Saints v Swans - Preview / Discussion

[The Redeemer]

Jetta's the most dangerous player in football right now. He's kicked a huge number of his goals as a midfielder running into space. From memory, Dempster drew the matchup last time and did a great job. I'd expect that again. I also think there will be a bunch of head to head matchups. ROK has played all over the place this year and spent a lot of time on Priddis yesterday. He could wind up anywhere from matched up on Lenny to playing loose behind the ball. I don't think we'll tag him though. Jetta, definitely; McVeigh, maybe. I don't think we tag anyone else.

We tag one and that is CJ to Jetta. Perhaps even Joey to Jetta as a bit of a wildcard and make Jetta work the other way.

Bolton will go head to head with Hayes.

McVeigh and Dal.

Goddard and Kennedy (although I do not really buy into Kennedy being the A++++ player that some purport).

On match-ups I believe we should win. Whether that translates into anything though is something completely different.

If Goddard plays in the centre then Dempster becomes an important long kick out. He obviously will not get it as much as Goddard however between him and Gwilt we should get good passage out of the back 50 and a run on.

Sam Reid is back in form so I want to see Sam Fisher go to him as he is a great CHB. Gone are the days where we can have the luxury of a dual AA running around primarily as the loose defender. He is a CHB by trade so shut up and do it.

I believe Rooey can give Richards a bath although he has improved this year. If not Grundy. Either way Rooey is too big, too strong, too fit and too powerful for either of them to go the journey against him. Grundy and Kosi should be a good match-up for the neutrals as both are big boys.

Siposs perhaps goes to ROK and tries to get some effective possession early? I do not think Siposs has the tank or footy smart to last an entire match on an A-grader just yet however both are half-forwards that could push up a little bit further albeit for differing reasons.

[bigred]

This game shapes up to be an absolute ripper IMO.

Definitely winnable.

[saintsRrising]

Not sure that I am completely sold on Farren Ray as a regular, so for mine he's the next out (after Wilkes). Also, if we are sacrificing a Tall marking target (Wilkes) then I'd like to keep another (Dunnell) in as an option so....

I

While Dunnell is 3 cm taller than Ray, Ray is a beautiful and strong mark for his size and in particular overhead. So if marking is your criteria, Ray would have the edge at present.

[Richter]

Not sure that I am completely sold on Farren Ray as a regular, so for mine he's the next out (after Wilkes). Also, if we are sacrificing a Tall marking target (Wilkes) then I'd like to keep another (Dunnell) in as an option so....

I

While Dunnell is 3 cm taller than Ray, Ray is a beautiful and strong mark for his size and in particular overhead. So if marking is your criteria, Ray would have the edge at present.

Yes, but Dunnell offers more up forward, and I don't like the idea of a bloke debuting, having a decent game and getting dropped,straight away. I realize that Ray has been good, but IMO he is the most expendable of the remaining players as BJ and Steven are automatic 'in's.

[bigcarl]

Yes, but Dunnell offers more up forward, and I don't like the idea of a bloke debuting, having a decent game and getting dropped,straight away. I realize that Ray has been good, but IMO he is the most expendable of the remaining players as BJ and Steven are automatic 'in's.

I don't think you can drop Ray this week. He was terrific on Sunday, particularly when the match was up for grabs. Dunell's time will come.

[WinnersOnly]

Farren Ray was up there with Lenny in the last 1/4 last week - it will be a tough call but I wouldn't leave him out of the side after last weeks efforts !

[SainterK]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-ne ... %7C+AFL%29


COACH Scott Watters says St Kilda must break Sydney's stoppage strangle to topple the league leader this weekend.

Watters says the Swans have become exceptional at controlling the flow of games by winning stoppages with huge numbers around each contest, as they did so effectively against West Coast last Sunday.

"What they did over in Perth was pretty impressive,'' Watters told SEN this morning.

"Their numbers around the ball, if you allow them to win stoppages and allow them to play their game, they're very hard to beat.

"You have to be prepared to break that down and really stick to your own game plan.

"They're really good at dragging you into their style of play, so we've got to be very committed to playing the way we want to play this week.

"It's a very big challenge, but we're really looking forward to it.''

The first-year Saints mentor paid tribute to his side's "gritty'' win over an in-form Brisbane at the Gabba, praising veteran small forward Stephen Milne's impact on emerging players such as Ahmed Saad, with the pair combining for seven goals on Saturday night.

"(Milne's) last couple of games have been outstanding,'' Watters said.

"He still kicks the important goals under pressure when you need him to.

"The pressure he takes off Ahmed Saad and Terry Milera when he's been playing and our other small forwards, it's hard to measure but we know it has an impact.

"He's probably leader of that little 'rat pack' now ... they seem to hang together.

"I know Ahmed and Terry in particular hang on every word he says. I think his leadership this year has been terrific.''

The Saints play Sydney on Sunday at the SCG, knowing a loss will demote them from the eight with the logjam of teams around them almost certain to scoot past on the crowded ladder.

[SainterK]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-ne ... 6429190901


SYDNEY'S in-form midfield is hungry to avenge the obliteration it suffered at the hands of its St Kilda counterparts the last time they met.

The ladder-leading Swans have won six games in a row since their Round 9 loss to the Saints at Etihad Stadium in late May.

On that day, St Kilda posted a score of 16.15, the only 100-plus score kicked against the notoriously-miserly Swans' defence this season.

They set up the victory by kicking 11 goals to four in the two middle quarters.

"We got smashed, especially in that second and third quarters," Sydney midfielder Dan Hannebery said today.

"We got absolutely obliterated in the midfield and around the ground.

"They are going to be pretty confident coming up here and matching us.

"They did the last time so we've got a massive task on our hands this week.

"We've improved since then as a side, but I think this week is a good test of how far we have improved against the St Kilda midfield, because they did beat us last time.

"I think the guys are hungry to get back on top of them."

Asked what Saints had done that other teams hadn't against Sydney, Hannebery said: "Just inside, in that midfield battle, they purely and simply beat us - they were first to the ball."

[Austinnn]

One reason why they lost our last encounter was that they played super recruit T Walsh for most of the game as a Key Forward. Doubt they'll make that mistake again.

Make no mistake, this will be hard to win, but I'm more confident than I was vs Roos.

C'mon Saints!

[SainterK]

http://www.saints.com.au/news/newsartic ... fault.aspx

A gutsy win on the weekend slotted the Saints back into the top eight, and according to defender Jarryn Geary put the team’s future in their own hands.

Holding on to a top eight spot by percentage, St Kilda needs a win this weekend against first-placed Sydney to ensure their position remains secure.

“It’s good to have our destiny in our own hands really. It’s up to us whether we want to go forward and really push for a spot in the eight or fall back behind the bunch,” Geary said on Tuesday morning.

“We’ve got to keep working hard and keep improving and hopefully things will take care of themselves.”

St Kilda has made finals in seven of the last eight seasons, but the recently re-signed 24-year-old says the Saints are not focusing on the ladder.

“I think you’ve got to focus on what we can control. We just want to go out there and play our style of footy and we know if we do that we’re going to be in most games.”

“We’re not looking at the ladder too much. It’s a competitive season and we’ve got to focus on what we can control.”

Sydney have not lost a game since round 9, where a strong Saints outfit on the back of Lenny Hayes’ 250th game ran over the Swans by 28 points at Etihad.

This time around, Sydney will host the Saints, and Geary admits it will be a tough challenge against one of the best sides in the competition.

“It’s going to be a challenge but it’s something we’re looking forward to. It’s a massive challenge this week playing one of the in-form sides in the competition in Sydney so it’s a big challenge but one we really look forward to.”

“(It) probably wasn’t that long ago that we actually played them which is probably a good thing so we sort of know what they’re about.”

“They’ve been in pretty good form so we’re expecting them at their best and we’re going to have to play some pretty good footy. (It will be a) pretty solid effort to be competitive against them.”

Geary has played four games since returning from a facial injury suffered against his last encounter with the Swans, and he admits the only worry he had after the injury was the unflattering head gear he was required to wear.

“I wore the helmet the first week and the only confidence issue I had was how it looked to be honest. It was pretty average.”

[SainterK]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/n ... 22h9f.html

[stevie]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/n ... 22h9f.html

Interesting article.

Love the description of Chips as 'the George Harrison of the group'!

[Austinnn]

I'll be asleep over here in France, and have got superstitious lately, that the less I follow the game, the less well we do, so I'm a bit worried. If we do lose, you can blame me.

Come on Saints, prove me wrong. Still think we'll scrape through.

[gringo]

I'll be asleep over here in France, and have got superstitious lately, that the less I follow the game, the less well we do, so I'm a bit worried. If we do lose, you can blame me.

Come on Saints, prove me wrong. Still think we'll scrape through.

I was in japan for 2 weeks and we played well. The day before we left we lost to the Roos. I am thinking it's the opposite for me. If I take an interest we lose.