I would like everyone's honest opinion

[NickyDal]

Do you really believe we will beat the Cats at KardiniaDump Park?

[TheGreatZacsby]

I think with all the personnel out we are in trouble and look unlikely to beat them there.

Battle and Wilkie will be on Hawkins and Cameron because Ross will more likely play Schoenmaker because of Dougal Howard’s injury, so we are screwed there. You could argue Cordy will play over Schoenmaker which I hope is the case. I just got a gut feeling that Ross will play the kids.

Sinclair is most likely out and would have assisted our midfield worries because we suck there majorly. If we don’t land a big fish for our midfield this end of season trade period we will never make top 4 no matter how many kids you add. Phillipou is recovering from a hip issue. Windy out means we can’t tag out a Dangerfield, Tanner Bruhn or Jye Clark who are all contested ball winners that hurt teams in clearances.

Tom Stewart normally towels us up. Sharman will have to give up his game and take him out. No Butler in the side too. Darcy Wilson will need a big game as he will be taking his spot.

Webster is quick and takes out stengle every time we play them but he’s suspended so Stocker (who I rate) will probably struggle with Stengles pace.

I just can’t see us winning. I wasn’t happy with the North game at all. We looked cocky, predictable and missing basic skills.but I hope we win!

[B.M]

Very unlikely

They win 80% of games there

It is an unusual shaped ground, they train there, their home ground advantage is significant

It would be an upset imo

[The Fireman]

we will win by 3 goals

Because RTB says so

[cwrcyn]

I can only recall us winning there once in the past 40 years.

I don't see that changing this Saturday. They've had one injury all preseason, Cam Guthrie.

We currently have out injured or doubtful for round one due to insufficient conditioning, plus a suspended player

Howard
Windhager
Clark
Hayes
Butler
Sinclair
Dow
Jones
Crouch
Webster

Seven of those players would have played one if all fit

[spert]

Probably not- our midfield is too slow, and if we can't get any drive from our half back line, we will lose.

[Jacks Back]

Hopefully - yes, but honestly - no

[SaintWiki]

We have just as much a chance of winning in the shadows of the Selwood stand as anyone else, especially having extra time to plan and fine tune replacements.

Geelong's still a pretty good side but we aren't all that bad ourselves.

[Vortex]

Obviously we’ll be throwing everything at winning the game against Geelong but highly unlikely and I think our boys will really be setting themselves up for the home game against the Pies which will be huge because victory against the Pies will mean three straight losses for them to start their season. You heard it here first.

[samoht]

12 of the regular Geelong players are the wrong side of 30 ... including Hawkins 35, Isaac Smith 34, Dangerfield 34, Tuohy 34, Stanley 33, Blicavs 33, Rohan 32, Duncan 32, Stewart 31, Guthrie 31, Cameron 31, Bews 30.

I think this will count against them ... especially late in the game ?

Saints by 30+ points (keeping to the theme).

[cwrcyn]

Smith retired last year and Guthrie is injured, but those other guys are supremely fit and they'll be the freshest they'll be for the whole season. We expect them to slow down but they defy the odds every year. They'll be pumped playing inside their new stands, too. The place will be rocking with Geelong fans going out of their minds.

It's easier to win in Perth

[Yorkeys]

Unfortunately, no. But I'll be there cheering and learning a bit about the players that we field.

[NickyDal]

I think whether we win or lose will depend on a handful of players. In order of importance IMHO is...

Marshall - 25 possessions needed as a minimum and dominant around the ground with relieving marks.
King - 5 goals minimum required and needs to put plenty of pressure to not allow easy exits.
Sharman - 20 possessions and 10 marks needed but most importantly at least 4 goals.
Nas - 35 possessions from half back minimum.
Wilkie - 12 intercept marks required and also help as that third man up

Honourable mention to Bonner. We need him to have 25 possessions and set us up from the back half. If he does that and offsets the loss of Sinclair we should be right.

[Otiman]

Our best will beat any side this year.
Our worst will lose to any side this year.

If we are primed mentally we will win.

Wheelo and Squiggle predictions both have us losing narrowly.

[Otiman]

On Kardinia Park, it's the narrowest AFL ground in the league by far.

It's 15m narrower than Docklands and Moorabbin, and 25m narrower than the MCG.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-16/ ... /101154950

The cats know how to play this to their advantage, similar to how Sydney can build a style around the short and fat SCG.

[emmdee]

I may be wrong, but thought RTB had a couple of wins in Geelong with the Dockers, all about game plan for the ground dimensions.

[saintsRrising]

RTB is not phased by coaching teams to win at KP. So he probably will have a few ideas on how to help us win.

[Scollop]

Of course we can win. We need to win clearances and restrict their opportunities going inside 50.

We can't play a totally attacking (or defensive) game, but I think others have summed it up. Our fitness is good, so we'll come very close if our mids stay on top.

[saintsRrising]

I may be wrong, but thought RTB had a couple of wins in Geelong with the Dockers, all about game plan for the ground dimensions.

Yes RTB has had some good wins at KP.

[Beno88]

We should win.

Geelong will be bottom 6 this year.

[older saint]

Head says no.
haven't won there since Loewe Harvey and Burke were still playing

That said will make a statement if we do regardless of where Geelong end up

[Big Max]

Bookies say Geelong, they are $1.50 favorites, Saints $2.60 outsiders.

But I think we'll win, we finished above the Cats last year and we've got natural improvement, whereas Geelong are clearly on the slide.

[avid]

I think we can win, but with our outs at the moment I think we'll go down by 2 or 3 goals.
Or worse.

[Rubyjo]

Enright will bring us home on this one ..no doubt a massive upset on the cards ..we are basically new kids on the block and will upset the Geelong apple cart .

[skeptic]

Saints win