Looking great now, AND in the future!!

LovedLintonStreet · Thu 06 Aug 2009 3:53pm

Its a great time to be a Saints fan!

After we bowed out of the finals in 2006, and missed all together in 2007, I feared that we had lost our chance to win that elusive 2nd Flag.

We faced the retirement of some our best players, Hamill, Harves, Fraser, Aussie, Thommo, not to mention the loss of Frankie, Luke Penny, Heath Black, and Steven Powell. Most of these guys were a big part of the 2004/2005 teams.

Our youngest recruits werent setting the world on fire, and we seemed to leave too much to too few, week in and week out.

It was frustrating to see our rivals from 2003-2005 , Geelong, take the next step and become a genuine powerhouse. And then to see Hawthorn overtake us last year, and actually go on to win the flag was a bit depressing. After watching our team improve during the 2003 season, I was certain we'd win a flag sometime soon. After the last few years, that feeling was gone.

Even as good as the 2nd half of 2008 was, it didnt get rid of the doubts. Kosi was struggling to have a real impact, Luke Ball was struggling to get back to his best after his injury troubles, Dal wasnt setting the world on fire, X clarke was continually injured and our gamble on Gardy didnt seem to have paid off.

At the start of this year I thought we'd be a good team, but I in no way pictured us making up the gap on Hawthorn, and even less likely that we'd be able to match it with the benchmark, Geelong.

When I went to the Saintsational website and read InkerSaints piece comparing the Saints of 2009 with Geelong of 2007 I was skeptical. I loved the thought, but I didnt really believe it.

But NOW, to state the obvious, we are looking really good. However it is not JUST the thought of a very real chance to win the 2009 flag that gets me excited. Its the fact that apart from Max, our list will pretty much all still be there in 2010, and 2011.

We are looking really good for a few years. Zac has shown there is a life after Max in the backline, Big Ben looks better every time he plays, Farren Ray has complimented our midfield, Dal is playing like we all know he can, Roo and Lenny are their usual brilliant selves and Kosi is playing more like the Kosi weve all been hoping for. Some of our youngsters like Geary and Mini and CJ have come on tremendously and Joey is in Brownlow medal winning form. Milney has a partner in crime in Adam Schnieder, Sam Gilbert has taken his game to a new level and the every maturing Brendan Goddard looks better every year.

Only Max, Gardy and Steven King are on the wrong side of 30!!

I know none of this guarantees a win on the last Saturday in September but its a great feeling to know we are undoubtedly good enough, and we are going to be for the next few years.

Imagine if Luke Ball, X Clarke and Goose could get back somewhere near there best?

SainterK · Post: # 789448Post **SainterK** » Thu 06 Aug 2009 4:23pm

Isn't it nice just to feel like everything is under control

Con Gorozidis · Thu 06 Aug 2009 4:32pm

same here. i was pressing panic buttons left right and centre. if u look at my old posts i was mainly concerned with our lack of quality/or any players under 23 yo.

all of a sudden we have 11 quality under 23's:

gilbo
zac attack
heyne
mac
armo
geary
steven
stanley
lynch
mcqualter
simpkin

plugger66 · Post: # 789453Post **plugger66** » Thu 06 Aug 2009 4:37pm

Con Gorozidis wrote:same here. i was pressing panic buttons left right and centre. if u look at my old posts i was mainly concerned with our lack of quality/or any players under 23 yo.

all of a sudden we have 11 quality under 23's:

gilbo
zac attack
heyne
mac
armo
geary
steven
stanley
lynch
mcqualter
simpkin

I hope you are right but how would we know that Heyne, Steven,Stanley,Lynch and Simpkin are quality under 23's. They have only played a second tier competition. We would have thought that about players 10 years ago and most would not have come on. As for Armo, he has been at the club for 3 years and played about 20 games so he is at the moment far from quality. history suggests only about 2 of the group who havent played will make it.

shmic_s · Post: # 789454Post **shmic_s** » Thu 06 Aug 2009 4:37pm

ahh, its a great time to be a sainter.

the window is well and truely open for a while yet.

not many at 30yo, plenty of talent coming to their peak over the next couple of years like zac, gilbert, raf, and i still dont think we've seen the best of BJ.

add to that lynch, stanley, steven, armo.......

Con Gorozidis · Thu 06 Aug 2009 4:48pm

plugger66 wrote:
Con Gorozidis wrote:same here. i was pressing panic buttons left right and centre. if u look at my old posts i was mainly concerned with our lack of quality/or any players under 23 yo.

all of a sudden we have 11 quality under 23's:

gilbo
zac attack
heyne
mac
armo
geary
steven
stanley
lynch
mcqualter
simpkin
I hope you are right but how would we know that Heyne, Steven,Stanley,Lynch and Simpkin are quality under 23's. They have only played a second tier competition. We would have thought that about players 10 years ago and most would not have come on. As for Armo, he has been at the club for 3 years and played about 20 games so he is at the moment far from quality. history suggests only about 2 of the group who havent played will make it.

true - we dont know for sure. time will tell. but they look much better than what we had running around a few years ago. its not easy getting into a team that is 18 zip. 3 years in the system is no problem, takes most players until 22 to be any good (daniel rich types are freaks). Raph has been in the system 7 years. Only coming good now.

it is decent 2nd tier. In Stanleys case - he was rucking in the SANFL at 17.

mullet · Post: # 789498Post **mullet** » Thu 06 Aug 2009 5:25pm

Only Max, Gardy and Steven King are on the wrong side of 30!!

Oh to be on the wrong side of 30 I wish

SainterK · Post: # 789501Post **SainterK** » Thu 06 Aug 2009 5:33pm

I am only on the "right" side of thirty for a couple of months yet....what's on the wrong side?

Stillwaiting · Thu 06 Aug 2009 5:34pm

Most importantly the man at the helm of the team seems to know what he is doing, Hard to believe we may have a gunuine "super coach". And yes I had huge doubts for a while, but happy to be wrong