Are you excited?

[Dr Spaceman]

Realistically, 2009 came as a surprise and, short of a flag, was probably as good as we could get with our list.

Over the next few years we added to the list, but we didn't add any real quality. As such we were always going to struggle to improve. Of course we could have snagged the 2010 flag but we would've been very lucky to do so.

We've finally bitten the bullet and started to turn over the list; started to bring in some exciting prospects. The problem of course is that the superstars are reaching the end of their careers. But we just have to suck that up.

I'd rather take a step back than  desperately try to drain every last win out of a group that, as a whole, simply aren't good enough. No point in simply treading water.

As much as I'd love to win a flag my excitement has always come from the footy season itself and from attending/watching games involving the Saints. And, as usual, I just can't wait for it to all start up again.

[lloyd21]

I going to enjoy the ride watching players like White ..Saad .. Markworth Ross Newnes Simpkin Lee Hickey

Just look at the appointments the club have made off field ,sports science, development , Board, far better run club

major thing everyone needs to do is be a member !

[White Winmar]

Plenty of reasons to be excited. I just don't want to get as excited as "Big Kev", who got so excited he keeled over and died! The injection of youth, variety, pace and talent, complemented by our core champions having one last shot left, leaves me wondering that if everything falls into place, as in 2009, it might just be a pretty good ride!

[gringo]

I am excited I think there is more evidence to suggest that low picks don't win you a flag, a good team does, I think st kilda are building towards this, sure we may need a couple of good players to come in but we can get them over the next few years. Sydney 2012 not Carlton and its band of draft pick number 1s!

Every premiership side needs a couple of stars and a good number of A-graders, though. Goodes, Kennedy, O'Keefe, Richards, Mumford, McVeigh, Hannebery, Shaw. Most of these have been AA.

So which Saints players will be AA in the next few years?

Dempster again. Dal is still thereabouts. Armo, Jack and the Owl are still a big step away. Stanley and Siposs even further. Unless we have some players taking big steps to get to AA quality then we won't compete for a while.

It may take a while but Steven and Armo aren't far off pushing for AA in the next few years. Saad could be anything and could really give the comp a shake with a little more experience- he probably had the best first year of any recruit we have had for years. I think Lee has real a grade potential long term and hope that he develops his game quickly. Big mac could be ready to take the next step and the best chance we have in the next couple of years is Siposs, he is so far ahead of where most recruits are at the same stage of their careers. there are some really good kids coming through from last year and to me is a bit of a Sydney fluke draft with some great picks.

[Con Gorozidis]

I just dont know
Like last year we are a great unknown. We have rolled the dice bigtime with Lee and Hickey.
Our 22-26 yo group not as good as most clubs and we need to produce a young quality midfielder pretty darn quick...
But who knows. Maybe Lee, Stanley, Newnes and Markworth step it up and we are awesome.

[Beekay]

Definitely.

Cricket is so utterly shite, I'm finding myself interested in American football.

I think Gilchrist was the only reason I ever watched that limp d1ck sport.

[Zed]

Next year is one of the most unpredictable for many years. In recent years I think you hav been roughly been able to pick where we were going to finish.

So Im not excited - but very curious.

Will we get our defensive mojo back ?
Will any of the younger brigade (Sipposs, Ross , Newnes etc) make the next step ?
Will Lee, TDL & Hickey all genuinely push for spots in our starting lineup ?
Will Scott Watters get them to gel as genuine team where the total is greater than the sum of the individual parts ?
Will we slide, rise or more of the same ie win one , lose one

Yes Im looking forward to footy season starting again .. and if we win the first couple - then I will be excited !

[Harvey To Hayes]

Always excited. Hope those that are not excited are young kids who like most youths of today cant wait for anything to happen. Has to be immediate. I have followed the club since the late 60s including the mid 80's when we were the the GC and GWS standard and made Melbourne look good this year. In 1985 we lost our first game by 100 points and after the initial disappointment was excited for the next week. I was on the Fairstar at the time and told anyone that would listen we would turn it around and win the next week. We lost by 100 points again. The next week did the same and the same result. We lost by 100 points. The 4th week I was back on dry land and still said we would turn it around. Cant remember what happened but we didnt win but we also didnt lose by 100 points.

And in Rd 5 we beat Fitzroy at Waverley by less than a kick and all was right in the world (for a week)...

[st_Trav_ofWA]

new season new players what is there not to be excited about ??? this year i think we will see lots of new faces in the team and with that comes unpredictablilty ... we might unearth the next big thing the next player who takes the game by storm or we might not.. but its still going to be exciting and it sure as hell beats the month of horse racing, cricket and tennis that try and fill the void of the footy off season ....

[Dr Spaceman]

If the Saints don't get you excited, regardless of the year and regardless of the team list, then one has to wonder why you would want to spend time on a fan forum; especially in November

[supersaints]

You Guys are just plain spoiled.
During the late seventies , and through the eighties we all got excited when we kicked the ball to the right end of the ground!!
We were honestly that bad that we used to win about four games a year, but we all stood in the animal enclosure during the cold and rain watching the reserves first ( and sometimes the under 19's)just to hope for glimpses of the future. Saw players like Plugger, Loewe, Burns, Barker etc etc first games and watching them take the stage knowing that they provided some hope was enough. The Saints are playing some of the best football since the mid sixties you just don't appreciate it.

[Richter]

2011 was a tough season for me. After the first couple of games it was obvious we were on the slide after the two up years, then Lenny did his knee and that sealed it... and with Lyon's game style it was no longer such fun to watch.

2012 I knew that we probably wouldn't make finals but there were so many great games to watch - even the losses like against Adelaide and Richmond were genuinely terrific games of footy.

I'm fascinated to see how the old stagers are going to give way to the new...

Rucks - already King/Gardiner -----> McEvoy, Stanley, now + Hickey
Tall forwards - Rooey/Kosi -----> to give way over the next two years to Stanley, Lee, White, Markworth
Small forwards - Milne/Schneider -----> Saad, Milera, now + TDL, Minchington

etc. etc.

Other clubs have regenerated - Collingwood from 2001/2 to 2009/12; Swans and Eagles 2005/6 to 2011/12

Perhaps we can do that too?

[SainterK]

Did anyone else feel towards the end of the season that it was the fact the game plan was being executed better more than personnel?

Because I felt earlier in the piece under Scott, it was the other way around.

I think another preseason of learning how he wants them to play....

[Richter]

Did anyone else feel towards the end of the season that it was the fact the game plan was being executed better more than personnel?

Because I felt earlier in the piece under Scott, it was the other way around.

I think another preseason of learning how he wants them to play....

Yes. Lyon turned around the disappointments of 2006/7 into back-to-back-to-back prelims in 2008-10.

Whilst I don't expect that amount of success from Watters, nevertheless it will be a test of leadership and coaching ability to see if he is able to turn around the sinking ship of 2011/12.

[Teflon]

If the Saints don't get you excited, regardless of the year and regardless of the team list, then one has to wonder why you would want to spend time on a fan forum; especially in November

Why? Can't people also be curious without shooting their bolt?

[SainterK]

If the Saints don't get you excited, regardless of the year and regardless of the team list, then one has to wonder why you would want to spend time on a fan forum; especially in November

Why? Can't people also be curious without shooting their bolt?

No...

[Dave McNamara]

We have, Tommy Lee, Buddy White, Rhys Lightening about to strike,

Ahmed has a left foot, Lenny has a new valve, K is off her Kloud and onto the front foot...,

and with space in the cap for next preseason... we'll be ready to raid ...

Soooooooo..., excited...?

Hell yeah!!!

[loris]

If you're above ground and breathing then you should be excited you miserable bastards. Certainly a lot more exciting than the alternative. Who knows what the dawn of a new day will bring, as long as you are around to see it.

+1

[jimmy_slats]

Definitely.

Cricket is so utterly shite, I'm finding myself interested in American football.

I think Gilchrist was the only reason I ever watched that limp d1ck sport.

really!! your going to call cricket a limp d1ck sport and you are watching 'American' football...... you have some serious problems.... some serious un australian problems!

[The Linton Street Flash]

But with that said, the last time I had such low expectations was before the 2009 season. We don't look like contenders, but if everything clicks among the group you never know what will happen.

Great point. I remember sitting with some friends on a stinking hot February day at Princes park watching the Saints in a praccy with the Dogs. We were sitting with Dogs fans and we were all cracking jokes about how bad both our teams were and how it was going to be a long year.

Well we got within a bees dick of being Premiers,a nd the Dogs got within a bees dick of beating us in the PF.

I also predicted that day that Colm Begley would star as our fullback and Zac wouldn't get a game for us

So there you go. One thing though. Our prime movers, Lenny, Roo, Dal, bj, Joey, Fisher etc were four years younger than next season.

Jesus, no hard feelings mate but you're about as poor a judge of football as anyone I've ever heard of. That game againts the Dogs at Optus Oval was the very game that most identified that we were going to be almost unbeatable for the year.

i remember walking away after watching an incredible display - thinking, "s*** are we that good or are they that bad" as it turned out, we were that good - close to being one of the greatest teams of all time.

[joffaboy]

[Jesus, no hard feelings mate but you're about as poor a judge of football as anyone I've ever heard of. That game againts the Dogs at Optus Oval was the very game that most identified that we were going to be almost unbeatable for the year.

i remember walking away after watching an incredible display - thinking, "s*** are we that good or are they that bad" as it turned out, we were that good - close to being one of the greatest teams of all time.

if you were at that game and thought we would win 19 in a row after that game you are the ultimate optimist.

We were worse that s.hit, kicked 8 goals to 5 in the game, and they ran about looking terrible, hardly attacking. I was with a whole bunch of people and we all agreed.

Nice hindsight you have . Fair Dinkum, I read that critic from Lyon as well and was amazed.

You must be some sort of fkn guru hey champ?

[desertsaint]

Yep, that 2009 team I would rate as one of the best five seasons I've ever seen a team play. And we still couldn't bag a flag?

so, as always, I'm excited looking forward and not expecting anything other than to see the saints hit the field.
in the end that all I really care about. A flag would be nice, but I can live without it. Obviously.

[Teflon]

If the Saints don't get you excited, regardless of the year and regardless of the team list, then one has to wonder why you would want to spend time on a fan forum; especially in November

Why? Can't people also be curious without shooting their bolt?

No...

yes....

[bergsone]

i am excited


by the way how many of you guys pick the swans,to win the FLAG

Thought so

[SainterK]

I walked away from that game with a sore belly after a really dodgy sausage in bread...