Does it matter to you whether we win or lose this weekend against Sydney

[SMS]

How can it matter?
Nothing game. Boys wont go hard and they will for buddy/home town/retiring players. Expect an 8-10 goal loss.
but who cares.
Only way we could get any hope is if we nail draft time
INS: Ben King, Brad Hill, Brad Crouch, Charlie Constable

[saynta]

It doesn't matter. I hope we win - and that North and Freo both win, securing us a top 5 draft pick. But I think Freo will lose to Port.

We need to learn to win interstate, however.

We haven't won interstate against anyone (except Gold Coast, and even that has been close) since Round 9, 2015. This team needs to learn resilience and how to win on the road.

Freo now has a caretaker coach, so a win is a distinct possibility.

[DJ Higgins]

How can it matter?
Nothing game. Boys wont go hard and they will for buddy/home town/retiring players. Expect an 8-10 goal loss.
but who cares.
Only way we could get any hope is if we nail draft time
INS: Ben King, Brad Hill, Brad Crouch, Charlie Constable

I would be surprised if we get one of those and I hope it's not crouch. Yes a great player but not in a position we need filling. Jack steven to cats, Kelly to Freo, hill to us with steak knives thrown in there somewhere.
Don't see why we would get constable as well.
Ben king to play 2020 in suns team then we have to trade for him in a years time

[shanegrambeau]

....... after the mess we made against Carlton, I'm done.

Fair enough but SIX reasons to win....

1) Break stigma of hoodoo V Sydney. (Get 'em now, with their buddies retiring...get 'em again in '20)
2) Stats matter....the win goes on the Ratto scoreboard, the St Kilda scoreboard..(Mr 33% anyone?)
3) Chance for Saints player to get a few Brownlow points...much higher possibility if win
4) A win will endorse the onfield decision making by coach and the selection choices...as will key-match ups, all good to reinforce positive belief
5) Make us fans lightly, ever-so-slightly, in a better frame of mind as the curtain closes and we watch the ashes.
6) We look good for potential recruitees

vs..

Three reasons to lose.
1) Finish in 13-18 bracket for draft...meh
2) Makes us feel that the players won't drift into the off season with any satisfaction ..they will stay 'keen'.(.as if it makes a difference in reality?)
3) So we look like cool chillin' louts from St Kilda...maybe we are too cool to play football etc.. being bohemian artists from St Kilda. Always thought Carlise has a hint of oil painter about him. Maybe the street was named after him?

[Sainter_Dad]

Don’t get me wrong, I want the Saints to win every time we run out.....however....

The problem we face is that if we win and North and Freo lose (vs Melb and Port respectively), we’ll finish 12th which moves us into the middle band of teams for next year’s fixtures.

I wouldn’t mind a nice easy run next year for our new coach - it’s done wonders for the Lions!!!

Sorry St Chris - we are stuck in the middle band - 7-12 is the middle band - so unless we fall to 13th nothing will change win/lose/draw

We're currently 14th. North and Freo are the only teams we can overtake, and we cant drop any further.

D'Oh - Sorry - you are correct!!!

[saintspremiers]

If you're not in the final 8, then it's just messing around at the edges. I lost a lot of interest last season as did many Saint mates, and only having Ratts come on board and get a few wins, mildly sparked me up, but after the mess we made against Carlton, I'm done.

It’s depressing.

Re the Shytney game - they are playing 3 geriatrics and we are playing Rowe so it’s a bulltish game given all that

[Gershwin]

My preferences:
1. Beat the f...ing s*** out of them.
2. Get the 4 points.
3. A honourable defeat.
4. get a hiding.

I don't think there will ever come a day when I don't want us to win.

[samuraisaint]

I hate the Swans more than the Injectors.
Can't remember the last time we beat them.
Might have been 2010?
I recall we played them in Wellington, NZ, with the dwarf coaching. Might have been 2011? They won by 22 points.

2012 - we beat 'em easy.

[resaintlee]

Give a few on the edge a run and see how they go
Everyone would be aware if it comes unstuck

[Bruce G McAbee]

I just want to beat the Swans. We haven't beaten them since 2011.

[BarryGrogan]

Must win.

[Ghost Like]

It appears as if it doesn't matter to the club.

Selection for the final round does nothing to address getting games into the kids, does nothing to address poor performances from the usual suspects against Carlton.

Very much a let's get up there, have a dip, give Rowe his 100th as a feel good story & some positive media, get back to Victoria.....coach in limbo, players in limbo, potential recruits in limbo.....get to Mad Monday & pray Gallagher hasn't signed every player on our list for a two year extension!

[SAINT-LEE]

I hope this was done in some unexplainable positive way?

NEVER NEVER do Saints go for a loss.
Not to get rid of a coach.
Not to get draft position.

NEVER.

Win. Always want a win.

[Special]

It appears as if it doesn't matter to the club.

Selection for the final round does nothing to address getting games into the kids, does nothing to address poor performances from the usual suspects against Carlton.

Very much a let's get up there, have a dip, give Rowe his 100th as a feel good story & some positive media, get back to Victoria.....coach in limbo, players in limbo, potential recruits in limbo.....get to Mad Monday & pray Gallagher hasn't signed every player on our list for a two year extension!

Yep looks like we’ve waved the flag which I’m comfortable with.

I hate the Swines and detest even more the compliant media and how they managed (with the AFL’s help) to cover up Buddy and all his off field stuff. It’s a farce how his greatness enabled him to dodge bullets left right and centre.

BUT....winning is risky - especially if we become a “middle 6 team” and harder fixture next year, plus dropping a pick or two.

How much difference those two factors are is hard to say, but if pick 5 vs pick 6 or 7 means the difference between pulling off a really good trade, then it’s money for jam

[Beno88]

Shane Savage is our only player tomorrow who has played in a win against Sydney at the SCG. For Hawthorn in 2011.

Membrey & Hannebery have both played in wins at the SCG, but for the Swans.

In fact Membrey has never played in a loss at the SCG.

[freely]

Hind and Wilkie have never lost there either

[saintbob]

It appears as if it doesn't matter to the club.

Selection for the final round does nothing to address getting games into the kids, does nothing to address poor performances from the usual suspects against Carlton.

Very much a let's get up there, have a dip, give Rowe his 100th as a feel good story & some positive media, get back to Victoria.....coach in limbo, players in limbo, potential recruits in limbo.....get to Mad Monday & pray Gallagher hasn't signed every player on our list for a two year extension!

Spot on

[Waltzing St Kilda]

If we get humiliated are we all gonna be comfortable with Ratten as coach?

[Ghost Like]

If we get humiliated are we all gonna be comfortable with Ratten as coach?

I will be comfortable with either Ratten or Harvey.

The coach is only one piece of the puzzle, the list followed by development are other pieces & then add the stability of the administration as they work together & not separate...the Board need to be piecing this together, inclusive of a one, five, ten and 25 year plan.

[samuraisaint]

I just want to beat the Swans. We haven't beaten them since 2011.

2012

[Yorkeys]

Its a dangerous mind set if this question is asked seriously and some of the responses are that losing can be rationalised as being a good or don't matter thing. We have been down too long you know, but don't try to make it seem a tactical choice or energy conservation, eh.

[axcellence]

1 point loss is my preference. Treat it as a coin flip and keep players hungry for the next year. Follow up with draft pick preserved before Fremantle

[spert]

If we get humiliated are we all gonna be comfortable with Ratten as coach?

Could be interesting

[The Fireman]

the Carlton loss has put a dampener on the season close for me.
We will lose to Sydney and all we can hope for is that the club is prudent at the trade table off season.
There is a glimmer of hope for 2020 , at least more than last year.

[fugazi]

If Rowe is BOG will he get another contract?