Crab watch

[Killa]

Just to keep the Oracle going:-

I recall the match v WB, where they were treating us with contempt in the first half, then we turned the scales in the second half, Billings adding the finishing touches in a win.

Very small crowd in attendance at Docklands from memory, reflecting the standings of St Kilda and WB at the time.

And HOW MANY YEARS AGO was that?

Mind you, I am still dining out on performances from over 50 years ago now - in my mind because it is all past tense apart from Reunion functions where, with the declining numbers in attendance, we relive the past (as no doubt some of us will do at the Champions Lunch at the Norwood Concert Hall on Thursday, the proceeds going to the Jodi Lee Foundation).

I think I recall Lyon saying after last weekend that it is all about impacting week in and week out - because that is the competition.

And that we changed the demographic of the List to focus on youth (and, no doubt, free up the salary cap so we can "go shopping" for a player we need).

Billings was one of those given his marching orders by the powers that be.

[B.M]

Not sure how we freed up cap space by paying half his wage?

The other 250k would be tied into Riley Bonner

[Laurie]

Better paying half his salary and not all of it obviously not in our best 22 moving forward when only a good VFL player at best.
Turns 29 this year and joined the Saints in 2014 should of traded him well before now .
BOOM BOOM

[skeptic]

The other 250k would be tied into Riley Bonner

If Bonner is the trade off, then I reckon so far, that I’m pretty happy with that.
Bonner looks to me to be a much better prospect

[SaintPav]

For Norwood?

[skeptic]

For Norwood?

Didn’t have the best game on Saturday but he’s turned up every week so far and busted a gut.

[B.M]

You’d expect him to turn up - it’s his job

Has he played well

Not really

His job is to kick it well - he is not - and seems to have lost confidence- you can tell because he is going long down the line and not pulling the trigger

[skeptic]

Admittedly his 32 touches weren’t as impactful as the 8 Jack had
Riley had more touches on Saturday… then Jack has had in three of his games combined

[takeaway]

Admittedly his 32 touches weren’t as impactful as the 8 Jack had
Riley had more touches on Saturday… then Jack has had in three of his games combined

Yep, you're right. Billings could never have 17 turnovers on a game, not even near it.

[skeptic]

You certainly couldn’t bank on him having 17 touches a match against quality opposition

[B.M]

Not really true

Billings had 24 in r2
And 20 in r3

Not sure Billings would have 17 turnovers in a game though

[Scollop]

Who would you expect to have more clangers and turnovers?...the inside mid (Seb Ross) or the winger/HFF (Billings)

Incidentally...they both played 22 games in 2019.

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_ ... 019&type=T

Who would you expect to have more total turnovers...Billings in 2019 or Crouch in 2022? Surprisingly its Billings

Crouch wins the clanger count though... easily

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_ ... 022&type=T

The reason Billings gives the footy back to the opposition is because he can't handle heat.

[B.M]

Depends on what kick they are taking?

Is it a 20m chip pass to a free or a 40m to a lead?

Is it a kick out of d50 or a midfield possession or is a kick i50 (the hardest kick in footy)

I’d dare say a higher percentage of Billings kicks are more difficult kicks - given his position - Seb tends to play the percentages given he is not the greatest kick?

Are you trying to tell me Seb is a better kick than JB? Or Crouch is a better kick? Crouch is actually an OK kick for an inside mid.

This is what makes NWM or Sinclair or Hill so effective- they take on hard kicks (albeit generally coming out of d50 which is easier)

Which is obvious
The ground is getting bigger as yo exit d50
And it’s getting smaller as you enter i50

[Scollop]

That's hilarious

Depends on what kick they are taking?

Why assume that Billings was turning it over from kicking?

Most of the time he was handballing to green grass to avoid getting a bruise

[Laurie]

I agree scallop handballs putting his teamates under pressure up in the air handballs to no one not chasing but a pretty boy jog never out of first gear.
Opposition teams knew he was the go through player coming out of defence..
BOOM BOOM

[Yorkeys]

- I suppose the knock has never been on his foot skills in field play.
- And everyone has the right to protect themselves, most don't assert as much as JB, but that's how it goes.
- The thing is he choked terribly on set shots. Feel sorry for him; it must have been awful having that problem when you also know its so important because for most of his Sainthood there were not many other goal kickers.

Probably best he was able to go elsewhere and work on his yips in a club with better players supporting him.

I may always remember that infamous Good Friday v Roos; at the nadir of our awfulness JB had to go for a chest mark on the wing, no opponent was really close but he absolutely bottled it and messed up spectacularly. The look of terror on his face as he went for the ball was terrible to behold. Felt so sorry for him. I think the North supporters unkindly laughed. He should have been called to let it go by team mates, most unkind.

[saynta]

Enough already . This character assassination of a former saints player has to stop or I will be reporting the thread.

It is starting to be defamatory if not actionable

I don't think any senior footballer who player as many games as Billings has can be accused of being scared or too timid to play the game.

And when that or those accusations come from someone who probably never set foot on an oval during a game,it is laughable.

[Scollop]

Speaking of laughing

Is Billings crying all the way to the bank or .....laughing all the way to the bank?

[B.M]

He’d be laughing about the fact StK is paying him good coin to play at Melbourne

That’s pretty hilarious

Do you know

When we play Melbourne
They have 10.25M to spend
We have 9.75

Nice one

[Laurie]

I can only hope he is enjoying his days at Melbourne where his heart is at now.
He may end up being a premiership player for the Scorpions.
BOOM BOOM

[Yorkeys]

He’d be laughing about the fact StK is paying him good coin to play at Melbourne

That’s pretty hilarious

Do you know

When we play Melbourne
They have 10.25M to spend
We have 9.75

Nice one

Lucky its not an auction, then.

And do you mean to suggest a .25 difference not .5?

[B.M]

No

0.5

We pay 250 so have 250 less

They get to go 250 over because we are paying 250 and that’s included in our cap

[skeptic]

Oh Billings

[WellardSaint]

He missed one from right in front, another on the run on the right (wrong lol) foot that sprayed wide...
Then delivered a nice kick to a 2 on 1 in Dees favour.
That last one he does 2-3 times a game.
The first fluffs are de riguer for him

[Scollop]

He missed one from right in front, another on the run on the right (wrong lol) foot that sprayed wide...
Then delivered a nice kick to a 2 on 1 in Dees favour.
That last one he does 2-3 times a game.
The first fluffs are de riguer for him

When a Melbourne player like Billings has the footy and is running into goal there's a hush from the Croweater crowd.

Therefore, Jack hears the footsteps a little louder