rohan and history write us off for 2011

[stinger]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/a ... 1eear.html


"The lesson is that if you're not in the eight by now, you're going to struggle to get there at all. In eight of the past nine AFL seasons, the top eight come mid-May has changed by no more than one team.'

[stevie]

This argument isn't relevant now there's a bye involved.

[GrumpyOne]

This argument isn't relevant now there's a bye involved.

Only to change the timing from mid-May to end-May IMO.

[saintspremiers]

This argument isn't relevant now there's a bye involved.

Yes you are correct.

Add about a month though, make it the June rule, and we will still most likely be farked!

[Beno88]

Fortunately we've been good at rising up throughout a season over the last decade...

May 2005 - 9th. Finished 3rd.
May 2006 - 10th. Finished 8th.
May 2007 - 13th. Finished 9th.
May 2008 - 10th. Finished 4th.
May 2010 - 5th. Finished 2nd.

Only in 2004 and 2009 have we finished lower than what we were in May. And even then it was only 1 and 2 positions lower.

[saintspremiers]

Fortunately we've been good at rising up throughout a season over the last decade...

May 2005 - 9th. Finished 3rd.
May 2006 - 10th. Finished 8th.
May 2007 - 13th. Finished 9th.
May 2008 - 10th. Finished 4th.
May 2010 - 5th. Finished 2nd.

Only in 2004 and 2009 have we finished lower than what we were in May. And even then it was only 1 and 2 positions lower.

We are 14th now.

Need to move up only 10 spots to be a realistic flag chance.

Easy!

[Animal Enclosure]

Fortunately we've been good at rising up throughout a season over the last decade...

May 2005 - 9th. Finished 3rd.
May 2006 - 10th. Finished 8th.
May 2007 - 13th. Finished 9th.
May 2008 - 10th. Finished 4th.
May 2010 - 5th. Finished 2nd.

Only in 2004 and 2009 have we finished lower than what we were in May. And even then it was only 1 and 2 positions lower.

We are 14th now.

Need to move up only 10 spots to be a realistic flag chance.

Easy!

Sneak into the 8 in top form & we will scare the shite out of every other side (including the pre-annoited 2011 premiers).

Top 4 is no doubt an advantage but with so many sides of around about the same quality at present, there won't be much that separates 3rd to 8th. Playing interstate of course makes things more challenging but we've beaten every side interstate over the past few years (excluding Port & it's safe to say they won't be getting a home final).

Keep getting games into the kids but all is not lost.

[dcstkfc]

Playing interstate of course makes things more challenging but we've beaten every side interstate over the past few years (excluding Port & it's safe to say they won't be getting a home final).

Not to mention we beat them at AAMI in Round 5 2009

[Moods]

Fortunately we've been good at rising up throughout a season over the last decade...

May 2005 - 9th. Finished 3rd.
May 2006 - 10th. Finished 8th.
May 2007 - 13th. Finished 9th.
May 2008 - 10th. Finished 4th.
May 2010 - 5th. Finished 2nd.

Only in 2004 and 2009 have we finished lower than what we were in May. And even then it was only 1 and 2 positions lower.

We actually finished 6th in 2006 with I think 14 or 15 wins - lost that final to the dees and the doggies (who finished 8th) beat the pies in their final, so the ladder after finals had us finishing 8th.

[Animal Enclosure]

Playing interstate of course makes things more challenging but we've beaten every side interstate over the past few years (excluding Port & it's safe to say they won't be getting a home final).

Not to mention we beat them at AAMI in Round 5 2009

Fair point

[Thinline]

Anything blow fifth is a rebuild opportunity wasted.

History doesn't lie.

[clarky449]

Fortunately we've been good at rising up throughout a season over the last decade...

May 2005 - 9th. Finished 3rd.
May 2006 - 10th. Finished 8th.
May 2007 - 13th. Finished 9th.
May 2008 - 10th. Finished 4th.
May 2010 - 5th. Finished 2nd.

Only in 2004 and 2009 have we finished lower than what we were in May. And even then it was only 1 and 2 positions lower.

We actually finished 6th in 2006 with I think 14 or 15 wins - lost that final to the dees and the doggies (who finished 8th) beat the pies in their final, so the ladder after finals had us finishing 8th.

Finals calculations i think had us finished at 8

[spert]

I reckon RL has written this year off already and will spend the season trying new players and trying to re-jig his gameplan..sorry if it sounds a bit downbeat, but we needed to show some spark and winning ways weeks ago.

[Cairnsman]

I reckon RL has written this year off already and will spend the season trying new players and trying to re-jig his gameplan..sorry if it sounds a bit downbeat, but we needed to show some spark and winning ways weeks ago.

Yep. Any thoughts RL would have of premiership glory for 2011 would surely follow a similar script to Miracle on Ice.

[Dr Spaceman]

I reckon RL has written this year off already and will spend the season trying new players and trying to re-jig his gameplan..sorry if it sounds a bit downbeat, but we needed to show some spark and winning ways weeks ago.

I don't reckon he's written it off as such, but I do think he's taking the approach that he'll try a few things, try a few kids and whatever happens happens.

I still think he and the team will be trying to win each game from here on in.

[GrumpyOne]

Anything blow fifth is a rebuild opportunity wasted.

History doesn't lie.

It would be appalling to blow fifth.

Could be worse..... we could be talking Collingwood.

[Thinline]

Anything blow fifth is a rebuild opportunity wasted.

History doesn't lie.

It would be appalling to blow fifth.

Could be worse..... we could be talking Collingwood.

Erm... bElow fifth...oops...

[Cairnsman]

Anything blow fifth is a rebuild opportunity wasted.

History doesn't lie.

It would be appalling to blow fifth.

Could be worse..... we could be talking Collingwood.

Erm... bElow fifth...oops...

with the exception of 1997

[kosifantutti23]

Sheahan wrote us off in 2008 during May as well.

http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/mike ... ht_settles

Of those below Carlton, St Kilda, a premiership contender for so many of us 10 weeks ago, is playing more like a wooden-spoon chance.

The Saints have lost three of their past four, and didn’t deserve their three-point win over Richmond.

Coach Ross Lyon ripped into his players after yesterday’s lamentable performance in Brisbane, but, regardless of the message, how does a team that has won four of nine go on to win eight of the remaining 13?

With the Bulldogs, Sydney (in Sydney), the Kangaroos and Hawthorn to come in the next six rounds.

Who knows what’s wrong with this group, other than the output doesn’t match the hype attached to so many of them.

Nick Riewoldt looks like Tutankhamen and is playing with similar flexibility. Eight games, 17 goals; nowhere near enough impact for such a great athlete, such a vital player.

He should throw all the bandages and tape away and let his spirit free.

Robert Harvey remains the role model at this club, and he’s nearly as old as the coach.

[thejiggingsaint]

I'm taking it one game at a time myself and lets see how we end up in September. (mind you, I've not booked any holidays for that month! )

[bozza1980]

Fortunately we've been good at rising up throughout a season over the last decade...

May 2005 - 9th. Finished 3rd.
May 2006 - 10th. Finished 8th.
May 2007 - 13th. Finished 9th.
May 2008 - 10th. Finished 4th.
May 2010 - 5th. Finished 2nd.

Only in 2004 and 2009 have we finished lower than what we were in May. And even then it was only 1 and 2 positions lower.

We actually finished 6th in 2006 with I think 14 or 15 wins - lost that final to the dees and the doggies (who finished 8th) beat the pies in their final, so the ladder after finals had us finishing 8th.

Further we actually finished level on points with 4th, finished 6th on percentage; before capitulating under the weight of injuries in the second half of our elim final against melbourne and were credited with an 8th place finish.

[gringo]

I actually believe that it is a bizarre season and is hard to measure against others. If ever there was a time for a team to win the flag from outside the top 4 it is this one. There are 2 current teams dominating, a couple of injuries to key players and the board opens up. There is genuine talent being pushed hard by up and coming teams, even losing teams are often not getting flogged. Teams like the Saints and Bulldogs could legitimately finish 8th and still push all involved all the way, same with Hawks and even Sydney. Teams like West Coast and Richmond who have floundered for a few years could legitimately finish in the top 8 and only make up numbers but if a few older teams with wily old heads scrape in they could upset a few. Say we met Geelong after finishing in 8th spot, who's to say with that kind of last chance for redemption we couldn't knock them off then who knows. You have to be there to have a go. Don't write us off, the second half of the season we could legitimately win a series of consecutive games and come home hard.

[plugger66]

I actually believe that it is a bizarre season and is hard to measure against others. If ever there was a time for a team to win the flag from outside the top 4 it is this one. There are 2 current teams dominating, a couple of injuries to key players and the board opens up. There is genuine talent being pushed hard by up and coming teams, even losing teams are often not getting flogged. Teams like the Saints and Bulldogs could legitimately finish 8th and still push all involved all the way, same with Hawks and even Sydney. Teams like West Coast and Richmond who have floundered for a few years could legitimately finish in the top 8 and only make up numbers but if a few older teams with wily old heads scrape in they could upset a few. Say we met Geelong after finishing in 8th spot, who's to say with that kind of last chance for redemption we couldn't knock them off then who knows. You have to be there to have a go. Don't write us off, the second half of the season we could legitimately win a series of consecutive games and come home hard.

Do you really think Geelong will finish fifth?

[gringo]

Well take Geelong and replace it with Carlton or Sydney and then maybe it will be more factually accurate based on an assumptive prediction.

[BakesFan]

If The Saints make the finals..... and I believe we're still a good chance.... we will probably arrive there fresher and with more blooded youth than any other team......

..I'd love to see us win it from 8th and turn the Footy World on its head!....


...the only bad thing...... you'll see Dimwit pushing for a 9 team Finals series as a result.