Can't take a trick...

[Sanctorum]

It's happened a few times this year, St Kilda facing an opponent that has come under heavy fire following a series of losses and putting intense pressure on players and coaches to turn the team's fortunes around.

It usually results in players rallying around their coach, taking responsibility for the team's poor performances and coming out in the next game breathing fire to annihilate the opposition...and save the coach's career.

This scenario once again unfolds next Sunday when Port Adelaide take on the improving St Kilda at Docklands, having been lambasted in the media for getting smashed at home by a rampant Brisbane Lions on Saturday.

On paper Port Adelaide have a substantially better line-up against our team, their midfield sparkles A grade talent in Ollie Wines, Connor Rozee and Jason Horne-Francis, against a fairly ordinary Jack Steele, Marcus Windhager and Paddy Dow/Hunter Clark.

Notwithstanding these odds I believe St Kilda will also be highly motivated to build on promising performances prior to the bye. The midfield expecialy has done well and Marcus Windhager will probably do a great job holding back JHF. If the forwards can capitalise just a little bit more on the multiple forward entries that the team has enjoyed in recent weeks they should take the points and add to Hinkley's miseries...

[spert]

I noticed Butters had a huge game in their loss last week, and I just think we won't get over their midfield who are faster and better. We might do well in defence and ruck, but we can only hope.

[Vortex]

Where is the mindset of the Port players at?

It would appear Ken is a a dead man walking and the players could have already started thinking about end of season footy trips knowing they aren't in a position to compete.

Has Ken lost the locker room will be answered this week.

For us it's about games into players and preparing for the future so nothing to lose so hopefully we start to see the team play with freedom and continue to develop our quick game and attack on goals.

[mr six o'clock]

This sheit happens every year .
its part and parcel of being a St Kilda supporter.
I heard the score for the first time halfway through the third quarter , saying the inevitable " Oh ! FFS typical we're playing them next week ."

[skeptic]

I never liked this narrative - I know it’s a thing but if a club can fire up because of criticism/the sacking of a coach… then another club can resolve 2 push themselves even harder because the opposition is going to go harden than ever.

To me it reeks of loser mentality and making excuses.

RE Port… people are making a lot out of their 20/1 or whatever record against us since whenever but we’ve barely played them in Melbourne in that time. Will be a big game that’s for sure.

[SaintPav]

I never liked this narrative - I know it’s a thing but if a club can fire up because of criticism/the sacking of a coach… then another club can resolve 2 push themselves even harder because the opposition is going to go harden than ever.

To me it reeks of loser mentality and making excuses.

RE Port… people are making a lot out of their 20/1 or whatever record against us since whenever but we’ve barely played them in Melbourne in that time. Will be a big game that’s for sure.

Agree - total loser mentality.

[Yorkeys]

I never liked this narrative - I know it’s a thing but if a club can fire up because of criticism/the sacking of a coach… then another club can resolve 2 push themselves even harder because the opposition is going to go harden than ever.

To me it reeks of loser mentality and making excuses.

RE Port… people are making a lot out of their 20/1 or whatever record against us since whenever but we’ve barely played them in Melbourne in that time. Will be a big game that’s for sure.

Agree - total loser mentality.

You'd think Port would want to avoid going out in straight sets again and get a good draft pick. Losing to us will help with both.

[SydneySainter]

Interesting thing about Hinkley is that unless you count the COVID “stop-gap” season, he’s yet to suffer a loss against us.

If Barrett is correct and he’s a goner for 2025, this could be our last chance to beat him.

[Vortex]

Port is imploding tonight at the board level.

I have thought about this a bit more and I think this will motivate our club and players.

I'm now convinced a victory is possible for us this week.

[samuraisaint]

Port is imploding tonight at the board level.

I have thought about this a bit more and I think this will motivate our club and players.

I'm now convinced a victory is possible for us this week.

I'm with you. We are not far away from a blowout game. I think it could be this week.

[The_Dud]

Victim mentality

[spert]

I guess it's a matter of teams who are higher up the ladder are generally better than teams lower down the ladder, and those like us who are down the bottom end, have pull out a few extra special things to get over the teams above the as the season goes on. I used to work with a guy who knew nothing about footy, and won the footy tipping by looking at who was higher on the ladder in every game and selecting them, while all of us were mad keep supporters of our teams, and always picked them, hoping that they would win

[MC Gusto]

Let’s not make excuses

They come off a big win and we are no chance as their tails are up

They come off a big loss and we are no chance because they will rally

Ours to win, they are under the pump, let’s take it to them early

[mickey]

We just have to win this one ! No Robbie Gray to torment us. No Dixon to bring the ball to ground for Rioli. Tag Butters and JHF and they're nothing. We owe this club big time and it would be fitting if we destroy their season. Go Sainters !

[Moods]

What about when we've underperformed and there's supposed to be a response from us? Other teams should fear us, but they don't. We should be fresh after the bye playing at home against a team badly out of form. Really, there's no excuses.

[The_Dud]

Let’s not make excuses

They come off a big win and we are no chance as their tails are up

They come off a big loss and we are no chance because they will rally

Ours to win, they are under the pump, let’s take it to them early

100%

[Vortex]

Port is imploding tonight at the board level.

I have thought about this a bit more and I think this will motivate our club and players.

I'm now convinced a victory is possible for us this week.

I'm with you. We are not far away from a blowout game. I think it could be this week.

I think we will start to see a few glimpses of good performances in the back end of this season.

Lyon has had this group now for around 40 games now, games in kids, injured players back, should start to see some connection and cohesion if the group can stay fit and the players get more experience with the Lyon method.

[bobmurray]

I'm just hoping we don't revert to type and play these Port Fookers back into form.

[D.B.Cooper]

Do people genuinely believe that emotion plays a part in the outcome of a game, other than potentially in the first five minutes of a match when they might be fired up and ready to go?

We are not in the 1970's or 80's where Tommy Hafey & Barassi are tearing shreds of the players.

Not sure how this topic is even relevant.

[saynta]

According to the President, this is the forth time this year that we have come up a side that has been under the pump from the press. Don't know for sure if emotion plays a part, but ihave a sneaky suspicion that it does.

[King Max]

Oh my God! The Swans will be under the pump next week. Should we bother turning up?

[bobmurray]

According to the President, this is the forth time this year that we have come up a side that has been under the pump from the press. Don't know for sure if emotion plays a part, but ihave a sneaky suspicion that it does.

Is our President a whinger ?