Midfield still a worry
Moderators: Saintsational Administrators, Saintsational Moderators
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4882
- Joined: Fri 05 Jun 2009 3:05pm
- Has thanked: 327 times
- Been thanked: 465 times
Midfield still a worry
One player got close to 30 possessions (Ross had 29)
The rest got under 20. Just not good enough. Billings is turning into a massive disappointment. Too many of them go missing. Clearance were a huge improvement, but in the end we really struggled to transition the ball up the ground. And when we do get it we are often butchering it. Our fwds did well to convert inside 50's into scores - albeit often inaccurately.
This game was a bitter pill to swallow. we had them, if not for some 'once in a season poor umpiring' and a complete lack of composure when we needed it we could have snuk a win.
Are we fit enough or are we putting huge efforts throughout the game which is causing us to run out of puff?
The rest got under 20. Just not good enough. Billings is turning into a massive disappointment. Too many of them go missing. Clearance were a huge improvement, but in the end we really struggled to transition the ball up the ground. And when we do get it we are often butchering it. Our fwds did well to convert inside 50's into scores - albeit often inaccurately.
This game was a bitter pill to swallow. we had them, if not for some 'once in a season poor umpiring' and a complete lack of composure when we needed it we could have snuk a win.
Are we fit enough or are we putting huge efforts throughout the game which is causing us to run out of puff?
- Statsman
- Club Player
- Posts: 1775
- Joined: Tue 09 Mar 2004 12:46pm
- Location: Aisle 37, Level 1, Telstra Dome
Re: Midfield still a worry
Too many one paced midfielders without enough polish. This won't be the midfield that wins our next flag. To improve we need to recruit 2-3 gun free agent midfielders.
"Ask not what your teammates can do for you. Ask what you can do for your teammates." - Earvin 'Magic' Johnson
- Con Gorozidis
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 23532
- Joined: Thu 19 Jun 2008 4:04pm
- Has thanked: 100 times
- Been thanked: 78 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
Dunstan did his usual.
Played 2 good quarters.
Got me thinking he was ok.
Then was completely cooked.
Must be the worst runner in the AFL.
Was absolutely cooked in the last.
Can never crack 20 disposals because he is such a terrible runner.
Played 2 good quarters.
Got me thinking he was ok.
Then was completely cooked.
Must be the worst runner in the AFL.
Was absolutely cooked in the last.
Can never crack 20 disposals because he is such a terrible runner.
- Impatient Sainter
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4089
- Joined: Tue 05 Apr 2016 3:30pm
- Has thanked: 2622 times
- Been thanked: 1077 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
See this is where Ross freaks me out. He had 29? And yet for some reason I barely noticed him. I think because he doesn't make a lot of big plays. You do need the accumlator types but I still question how damaging he is with it.
- Statsman
- Club Player
- Posts: 1775
- Joined: Tue 09 Mar 2004 12:46pm
- Location: Aisle 37, Level 1, Telstra Dome
Re: Midfield still a worry
Other than Steven, we don't really have a damaging midfielder.
"Ask not what your teammates can do for you. Ask what you can do for your teammates." - Earvin 'Magic' Johnson
-
- SS Life Member
- Posts: 2841
- Joined: Fri 23 Sep 2011 4:24pm
- Location: Australia
- Has thanked: 774 times
- Been thanked: 871 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
Bluthy wrote:See this is where Ross freaks me out. He had 29? And yet for some reason I barely noticed him. I think because he doesn't make a lot of big plays. You do need the accumlator types but I still question how damaging he is with it.
You barely noticed him? Very noticeable with his new Gomer Pyle haircut and was a noticeable standout. If you watched, rather than listened, to the game.
Saint supporter since '62
Re: Midfield still a worry
Steven was pretty average
Ross was excellent
Dunstan was Dunstan... just not enough ball, through out the game
Ross was excellent
Dunstan was Dunstan... just not enough ball, through out the game
-
- SS Life Member
- Posts: 3856
- Joined: Fri 16 Sep 2011 2:41pm
- Has thanked: 419 times
- Been thanked: 237 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
Really? I thought he was very good tonight, and it was even more noticeable to me how much he got it because I thought last week he had a shocker.Bluthy wrote:See this is where Ross freaks me out. He had 29? And yet for some reason I barely noticed him. I think because he doesn't make a lot of big plays. You do need the accumlator types but I still question how damaging he is with it.
But Newnes is worrying me, I just don't think he's 100% fit.
Always loyal
- desertsaint
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 10404
- Joined: Sun 27 Apr 2008 2:02pm
- Location: out there
- Has thanked: 186 times
- Been thanked: 701 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
i think you watch dunstan with one eye. watch the game again and have a look how involved he is, and the smart little touches he adds that don't get recorded. was very good tonight.Con Gorozidis wrote:Dunstan did his usual.
Played 2 good quarters.
Got me thinking he was ok.
Then was completely cooked.
Must be the worst runner in the AFL.
Was absolutely cooked in the last.
Can never crack 20 disposals because he is such a terrible runner.
"The starting point of all achievement is desire. "
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4882
- Joined: Fri 05 Jun 2009 3:05pm
- Has thanked: 327 times
- Been thanked: 465 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
Personally I didn't think one mid was in our best 5 players. Ross maybe 5th best. Mids should be your best players. The amazing thing is, we still could have and should have won the game, save some awful unpiring and a bit more composure.
I look at Sam Mitchell tonight. Almost every possession set something up. I reckon he would have had 6 goal assists. If you're going to have 20 possesions then make them count. Too many nothing possessions for mine or butchered kicks.
I look at Sam Mitchell tonight. Almost every possession set something up. I reckon he would have had 6 goal assists. If you're going to have 20 possesions then make them count. Too many nothing possessions for mine or butchered kicks.
- Con Gorozidis
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 23532
- Joined: Thu 19 Jun 2008 4:04pm
- Has thanked: 100 times
- Been thanked: 78 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
Thats what I am saying. He was bloody brilliant at times. Brilliant. Like a star player. Dusty Martin like.desertsaint wrote:i think you watch dunstan with one eye. watch the game again and have a look how involved he is, and the smart little touches he adds that don't get recorded. was very good tonight.Con Gorozidis wrote:Dunstan did his usual.
Played 2 good quarters.
Got me thinking he was ok.
Then was completely cooked.
Must be the worst runner in the AFL.
Was absolutely cooked in the last.
Can never crack 20 disposals because he is such a terrible runner.
The trouble is Dusty was averaging 25 disposals at the same age as Luke. Luke always gets stuck in the teens.
He cant get up to that level because he gets too tired. He couldnt run at all in the last.
He just frustrates me because his best is very good. Very good. But then he ends up the game buggered.
- Con Gorozidis
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 23532
- Joined: Thu 19 Jun 2008 4:04pm
- Has thanked: 100 times
- Been thanked: 78 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
Yep. Steven and Acres kept breaking free from traffic and running out of packs in to the clear - then kicking a grubber or a complete shank. It was bizarre at times.Moods wrote:Personally I didn't think one mid was in our best 5 players. Ross maybe 5th best. Mids should be your best players. The amazing thing is, we still could have and should have won the game, save some awful unpiring and a bit more composure.
I look at Sam Mitchell tonight. Almost every possession set something up. I reckon he would have had 6 goal assists. If you're going to have 20 possesions then make them count. Too many nothing possessions for mine or butchered kicks.
- desertsaint
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 10404
- Joined: Sun 27 Apr 2008 2:02pm
- Location: out there
- Has thanked: 186 times
- Been thanked: 701 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
True, but he wasn't alone, and had worked harder than all bar perhaps ross and steven - i'm starting to think it's more a problem with our conditioning staff.Con Gorozidis wrote:Thats what I am saying. He was bloody brilliant at times. Brilliant. Like a star player. Dusty Martin like.desertsaint wrote:i think you watch dunstan with one eye. watch the game again and have a look how involved he is, and the smart little touches he adds that don't get recorded. was very good tonight.Con Gorozidis wrote:Dunstan did his usual.
Played 2 good quarters.
Got me thinking he was ok.
Then was completely cooked.
Must be the worst runner in the AFL.
Was absolutely cooked in the last.
Can never crack 20 disposals because he is such a terrible runner.
The trouble is Dusty was averaging 25 disposals at the same age as Luke. Luke always gets stuck in the teens.
He cant get up to that level because he gets too tired. He couldnt run at all in the last.
He just frustrates me because his best is very good. Very good. But then he ends up the game buggered.
"The starting point of all achievement is desire. "
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 23010
- Joined: Wed 10 Mar 2004 3:53pm
- Has thanked: 8902 times
- Been thanked: 3883 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
I certainly noticed him.Bluthy wrote:See this is where Ross freaks me out. He had 29? And yet for some reason I barely noticed him. I think because he doesn't make a lot of big plays. You do need the accumlator types but I still question how damaging he is with it.
He was brilliant at times.
Clearly our best player.
Doesn't fumble like a lot of his team mates but needs to improve his goal kicking to be elite.
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4243
- Joined: Thu 25 Mar 2004 2:47pm
- Location: incarnate
- Has thanked: 286 times
- Been thanked: 694 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
I missed the game (we were at the comedy festival --- Daniel Kitson - very good)
But it sounds like our midfield did very well against one of the best in the league?
If we had either kicked straight or got a fair deal from the umpires, we would have won.
Personally, I look forward to D-Mac getting a regular gig
But it sounds like our midfield did very well against one of the best in the league?
If we had either kicked straight or got a fair deal from the umpires, we would have won.
Personally, I look forward to D-Mac getting a regular gig
Nee!
Re: Midfield still a worry
The more Freo play like Lyon has lost the players, the better our chances at Fyfe get. They look full on s*** and have 4 more years of Ross' grinding, depressing style to come. Lyon could still come through for us yet by giving Fyfe a good reason to leave.
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4882
- Joined: Fri 05 Jun 2009 3:05pm
- Has thanked: 327 times
- Been thanked: 465 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
That doesn't necessarily translate to our midfield playing well. They were great in the 1st quarter, but we were beaten and in some quarters beaten quite badly there afterfugazi wrote:I missed the game (we were at the comedy festival --- Daniel Kitson - very good)
But it sounds like our midfield did very well against one of the best in the league?
If we had either kicked straight or got a fair deal from the umpires, we would have won.
Personally, I look forward to D-Mac getting a regular gig
- Devilhead
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 8375
- Joined: Mon 08 Mar 2004 11:56pm
- Has thanked: 137 times
- Been thanked: 1169 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
How the hell did we manage 32 shots on goal if our midfield played shite?Moods wrote:That doesn't necessarily translate to our midfield playing well. They were great in the 1st quarter, but we were beaten and in some quarters beaten quite badly there afterfugazi wrote:I missed the game (we were at the comedy festival --- Daniel Kitson - very good)
But it sounds like our midfield did very well against one of the best in the league?
If we had either kicked straight or got a fair deal from the umpires, we would have won.
Personally, I look forward to D-Mac getting a regular gig
The Devil makes work for idle hands!!!
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4882
- Joined: Fri 05 Jun 2009 3:05pm
- Has thanked: 327 times
- Been thanked: 465 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
Just out of curiosity, who did you think played well? Ross and......?Devilhead wrote:How the hell did we manage 32 shots on goal if our midfield played shite?Moods wrote:That doesn't necessarily translate to our midfield playing well. They were great in the 1st quarter, but we were beaten and in some quarters beaten quite badly there afterfugazi wrote:I missed the game (we were at the comedy festival --- Daniel Kitson - very good)
But it sounds like our midfield did very well against one of the best in the league?
If we had either kicked straight or got a fair deal from the umpires, we would have won.
Personally, I look forward to D-Mac getting a regular gig
- Devilhead
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 8375
- Joined: Mon 08 Mar 2004 11:56pm
- Has thanked: 137 times
- Been thanked: 1169 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
As a team we played well - 32 shots on goal is proof - now answer my questionMoods wrote:Just out of curiosity, who did you think played well? Ross and......?Devilhead wrote:How the hell did we manage 32 shots on goal if our midfield played shite?Moods wrote:That doesn't necessarily translate to our midfield playing well. They were great in the 1st quarter, but we were beaten and in some quarters beaten quite badly there afterfugazi wrote:I missed the game (we were at the comedy festival --- Daniel Kitson - very good)
But it sounds like our midfield did very well against one of the best in the league?
If we had either kicked straight or got a fair deal from the umpires, we would have won.
Personally, I look forward to D-Mac getting a regular gig
The Devil makes work for idle hands!!!
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 18579
- Joined: Thu 11 Mar 2004 1:36am
- Has thanked: 1905 times
- Been thanked: 841 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
Yep. We need him back this week. Also, Gresham and Acres need much more time at the clearances.Statsman wrote:Other than Steven, we don't really have a damaging midfielder.
There's a look of sameness there at the moment ... Dunstan, Ross, Steele, Armo.
All good players (Ross in particular) but not a lot of X-factor, breakaway speed or game-changing impact. I can't see us challenging until we get some real star quality in there to complement Steven and Hickey.
-
- Club Player
- Posts: 1860
- Joined: Thu 01 May 2008 6:30pm
- Location: Mentone
- Has thanked: 17 times
- Been thanked: 263 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
The way the Hawks are going we might get a top 5 pick this year!
One year will be our year
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4882
- Joined: Fri 05 Jun 2009 3:05pm
- Has thanked: 327 times
- Been thanked: 465 times
Re: Midfield still a worry
Midfield still struggled to get their hands on the ball this week. Ross aside we have no-one who is consistently winning the ball like a true mid. Including Ross we had nil run through transition yesterday. Roberton and Savage appear to be the guys that we are giving the ball to to carry it down the ground. Neither are elite decision makers and neither possess tremendous skill. Joey is also playing that role off half back and did well yesterday. We simply have to find mids who can break lines or use the ball at an elite level to assist in breaking the lines.
Further to this, I note that supporters had STEELE in our best players. Maybe I'm expecting too much, but for mine Steele looks too slow. He's constantly looking to handpass. I reckon he's trying to take responsibility off himself. Much easier to handpass it and let someone else stuff it up. He doesn't have great penetration with his kicking either. He is very strong and a great tackler and will have a crack for us. Unfortunately he is typical of where we are at at the moment. Tries very hard but has average skill and average speed.
Further to this, I note that supporters had STEELE in our best players. Maybe I'm expecting too much, but for mine Steele looks too slow. He's constantly looking to handpass. I reckon he's trying to take responsibility off himself. Much easier to handpass it and let someone else stuff it up. He doesn't have great penetration with his kicking either. He is very strong and a great tackler and will have a crack for us. Unfortunately he is typical of where we are at at the moment. Tries very hard but has average skill and average speed.