Five things I WOULD LIKE to seen ext week...

[OneEyedSainter77]

And we will be in our second consecutive Grand Final.

1) Learn from the mistakes of last year - the Bulldogs came out and absolutely exposed us applying relentless pressure and making us accountable for our actions. Next week we must find that pressure we were able to maintain against Geelong for much of the first half and apply it just as relentless. Most importantly we CANNOT let them get off to the start they did last year - lightning seldom strikes twice.

2) Kosi has to absolutely explode - even if just for one quarter again - I don't care what the Kosi doubters say, if we can get the same input from Kosi as we got in the first quarter last week I will be happy. Preferably though, we get it for longer this time. I want Kosi to have saved everything for this game and if we make it, the following week. Also, our small forwards must be prepared to pounce should Kosi and Roo not get it. But that really goes without saying.

3) The midfield must be switched on. All of them, from the word go. Make no mistake - this game will be won and lost in the midfield. Our fab four especially need to be on top of their game - Dal, Lenny, Joey and Goddard. That's half the job done right there if they play their A-game.

4) Jones MUST tag Griffen. Against Collingwood he was their best player, he absolutely must be the one who we stop. Cross, Gilbee and Griffen are quality footballers and are the three most likely to do the damage. Of these three, Griffen stands out to me as the one to stop.

5) Zac has to take Hall. There is no better match up for him - Bash Zac all
you want but he's the best one on one player in our backline. However, this
is not the only reason I want Zac to line up on Hall. This also frees Filbert, Gwilt and Fisher, three of our most damaging players when left loose. If they go to Hall every time and Zac is sticking to Barry like glue, one of them is free to go back, drop in the hole and take the relieving mark.
Sure Zac may get beaten a few tomes but hey - he's a backman. That happens.

These are the five crucial things we need to happen next Saturday night - I'll throw a few more in that would make the following week easier.

No injuries - duh!
Less reliance on Roo. Save him for the following week. He'll naturally go nuts anyway because he doesn't know any other way to play the game but let him explode on the Big one, should we get there.
Get it done nice and early. A goalless first quarter for them while we kick six or seven means they will be playing catch up all night.

I seem to be stating the obvious but the fact is, these five tactics are not that difficult to employ and surely we should be able to pull it off.

Mark my words, this won't be easy. We will still have to fight for this win. Let's just hope we don't have to fight as hard as last year.

GO YOU MIGHTY SAINTERS!!!!

[saintsRrising]

Re: Five things need to happen next week..

And we will be in our second consecutive Grand Final.


2) Kosi has to absolutely explode - even if just for one quarter again -

While it would be great if it did happen, it does not need to happen for us to win.

If Kosi did explode then yes it would just about guarantee a win.

However if Kosi does enough to go ok and not be outmarked then this will keep his opponent honest and stop the Dogs double or triple teaming Roo, and will provide opportunities for our smalls.

[Enrico_Misso]

The Bulldogs looked pretty sore and tired tonight.

I think we will make mincemeat of them next week.
Tonight they rallied after stinging criticism during the week.
And they rallied for Johnno.
And Sydney had a six day break which meant they tired.

It had all the apprearances of a last gasp rally by the dogs,
as opposed to the beginnings of a serious premiership tilt.

[saintsRrising]

Less reliance on Roo. Save him for the following week.

Unless we get way in front I would not look to "save" anyone for next week., otherwise we may not make it.

Years ago we "saved" a couple of players against the swans and never made the GF.

Yes we do not want to only go through Roo. Dogs were making the mistake of only going through hall in their first half.

But we want Roo to play as well as he can.

[Enrico_Misso]

Kosi has to absolutely explode

Would prefer he did this sacrificial act on GF day in the middle of the Collingwood huddle.
Do you suggest he triggers himself or better to have him triggered remotely in case he presses the wrong button?

[Finna]

Kosi has to absolutely explode

Would prefer he did this sacrificial act on GF day in the middle of the Collingwood huddle.
Do you suggest he triggers himself or better to have him triggered remotely in case he presses the wrong button?

hahahaha - Classic Stuff

[ChicagoSaint]

WBD simply dont have the scoring options, however Hall will compete for four quarters.

Get out of the blocks early, put a handful on in the first quarter and coast.

[saintspremiers]

I am hoping we can get 2 good quarters out of Kosi - but if we get one brilliant quarter out of him like against Geelong, it may be the X factor.

[Thinline]

If Kosi made whoever the hell it is they have left to play on him accountable for a full game, I'll be stoked.

If we win 50% of the contested stuff in the middle, I can't see how they can defend against our forwards. We have too many options.

Equally tantalising is our back half measured against Hall, Johnson, Grant etc... We match up really well.

This game is a prelim. It will be as hard as it gets. But all things being equal, if we turn up to play, we should have them covered in size, speed and skill.

But funny things happen. Look at Bullants v Willianstown in the VFL.

[borderbarry]

Perfect time to bring Baker back into the team.

[Q5]

I reckon we will be a bit slow out of the blocks courtesy of our week off - we always seem to need to run ourselves into it after a break. Wouldn't surprise me to be a few goals down at quarter time. Expect we will get our 'mojo' back in 2nd & 3rd quarters, but hopefully, 4th will be where the rest and fitness pay off...

[Dan Warna]

baker is coming into the GF and he'll do a dean wallis/max rooke and just smash their midfielders physically and legally and illegally

then get a 12 week suspension with his premiership medal and retire.

that is all

[OneEyedSainter77]

Good post OES. you make some good points but perhaps change the thread title to "what I want to happen"

otherwise, I agree with you - Bulldogs will be a tough side.

Not to be unerestimated.

[SydneySainter]

Our smalls MUST get into the game. They were dudalicious in last years prelim.

Lake to Kosi seems to be the obvious match-up, it would be crucial if Kosi lowered his colours, even for a small period.

As for Hall, thinking Fisher might actually be a good match-up.

[matrix]

im hoping i seening a good 30 to 40 point win, where everyone contributes, everyone gets away fit and injury free

[saintsRrising]

As for Hall, thinking Fisher might actually be a good match-up.

I would prefer to keep Fisher in a more attacking role. Besides his record as a stopper is not that good IIRC.

[bigcarl]

Wouldn't surprise me to be a few goals down at quarter time ...

That's what I don't want to see. We need to start well.

[stinger]

Less reliance on Roo. Save him for the following week.

Unless we get way in front I would not look to "save" anyone for next week., otherwise we may not make it.

Years ago we "saved" a couple of players against the swans and never made the GF.

Yes we do not want to only go through Roo. Dogs were making the mistake of only going through hall in their first half.

But we want Roo to play as well as he can.

i remember......still hurts....

[CORDZ]

5 things I'd like to see:
1) Ablett and Swan clash in a nasty incident leaving both with a broken leg.
2) Brad Johnson is the rocket's chosen tag for Dal Santo
3) Malthouse accused of raping one of his own players after the game.
4) Ablett takes off his guernsey after the match to reveal a suns jumper.
5) Didak revealed to be in the car at the time of the alleged rape case.

5 things we will see:
1) either collingwood or geelong will not make the GF
2) We will beat the bullies by more than last year
3) Milne, Schneider, Kosi & Roo had quit GFs last year - watch them shine this year.
4) 3 saints will be in the AA team
5) No major injuries (please)

[TwoTowers]

5 things I'd like to see:
1) Ablett and Swan clash in a nasty incident leaving both with a broken leg.
2) Brad Johnson is the rocket's chosen tag for Dal Santo
3) Malthouse accused of raping one of his own players after the game.
4) Ablett takes off his guernsey after the match to reveal a suns jumper.
5) Didak revealed to be in the car at the time of the alleged rape case.

5 things we will see:
1) either collingwood or geelong will not make the GF
2) We will beat the bullies by more than last year
3) Milne, Schneider, Kosi & Roo had quit GFs last year - watch them shine this year.
4) 3 saints will be in the AA team
5) No major injuries (please)

Love it cordz

[SydneySainter]

As for Hall, thinking Fisher might actually be a good match-up.

I would prefer to keep Fisher in a more attacking role. Besides his record as a stopper is not that good IIRC.

It all depends on the match-up for Fisher. I've seen Fisher do great jobs on Pavlich, Brown and even Hall earlier in the year, but I've also seen Jack Riewoldt and Goodes tear him a new one.

Won't be surprised if he goes to Hall, at least to start with.

[spert]

We're a pretty hardened experienced team, and the best way to get on top of the Dogs is to target and pressure their inexperienced players and put them off their game, that leaves the load on a few of their experienced brigade.

[St. Luke]

Perfect time to bring Baker back into the team.

This is exactly what I think, but at whose expense? Also, knowing Lyon and how he likes match fit players over sentimentality, he'll stick with the devil-he-knows first.

This would be an ideal in-game for Bakes. We'll just have to see. Even if Lyon calls it, it might be just more of his mind games

[Thinline]

Perfect time to bring Baker back into the team.

This is exactly what I think, but at whose expense? Also, knowing Lyon and how he likes match fit players over sentimentality, he'll stick with the devil-he-knows first.

This would be an ideal in-game for Bakes. We'll just have to see. Even if Lyon calls it, it might be just more of his mind games

Give him Johnson. He'll murder the old bastard.