Actually, it was a good game...

[perfectionist]

...except for about 15 minutes in the first quarter. And even then, three of their goals came from errors from us that were 40/60 anyway. The frees and 50s were there, but they weren't egregious errors. After quarter time, I though we outplayed them. Their disposal was better than ours, but ours wasn't atrocious, as it has been in some weeks. And with 5 minutes to go, we were 2 goals down with a forward thrust. Alas, Jack Billings either cramped or pulled a hammy going for it. And that was that.

[stinger]

yep....and yep....

[SemperFidelis]

And yep ...

We've got plenty to work on for next year, but our first quarter starts have to be in the top 3.

[Bernard Shakey]

It was a very ordinary game by two very ordinary teams!

Defence was lacking on both sides, a bit of a shootout, which we lost in the first quarter.

[desertsaint]

Think for a team needing quality draft picks our first quarters have been what we might expect - read that as you will.
And if Gwilt had won that holding it would' ve been one goal with two minutes to play. Momentum all our way. Would've been a special win.

[magnifisaint]

It was a very ordinary game by two very ordinary teams!

Defence was lacking on both sides, a bit of a shootout, which we lost in the first quarter.

Except they played a bit better

[thejiggingsaint]

The best team won. I'm Saints through and through, but I'm neither blind nor delusional ( though SOME on here may disagree with that statement ) the Bulldogs' midfield were very good indeed. I wasn't entirely unhappy with the performance from our boys ( except for that darned first quarter again!)

[SainterK]

I'm not sure, we seem to have been more "up" for Lenny, but not for Alan.

Meh, shoot me down.

[Bluthy]

I'm not sure, we seem to have been more "up" for Lenny, but not for Alan.

Meh, shoot me down.

Well they haven't even had one full year to embed Richo's game plan, had a huge influx of new players stopping cohesion, had a lot of injuries, a lot of chopping and changing of players and positions week to week, deliberate experimentation and playing of first year players who will be feeling very rubber legged and yet there seems to already be a bit of an upswing in the last few weeks. Against a team at least 2 years ahead of us in development it was pretty good. It wasn't Lenny's last game, just a bit of a "tribute" game whatever that means.

[sainters85]

thought it was an alright game.. our biggest problem is how the opposition gets hands on the ball from our fwd 50 and gets a goal like in 10 seconds from our fwd 50 to theirs.. we fix that and things won't be as bad

[oh when the]

Yep, they got about 5 goals rebounding from our forward line without us applying any pressure at all.

[Dave McNamara]

... don't forget that blatant, but not paid, holding-the-man to the Fro in the pocket... that would have put us within a goal with several minutes left. From memory, they kicked a pretty much end-to-end rebound goal instead.

That said, if we'd got up it would've been a huge steal.


I thought that their speed allowed them all too often to run down the ground in waves... and all too often that run was through the corridor.

We also lost too many centre clearances for too much of the game... but the problem was that not only did they win the clearance, but too often they got to then deliver the footy decisively.

With Bruce up forward (which I really like) we clearly need another big key defender... hope we are looking at Delaney's little bro'.

Finally, Dal's cuz convinced me even more why we need Petracca... who whilst not as tall, would be stronger and a better kick.

Sort (at least most of) the above, and watch our forward line suddenly function much better... a la the game against Ro$$y's Purple Puke.

[ozrulestrace]

I just think, that we're not playing too badly, and I say that because Melbourne are basically playing crap football in comparison to tte Saints.

At least we're trying to score a goal.

If I was a Melbourne supporter I'd be stabbing my eyes out having to watch that rubbish.

So there are some positives out of yesterday's games.

[PJ]

Considering how badly we got smashed in the clearances we came pretty close.

One thing that did stand out was our fumbling in general across the field. Some of the players looked like rabbits in the headlights in that first quarter.

The effort was unquestionable and we took to up to them but we were well off our tucker.

[samuraisaint]

I just think, that we're not playing too badly, and I say that because Melbourne are basically playing crap football in comparison to tte Saints.

At least we're trying to score a goal.

If I was a Melbourne supporter I'd be stabbing my eyes out having to watch that rubbish.

So there are some positives out of yesterday's games.

Yes, I was at the match at the G Saturday and I have to say it was like watching paint dry. Roos developed Eade's flooding style and has brought it back to it's boring best to Melbourne.

[Junction Oval]

In general terms, the boys tried really hard. Centre clearances were woeful and there was no pressure/pre-positioning to stop the Dogs running it through the corridor - time after time, which gave our backs no hope at times.

We have some serious problems with our mids! From a Recruiting perspective, we have also fallen down in getting some pace into our young mids. (Savage an exception). That's a basic recruiting shortfall from those who are supposed to be the experts

[thejiggingsaint]

Some really good objective and honest assessments of the game in this thread. Like many folk, I'm at a complete loss as to how Paul Roos is not under the cosh more than he has been given the showing from Melbourne this season, remember all the pundits who had us losing to the Demons in round one? In my humble opinion, we have a good coach, and the foundations of a good young side on the build. It wouldn't surprise me at all over the next few seasons to see the Bulldogs and ourselves being close rivals at finals time. On the other hand, we have smelbourne, who have festered since 2006 (despite high draft picks!) Keep the faith Sainters! we will come again!

[Cairnsman]

Who was that team that dismantled Freo?

Game was full of errors from both sides and the Dogs only marginally ahead of us on the rebuild curve.

Jack B doesn't have a right leg.

I hope Chips goes around again...we need him to play next year.

Great to see Gilbo carve it up. We've missed him, underrated star.

Should Gwilty play in the forward line more?

Newnes is our best recruit of the past 3 years

[Enrico_Misso]

Apart from the first quarter it was a reasonably good game to watch.
Both sides would have taken lots of positives from it.
And pretty entertaining - apart from the contrived noise gimmick!

[thejiggingsaint]

AND....kudos to the Western Bulldogs team who stayed on the ground to make a guard of honour for Lenny. It did not go unnoticed by this particular barracker, and I say "good on you Doggies! Big respect from the Jiggster!" Its good to see the sporting spirit of the game coming out in such a manner. I didn't go home TOO upset (other than losing the game) about the day. Better days will come again, and it could well be that we'll see LOTS of thrillers between our two clubs, in the not-too-distant future.

[LENNY LEADS THE WAY]

Was only 4 short years ago both clubs played in prelims. The wheel turns quick. Bring on the future.

[Bernard Shakey]

I just think, that we're not playing too badly, and I say that because Melbourne are basically playing crap football in comparison to tte Saints.

At least we're trying to score a goal.

If I was a Melbourne supporter I'd be stabbing my eyes out having to watch that rubbish.

So there are some positives out of yesterday's games.

Sorry mate but I have to disagree. Melbourne have learnt how to defend, which is the first thing required in today's footy.
We have pretty much allowed 75 more goals than Melbourne. I'd say they're probably 10 games ahead of us in that regard.
We've kicked 22 more goals than them.
I'd rather be them than us next year!

[thejiggingsaint]

Agree to disagree with you on that!

[bigred]

Honestly, our midfield were the most unaccountable you could ever imagine.

The main reason that we lost that game is because the WB just had free reign to run the ball straight down the middle. Repeatedly.

Longer got an absolute lesson off Minson. Which is just freakin terrible. Clearances on the stats look not terribly uneven, but the ease that the WB's just rolled away from the stoppages. Frustrating.

I was sitting right next to the interchange bench also....Numerous times throughout the game it was a shambles, with players not knowing who was rotating on. It was a miracle we did not cop an interchange infringement....and the bloke running the show had less clues than the players. It was bad... Auskick bad.

They could have and should have won the game. But anyhoo.

[matrix]

trade the friggin lot of em