Saints v Roos Game Day Thread

[BarryGrogan]

We’ve out played them for 2.5 out of 3 quarters, and we’re 4 points up.

That is same old St Kilda, goal kicking killing us as usual.

Looks like a completely different St Kilda to me.

Looks like a bunch of dudes that have barely played with each other and don't really know WTF each other is doing.

Which was exactly what was expected to happen.


Having said that - the kicking for goal has been an embarrassment.

Agreed.

We’ve fluffed this by going to small and undervaluing skill and size

Need to lose one of Lonie/Kent for a bigger guy like Battle
And I reckon you can’t have all of Ross, Steele, Dunstan and Hannebery in the team - not enough class

I'm just not sure what Kent really brings. What's his strength?
I find it hard to fathom selecting a small forward that can't kick easy goals.

Unfortunately, Dunstan got too much pill. He worked real hard - but he's the one that we don't actually want the ball to be in the hands of.

Not sure why Roberton was playing either. Really average pre-season (from the games I saw).


So yeah, selection wasn't good.


But having said that, like all clubs there would have been all sorts of KPIs and targets that were dangled in front of guys as selection carrots over the pre-season. So sometimes you have to reward dudes that tick the boxes to maintain your trust and integrity - even if it means the team sucks arse.


Regardless, I still think it will take 2/3 of the season before we gel anyway.

[skeptic]

We’ve out played them for 2.5 out of 3 quarters, and we’re 4 points up.

That is same old St Kilda, goal kicking killing us as usual.

Looks like a completely different St Kilda to me.

Looks like a bunch of dudes that have barely played with each other and don't really know WTF each other is doing.

Which was exactly what was expected to happen.


Having said that - the kicking for goal has been an embarrassment.

Agreed.

We’ve fluffed this by going to small and undervaluing skill and size

Need to lose one of Lonie/Kent for a bigger guy like Battle
And I reckon you can’t have all of Ross, Steele, Dunstan and Hannebery in the team - not enough class

I'm just not sure what Kent really brings. What's his strength?
I find it hard to fathom selecting a small forward that can't kick easy goals.

Unfortunately, Dunstan got too much pill. He worked real hard - but he's the one that we don't actually want the ball to be in the hands of.

Not sure why Roberton was playing either. Really average pre-season (from the games I saw).


So yeah, selection wasn't good.


But having said that, like all clubs there would have been all sorts of KPIs and targets that were dangled in front of guys as selection carrots over the pre-season. So sometimes you have to reward dudes that tick the boxes to maintain your trust and integrity - even if it means the team sucks arse.


Regardless, I still think it will take 2/3 of the season before we gel anyway.

Someone made the point with Roberton...
With no VFL how else can you match fitness into him

[whiskers3614]

Got absolutely nothing against Ratten
but...
can the Richo haters tell me how many 5 goal leads we surrendered through his tenure?

[Scollop]

Lucky the Tigers got 45 points up against Carlton because they would would have also lost

[skeptic]

Got absolutely nothing against Ratten
but...
can the Richo haters tell me how many 5 goal leads we surrendered through his tenure?

How many times did we get 5 goals ahead

[Devilhead]

45 to 14

15 shots to 4 shots with 10 mins to go in the 3rd and with all the momentum

How the freak did we lose that - still cant get my head around it

Interesting to hear how Ratten explains this terrible loss

[Crossy66]

For me there were 3 big killers.
1.Defenders kicking high up and unders out of the backline for 5he entire last half, meaning the ball just came straight back
2. Midfield pressure and run just stopped
3. Forward conversion

Robbo needs 1/2 doz vfl games so Carlisle comes in.
Battle for kent. He can mark and is a beautiful kick for goal.
Steele to go back to doing what he does best- sitting on people

Simply kicking straight , we win by 2 or 3 . Marshall kicks straight we would have won.
Max has to play to get better, but he is way off it atm. His kicking is a worry too.
Congrats to north coaching box. They shut down our most damaging players I.e. hill and members and conceded to our least damaging.
Plenty to work with so no cutting of wrists just yet.

[skeptic]

For me there were 3 big killers.
1.Defenders kicking high up and unders out of the backline for 5he entire last half, meaning the ball just came straight back
2. Midfield pressure and run just stopped
3. Forward conversion

Robbo needs 1/2 doz vfl games so Carlisle comes in.
Battle for kent. He can mark and is a beautiful kick for goal.
Steele to go back to doing what he does best- sitting on people

Simply kicking straight , we win by 2 or 3 . Marshall kicks straight we would have won.
Max has to play to get better, but he is way off it atm. His kicking is a worry too.
Congrats to north coaching box. They shut down our most damaging players I.e. hill and members and conceded to our least damaging.
Plenty to work with so no cutting of wrists just yet.

Max’s second shot was in the rain... I reckon we can cut that one some slack

[Scollop]

I hope Ratten doesn’t do a Chris Scott and talk about Coronavirus

[samoht]

Oh that’s right.... Saints players also practicing social distancing after half time

Social distancing after half time ... καλό, πολύ καλό!

[samuraisaint]

We’ve out played them for 2.5 out of 3 quarters, and we’re 4 points up.

That is same old St Kilda, goal kicking killing us as usual.

Looks like a completely different St Kilda to me.

Looks like a bunch of dudes that have barely played with each other and don't really know WTF each other is doing.

Which was exactly what was expected to happen.


Having said that - the kicking for goal has been an embarrassment.

Agreed.

We’ve fluffed this by going to small and undervaluing skill and size

Need to lose one of Lonie/Kent for a bigger guy like Battle
And I reckon you can’t have all of Ross, Steele, Dunstan and Hannebery in the team - not enough class

I'm just not sure what Kent really brings. What's his strength?
I find it hard to fathom selecting a small forward that can't kick easy goals.

Unfortunately, Dunstan got too much pill. He worked real hard - but he's the one that we don't actually want the ball to be in the hands of.

Not sure why Roberton was playing either. Really average pre-season (from the games I saw).


So yeah, selection wasn't good.


But having said that, like all clubs there would have been all sorts of KPIs and targets that were dangled in front of guys as selection carrots over the pre-season. So sometimes you have to reward dudes that tick the boxes to maintain your trust and integrity - even if it means the team sucks arse.


Regardless, I still think it will take 2/3 of the season before we gel anyway.

Someone made the point with Roberton...
With no VFL how else can you match fitness into him

I tipped we'd get done because we didn't pay their forwards enough respect at the selection table.

Went far too short - No Carlise, then Brown and/or Battle should have come in. Too smart by half - if I could see this and I am only a mug punter, why couldn't the professionals.

I also tipped Cunnington as being the potential difference in the midfield - and lo and behold he was.

When we get coaches and assistants from successful clubs they go into matches with a bit of confidence - they forget they are are coaching the Saints - a team with midfielders who don't kick goals, with forwards who don't take their chances, and wingers who don't hit up targets.

Big mistake. Well, our coaches and assistants will have a long time to rue this loss because it will be a long time before we get a shot at redemption.

[samuraisaint]

45 to 14

15 shots to 4 shots with 10 mins to go in the 3rd and with all the momentum

How the freak did we lose that - still cant get my head around it

Interesting to hear how Ratten explains this terrible loss

We stopped finishing in front of goals - we still could've got home if ROMA had finished in front of goal at the death, but he didn't.

Well, they have a long time to correct this issue because it's going to be a long Autumn and Winter with no games to play. Time to get to the park and practice goal kicking lads, because today was very typical of the past eight seasons.

[whiskers3614]

Oh that’s right.... Saints players also practicing social distancing after half time

Social distancing after half time ... καλό, πολύ καλό!

ton poutso klegane!

[Crossy66]

For me there were 3 big killers.
1.Defenders kicking high up and unders out of the backline for 5he entire last half, meaning the ball just came straight back
2. Midfield pressure and run just stopped
3. Forward conversion

Robbo needs 1/2 doz vfl games so Carlisle comes in.
Battle for kent. He can mark and is a beautiful kick for goal.
Steele to go back to doing what he does best- sitting on people

Simply kicking straight , we win by 2 or 3 . Marshall kicks straight we would have won.
Max has to play to get better, but he is way off it atm. His kicking is a worry too.
Congrats to north coaching box. They shut down our most damaging players I.e. hill and members and conceded to our least damaging.
Plenty to work with so no cutting of wrists just yet.

Max’s second shot was in the rain... I reckon we can cut that one some slack

I remember max' s draft highlight reel where he kicked something like 5 goals 11 behinds or something. Hope he doesn't become a Joey daniher!!

[Secret Kiel]

We’ll learn a lot about us in the next 2 hours

Yep the knowledge will come in handy next time there is a pandemic.

Sorry can't take it seriously. We'll learn SFA about footy. The game is a dead rubber and the players will be happy just to get it out the way and start thinking about commencing thier responsibilities to thier families.

Fair enough.

I'm guessing the players have experienced significant arguments and frustration with loved ones this week in the lead up to games. I'm guessing arguments would have revolved around the PR spin that the player's are taking the risks to themselves, thier families and our communities because they want to "play for the fans."

I've never heard more complete and utter garbage.

It's a game thread feg off with "What you guess" about everyone's private conversations...you're right . We've never heard so much utter garbage come out of your mouth ....but I'm guessing you've got a sewer full to dump....The old pent up rage from a repressed man much?

Stomps foot....mummy! Why can't everyone see the sky is falling? Bet you're still going to the shops, getting petrol, going to work...hypocrite much?

Your children hanging off your coat begging you not to step outside into the pandemic, but you must...

Fortunately the AFL has finally taken the responsible step of helping people like you to now not be distracted by a game of footy.

Good luck to you and your family in getting through this life or death crisis. Hopefully we can resume pleasantries in 2021.

[BarryGrogan]

Got absolutely nothing against Ratten
but...
can the Richo haters tell me how many 5 goal leads we surrendered through his tenure?

How many 5 goal leads did we ever actually get?

[Secret Kiel]

Reports now coming through that there were players against playing.

[The_Dud]

Reports now coming through that there were players against playing.

Wasn’t it something like 88% who voted to play last week? I would assume that means 12% didn’t want to.

[BarryGrogan]

I tipped we'd get done because we didn't pay their forwards enough respect at the selection table.

Went far too short - No Carlise, then Brown and/or Battle should have come in. Too smart by half - if I could see this and I am only a mug punter, why couldn't the professionals.

I also tipped Cunnington as being the potential difference in the midfield - and lo and behold he was.

When we get coaches and assistants from successful clubs they go into matches with a bit of confidence - they forget they are are coaching the Saints - a team with midfielders who don't kick goals, with forwards who don't take their chances, and wingers who don't hit up targets.

Big mistake. Well, our coaches and assistants will have a long time to rue this loss because it will be a long time before we get a shot at redemption.

I totally disagree.

They only had 12 Marks Inside 50 from 44 entries. And 2 of those came late when Thomas took one at the 49m mark, and Cunnington took one on the goal square.

We held them to 8 goals.


I can't see how having tall defenders would have helped at all.

4 things cost us:

1) Missed easy goals.
2) Lack of on-field leadership to steady the ship when they were coming at us.
3) Awful kicking around the ground (related to point 2 to a large degree).
4) Lack of cohesion between defence and midfield.


To be honest, if the season was the continue - I'd expect the same pattern to continue for at least 8-10 weeks.


Agree on Cunnington though. Dude mauled us. Too good.

[Ghost Like]

Reports now coming through that there were players against playing.

I hope you have some names. That's quite damning on a couple of fronts.

[damienc]

A very good thing the season is over. Based on that performance, all it offered was more disappointment. Seriously, 29 points up and we lose by 2. A bloody disgrace.

[samuraisaint]

I tipped we'd get done because we didn't pay their forwards enough respect at the selection table.

Went far too short - No Carlise, then Brown and/or Battle should have come in. Too smart by half - if I could see this and I am only a mug punter, why couldn't the professionals.

I also tipped Cunnington as being the potential difference in the midfield - and lo and behold he was.

When we get coaches and assistants from successful clubs they go into matches with a bit of confidence - they forget they are are coaching the Saints - a team with midfielders who don't kick goals, with forwards who don't take their chances, and wingers who don't hit up targets.

Big mistake. Well, our coaches and assistants will have a long time to rue this loss because it will be a long time before we get a shot at redemption.

I totally disagree.

They only had 12 Marks Inside 50 from 44 entries. And 2 of those came late when Thomas took one at the 49m mark, and Cunnington took one on the goal square.

We held them to 8 goals.


I can't see how having tall defenders would have helped at all.

4 things cost us:

1) Missed easy goals.
2) Lack of on-field leadership to steady the ship when they were coming at us.
3) Awful kicking around the ground (related to point 2 to a large degree).
4) Lack of cohesion between defence and midfield.


To be honest, if the season was the continue - I'd expect the same pattern to continue for at least 8-10 weeks.


Agree on Cunnington though. Dude mauled us. Too good.

A tall like Carlisle who is a good intercept mark would've halted their momentum though - like Sean Dempster used to do - or Sam Fisher. We had no-one there today to do that. They wouldn't have kicked those four goals in the third quarter with a Carlisle or a Battle down back. Shocking decision not to play one of them.

Larkey and Brown took uncontested marks around the ground - particularly near the end of the game - marks they wouldn't have taken had 'they had a big player on them. And a big player down back wouldn't have allowed Cunnington to take marks inside forward 50 - particularly the last one - as they would have provided a contest. And anyway, Battle should've played - no doubt about that for mine.

The rest of your post I'll drink to.

[desertsaint]

Reports now coming through that there were players against playing.

Wasn’t it something like 88% who voted to play last week? I would assume that means 12% didn’t want to.

could explain some of our non selections?

[Secret Kiel]

Reports now coming through that there were players against playing.

Wasn’t it something like 88% who voted to play last week? I would assume that means 12% didn’t want to.

could explain some of our non selections?

Sure could.

[saintbob]

Disappointed but not surprised!!!

Our recruits all performed reasonably well, the usual suspects let us down once again.