Saints poised fror round one trip to sleepy hollow

[saynta]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/gee ... 5eh81.html

"Saints set for trip down the highway

Geelong could open their new stand in a round one Saturday night blockbuster under lights at GMHBA Stadium against last season’s finalists St Kilda.

The match would pit Chris Scott and Ross Lyon’s wits against each other in a game likely to fill the stadium that would have a new capacity of 40,000 spectators.
Under construction: Geelong’s AFLW team with the new stand being built at GMHBA Stadium in the background.

Under construction: Geelong’s AFLW team with the new stand being built at GMHBA Stadium in the background.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images

The Saints have been regular visitors to GMHBA Stadium in the past decade. The two clubs built up a huge rivalry in the Cats’ golden era from 2007-2011 when St Kilda just fell short of landing their second premiership with a narrow grand final loss to Geelong in 2009, and an agonising draw against Collingwood in 2010.

Although the round one fixture is not yet locked in, three sources with knowledge of fixture discussions who could not speak publicly due to the confidential nature of the conversations confirmed the match-up was under strong consideration to be part of round one.
Gary Rohan kicks for goal in front of a packed stand at GMHBA Stadium

Gary Rohan kicks for goal in front of a packed stand at GMHBA StadiumCredit: AFL Photos

The Saints are then hoping to play a home match against defending premiers Collingwood at the MCG the following week in what shapes as a tough start to the season as they take on the previous two premiers in consecutive weeks.

St Kilda made the finals in 2023 as Lyon returned to the club as coach, while Geelong failed to make the finals for just the second time in Scott’s reign after they broke through for his second flag in 2022.
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The opening of the new stand at the city end of GMHBA Stadium was delayed due to COVID-related interruptions to the supply chain, but the 14,000-capacity northern grandstand, which will include a standing room area for 2000 people, will make playing finals at Geelong a legitimate consideration should the club qualify.

[Yorkeys]

Bring me the head of the AFL fixturing guy/gal!
Last round game Brisbane in Brisbane, next two (reportedly), Geelong at Geelong, Collingwood at the MCG.
While I'm sure we will win the first two next season, if the third round is Fremantle in Perth I will be susceptible to a conspiracy theory.

[Vortex]

Never a better time to get Geelong at Geelong.

They will be rebuilding for a few seasons, probably will miss the 8 again.

[nostalgicsaint]

Bring me the head of the AFL fixturing guy/gal!
Last round game Brisbane in Brisbane, next two (reportedly), Geelong at Geelong, Collingwood at the MCG.
While I'm sure we will win the first two next season, if the third round is Fremantle in Perth I will be susceptible to a conspiracy theory.

Personally prefer a hard start to the year.

You want the (perceived) easier games in the depths of winter when injuries bite.

Pies won't have had as full a preseason as us so won't jump out of the blocks.

[chook23]

Bring me the head of the AFL fixturing guy/gal!
Last round game Brisbane in Brisbane, next two (reportedly), Geelong at Geelong, Collingwood at the MCG.
While I'm sure we will win the first two next season, if the third round is Fremantle in Perth I will be susceptible to a conspiracy theory.

Personally prefer a hard start to the year.

You want the (perceived) easier games in the depths of winter when injuries bite.

Pies won't have had as full a preseason as us so won't jump out of the blocks.
.

[remboy]

Bring me the head of the AFL fixturing guy/gal!
Last round game Brisbane in Brisbane, next two (reportedly), Geelong at Geelong, Collingwood at the MCG.
While I'm sure we will win the first two next season, if the third round is Fremantle in Perth I will be susceptible to a conspiracy theory.

Personally prefer a hard start to the year.

You want the (perceived) easier games in the depths of winter when injuries bite.

Pies won't have had as full a preseason as us so won't jump out of the blocks.

I agree. The cats aren’t as formidable as they have been. We should be up and about for round one. The Pies will take a couple of months to going. Perfect time to play them. A home game at the G will help fill the coffers too.

[B.M]

And that’s a good thing?

Geelong have only won 90% of matches there this century

[King Max]

And that’s a good thing?

Geelong have only won 90% of matches there this century

I don’t care what happened in 2000. They lost 2 of their last three against teams that finished outside the eight.

[Otiman]

Last year we had Freo and Bulldogs first two rounds - it was a hard draw on paper and we won both. In hindsight not as hard, but it didn't look good for our start to '23.

[B.M]

Geelong at Geelong is a tough game which ever way you look at it

[Yorkeys]

Geelong at Geelong is a tough game which ever way you look at it

The ferry trip across and the occasion of the grand opening of their renos will make it tough. However Dougal will destroy can't run Hawkins.

[lewdogs]

Well that's a guaranteed round one loss.

[shanegrambeau]

I’d rather start with some soft targets. Momentum please. I dread the ‘brave loss’ against the odds that precedes a slide into oblivion. So if we get the Cats at sleepy hollow, then we beat ‘em. Brand new stadium or not.

[samuraisaint]

Good test if true. If it's at night, take in a local game down there first and have a few cans. That's what I did in 2022.

If we do get Collingwood Round 2 at the G and it's our home game; great! Our younger players are going to love the occasion. Play on the big stage in front of a huge crowd. We could get 80,000+ to that one.

I like the sound of this.

[Vortex]

Well that's a guaranteed round one loss.

Normally I'd agree because of conditioning but I'm going to exercise some very, very early (pre) pre season optimism and predict that if we have one of the best pre seasons in the club's history with absolutely no injuries, like not even one niggle, and all of our players record PBs across the board and Geelong have the exact opposite luck with their pre season and have a similar injury list to ours entering round 1 this year with players like Danger, Hawkins and Co. ruled out...then we possibly pinch a 1 point win, but only if there is a strange weather phenomenon on match day that offers us a 5 goal wind advantage every quarter due to global warming.

#dreamearlyitsnearlyxmas.

[The G Train Legacy]

Any place, any time

[shanegrambeau]

Any place, any time

Kardinia Park
St Kilda
Played 62
Won 13

[happy feet]

Send Collingwood there.

[shanegrambeau]

Send Collingwood there.

Collingwood are exempt from playing at sleepy hollow.

Anyone know the last time they played there?

Seriously, if I may. I believe Collingwood have lobbied and manipulated the fixture in their favour for years. Because they are a ‘big club’ they have muscle. But wait folks, they also play the victim card too. ‘We carry other teams. We carry the league etc. etc..’ ya think if Collingwood were forced to share Colonial Stadium - which was aptly named, to enslave the pauper clubs to support the imperial clubs - they would be doing half as well?

So when do Collingwood go down there? Tell me someone!

[Yorkeys]

Send Collingwood there.

Collingwood are exempt from playing at sleepy hollow.

Anyone know the last time they played there?

Seriously, if I may. I believe Collingwood have lobbied and manipulated the fixture in their favour for years. Because they are a ‘big club’ they have muscle. But wait folks, they also play the victim card too. ‘We carry other teams. We carry the league etc. etc..’ ya think if Collingwood were forced to share Colonial Stadium - which was aptly named, to enslave the pauper clubs to support the imperial clubs - they would be doing half as well?

So when do Collingwood go down there? Tell me someone!

It's a humanitarian thing. If its fans could actually get there they would never get home. They could couch surf in Norlane for a night or two but after that it would become ugly.

[samuraisaint]

I don't mind going there. If we win it will build belief. I don't think Owens, Wanganeen-Milera, Windhager, Matteas, or Caminiti care about us losing there by 121 points in 2002. To them it is just another ground.
We nearly won there in 2021 anyway.

[samuraisaint]

Send Collingwood there.

Collingwood are exempt from playing at sleepy hollow.

Anyone know the last time they played there?

Seriously, if I may. I believe Collingwood have lobbied and manipulated the fixture in their favour for years. Because they are a ‘big club’ they have muscle. But wait folks, they also play the victim card too. ‘We carry other teams. We carry the league etc. etc..’ ya think if Collingwood were forced to share Colonial Stadium - which was aptly named, to enslave the pauper clubs to support the imperial clubs - they would be doing half as well?

So when do Collingwood go down there? Tell me someone!

1999 was the last time. 1995 was the time before that. Twice in 30+ years.
https://afltables.com/afl/teams/colling ... vn.html#16

[desertsaint]

Any place, any time

Kardinia Park
St Kilda
Played 62
Won 13

well and truly due one then.

[Sainternist]

Would be great to break the Sleepy Hollow drought. 1999 was the last time we had a win down there. Rossy will go in with an ace up his sleeve, whilst Jeelong are ripe for the picking!!

[SaintWiki]

If we jump off the blocks like we did last year, it'd be a such a sweet start.