ross's biggest test as coach ...

bigcarl · Post: # 614586Post **bigcarl** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 10:22am

... is saturday night at the mcg.

a top 4 spot is up for grabs and collingwood is beatable.

the match will be played before a big crowd in a finals-type atmosphere as the stakes are so high.

it is a must win. in fact losing is not an option.

problem is we've made a habit of falling over in must win games and this is what makes it ross's biggest test.

i've no doubt that collingwood will be a dangerous adversary with their backs to the wall. but the same should be said of us given that we've won five of our last six, albeit not always convincingly.

this is a chance for our guys to make a statement that we're not here just to make up the numbers.

JeffDunne · Post: # 614589Post **JeffDunne** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 10:34am

I reckon Ross is doing just fine TBH.

Our problem isn't effort or attitude atm, it's simply player form. We are willing ourselves over the line. We're not getting blown away when we're not in control of games and this indicates to me our structure is pretty good.

We have too many players either injured or out of form.

If Ross has a magic wand for that then sign him up for life.

We simply need to keep working hard and hope everything falls into place in September.

No need for statements, lines in the sand, etc. , just head down, bum up and keep working.

Saint Mik · Post: # 614594Post **Saint Mik** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 10:39am

RL should go and thank R. Shaw for making it just that little bit easier this week for him

.

Every bit helps thank you R Shaw for being an absolute tosser

Some players just never learn hey Eddie

bigcarl · Post: # 614596Post **bigcarl** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 10:40am

JeffDunne wrote:No need for statements, lines in the sand, etc.

i disagree. this is definitely the time to draw a line in the sand.

it's a must win game that we simply must win. will be interesting to see how the club as a whole responds to the pressure.

a loss will signify to the entire competition that we are not serious contenders.

chook23 · Post: # 614598Post **chook23** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 10:43am

Saint Mik wrote:RL should go and thank R. Shaw for making it just that little bit easier this week for him .

Every bit helps thank you R Shaw for being an absolute tosser

Some players just never learn hey Eddie

check your names

WayneJudson42 · Mon 04 Aug 2008 11:29am

Every game since at least round 10 has been a "must win" game.

This is NOT RL's biggest test... This is he players' biggest test IMO.

Nothing that RL does or says will make much of a difference. It will be up to the 22 who run out on the G.

If they are not aware of this, then they do not deserve to play finals.

Saint Mik · Post: # 614641Post **Saint Mik** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 12:03pm

chook23 wrote:
Saint Mik wrote:RL should go and thank R. Shaw for making it just that little bit easier this week for him .

Every bit helps thank you R Shaw for being an absolute tosser

Some players just never learn hey Eddie
check your names

Yes sorry it takes me a few days to get that tossa out of my head also

That is nearly more embarrasing for Heath being called R Shaw

skeptic · Post: # 614643Post **skeptic** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 12:05pm

Saint Mik wrote:RL should go and thank R. Shaw for making it just that little bit easier this week for him .

Every bit helps thank you R Shaw for being an absolute tosser

Some players just never learn hey Eddie

is that you hutchy...

up to ur old tricks i see

Saint Mik · Post: # 614646Post **Saint Mik** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 12:08pm

skeptic wrote:
is that you hutchy...

up to ur old tricks i see

I dont live in rubbish bins with a microphone in my hand

bigcarl · Post: # 614652Post **bigcarl** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 12:19pm

WayneJudson42 wrote:Nothing that RL does or says will make much of a difference.

if that's the case then why even have a coach?

of course he can make a difference.

it is on him to make sure that every thing is right this week.

he is in charge down there, isn't he?

accountability cuts both ways.

bigred · Post: # 614654Post **bigred** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 12:27pm

This is most definately a must win game...As much as one can be.

We lose to the filth and its all over I reckon. Would be nice to go in with some sort of form.

5th to 8th will be making up the numbers anyway.

WayneJudson42 · Mon 04 Aug 2008 1:20pm

Agree Big Carl.

He has to make the correct selectio0ns and have them mentally and physically ready. And get the match ups right.

But in the end, it will be up to the players... to follow thru on it.

Perhaps it's the "clubs" biggest test?

Batnoe · Post: # 614708Post **Batnoe** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 1:30pm

Am looking forward to this game, we can match the pies

JeffDunne · Post: # 614716Post **JeffDunne** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 1:45pm

bigcarl wrote:
JeffDunne wrote:No need for statements, lines in the sand, etc.
i disagree. this is definitely the time to draw a line in the sand.

it's a must win game that we simply must win. will be interesting to see how the club as a whole responds to the pressure.

a loss will signify to the entire competition that we are not serious contenders.

I know where you're coming from but every game from here on in is equally important.

No point getting up one week and crashing to earth the next.

If we keep working, keep willing ourselves over the line, I believe the form will come.

I'm sure too the players will realise that they now have a years work on the line. TBH, I think they realised that at 3/4 time yesterday.

bigcarl · Post: # 614720Post **bigcarl** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 1:59pm

JeffDunne wrote:I'm sure too the players will realise that they now have a years work on the line.

hope you're right.

it took robert harvey nearly being decapitated to get them playing with some sort of passion and urgency yesterday.

i'll take the win, but was totally underwhelmed by what i saw for three quarters.

we'd want to bring more than that to the mcg this week.

yipper · Post: # 614723Post **yipper** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 2:03pm

In fairness, they came back from Perth - which seems to be a problem for players the following week. It was a lacklustre performance due to the massive flooding and chipalotto tactics of Port. We matched them all game for intensity I thought - inside 50's were decisive all day. It was just poor delivery and subdued performances from Milne, Kosi, Hayes and 1 or 2 others along with inaccuracy that stopped us getting a big win. I reckon they'll be pleased with that win and get some confidence that they'll be able to cope with the physical style of Collingwood's game. Hopefully Bally will be ok.

spert · Post: # 614756Post **spert** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 2:46pm

RL knows what he is doing having gone through the season with the Swans leading up to their premiership. I think we still need to sort out he forward line structure -not enough hard leading is done by the forwards, and Milne needs to get amongst the goals next game..Birss may need to come in as another goal kicking option.

A good thing out of this season so far is the winning from behind form we are showing -past Saints teams were never much good at this and it shows RL is getting some fighting spirit into the players.

Interesting how the "bring back GT" crowd are silent now we are showing winning form and are in the race for a finals berth.

nicko016 · Post: # 614760Post **nicko016** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 2:50pm

Big test for RL in what is shaping to be a massive game. We better be up and switched on becuase Collingwood could come out real hard and fired up.

Saint Mik · Post: # 614762Post **Saint Mik** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 2:52pm

spert wrote:
Interesting how the "bring back GT" crowd are silent now we are showing winning form and are in the race for a finals berth.

Bring back who?????????

Dont remember who you are talking about, Oh hang on he was the guy who LOVES (the money at) ST KILDA

He has hurt this club with the $$$$ payout and is no longer welcome IMO

Probably never step foot in the place again

WayneJudson42 · Mon 04 Aug 2008 3:30pm

Please, let's not go down that track, again.

osama milne laden · Mon 04 Aug 2008 4:12pm

according to the sunday age tv guide

'While the top spots may be sewn up, there's still plenty of life on the ladder. You'd think the Pies would slaughter the Saints, but with these two teams, expect the unexpected'.

Washedup · Post: # 614863Post **Washedup** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 4:32pm

it is on him to make sure that every thing is right this week.

he is in charge down there, isn't he

This game isn't RL's biggest test for the year it's the clubs. Whenever we have a poor result it seems to always be on the back of RL's poor coaching, yet when we win, the players get all the praise.

accountability cuts both ways

Exactly, so like i mentioned its the clubs biggest test for the yr, not RL's

it is a must win. in fact losing is not an option.

I agree it is a must win if we have any aspirations to finish 4th, but to suggest that losing isn't an option is ridiculous. Lets see the team we can actually put on the park first. Ball will definitely miss, and who knows what will happen with the MRP. If Goddard and Hayes join him on the side lines that's alot of class missing. We are playing Collingwood, a team that the AFL desperately wants in the finals. The same team that had no case to answer for the Didak jumper punch which Kosi copped a week for, a suspension that i feel was the difference in us beating the Eagles. The umpires have been deplorable the last 2 weeks, i shudder to think how bad it may get next week against the Pies

bigcarl · Post: # 614880Post **bigcarl** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 4:42pm

Washedup wrote: to suggest that losing isn't an option is ridiculous.

if we want to be contenders we must win. it is as simple as that.

ao losing is not an option.

Hard at it · Post: # 614888Post **Hard at it** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 4:48pm

bigcarl wrote:
Washedup wrote: to suggest that losing isn't an option is ridiculous.
if we want to be contenders we must win. it is as simple as that.

ao losing is not an option.

Easier said than done though if you dont have your best cattle on the park

bigcarl · Post: # 614893Post **bigcarl** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 4:57pm

Hard at it wrote:
bigcarl wrote:
Washedup wrote: to suggest that losing isn't an option is ridiculous.
if we want to be contenders we must win. it is as simple as that.

ao losing is not an option.
Easier said than done though if you dont have your best cattle on the park

we've won finals within the past five years with injury/suspension lists that looked a whole lot worse.

sure, we'd look better with max and ball out there, but injuries are a fact of life. every team gets them ... it's not as though they're unique to st kilda.

crisis creates opportunity, as they say, and ball's injury is a chance for someone to step up, as gwilt did yesterday.