5 day break

[Otiman]

Upcoming friday night game off a 5 day break. How do you approach match committee?

For me, you make some changes and rest a few. I expect to see a few (managed) in the outs this week including Philippou.

[Waltzing St Kilda]

Bring in Bytel, Billings for a start ...

[Otiman]

Yes I think Billings for Philippou. Bytel and Windy come in for anyone who's a bit sore.

[Premium89]

Upcoming friday night game off a 5 day break. How do you approach match committee?

For me, you make some changes and rest a few. I expect to see a few (managed) in the outs this week including Philippou.

Do we have enough cattle to rest blokes? Who comes in for Phillipou? (Haven’t paid a lot of attention the injury list I’m afraid)
I’d say, since we haven’t been fading out of games too badly, I’d be keen to change as little as possible while we’re rolling.

Port have lost a couple - Marshall and Jonas I think.

[meher baba]

That shouldn't have been a partiuclrly tiring game for us, given how much time Carlton spent chipping the ball around.

Billings for Philippou and Campbell for Cordy are worthy of consideration IMO. But I won't be uspet if the team is unchanged.

[Premium89]

Bring in Bytel, Billings for a start ...

It’ll be Really interesting to see Billings under Ross- I don’t think he’s ever seemed to have that real toughness/killer instinct. Can Ross bring out a version of that in him?

I guess there were similar questions over brad hill in recent years - maybe it’s as easy as playing him to his strengths.

[Scollop]

Evidence today that Crouch needs a rest. He was a huge reason why we had done so well in the first 5 rounds but with the five day break, Bytel takes his spot

Bytel will also be taking his spot permanently at some stage in 2024 or 2025.

I'd be resting Stocker and give Highmore a run

I'd be resting Higgins and give Billings a game as well

[Trev from the Bush]

Never turn out winning racehorses, footballers are no different. An easier week on the track, I'd suggest.

[Scollop]

The players aren't machines

Eventually there's a cost. We know that most young players don't have the tank to play all 22 games of home and away

What are we trying to achieve? Winning the McLennan trophy again

Even with our seasoned players you have to manage the workload. If you don't you are destined to repeat history

[meher baba]

Evidence today that Crouch needs a rest. He was a huge reason why we had done so well in the first 5 rounds but with the five day break, Bytel takes his spot

Bytel will also be taking his spot permanently at some stage in 2024 or 2025.

I'd be resting Stocker and give Highmore a run

I'd be resting Higgins and give Billings a game as well

WTF?

[Scollop]

Never turn out winning racehorses, footballers are no different. An easier week on the track, I'd suggest.

The other thing is that the coaching and system is what won us the game but we can't ignore the signs

Did Brad Crouch look like the player we saw in the first five weeks?

Don't confuse a fantastic team effort with what's going on with individual players.

[meher baba]

Never turn out winning racehorses, footballers are no different. An easier week on the track, I'd suggest.

So you want to ignore the signs for you?

Did Brad Crouch look like the player we saw in the first five weeks?

Perhaps not. But he still looked like a far better player than Bytel. Port are going to be tough opponents: we are going to need our best players.

[Scollop]

Evidence today that Crouch needs a rest. He was a huge reason why we had done so well in the first 5 rounds but with the five day break, Bytel takes his spot

Bytel will also be taking his spot permanently at some stage in 2024 or 2025.

I'd be resting Stocker and give Highmore a run

I'd be resting Higgins and give Billings a game as well

WTF?

If we don't utilise the whole list we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.

I'd be targeting having Higgins, Crouch, and especially Marshall, Pou and Michito peaking around finals time

Don't burn them out trying to win the fkn McLennan trophy

[The_Dud]

I don’t think RTB will be too worried about the length of the break.

These are extremely fit young men still fresh at the start of the season.

Billings and Campbell would be in’s for me.

Hopefully Steele and Membrey will be better for the run.

[Scollop]

Never turn out winning racehorses, footballers are no different. An easier week on the track, I'd suggest.

So you want to ignore the signs for you?

Did Brad Crouch look like the player we saw in the first five weeks?

Perhaps not. But he still looked like a far better player than Bytel. Port are going to be tough opponents: we are going to need our best players.

Have you seen Bytel play a full game this year?

Crouch and Bytel both played in round 1. Bytel got the footy 15 times and kicked a goal as well. Crouch had the most touches out of any Saints player

In my opinion, Bytel was as influential to the win for St Kilda as Crouch

Most here on the forum voted for Crouch in that game against Freo. I think he was voted second best Saints player on ground for the Eastern memorial.

Both coaches (Ross and Justin) saw things differently. They didn't rate his 30 touches for that match

[SydneySainter]

Evidence today that Crouch needs a rest. He was a huge reason why we had done so well in the first 5 rounds but with the five day break, Bytel takes his spot

Bytel will also be taking his spot permanently at some stage in 2024 or 2025.

I'd be resting Stocker and give Highmore a run

I'd be resting Higgins and give Billings a game as well

Definite no on Crouch.

Steele is underdone. Take crouch out of the centre also and that leaves Seb as our leading rover.

We saw enough of that in the Richo years.

[SydneySainter]

Evidence today that Crouch needs a rest. He was a huge reason why we had done so well in the first 5 rounds but with the five day break, Bytel takes his spot

Bytel will also be taking his spot permanently at some stage in 2024 or 2025.

I'd be resting Stocker and give Highmore a run

I'd be resting Higgins and give Billings a game as well

WTF?

If we don't utilise the whole list we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.

I'd be targeting having Higgins, Crouch, and especially Marshall, Pou and Michito peaking around finals time

Don't burn them out trying to win the fkn McLennan trophy

That’s called flirting with your form.

Remember in 2009 when we dropped half the team in round 19.

[nostalgicsaint]

We're not good enough to be resting players. If someone is an injury risk sure but not outright resting.

Organically it will happen just by bringing billings in for someone.

Arguments can be made for Campbell, windhager and Bytel too.

My changes

Out: Cordy, Phillipou
In: Campbell, Billings

Phillipou sub
Windhager back to the twos to get more game time.
Marshall to spend more time forward than previous weeks as Campbell is better ruck than Cordy.

What I think will happen.

Out: Phillipou
In: Billings
Sub:Pou

[Scollop]

Scaredy cats

Trust the system

Bytel will deliver on the system

[Otiman]

We're not good enough to be resting players. If someone is an injury risk sure but not outright resting.

Organically it will happen just by bringing billings in for someone.

Arguments can be made for Campbell, windhager and Bytel too.

My changes

Out: Cordy, Phillipou
In: Campbell, Billings

Phillipou sub
Windhager back to the twos to get more game time.
Marshall to spend more time forward than previous weeks as Campbell is better ruck than Cordy.

What I think will happen.

Out: Phillipou
In: Billings
Sub:Pou

Agree with all of that. I don't think you make wholesale changes but need to listen to the players bodies and I'm sure the fitness crew has metrics they're working to.

[nostalgicsaint]

You can also manage players workloads during the game. It's worth noting some of our players had significantly less minutes this week than last.

[skeptic]

I would really really like to see Bytel have another full game

[SaintPav]

Port news:

Jonas might miss if MRP panel suspends him.

Todd Marshall was concussed and will miss.

Mitch Georgiades looks like he did his knee in the SANFL.

[nostalgicsaint]

I would really really like to see Bytel have another full game

Me too. I'm a big fan.

Challenge is which spot does he take?

Can only really be picked ahead of Crouch, Steele, Ross or Clark.

Only way I can see him coming in is if Clark heads back and Paton/Stocker go out.

[skeptic]

I would really really like to see Bytel have another full game

Me too. I'm a big fan.

Challenge is which spot does he take?

Can only really be picked ahead of Crouch, Steele, Ross or Clark.

Only way I can see him coming in is if Clark heads back and Paton/Stocker go out.

Ppl will bang on about structure but I really don’t think we’ll miss Cordy’s 7 touches a game that much. Maybe we could try subbing Cordy on for the last quarter or quarter and a half for the game if he’s contribution is so valuable.

If Steele is still building his fitness, perhaps he could rest forward for a bit and Bytel can start forward.