I need someone to explain the Freo result

[stevie]

Even though the Shockers are a better team now than most of their teams in their wretched history, the gumbiness of some of their ugly and funnily named players still bubbles to the surface at unexpected times.

[SainterK]

Lenny

[Bernard Shakey]

out of interest, what was the money on Saints beating Fro by 50 points or over leading into that game?

I took a little bit of the $16 head to head. Dumb odds in a two horse race!

[remboy]

out of interest, what was the money on Saints beating Fro by 50 points or over leading into that game?

I took a little bit of the $16 head to head. Dumb odds in a two horse race!

We were $17 today. Did you get on that as well?

[Bernard Shakey]

out of interest, what was the money on Saints beating Fro by 50 points or over leading into that game?

I took a little bit of the $16 head to head. Dumb odds in a two horse race!

We were $17 today. Did you get on that as well?

Nope, still spending the Freo windfall. Also a few bills to pay this month!

[saintspremiers]

out of interest, what was the money on Saints beating Fro by 50 points or over leading into that game?

I took a little bit of the $16 head to head. Dumb odds in a two horse race!

We were $17 today. Did you get on that as well?

But we were away for Freo we were at home.

[SaintPav]

Saints came out with real intent and Freo for whatever reason, gave up after 5 min. They took us too easily and went on holiday 2 hours early that's all.

It doesn't take much.

[dragit]

Anomaly.

[Con Gorozidis]

out of interest, what was the money on Saints beating Fro by 50 points or over leading into that game?

$16
That game is very bloody smelly.

[whiskers3614]

out of interest, what was the money on Saints beating Fro by 50 points or over leading into that game?

$16
That game is very bloody smelly.

Correction $16 just to win.
Over 50 points would have been 100/1 or better

[Con Gorozidis]

And we know Ross had financial problems back in 2011....

[saint-stu]

I think we have an effort problem this year. Our first few games of the year, the bombers game and the freo game would suggest we can be a good team if the players decide to turn up.

The first quarter against the swans was disgusting. So many players just standing around watching. They could do something but seem to not want to or expect someone else to do it.

[BackFromUSA]

Three key factors IMHO.

1) Lyon was trying to develop a game plan that changed his firm structures and released players to attack to a target in order to find the 1 goal a quarter more that he needs to best the Swans, Hawks and Cats. What this new game plan did was expose their defense to more 1 on 1 defending and they failed that test.

2) The Saints came to play in more than one way. Training loads were adjusted by team selection. It is non secret that the young brigade do 1/3 more training load per week (even during the season) to try to bring them to AFL strength and fitness standards ASAP. The inclusion of older players such as Schneider and Fisher meant we had more experience on the park and running to the right spots (and directing traffic) and less players without experience chasing tail and eventually running out of legs.

3) Coaches instructions to play on and attack at all times to beat the Lyon Cage.

The real question IMHO is why have we not beaten Gold Coast and Western Bulldogs?

In both cases I believe it is the play on at all times game plan reverted to the mark / go back / chip back / chip sideways / skow switch / take no risks game plan that can easily be covered by the Mentone U15s. That game plan is so 90s and is a formula for failure in AFL.

When we return to having run and risk from the back half our forwards will get more 1 on 1 contests with the ball coming in quick and hopefully to the advantage side of the contest - like in the Freo game.

[The Fireman]

Looking forward to 2019

[kosifantutti]

I understand the Freo result. It's the rest of the year that has me puzzled.

[samuraisaint]

We used to get up and shock top sides late in the year at Moorabbin circa (79-90) too. Not usually premiership contenders but the third or fourth side - they are usually preparing for finals and we have nothing, so it is like our grand final for the year.
We just clicked and did the hard things, as well as backed ourselves and played with purpose - something we failed to do yesterday. We did alright against the Doggies though. Hopefully we can bring back that same intensity against Richmond next week. They're under pressure to perform now, and we have nothing, so I wil be interested to see how that pans out. Under normal circumstances you would expect an 8 goal flogging, but Richmond traditionally fold under the pressure of expectation, and I have seen us really turn it on against The Tiggers for the last 35 years when the pressure is on them and off us.

[samuraisaint]

We were clearly the worst side before that game and are clearly the worst after that game. Surely Lenny telling everyone he was retiring didnt mean we win by 10 goals against a very good side. Still could be our most amazing victory in my 25 years of following the saints. Maybe beating Carlton in in around 1995 was similar. Anyone care to explain the Freo game?

After the Maggies demolished us, the commentators stated that we had the toughest draw in the league for the rest of the season, and Collingwood the easiest. Enter injuries to key players and how are Collingwood performing?

Even since the Freo victory we have had several players get scratched for the year. Add our inexperience and rebuilding phase the club's in and it all adds up to consistently poor and below par performances.

Collingwood playing a bottom four interstate side, at home, lost by more than we did, so as much as I didn't like what we served up in the first quarter yesterday, it puts that loss into perspective for me.

[Bunk_Moreland]

Pressure.

For some reason Freo decided not to pressure the Saints.

Even in game where we have been flogged, we look like a football team when they take the foot off the throat.

Freo didn't put any pressure on at all, and then couldn't flick the switch.

Coupled with that, some saints stood up, Stanley, Savage, Roberton, Curran and the older players got the required help.

Take off the pressureand the Saints can play. Proper AFL type pressure and defence and we crumble.

[plugger66]

Pressure.

For some reason Freo decided not to pressure the Saints.

Even in game where we have been flogged, we look like a football team when they take the foot off the throat.

Freo didn't put any pressure on at all, and then couldn't flick the switch.

Coupled with that, some saints stood up, Stanley, Savage, Roberton, Curran and the older players got the required help.

Take off the pressureand the Saints can play. Proper AFL type pressure and defence and we crumble.

I totally agree but why wasnt there proper AFL pressure

[sainters85]

Pressure.

For some reason Freo decided not to pressure the Saints.

Even in game where we have been flogged, we look like a football team when they take the foot off the throat.

Freo didn't put any pressure on at all, and then couldn't flick the switch.

Coupled with that, some saints stood up, Stanley, Savage, Roberton, Curran and the older players got the required help.

Take off the pressureand the Saints can play. Proper AFL type pressure and defence and we crumble.

I totally agree but why wasnt there proper AFL pressure

Maybe because Ross loves Milney, Kosi, Blake and Lenny?

Last year Freo didn't come to play either and had half their players out
This year they pretty much had their full team but they didn't play at all

[Bunk_Moreland]

Pressure.

For some reason Freo decided not to pressure the Saints.

Even in game where we have been flogged, we look like a football team when they take the foot off the throat.

Freo didn't put any pressure on at all, and then couldn't flick the switch.

Coupled with that, some saints stood up, Stanley, Savage, Roberton, Curran and the older players got the required help.

Take off the pressureand the Saints can play. Proper AFL type pressure and defence and we crumble.

I totally agree but why wasnt there proper AFL pressure

Maybe because Ross loves Milney, Kosi, Blake and Lenny?

Last year Freo didn't come to play either and had half their players out
This year they pretty much had their full team but they didn't play at all

Sandilands and Ballatyne are vital to their structure.

P66, just think they were mentally switched off, supposed easy game, bye coming up, just turn up to win.

After the first ten minutes I though, Freo look all over the place, and they couldn't just switch it on.

I remember the great Geelong team getting flogged in 2007 or 2008 by 80 points, we pumped the 95 Carlton team who only lost two games for the year.

We beat Sydney by 100 point with four or five out i 1997 or 1998.

It just happens sometimes

[Bunk_Moreland]

Watching them against Hawthorn, really there is no reason

[Cairnsman]

Freo are timing their run perfectly...Ross has got them up and about at the right time and if they get what's his name back in the team and firing in September...watch out!

[Con Gorozidis]

Freo are timing their run perfectly...Ross has got them up and about at the right time and if they get what's his name back in the team and firing in September...watch out!

Loved seeing Fyfe give Lewis one. Lewis has been clouting blokes for a decade. Probably cop a week but worth his while.

[whiskers3614]

Freo are timing their run perfectly...Ross has got them up and about at the right time and if they get what's his name back in the team and firing in September...watch out!

Has Lyon got enough room in his trophy cabinet for another runners-up trophy?