The F word

[Enrico_Misso]

Ratts dropped it several times tonight.

He reckons 9 wins will be enough.
So we need 5 more from our remaining 10.

And as Lethers pointed out the next block of 4 games released today will suit us as
- we are one of the few clubs who don't have to travel interstate (all 4 games at Gabba 3/Metricon 1)
- we have a longer break in most games esp. Essendon (6 days compared to 4)
Ratts says the mental side becomes even more important so anything is possible.

[saintsRrising]

Winning 9 out of 17 games to make the 8 may be cutting it fine in what is a very level year so far.

At present there are teams with 4 wins out of 7 not in the 8.

5 may get you there, or may not.

The block of 4 games after the Port game will probably largely determine if we play finals or not. The Dons game in particular I see as crucial as we are both on 4 wins, but they have a game less than us to date.

[Yorkeys]

Most fair draw ever ; every team once is the season. Two trips to Adelaide not withstanding and obvious advantage to Qld teams. If we are good enough we will make finals. If not we have improved markedly, play a nice style and have two new KPP in Max and Dougal. Coach and players and President are settling in with each other and we know we have a shrewd head of recruiting. In a most annus horribilis virus world we are going ok. So far. Fingers crossed. Masks on. I am enjoying not having consecutive losses, aren't you? Long may it continue - GO SAINTERS!

[St.Roly]

I will admit to the kernel of a conflicted feeling starting to grow as the season develops and we continue to remain generally in the hunt for the F-word.

I am struggling badly enough with not attending "home and away" games at the moment. I am fearful I may lose my sh*t if we are in finals that are conducted outside Vic and I am prevented by COVID border restrictions from attending. Moreover, I dare not even contemplate the (admittedly far-fetched) scenario of a GF that I could not attend...

On balance, I know I would ultimately still prefer success in any form but it would be a little bitter-sweet.

*For the sensitive among us, none of this is intended to in any way diminish the very real pain and suffering (physical, mental, economic, etc) being caused by the pandemic. I know I am expressing a "1st world problem".

[sunsaint]

well i want to go the GF word
some are saying that this year will have an asterix next to it
But what if we dare to win it - in a few years those two cups will be as good as any
see it live or not matters extremely very little

[samuraisaint]

Let's keep a lid on it for now, eh.
We've had four good wins - Wouldn't have expected to beat Richmond, or Adelaide in Adelaide, and beating the 'Dogs the way we did was surprise too.

The narrow losses may come back to haunt us though.

In the next five weeks we play Port - haven't beaten them for nine years, Sydney for eight years, and Geelong, only once in ten years, so the next five games will tell us a tale or two.

[saynta]

Let's keep a lid on it for now, eh.
We've had four good wins - Wouldn't have expected to beat Richmond, or Adelaide in Adelaide, and beating the 'Dogs the way we did was surprise too.

The narrow losses may come back to haunt us though.

In the next five weeks we play Port - haven't beaten them for nine years, Sydney for eight years, and Geelong, only once in ten years, so the next five games will tell us a tale or two.

f*** eh? But then again we hadn't beaten the crowlice for 9 years.They had 10 wins in a row against us. This is a new team with their own history to write

[ace]

Sorry Ratts but you will need 10 wins to play finals.
We need 6 from the remaining 10.
10 wins 7 loses is like 13 wins 9 loses in a normal season

If you can't beat contenders then you are merely pretenders.

[skeptic]

Let's keep a lid on it for now, eh.
We've had four good wins - Wouldn't have expected to beat Richmond, or Adelaide in Adelaide, and beating the 'Dogs the way we did was surprise too.

The narrow losses may come back to haunt us though.

In the next five weeks we play Port - haven't beaten them for nine years, Sydney for eight years, and Geelong, only once in ten years, so the next five games will tell us a tale or two.

Sadly it’s most likely the case.

Could be equal first right if we’d gotten on with it in those two games.

[bigcarl]

Let's keep a lid on it for now, eh.
We've had four good wins - Wouldn't have expected to beat Richmond, or Adelaide in Adelaide, and beating the 'Dogs the way we did was surprise too.

The narrow losses may come back to haunt us though.

In the next five weeks we play Port - haven't beaten them for nine years, Sydney for eight years, and Geelong, only once in ten years, so the next five games will tell us a tale or two.

Sadly it’s most likely the case.

Could be equal first right if we’d gotten on with it in those two games.

True, but if we time our run right ... who knows?

[samuraisaint]

Let's keep a lid on it for now, eh.
We've had four good wins - Wouldn't have expected to beat Richmond, or Adelaide in Adelaide, and beating the 'Dogs the way we did was surprise too.

The narrow losses may come back to haunt us though.

In the next five weeks we play Port - haven't beaten them for nine years, Sydney for eight years, and Geelong, only once in ten years, so the next five games will tell us a tale or two.

Sadly it’s most likely the case.

Could be equal first right if we’d gotten on with it in those two games.

True, but if we time our run right ... who knows?

1997 was an example of that - we didn't win the Grand Final because of circumstances beyond our control but we did everything else right.

Lost four of the first five matches - 2 by under a goal, then won 17 of the next 21 matches or something to finish on top of the ladder for the first time since 1965! And our first Grand Final Berth in over a quarter of a century!!

[kosifantutti]

Let's keep a lid on it for now, eh.
We've had four good wins - Wouldn't have expected to beat Richmond, or Adelaide in Adelaide, and beating the 'Dogs the way we did was surprise too.

The narrow losses may come back to haunt us though.

In the next five weeks we play Port - haven't beaten them for nine years, Sydney for eight years, and Geelong, only once in ten years, so the next five games will tell us a tale or two.

We’ve had two wins and a draw against Geelong in the last 10 years, but history means nothing.

[samuraisaint]

Let's keep a lid on it for now, eh.
We've had four good wins - Wouldn't have expected to beat Richmond, or Adelaide in Adelaide, and beating the 'Dogs the way we did was surprise too.

The narrow losses may come back to haunt us though.

In the next five weeks we play Port - haven't beaten them for nine years, Sydney for eight years, and Geelong, only once in ten years, so the next five games will tell us a tale or two.

We’ve had two wins and a draw against Geelong in the last 10 years, but history means nothing.

Judging by this week's matches in which we have broken two long standing hoodoos, you just might be right.

[Sainter_Dad]

Ask Kane-o - he will tell you that there are 17 teams that can win the big one - and we are not one of them. [Exaggerated for emphasis]

His real selections ahead of us are:
West Coast;
Brisbane;
Port Adelaide;
Richmond;
Collingwood;
GWS Giants;
Western Bulldogs;
Melbourne

So he does not even expect us to make the 8.

[Enrico_Misso]

Another step closer to the end of the 9 year drought

[Enrico_Misso]

One more win might be just enough?

[saintsRrising]

One more win might be just enough?

I doubt it.

Pies are teetering but have some easier games still. We only now have the Hawks

GWS and Dees have easier runs home than us. Plus despite our win today the Dees % is much better. We are 8 points up on the Dees, but they have played one less game than us.

The Dees draw is easier than many, and is easier than ours. Dogs Saints Swans Dockers GWS Dons. Dees could win many of those games.

Apart from knocking off the Hawks we need to defeat at least one of GWS or Melbourne. If we lose both of those games and only beat the Hawks both Dees and GWS could be playing finals.

[stkfc1]

One more win might be just enough?

We'll beat the Hawks. Reckon we're good enough to beat any of Brisbane, Demons and GWS, so should pick off one or more of those. We're playing finals. Question is where do we finish? Top 4 not out of the question, if we beat Lions. Big game. Lot on the line for both teams so should be finals type footy, which will be good for the team

Well done Saints. Been a phenomenal season really.

[St Loxton]

We will beat the Lions, I think they are vulnerable and we are hungry. We bring it, we win.

[johnearljames]

Should make it now.

[johnearljames]

We should beat Hawthorn. They are f****** horrible.

[St Plugger]

I might live to regret writing this, but Melbourne are traditionally St Kilda's bunnies. [Like we are to Nth] Even in our darkest days, we seem to achieve agains them. So there's one win and any other and the Saints are there!
Given that, the Saints are learning every game. They [and us] don't yet really know how good they are.
By having to tough it out in the run to the finals, they will learn what the need to do when they get there, and what they'll be able to do, when needed. I'm full of optimism!