SF1: St Kilda team vs Collingwood

[Little Dozer]

can people come to the realisation Xavier Clarke is a dud.... has never done anything and never will... was worst on ground on the weekend and with no fitness is an absolute liability

ffs he just came back from a Leg injury had 1 bad game, after being out for 12 weeks and you being a d**khead call him a dud, What position do u play?

Play midfield does that make a difference? Should have never been selected in the first place missed about 12 tackles on the weekend he wasn't alone but has never delivered. Hopefully other teams overrate him like our supporters so we can offer him as trade bait

racist.

What a fool.

[Halo Halo]

Great to see Ball back and Armitage has earned his spot.

BUT dropping X Clarke - when Eddy & McQualter keep their spots? Surely he would have been much improved for the run. His creativity is something we desperately need, particuarly against a team like Collingwood.

Come to think of it, how can Eddy and McQualter keep their spots when X and Birss are out? What did Birss do wrong in round 22? Anyone?

McQualter had been in good form prior to the Geelong game-Im glad he didn't get dropped!! He has been hard at it this season when given a chance!! Hope he has a blinder!!

[St. Luke]

We're clearly not rated by ANYONE to win this! *shakes head* I'll be so incredibly disappointed if the filth run away with yet another win!! I hate them with such a passion!

[mightysainters]

we'll win this... saints love the rebound win...

[Sobraz]

And a last minute change Birss for Ball. Obvious.

The smoke u have when u have no smoke....

whats the chances of a last minute change of Wakelin for Presti?

I personally hope Presti plays....Wakelin killed Kos last time...

This is a good point.. I was very pleased to see Wakelin left out...

In the last 2 pies win he has played a vital role, and is a far better player than Presti IMO...

He beat Kosi last time, and I think Presti might struggle more with Kos if he spends more time forward...

I too hope there isnt a late change to swap these two...

[johnpeterbudgefanclub]

And a last minute change Birss for Ball. Obvious.

The smoke u have when u have no smoke....

whats the chances of a last minute change of Wakelin for Presti?

I personally hope Presti plays....Wakelin killed Kos last time...

This is a good point.. I was very pleased to see Wakelin left out...

In the last 2 pies win he has played a vital role, and is a far better player than Presti IMO...

He beat Kosi last time, and I think Presti might struggle more with Kos if he spends more time forward...

I too hope there isnt a late change to swap these two...

U spoilt the surprise......

[BAM! (shhhh)]

Interesting that X was dropped. Makes it pretty clear that he was a speculative selection - if we get an in form X, much better than Birss, and there's not too much to lose in a game where we're expected to get drilled.

Against Collingwood we don't need the same against the odds run of good things to happen, so we make more percentage type selections.

I'm not sure why this site has gone off Eddy... that rd 22 game where everyone's thrilled with what Birss did? Eddy was better. He's a hard running tackle machine, and while I'd lose no sleep over dropping him for Birss, I'm not going to blink at not doing so either... and I imagine Birss will come in for Ball - I know Lyon said he wouldn't pick him if not fit, and made some comments about how he doesn't believe coaches should pick unfit players, but then he turned around and dropped X, so I'm taking it with a grain of salt.

[evertonfc]

I'm not sure why this site has gone off Eddy

I'm still confident he can have a role at the club going forward, but he had his 'finals' chance last week and did stuff all.

He wasn't alone in that regard, but you know that Birss will - without fail - deliver 16-20 solid posessions and ensure that the midfield rotations can keep ticking over without losing too much.

I'm not a *massive* wrap for Birss but he keeps putting his head over the footy, can kick goals and generally I'm finding that when he's in the play, we're able to tread water while the so-called A-graders take a breather.

Eddy and McQualter have one task at the moment - to stop the opposition - and they failed to do it in finals footy last week, while failing to offer anything on the rebound. So what are they bringing to the table? Yes, they're quite possibly part of the future, but I'd have much rather seen Birss return with X Clarke keeping his spot, knowing he'd be 50% better for the run - and if we won, he'd be right on track to play a big role in the coming fortnight.

I'm pleased to see Armitage get a run, but his upside is substantial and he can win the contested footy. Plus he deserves a finals run, too.

[saintsRrising]

Interesting that X was dropped. Makes it pretty clear that he was a speculative selection - if we get an in form X, much better than Birss, and there's not too much to lose in a game where we're expected to get drilled.

Against Collingwood we don't need the same against the odds run of good things to happen, so we make more percentage type selections.

I'm not sure why this site has gone off Eddy... that rd 22 game where everyone's thrilled with what Birss did? Eddy was better. He's a hard running tackle machine, and while I'd lose no sleep over dropping him for Birss, I'm not going to blink at not doing so either... and I imagine Birss will come in for Ball - I know Lyon said he wouldn't pick him if not fit, and made some comments about how he doesn't believe coaches should pick unfit players, but then he turned around and dropped X, so I'm taking it with a grain of salt.

Eddy plays a different role...

But I think it was more Mini that was lucky..

Perhaps not much in it but I prefer Birrs to Mini...
Both can perform tagging roles but Birss's offensive side is greater...


Birrs can drift forward and is a good mark for his size and is a very reliable kick on goal.

[BAM! (shhhh)]

I'm not sure why this site has gone off Eddy

I'm still confident he can have a role at the club going forward, but he had his 'finals' chance last week and did stuff all.

He wasn't alone in that regard, but you know that Birss will - without fail - deliver 16-20 solid posessions and ensure that the midfield rotations can keep ticking over without losing too much.

I'm not a *massive* wrap for Birss but he keeps putting his head over the footy, can kick goals and generally I'm finding that when he's in the play, we're able to tread water while the so-called A-graders take a breather.

Eddy and McQualter have one task at the moment - to stop the opposition - and they failed to do it in finals footy last week, while failing to offer anything on the rebound. So what are they bringing to the table? Yes, they're quite possibly part of the future, but I'd have much rather seen Birss return with X Clarke keeping his spot, knowing he'd be 50% better for the run - and if we won, he'd be right on track to play a big role in the coming fortnight.

I'm pleased to see Armitage get a run, but his upside is substantial and he can win the contested footy. Plus he deserves a finals run, too.

Pretty much agree. I certainly don't mean to say I'm over the moon about Eddy. He seems a likely type, given time on the field and in the gym he should be a good footsoldier, but I'm as surprised as everyone he's managed to string the number of games in a row he has... but it seems people are going off him between not being a rising star type and holding down a spot while the new "why isn't he in the team" guy (Birss - has Armitage has replaced Ferguson has replaced whoever) waits in the emergency wing.

I wonder if Birss actually benefits in perception by not having been out there last Sunday. Everyone's stats were down - even Fisher and Hayes who got a lot of ball had awful usage numbers. Eddy's 8 tackles are almost as close as you can come to a positive stat for the Saints (Goddard and C Jones look okay I guess), and that's not intended as an endorsement. If Birss had delivered 16-20 touches with his general disposal he'd have been in the Saints top 5 IMO. But it must be frustrating to be the guy banging down the door in the 2s.

I agree on Armo as well - for mine, a finals game in a young player is the most valuable experience you can give them. It's tough because you also can't afford to lose them, but this is what should be firing them to keep getting better.

[evertonfc]

Very fair points and a well-thought out post.

I do wonder how many of those tackles stuck? Seemed like Geelong's midfielders were breaking everyone's tackles with ease. I hated our lack of inside pressure. It was dreadful - and it allowed them to feed the ball to their outriders and move the ball forward quickly.

Still, eight tackles is a good result. I hope he can raise that to 10 this week and get his disposal count to around double that - if he could, I think he'd be a really effective midfielder.

[stinger]

We're clearly not rated by ANYONE to win this! *shakes head* I'll be so incredibly disappointed if the filth run away with yet another win!! I hate them with such a passion!

give you another reason to hate them....well some of them......most on this thread were reasonable........s*** happens ffs......and it was over 30 years ago....



http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=492772

[Mr Magic]

We're clearly not rated by ANYONE to win this! *shakes head* I'll be so incredibly disappointed if the filth run away with yet another win!! I hate them with such a passion!

give you another reason to hate them....well some of them......most on this thread were reasonable........s*** happens ffs......and it was over 30 years ago....



http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=492772

Maybe someone sould remind those toothless dropkicks about Nicky Winmar?

And the whole premise that it was pre-planned assault on Greening is jut bs.