Team

[Scollop]

'If the North midfield serve it up to us unexpectedly as they have done before'

Cunnington isn't playing.

I don't think the coaches have gone in thinking we'll 'win comfortably'. I think they are confident that we have a team willing to work hard to get the right result

This is not the same North who has troubled us in the past few years. Ben Brown isn't there and their backline is a tad different too

[Banger9798]

I’ll make a call here

I think Billings will get omitted

...

I'll bare my bum in Myer's if Jack is omitted.

Which branch of Myers will you be appearing?

[Teflon]

North have played decent footy in patches recently against good sides with no Cunnington
I’m concerned we are a mid/genuine extractor short
Re Billing’s - far be it from to defend him but geez….2nd game back (played well 1st) …2nd game blues….I’d have given him another shot….
Anyway hope the mids don’t get dominated

[Banger9798]

I’ll make a call here

I think Billings will get omitted

Don’t think it should happen, but reckon it might

Kudos,
I thought he had done enough to stay in, given his game the week before, obviously Ratten feels we need more grunt in the middle and we have enough runners

[Devilhead]

Maybe not a bad game to bring in Owens .... bottom of the table team at Marvel

Looking forward to see him play

[bangaulegend]

JB had a poor game last week for sure but I would have thought he had enough runs on the board to keep his spot , but it sends a message perform or go back to Sandy & find form . Still a bit shocked but BM on the money well done

[CQ SAINT]

Billings has been butt average. Why all the shock?

[B.M]

Billings had no pre season

In season he’s had two hamstrings

First game he played he had 22 and a goal

Last week he was poor

Not surprised he was dropped - but don’t agree with it

He is a far better player at this point in time to some players selected

[bigcarl]

Billings had no pre season

In season he’s had two hamstrings

First game he played he had 22 and a goal

Last week he was poor

Not surprised he was dropped - but don’t agree with it

He is a far better player at this point in time to some players selected

He will be back and better for it.

[CQ SAINT]

Billings had no pre season

In season he’s had two hamstrings

First game he played he had 22 and a goal

Last week he was poor

Not surprised he was dropped - but don’t agree with it

He is a far better player at this point in time to some players selected

Billings is of the age and experience where he cant afford comparison to young guys who get chances.
He is a highly experienced professional and his output has been poor. If he is under done, then he can work it out at Sandy for the next 2 weeks.
By then, when its really needed, he can produce his best or be reassessed in comparison to the guys who are delivering what the coach expects. Its disappointing, but it is what it is.

[meher baba]

Billings had no pre season

In season he’s had two hamstrings

First game he played he had 22 and a goal

Last week he was poor

Not surprised he was dropped - but don’t agree with it

He is a far better player at this point in time to some players selected

+1 Extremely poor call. He's an established quality player. Two games back after a long absence through injury, it can't meaningfully be about "sending a message" to him: especially as he was among our better players against Geelong. Others played poorly against both Geelong and Adelaide and survived.

It's possible that there's something going on with him which hasn't been made public, but I think it's more likely that the selectors were balancing a whole lot of considerations this week and Billings ended up falling through the net.

I sure hope we still win the game.

[supersaints2]

I expect Billings to take it in the chin. Put his head down and arse up.
He seems a quality person , he’s a quality player

[CQ SAINT]

Billings had no pre season

In season he’s had two hamstrings

First game he played he had 22 and a goal

Last week he was poor

Not surprised he was dropped - but don’t agree with it

He is a far better player at this point in time to some players selected

+1 Extremely poor call. He's an established quality player. Two games back after a long absence through injury, it can't meaningfully be about "sending a message" to him: especially as he was among our better players against Geelong. Others played poorly against both Geelong and Adelaide and survived.

It's possible that there's something going on with him which hasn't been made public, but I think it's more likely that the selectors were balancing a whole lot of considerations this week and Billings ended up falling through the net.

I sure hope we still win the game.

His game against Geelong was average, his disposal was bad and his chances of taking a stoppage clearance and kicking a goal like that are very slim. The 2 he missed from easy range, they are the ones you should be rating him on. 11 of his 22 possessions were turnovers. In 2020, Dunstan got one chance, in 2021, he was a last resort. Billings needs to come out firing after the break or he could be headed down a similiar path.

[samuraisaint]

'If the North midfield serve it up to us unexpectedly as they have done before'

Cunnington isn't playing.

I don't think the coaches have gone in thinking we'll 'win comfortably'. I think they are confident that we have a team willing to work hard to get the right result

This is not the same North who has troubled us in the past few years. Ben Brown isn't there and their backline is a tad different too

Good post. Cunnington was the match winner against us in Round 1, 2020. Brown the match winner in AR's last match in Hobart in 2019.

[meher baba]

The 2 he missed from easy range, they are the ones you should be rating him on.

Gee, if missing goals from an easy range were grounds for someone to be dropped, then Nick Riewoldt and now Max King would have had short careers. And, unlike those two, Billings does not play exclusively as a forward.

I've noticed a tendency for many fans - well, at least those who post on online forums - to give poor ratings to players who make mistakes in disposal or goal-kicking than to those who have low overall game involvement. It explains the over-rating of a player like Sharman, who doesn't do all that much in general play, but usually kicks straight for goal.

[CQ SAINT]

The 2 he missed from easy range, they are the ones you should be rating him on.

Gee, if missing goals from an easy range were grounds for someone to be dropped, then Nick Riewoldt and now Max King would have had short careers. And, unlike those two, Billings does not play exclusively as a forward.

I've noticed a tendency for many fans - well, at least those who post on online forums - to give poor ratings to players who make mistakes in disposal or goal-kicking than to those who have low overall game involvement. It explains the over-rating of a player like Sharman, who doesn't do all that much in general play, but usually kicks straight for goal.

I've noticed a tendency for many fans to get sidetracked on totally irrelevant dialogue when they dont understand something or don't want to accept something. What's Sharnan got to do with Billings soft form and the fact his coaches dropped him?

[ace]

Taking the risk, getting games into young inexperienced players.
Windhager
W-Milera
Sharman
Owens

They will get less possessions compared to more experienced players, but are the saints good enough to make the sacrifice v Norf.
Can't say they are not willing to develop players.

[The Fireman]

Off topic. But just watching the melb freo game …….. scary skills


Hopes for the flag are waning by the minute

[Ghost Like]

Off topic. But just watching the melb freo game …….. scary skills


Hopes for the flag are waning by the minute

Skills are scary & so is their pace, height & spread...all without Langdon & now May.

Daylight 2nd at this stage.

[SaintPav]

Demons are in exceptional form but no team is unbeatable. At this stage, we are no match for them unfortunately but you never know.

[Ghost Like]

Dockers giving the comp some hope! Way to go!!!

[SaintPav]

Reality check.

No team is that good.

Good wake up call for them.

[saynta]

Off topic. But just watching the melb freo game …….. scary skills


Hopes for the flag are waning by the minute

Skills are scary & so is their pace, height & spread...all without Langdon & now May.

Daylight 2nd at this stage.

Not so, it would seem. No May, No Dees. no hoppers.

Shockers giving them a hiding now.

[ace]

Demons are in exceptional form but no team is unbeatable. At this stage, we are no match for them unfortunately but you never know.

A good dose of COVID for the Grand Final and anyone can lose.

[Ghost Like]

Shows the importance of accuracy. 2.7 in the first half to 11.3 with 8 mins to go in the 2nd half. Scoreboard pressure. Super impressive 2nd half by Freo, nice blueprint perhaps.