faith that they'll come through. As Geelong did for what happened in 2008.
Well thats it.
there is no hope of a flag for years according to ralphsmith.
We may as well all save our money and not get memberships next season...or the one after that.....or the one after that......
Fair dinkum - what a pathetic mentality![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
there is no hope of a flag for years according to ralphsmith.
We may as well all save our money and not get memberships next season...or the one after that.....or the one after that......
Fair dinkum - what a pathetic mentality
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
Lance or James??
There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, "Enough is enough." For me, that time is now. I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in <redacted>. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a <redacted>investigation followed by <redacted> witch hunt. The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for <redacted>and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense. (Oops just got a spontaneous errection <unredacted>)
There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, "Enough is enough." For me, that time is now. I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in <redacted>. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a <redacted>investigation followed by <redacted> witch hunt. The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for <redacted>and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense. (Oops just got a spontaneous errection <unredacted>)
-
- SS Life Member
- Posts: 3119
- Joined: Sun 27 Mar 2005 8:29pm
- Has thanked: 9 times
- Been thanked: 66 times
Just as uplifting as your signature...joffaboy wrote:Well thats it.
there is no hope of a flag for years according to ralphsmith.
We may as well all save our money and not get memberships next season...or the one after that.....or the one after that......
Fair dinkum - what a pathetic mentality
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Last edited by Leo.J on Sat 17 Oct 2009 3:18pm, edited 1 time in total.
Yes owned by Brian Waldron. No good on wet tracks so may struggle over the 2000 metres today but it isnt pathetic. It has won over $2 million.joffaboy wrote:Well thats it.
there is no hope of a flag for years according to ralphsmith.
We may as well all save our money and not get memberships next season...or the one after that.....or the one after that......
Fair dinkum - what a pathetic mentality
- bobmurray
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 7828
- Joined: Mon 03 Oct 2005 11:08pm
- Location: In the stand at RSEA Park.
- Has thanked: 515 times
- Been thanked: 234 times
does that mean he's a cabbage......joffaboy wrote:Well thats it.
there is no hope of a flag for years according to ralphsmith.
We may as well all save our money and not get memberships next season...or the one after that.....or the one after that......
Fair dinkum - what a pathetic mentality
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
The list changes for 2025 have begun, always an interesting time for an avid supporter.
draw your own conclusions....to you argee with his idiocy?bobmurray wrote:does that mean he's a cabbage......joffaboy wrote:Well thats it.
there is no hope of a flag for years according to ralphsmith.
We may as well all save our money and not get memberships next season...or the one after that.....or the one after that......
Fair dinkum - what a pathetic mentality
Lance or James??
There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, "Enough is enough." For me, that time is now. I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in <redacted>. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a <redacted>investigation followed by <redacted> witch hunt. The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for <redacted>and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense. (Oops just got a spontaneous errection <unredacted>)
There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, "Enough is enough." For me, that time is now. I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in <redacted>. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a <redacted>investigation followed by <redacted> witch hunt. The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for <redacted>and on me leads me to where I am today – finished with this nonsense. (Oops just got a spontaneous errection <unredacted>)