67 to 47 and couldn't get the job done!

[Enrico_Misso]

Same old inside 50's problem cost us again.
Yes, yes the endeavour was great ... blah blah blah.

But we will NEVER be a force till we hit targets in our forward line and convert.

[kosifantutti]

Was that the score in the last? And GWS couldn’t get the job done

[George27]

Same old inside 50's problem cost us again.
Yes, yes the endeavour was great ... blah blah blah.

But we will NEVER be a force till we hit targets in our forward line and convert.

Enrico - today was much more significant than " blah blah blah", as you would have it.

For the last three weeks we were rubbish, and barely gave a yelp. Today we played much much better. Quite a few of the youngsters showed a lot. Most importantly , when the Giants got 16 points clear in the last quarter we did not roll over.

Yes of course we missed chances, and we have to improve substantially in order to challenge for higher honours, but surely you would concede that after the gloom that descended on Moorabbin over recent weeks today was a big step in the right direction .

[mbogo]

It was a HUGE step forward and an enormous reversal of a desperately poor trend.
Well done to ALL at the Saints this week. I am so PLEASED I was there!

[silverhalo]

Forward line our achilles heel again.......really need to get Josh Battle in there, especially if he plays well tomorrow for Sandy. Membrey is totally out of touch and isn't contributing much, and McCartin's performance was better than previous weeks but still not a world beater.

I'm not sure what the ideal structure is but I'd like to try having Marshall, Membrey and Battle in there with McCartin to be played out of the square if selected.

[degruch]

Our endevour certainly wasn't great for most of the third...it looked like normal transmission had resumed. But to their credit, the team actually picked up this time...so plenty to feel encouraged about.

[saynta]

Our endevour certainly wasn't great for most of the third...it looked like normal transmission had resumed. But to their credit, the team actually picked up this time...so plenty to feel encouraged about.

Free kicks in the third heavily favoured GWS.

[Scollop]

What the hell are you talking about? It wouldn't have mattered if we had Roo or Franklin in our forward line. The delivery was poor

The stats need to to be analysed and broken down. Don't blame the forwards for the poor conversion - blame the mids and the guys up the ground.

The stats are also a sympton of the list. We don't have elite kicks and some guys that can normally kick ok, too often make poor decisions under pressure. With some of the young blokes the jury is still out, but we desperately need some A graders to add to the list over the next 3 years.

The effort was A grade today. Thought we were on from the very first bounce. Was happy to witness the making of a few players today. #31 and #33 showed us they belong and I thought #21 announced his arrival as a serious player

[degruch]

Our endevour certainly wasn't great for most of the third...it looked like normal transmission had resumed. But to their credit, the team actually picked up this time...so plenty to feel encouraged about.

Free kicks in the third heavily favoured GWS.

IMO we weren't working hard enough, we were second to the ball, you'll always get less frees in that scenario.

[Jacks Back]

At least percentage doesn't matter now that we've had the draw.

[saintspremiers]

At least percentage doesn't matter now that we've had the draw.

Is that because you know there won’t be another draw this season?

[Scollop]

Our endevour certainly wasn't great for most of the third...it looked like normal transmission had resumed. But to their credit, the team actually picked up this time...so plenty to feel encouraged about.

Free kicks in the third heavily favoured GWS.

IMO we weren't working hard enough, we were second to the ball, you'll always get less frees in that scenario.

There is no doubt that the umpiring was poor for both teams, but I think we were impacted at critical moments and we basically lost the opportunity to get a free kick because of a non-decision on Carlisle. Don't think you can simplify just on 'second to the ball' generalisation

That first half was the hardest they ran collectively as a group. It was not only coast to coast running, but a lot of burst speed running and high pressure. I think it took a lot out of them. I think they were pretty exhausted and it looked like we believed we had a sniff early in the last and they got their second wind after that

[kosifantutti]

At least percentage doesn't matter now that we've had the draw.

We could miss out on top 4 behind GWS.

[Sainter_Dad]

Our endevour certainly wasn't great for most of the third...it looked like normal transmission had resumed. But to their credit, the team actually picked up this time...so plenty to feel encouraged about.

Free kicks in the third heavily favoured GWS.

IMO we weren't working hard enough, we were second to the ball, you'll always get less frees in that scenario.

There is no doubt that the umpiring was poor for both teams, but I think we were impacted at critical moments and we basically lost the opportunity to get a free kick because of a non-decision on Carlisle. Don't think you can simplify just on 'second to the ball' generalisation

That first half was the hardest they ran collectively as a group. It was not only coast to coast running, but a lot of burst speed running and high pressure. I think it took a lot out of them. I think they were pretty exhausted and it looked like we believed we had a sniff early in the last and they got their second wind after that

And GWS were revved up by a rocket at half time - imagine being 1 v 16 and only a kick in it at half time!!!! They came out and threw their all at us in an effort to break us - but we rallied and stuck with them later in the third and for the fourth.

[degruch]

Our endevour certainly wasn't great for most of the third...it looked like normal transmission had resumed. But to their credit, the team actually picked up this time...so plenty to feel encouraged about.

Free kicks in the third heavily favoured GWS.

IMO we weren't working hard enough, we were second to the ball, you'll always get less frees in that scenario.

There is no doubt that the umpiring was poor for both teams, but I think we were impacted at critical moments and we basically lost the opportunity to get a free kick because of a non-decision on Carlisle. Don't think you can simplify just on 'second to the ball' generalisation

That first half was the hardest they ran collectively as a group. It was not only coast to coast running, but a lot of burst speed running and high pressure. I think it took a lot out of them. I think they were pretty exhausted and it looked like we believed we had a sniff early in the last and they got their second wind after that

No, 'second to the ball' was not a generalisation, it was a focused observation across the entire playing group...it's what was actually happening for most of the third, GWS absolutely controlled play for a lot of it. I don't think we were victim of any umpiring bias during the third, as the umpires tend to award the team making the play. The same can't be said for most of the rest of the game though...every time the whistle went I expected it was a GWS free. But, I agree my perceived lack endevour may be due to exhaustion, the boys did go pretty hard...but they had also just come back from half time.

[axcellence]

Enrico... Yeah, the endeavour was good. Maybe things turned around a little.

But - is it enough? No. 2018 is shot. 2019... who knows.

I agree, the forward line was better but still a disgrace.

To put things in context, I’ll quote Richo from a certain match’s presser, “It was just one game.”

That quote was the from a presser where saints had 64 inside 50s to 45.

The one where saints won by 80 plus points against Richmond last year.

[The_Merchant]

Enrico... Yeah, the endeavour was good. Maybe things turned around a little.

But - is it enough? No. 2018 is shot. 2019... who knows.

I agree, the forward line was better but still a disgrace.

To put things in context, I’ll quote Richo from a certain match’s presser, “It was just one game.”

That quote was the from a presser where saints had 64 inside 50s to 45.

The one where saints won by 80 plus points against Richmond last year.

Not sure that 2018 is shot. The only game we have lost that you would expect a 5-8 team to win was the north game. Outside of that, from adelaide, Geelong and GWS we would hope to win one, but we did at least get 2 points. We are in a way better position than what Sydney was this time last year and we all knew our draw was tough early.

[thejiggingsaint]

Enrico... Yeah, the endeavour was good. Maybe things turned around a little.

But - is it enough? No. 2018 is shot. 2019... who knows.

I agree, the forward line was better but still a disgrace.

To put things in context, I’ll quote Richo from a certain match’s presser, “It was just one game.”

That quote was the from a presser where saints had 64 inside 50s to 45.

The one where saints won by 80 plus points against Richmond last year.

Not sure that 2018 is shot. The only game we have lost that you would expect a 5-8 team to win was the north game. Outside of that, from adelaide, Geelong and GWS we would hope to win one, but we did at least get 2 points. We are in a way better position than what Sydney was this time last year and we all knew our draw was tough early.

Good points! I missed rounds 2, 3, & 4, but thought that yesterday’s effort ( against a well-fancied GWS side ) was way better than the one against Brisbane ( despite the result of each game ) Given time, I truly believe that this side WILL gel and become a finals contender.

[Linton Lodger]

The OP is a good point.

However if it wasn't for three moments of sheer brilliance in the 3rd quarter from Deledio, Greene and Shiel, all almost impossible to defend, we would have won and done so decisively.

[saynta]

Enrico... Yeah, the endeavour was good. Maybe things turned around a little.

But - is it enough? No. 2018 is shot. 2019... who knows.

I agree, the forward line was better but still a disgrace.

To put things in context, I’ll quote Richo from a certain match’s presser, “It was just one game.”

That quote was the from a presser where saints had 64 inside 50s to 45.

The one where saints won by 80 plus points against Richmond last year.

Not sure that 2018 is shot. The only game we have lost that you would expect a 5-8 team to win was the north game. Outside of that, from adelaide, Geelong and GWS we would hope to win one, but we did at least get 2 points. We are in a way better position than what Sydney was this time last year and we all knew our draw was tough early.

Good points! I missed rounds 2, 3, & 4, but thought that yesterday’s effort ( against a well-fancied GWS side ) was way better than the one against Brisbane ( despite the result of each game ) Given time, I truly believe that this side WILL gel and become a finals contender.

Yes. I agree with you there.

[Ape_Man]

The OP is a good point.

However if it wasn't for three moments of sheer brilliance in the 3rd quarter from Deledio, Greene and Shiel, all almost impossible to defend, we would have won and done so decisively.

Some of Delidio's work was just beautiful to watch in the most awful way. Reminded me of Aussie Jones.

As such a young side we are going to be susceptible to prolonged moments of brilliance. It is what we take from these moments that will make or break us.

[bigcarl]

I certainly don’t overlook delivery as a factor

... but if you give them targets who can find good position and mark and convert it tends to straighten the whole team up.

Paddy, while much improved, isn’t enough yet. He needs some help up there.

Got to get the rewards from dominating the inside 50s and, bottom line is, we haven’t and we don’t.

We’re 18th most effective in the league in this regard. No one is worse.

We have no equals in ineptitude at converting opportunities into scoreboard pressure.

I put a lot of this down to poor structure

[repta]

Watched the tigers tonight. Wow we have alot of improvement to make in hitting targets.
It is not just an issue in the forward line. The saints butcher the ball all over the ground.