Say it Richo - we need Rooey for another 3 years

[saintspremiers]

No Roo, no St Kilda.

We are a joke between CHB and CHF. That's why we can't score - crap delivery. And also why our backline cops way too many consecutive defensive 50 entries.

All Richo needs for his master plan to work is to preserve Roo so he can play until the end of 2020.

After that maybe another rebuild if the flag isn't in the bag?

[carn_sainter]

We need Roo not for his on-field output, but for his on-field leadership.

We had none against Adelaide and the evidence on this year, as damning an accusation as this is, is that we are all too often a team of downhill skiers. It's not about laying massive tackles or kicking 60m goals, what we don't have are enough players willing to show the initiative to try and break the game open.

Initiative. We're not showing it. Too many of our players keep banging their head against the wall when things aren't working and very few try to initiate something else. It's been a long time since we've shown very much risk taking, dare or otherwise gutsy play. The players are on psychological tram tracks. Even Roberton, excellent as he has been, has basically stopped taking risks.

Acres can, Ross can. Who else? Which player is showing some leadership in our forward structure or through the middle of the ground?

[Con Gorozidis]

Roo isn't going to save us.
He is on his last legs.

[BigMart]

Last leg

One is already done

[ralphsmith]

We looked absolutely leaderless against the crows.

Cameron Ling was spoton when he said there is no player In that team, other than possiby mccartin, who could inspire something. Mccartin has the capability to explode a game open, a bit like Gherig. Hasnt done it yet, but is possible.

Nobody else in the team can do it. Riewoldt has literally held this club up for 12 years.

[Sainternist]

Cameron Ling was spoton when he said there is no player In that team, other than possiby mccartin, who could inspire something. Mccartin has the capability to explode a game open, a bit like Gherig. Hasnt done it yet, but is possible.

That was possibly the most astute observation I had heard Ling make. The problem is that it is still merely just a hypothetical.

[kalsaint]

We looked absolutely leaderless against the crows.

Cameron Ling was spoton when he said there is no player In that team, other than possiby mccartin, who could inspire something. Mccartin has the capability to explode a game open, a bit like Gherig. Hasnt done it yet, but is possible.

Nobody else in the team can do it. Riewoldt has literally held this club up for 12 years.

It appeared as an observer that no strong leadership occurred to ensure players stuck to the game plan.

Management is about setting the goals and the game plan (Richos part).

Leadership on the ground is about stoking the fire to motivate the team for change when it seems obvious that the team is not meeting the goals. You can do this in many ways.

I wouldn't say Riewoldt held the club together for that long given our many mature players in 2007-2011. Roo he has been the glue to inspire the team. Its him who has had to make the right decisions, communicate what's necessary to meet goals, shows the vision, provides the effort and guts that exemplifies the needed performance level to make change, assigns roles when needed, provides quick feedback when players get off track and consult with the coaching team on changes.

This was definitely missing as Richo identified the teams past conservative approach in the pre game interview. He alluded that this was addressed pre game. Go figure, after qtr 1 was completed!?

Roo would have gone to the back line if needed for this. Geary needed to at least go to the midfield to ensure the coaches and his own messages were not missed. It didn't happen. After 4 goals the changes should have been ringing from the coaches box, the captain and the leadership group. I hope the team have a real good chat about this factor in the game review, its critical that someone takes command of the situation rather than keep repeating the same mistakes.

Now qtr2 was noticeable that some change in the team positioning had occurred. Did it change things? We got an extra 2 points for the quarter but the same key problems still existed. More was needed on effort in that quarter as Adelaide just ran harder to create opportunity that the Saints couldn't achieve.

Forwards were mobile and not the issue but delivery and basic skill execution even when not under direct pressure is still a major concern to me. We are now another game short by our percentage lost. We need to become flat track bullies quickly and lift the pressure to critical against top 8 teams too.

[Con Gorozidis]

On what basis - apart from being the number 1 pick - does McCartin have the capability to 'explode'?

Gehrig was All-Australian in his 3rd season. He was 3 x faster than Paddy and ended up about 5 x as strong. He was also taller. An absolute physical beast. A tremendous athlete.

Either way if anyone thinks a 35 year old one legged Roo is going to save us they really are gasping for hope.

[saintspremiers]

On what basis - apart from being the number 1 pick - does McCartin have the capability to 'explode'?

Gehrig was All-Australian in his 3rd season. He was 3 x faster than Paddy and ended up about 5 x as strong. He was also taller. An absolute physical beast/

Either way if anyone thinks a 35 year old one legged Roo is going to save us they really are gasping for hope.

Too true. Paddy will never be at The Train's level sadly.

Roo was rushed back too quickly after his hyper extension due to Richo's gameplan requirements.

Roo is a freak and I back him to save us from this dire predicament we could be in if he doesn't come good again.

It's Roo or bust IMO

[Johnny Member]

On what basis - apart from being the number 1 pick - does McCartin have the capability to 'explode'?

Gehrig was All-Australian in his 3rd season. He was 3 x faster than Paddy and ended up about 5 x as strong. He was also taller. An absolute physical beast/

Either way if anyone thinks a 35 year old one legged Roo is going to save us they really are gasping for hope.

McCartin was the best player at his age in the country.

He's a really good footballer.


In addition to that, he was really good at playing football as a forward.

He knows how to mark, how to lead and how to kick goals.


He wasn't recruited because of his size. Because he's not really that big.


There seems to be a bit of myth that he was recruited merely because he's big and everyone has their fingers crossed that he'll magically become a footballer. He was a very good footballer that also happened to be big.

From an article back in June 2014:

1: Patrick McCartin (194cm, Geelong Falcons): Pace (tick) hands (tick) strength (tick) kicking (tick), McCartin covers the required bases for a key forward.


Obviously the difference is when you hit the big league, is that you're not playing on 17yo defenders anymore. You're playing on men, and in McCartin's case - All-Australian men!

He's not a physical freak. And he's not in fantastic shape. But he's a really good footballer that is playing on guys fitter, bigger and stronger than him every week.

We saw in the VFL when up against someone of a lesser standard, he potted 7. He can play. It's not his ability that's holding him back.


Whether he 'explodes' or not is a different question - as these days a key forward kicking 4 every week simply doesn't happen. So people's expectations need to be managed in this regard. But will be one of the top 1-3 forwards in the comp in the short-medium future? Yes, in my opinion.

The moment his body catches up to his ability and catches up to the guys that are playing on him, he'll be worth millions.