Saints big chance v Hawks

[parkeysainter]

A couple of weeks back we were looking in massive trouble for this game. Now the Hawks lost today in a bruising game (they looked very tired in that last quarter), Rioli and Populo are out injured and Mitchell could get a week or two. We smashed them last year and we just matched the best side in the comp just yesterday. How things can change in the space of a couple of weeks. I'm confident we can win this, but it will still be a tough game.

[parkeysainter]

Lets see if the MRP has the balls to give Mitchell 1 week.

[silverhalo]

Lets see if the MRP has the balls to give Mitchell 1 week.

Burton could go as well for his hit on Higgins.....the Saints are a big show here

[parkeysainter]

Lets see if the MRP has the balls to give Mitchell 1 week.

Burton could go as well for his hit on Higgins.....the Saints are a big show here

The end result was an accident but he did bump him intentionally. Higgins is f***ed. Poor bloke.

[longtimesaint]

Watching this game North got their lead with manic pressure which the Hawks couldn’t cope with.
If we want to win we need to bring the same intensity at least as the GWS game.
Also we need to convert our chances.
Team selection will not be easy as Webster and Marshall are likely to be available but should we change the team.

[SuperDuper]

need someone to do a job on Mitchell...

he is their real dangerman...

Outside that, we should have the edge I recon

[parkeysainter]

need someone to do a job on Mitchell...

he is their real dangerman...

Outside that, we should have the edge I recon

If he plays, but Dunstan or Steele should play on Mitchell. Even Geary maybe.

[bigcarl]

I’d love us to really do a number on the sanctimonious Hawks. Bring their supporters down a peg or two. We’ve got the ability to do this and I don’t see why we can’t.

[parkeysainter]

I’d love us to really do a number on the sanctimonious Hawks. Bring their supporters down a peg or two. We’ve got the ability to do this and I don’t see why we can’t.

Would love to shut up Jeff "Insolvent" Kennet. Hawks fans are already crowing they only had to miss one year of finals to get back into them and they're back as a finals contender. Their supporters are the biggest smart arses in the AFL, but about as tough as fairy floss.

[portosaint]

need someone to do a job on Mitchell...

he is their real dangerman...

Outside that, we should have the edge I recon

If he plays, but Dunstan or Steele should play on Mitchell. Even Geary maybe.

Geary would be a good option IMO. We all know he's not the most reliable in terms of skills, but his insane competitive nature would make it really hard if he was to tag you. Has a super engine as well... He will stay by your side for the whole game. We have a plethora of backmen who could quite easily fill his spot down there.

[chook23]

Hawks on the rebound................

History tells me..............

[degruch]

Lets see if the MRP has the balls to give Mitchell 1 week.

Low impact, but intentional...a week's the best they'll give. Burton won't get anything. The MRP will get their jollies out on the North pig that ran Mirra into the fence.

[stonecold]

need someone to do a job on Mitchell...

he is their real dangerman...

Outside that, we should have the edge I recon

If he plays, but Dunstan or Steele should play on Mitchell. Even Geary maybe.

Geary would be a good option IMO. We all know he's not the most reliable in terms of skills, but his insane competitive nature would make it really hard if he was to tag you. Has a super engine as well... He will stay by your side for the whole game. We have a plethora of backmen who could quite easily fill his spot down there.

Gears would go to Breust I would have thought!!!!!

[Ape_Man]

I would like to see Dunstan / Steele on Mitchell.

And I don’t care if they get smashed. We are still in the education phase and the players we want to move us forward can not be protected from the best.

Sure Geary could do the job, but at a cost to our development. Keep bringing the effort and play our future on the best.

That’s my uneducated opinion anyway.

[WellardSaint]

Norf played in a monsoon in Cairns not long ago.
Some fans, me included, thought heavy legs, affected by hours in an aircraft,
would leave them lethargic.
Well, how did they go the next round?

[SydneySainter]

Just like how we were a big chance against the walking wounded Cats? They still flogged us.

I’m not getting ahead of myself after one honourable draw. I’ve learnt my lesson after last season.

[Scollop]

On form, we've got them

Not just current form, but form at this ground against them in recent years should give our guys confidence

I reckon we match up against them well. Expecting Hickey and Carlisle to have big games and Paddy and Longy to star

[spert]

Unless we do something about efficiency in the forward line, for all our efforts, we will struggle to kick enough goals to beat the Hawks..probably that simple.

[35...LEGEND]

Tribe of 16 of us headin into Launnie for this one.
Being there for last years R6 floggin was sooooo sweet
Watching them smug Dawker supporters dragging their sorry arses out of UTAS park was speeeeshall

Forecast is for light winds and 20 degrees.

Bring the pressure Sainters

[samuraisaint]

If we play two ruckmen, rotate our better players up forward (especially Carlisle), leave at least one key position forward in the forward 50 at all times, and play the type of game we are supposedly renowned for, which is depriving opposition of their ability to mark the ball through relentless pressure and attack on the ball, then we should win relatively easily.
It's all about attitude and if we go into this game with an uncompromising intent we will not just win, but win well.
This week at training needs to focus on the delivery of the ball into the forward line, and goalkicking practice. Skill execution.
Would like to see Marshall in for Newnes, and perhaps Phillips in as well. It's time - 33 disposals against Port and us still not winning means that he should get his chance.
Hopefully after Clarko's words this week the umps will be extra vigilant of how players dispose of the ball.
The combination of Launceston football oval suiting our style of play, a lack of Hawk forwards this week, and last Saturday's effort against GWS ending in an unsatisfying draw should culminate in the players breathing fire and us winning our second game of the year on Saturday night.
A lot of the Hawks' forwards were well down but it is still their midfield, like Geelong's, which can make you pay. No Sicily, Puopolo, Rioli, this week, and no Hill or Franklin anymore. Roughie seems to be out of form as well. All of these things plus the reality that Gunston plays best when those other forwards are in the side means that I struggle to see how they will kick more than ten goals against us, to be honest. But we need to start taking our chances. I saw something in our final quarter Saturday that I haven't seen in a long time. Is it, could it be...no, it is, Belief!
If we can kick straight we'll win.
Over to you Richo.

[saynta]

Think the ins will be Webster and Marshall with Armo a possibility

Newnes should be an out if only for the fact that anyone suffering a concussion should be given at least one week off.

[Jacks Back]

We're a big chance to win our next 4 (if we play like we did against the Giants and convert our chances).

[chook23]

sportsbet do not agree with many in this thread

HAWKS $1.30

SAINTS $3.56

[parkeysainter]

sportsbet do not agree with many in this thread

HAWKS $1.30

SAINTS $3.56

Great odds in a 2 horse race.

[samuraisaint]

sportsbet do not agree with many in this thread

HAWKS $1.30

SAINTS $3.56

I think those odds will drop significantly before Saturday night. If I gambled, which I don't, I would grab those odds.

It's not the early 90's anymore and we're not playing them at Princes Park. Geelong at Geelong; different story, yeah, I get that. But the Hawks have been hit with injuries, and we have a very even side playing at a friendly venue. If we get 67 inside 50s again it will get ugly quickly.

As good as the Hawks' midfield is, GWS's is ridiculous, and Steven, Dunstan and Ross really did well against them. I think it may have been close to some of the best patches of football I have ever seen Steven play.

Admittedly North beat us too, but I think our form is definitely turning around. If Hawthorn win it will only be because we don't convert scoring opportunities. It could happen, but the players looked very determined walking off the field and I think the draw will really sting our players, while also giving them belief. I think the draw was the worst outcome for Hawthorn to be honest. If we won, the players may have celebrated, if we lost the defeat may have been deflating. I have a feeling the intrinsic motivation to win will be massive this week.

I'm very confident of a strong showing Saturday night.