Who thinks?

The Redeemer · Fri 09 Dec 2011 6:40am

Looking at the draw we are going to do very well in the first half of the year?

That being said are we really a top 4 team?

I can see us being like the Bulldogs next season. We will be around but so obviously not close to winning the thing.

That being said if we get good service from Wilkes and Saad and two draftees we will be in much better position than last season.

Continue with Ledger and Sippy Downs that is 6 out of 22 who essentially are new.

Maybe that is all we need?

Con Gorozidis · Fri 09 Dec 2011 7:30am

i dont think the comp is all its cracked up to be.
if we stay scandal and injury free we will be right in the thick of it.
i did say IF.

clarky449 · Post: # 1181553Post **clarky449** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 7:51am

Dont think we are top 4, im hoping we can sneak into the 8 but have my doubts.

saintspremiers · Fri 09 Dec 2011 8:16am

If all goes well we may make the Prelims.

Ross who? · Post: # 1181557Post **Ross who?** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 8:52am

clarky449 wrote:Dont think we are top 4, im hoping we can sneak into the 8 but have my doubts.

What sort of supporter are you???

How can you possibly say such a thing unless............

LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME KIMMY

joffaboy · Post: # 1181559Post **joffaboy** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 9:16am

saintspremiers wrote:If all goes well we may make the Prelims.

If ALL goes well we will win it.

(All going well means all other top 8 teams have horrific injury runs, we win all the close ones with luck, and we get the equilivent of Port Adelaide 2007 as our GF opponent.).

Otherwise, hoping for a better year than this year, which means we could possibly top four it.

matrix · Post: # 1181561Post **matrix** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 9:21am

im dead certain (imo) we will be a top 5 or 6 side

saintlee · Post: # 1181562Post **saintlee** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 9:48am

Very hard to say where we'll end up. After this year you'd think we will slide, but if some of our core can stay healthy and regain some form, with a few youngsters breaking out, then we could be top 4....

My tip is 4 - 6.

borderbarry · Fri 09 Dec 2011 10:44am

It all comes down to the game pplan. If we have a decent one, and can learn how to kick goals, I dont see why we cant make it to the GF again.

Middo · Post: # 1181570Post **Middo** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 10:50am

Top 4 .....Fresh start new game plan !!

felix · Post: # 1181571Post **felix** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 10:51am

Richmond, Essondon, North Melb, even Melbourne, dare i say Freo , will all be big improvers this year IMO .Saints will need to improve from last year to be in contention for the finals

Dr Spaceman · Fri 09 Dec 2011 10:52am

Middo wrote:Top 4 .....Fresh start new game plan !!

I'm sure that's what the coach and playing group are thinking so that'll do me as well

SainterK · Post: # 1181573Post **SainterK** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 10:53am

I don't know why felix, but I have this feeling North won't make the eight again and their coach will come under pressure.

bigcarl · Post: # 1181574Post **bigcarl** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 10:55am

Middo wrote:Top 4 ..... Fresh start new game plan !!

Yep, I don't see why not.

skeptic · Post: # 1181578Post **skeptic** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 12:20pm

fairly straight forward IMO

Saints are currently an 8-6th side in decline

Our fate will be determined by 2 things,
* the return to more familiar form of Roo, Goddrad and Hayes (though he's injured rather than out of form)

* the devlopment of the kids coming through and either cemementing their own spots in our time for periods of time or forcing players like Peake, Ray, Jones, Polo etc to new levels to keep their own spots

W/O option b), we'll either barely make up numbers in the 8 or continue a rather rapid spiral downwards

Will be a very telling year for the club IMO

Rosco · Post: # 1181581Post **Rosco** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 12:43pm

I think 4 to 6 as well, hopefully hit a preliminary in peak form and give it a shake. Obviously dependent on a lot though. Would love to see saad, Wilkes, cripps, sippa and ledger as regulars, with Stanley playing 8-12 games.

dragit · Post: # 1181583Post **dragit** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 1:07pm

skeptic wrote:fairly straight forward IMO

Saints are currently an 8-6th side in decline

Our fate will be determined by 2 things,
* the return to more familiar form of Roo, Goddrad and Hayes (though he's injured rather than out of form)

* the devlopment of the kids coming through and either cemementing their own spots in our time for periods of time or forcing players like Peake, Ray, Jones, Polo etc to new levels to keep their own spots

W/O option b), we'll either barely make up numbers in the 8 or continue a rather rapid spiral downwards

Will be a very telling year for the club IMO

Agree with you hereâ€¦

I think we'll need to see Ledger/Winmar/Saad improving to the point of pushing out Polo/Ray/Clarke if we are to improve on last year.

Blake will hopefully play his 300th but then also be forced out by the rapid progression of a younger player.

A few weeks ago I was thinking about 9th for us next yearâ€¦ Maybe a little higher now thanks to a good draw and a couple of promising mature age pick-ups, I still think there will be at least 4 better sides than us next year unless something dramatic happens, like Stanley coming of age or a Seb Ross defying first year expectations and playing a Dustin-Martin type first year.

Riewoldt not being able to see out a full season is a massive concern, I think he needs less games throughout the year to preserve his knees for when it countsâ€¦

plugger66 · Post: # 1181603Post **plugger66** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 2:43pm

6th to 10th. Yes a big range but that is because the year revolves around our guns. The young players are the future but 2nd and 3rd year players will have no bearing on where we finish next year. I have given that range due to the ordinary year of Rooy and Lenny not playing. If both play well top 6 is possible and if they dont then the likelyhood of making the 8 is low.

bozza1980 · Post: # 1181605Post **bozza1980** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 2:52pm

I think we are a top 6 side.

Yep, to win it, we will need everything to go right, but you never know.

If we can bank wins early, it opens up our chances to finish top 4 and by extension give ourselves a genuine shot.

But again, we need a lot to go right.

SaintPav · Post: # 1181606Post **SaintPav** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 2:55pm

plugger66 wrote:6th to 10th. Yes a big range but that is because the year revolves around our guns. The young players are the future but 2nd and 3rd year players will have no bearing on where we finish next year. I have given that range due to the ordinary year of Rooy and Lenny not playing. If both play well top 6 is possible and if they dont then the likelyhood of making the 8 is low.

Watters is probably going to play the second and third year players and one or two of the first year players as well so they will have a bearing on how we go one way or another.

SaintPav · Post: # 1181607Post **SaintPav** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 2:59pm

joffaboy wrote:
saintspremiers wrote:If all goes well we may make the Prelims.
If ALL goes well we will win it.

(All going well means all other top 8 teams have horrific injury runs, we win all the close ones with luck, and we get the equilivent of Port Adelaide 2007 as our GF opponent.).

Otherwise, hoping for a better year than this year, which means we could possibly top four it.

We just happened to play Geelong and the Pies who were two very good teams. Why can't we get into the grand final and play St Kilda?

plugger66 · Post: # 1181608Post **plugger66** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 3:06pm

SaintPav wrote:
plugger66 wrote:6th to 10th. Yes a big range but that is because the year revolves around our guns. The young players are the future but 2nd and 3rd year players will have no bearing on where we finish next year. I have given that range due to the ordinary year of Rooy and Lenny not playing. If both play well top 6 is possible and if they dont then the likelyhood of making the 8 is low.
Watters is probably going to play the second and third year players and one or two of the first year players as well so they will have a bearing on how we go one way or another.

Well they may have a bearing but they are likely to be our 15-22nd players on the list. I dont think they will have a bearing in lifting us up the ladder, only down the ladder but as they will replace other Gops I dont think it will matter much at all.

joffaboy · Post: # 1181609Post **joffaboy** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 3:07pm

SaintPav wrote:
joffaboy wrote:
saintspremiers wrote:If all goes well we may make the Prelims.
If ALL goes well we will win it.

(All going well means all other top 8 teams have horrific injury runs, we win all the close ones with luck, and we get the equilivent of Port Adelaide 2007 as our GF opponent.).

Otherwise, hoping for a better year than this year, which means we could possibly top four it.
We just happened to play Geelong and the Pies who were two very good teams. Why can't we get into the grand final and play St Kilda?

lol - they would probably beat us as well

st_Trav_ofWA · Fri 09 Dec 2011 3:08pm

we have got very winnable games early so we could get on a bit of a run early and carry that momentum into the harder mid/end we still got the cattle its just getting the new gameplan to gel and hope Watters game plan will work ... we could finish anywhere next year but one thing is for sure im excited about 2012 ...its got a real fresh feel about it

SaintPav · Post: # 1181611Post **SaintPav** » Fri 09 Dec 2011 3:09pm

plugger66 wrote:
SaintPav wrote:
plugger66 wrote:6th to 10th. Yes a big range but that is because the year revolves around our guns. The young players are the future but 2nd and 3rd year players will have no bearing on where we finish next year. I have given that range due to the ordinary year of Rooy and Lenny not playing. If both play well top 6 is possible and if they dont then the likelyhood of making the 8 is low.
Watters is probably going to play the second and third year players and one or two of the first year players as well so they will have a bearing on how we go one way or another.
Well they may have a bearing but they are likely to be our 15-22nd players on the list. I dont think they will have a bearing in lifting us up the ladder, only down the ladder but as they will replace other Gops I dont think it will matter much at all.

Apart from Winmar, do we actully have any third year players? 08 and 09 drafts were a disaster and we know what that means.