2009 - Now ?

[Trunch]

St Kilda 08,09,10 and now

I believe Ross Lyon is a very good coach and has squeezed everything out of this group.

He built a game plan around solid team defence, which requires a high level of discipline from every player on the ground. It relies on contested possession, lots of stoppages and a high tackle count. It supports good honest players. A player does not need to be a highly skilled footballer to play his role in this setup. Given the list of players Ross has both inherited and traded for this plan was ideal.

Trouble is…..times have changed.

2009 this team was the innovator of the competition. The problem now is that our template and example has become the standard across the AFL. The point of difference is now speed both of foot and ball movement. Our list is not built for this or any game plan that requires speed of ball movement or speed of foot.

Good honest players the excelled in 08,09 and 2010 are now being exposed.
With the importance of high quality and accurate disposal now, to cut through an opposition press our side is well below standard.

Weather it be in field kicking or shots at goal we have to many players that are simply not skilled enough.

Gilbert, Dawson, Baker, Blake, Jones, Schneider, Gram, McQualter, Dempster, Riewoldt, Milne and Armitage are all average or less than average kicks of the footy.

Of tonight’s side that leaves Fisher, Dal Santo, Montagna, Gwilt and Goddard as the only blokes that can kick. (Jury out on Cripps, Smith, Steven and Johnson)

I like Ross Lyon and believe him to be an exceptional thinker and teacher of the game. This club needs stability and talk of change at the top would be ridiculous. I hope the club and members support him as we look to rebound and re invent our list and game plan in the future.

I think a tilt at the flag is gone now with this current group. They were brave and gave it their all. Lets look forward to seeing what Smith, Cripps, Johnson etc can do this year.

Shattered as I write this but we must stay strong, loyal and look forward.

[Royston]

Good post.

Lyon has done a tremendous job and his chosen game style was shaped around the abilities (many modest) of the list.

Agree that the game has moved forward and many of our players don't have the necessary skills/ability to have an impact.

Can't question the committment of guys like Baker, Dempster, Jones & McQualter but they need to be moved aside so some younger players who may or may not have the skills and ability to move us forward. But we won't know if we don't try them and at the moment there is nothing to lose.

[battye]

Trunch, great post. You've put so eloquently what I couldn't find the words to say. The painful part of this is if we are going to be a genuine premiership threat it will have to be in a couple of years time. I can't see RL managing to find enough talented youngsters and get them experienced in time for a tilt at the flag next year - let alone implement a brand new game plan, which as you say is required as the game has moved beyond Saints Footy, in that time.

[MCG-Unit]

Good post. Regarding the poor disposers of the ball - Dawson and Blake normally run at 80-90% efficiency - I'll just about give you the rest though

[saintsRrising]

Good post. Regarding the poor disposers of the ball - Dawson and Blake normally run at 80-90% efficiency - I'll just about give you the rest though

Don't be fooled by high efficiency gained from cheap kicks backwards and sideways to players in open spaces.

[MCG-Unit]

Good post. Regarding the poor disposers of the ball - Dawson and Blake normally run at 80-90% efficiency - I'll just about give you the rest though

Don't be fooled by high efficiency gained from cheap kicks backwards and sideways to players in open spaces.

Yes I was quite aware of that, I had written it and edited the comment.
Still they kick to where they're told, following the coach's game plan I guess.........
Dawson is a decent long kick, but I don't think he's allowed to

[AdelaideSainter]

Great opening post.

[The Fireman]

good post OP and totally agree.