Preview Hawks vs Saints Sat 29 Apr 1:45pm at UniTAS stadium

[StCicatriz]

Just got to the hotel in Launceston and the Saints are staying here. Jack Steele was hanging out in the lobby, he's tall and a good looking campaigner in person, glorious man-bun.

Riewoldt, Membrey, Aaron Hamill, Jamie Cox and a few others have passed through. Hope we smash the Hawks tomorrow!

Have you spotted rors yet

 

[Joffaboy]

And i am getting tired of it. Almost becoming a pseudo saintsational

This place is far better moderated

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Seb Ross was slow inside player with poor clearance numbers and low contested possessions. He was re moulded as an outside running man and has never looked back. Hopefully Luke can get to that point in the future. He might just need time back in the magoos to remind him of how good he is.

Disposals:
season 1 Ross: 8 Dunstan : 19
2 Ross: 13 Dunstan : 17
3 Ross: 16 Dunstan : 17
4 Ross: 18 Dunstan : 16
5 Ross: 26

Do you see the difference?

 

[StKing11]

Have you spotted rors yet

No but I did overhear Rooey telling someone to "get f***ed" so I guess he's in the general vicinity..

 

[Nutsngum]

Dunstan was a bit of a man child, had some bulk to him and has suffered ever since he slimmed down like he no longer trusts himself to go in hard like he used to take the bumps like he used to and let's not forget, he started December drunk and asleep at a park coming off a shoulder reco, so hasn't been ideal preparation leading into the season either, just hasn't been able to put it together so the break will hopefully alow him to get some consistency and confidence and come back better like we know he can play.

This is a really damn unfair appraisal. As far as anyone knows he had a single night on the drink the entire pre-season and overdid it.

 

[freebloke]

Any ITKs know what happened to Dunstan? Attitude or injury?

That used to be Dunstan's bread and butter

In 2014 he would win hard balls like his mentor

Now he puts his head in the hole a couple of times a game tops

Yeah, I haven't seen Luke being soft, the whole midfield just stopped like the brakes came on in the fourth quarter last week. Hard to single out anyone as they were all s**t and listless.

2014 Dunstan wouldn't have shirked the contest, and it's disappointing to see him seeing contact coming and flinching away.

He's wearing 7 for a reason, Lenny would've broken the other guys leg with his face before avoiding contact.

I said it before as well. Bad shoulder reco. GAJ missed an entire season even though he had the shoulder around round 15 or so the previous year.

I think Dunstan should be on LTI to be honest given how he is going and looking. Shoulder reco gets less recognition in the AFL media, but it should be almost a 12 month layoff.

 

[CHBench]

Slobbo's article is up. Hope a few of the boys read it tomorrow morning, a few choice words amongst it, "fake tough" is the stinger.

Can't say I disagree with much of it.

I've cut out the recap of last week, and left Robbo's meaty analysis - just google the headline if you want the entire thing.


Underperfoming midfield is killing St Kilda, and it’s not the only issue writes Mark Robinson

There are positives in the middle, and time and experience will help, but the fact is his midfield is letting him and the team down.

David Armitage and Jack Steven have missed games, but the collective numbers are damning.

The Saints are said to be blue collar, hardworking, tough and resilient, but the numbers don’t show that.

They are fake tough.

Not one St Kilda midfielder is rated elite or above average for contested footy this season and only Jack Steele and Seb Ross are above average in pressure points. The Crows have four players.

Luke Dunstan paid the price this week, but what about Jack Newnes, Jack Billings and Sam Gilbert? All three fail badly in those two areas.

Clearly, the ruckmen don’t do enough. Tom Hickey averages 79 SuperCoach points per game which is below average and Billy Longer, in his first game last week, had 56.

They are better than that, we’ve seen it, but this season, those two have given nothing around the ground, nothing on the scoreboard and nothing in the ruck.

They are killing Richardson.

The whole midfield is killing Richardson.

The midfield group is either 16th, 17th or 18th in the league for disposals, kicking efficiency, uncontested ball and clearances.

Their supposed one wood, contested possessions, has them ranked 11th.

Against the Cats, they were exposed on many fronts when the game was up for grabs.

The midfield surrendered, Nick Riewoldt had a bung knee and ankle which meant there wasn’t a matchwinner forward, and the defence, which has been individually outstanding and only average collectively, was under siege.

Where were their stars like Selwood and Dangerfield?

Who are their stars? Riewoldt and Steven, but Jack’s underdone. Seb Ross is coming along nicely, but he ain’t a star yet.

Who else is there? Who will make a stand? Who changes games?

Two of the best players this year have been Riewoldt, who is 34, and Montagna, 33. Ross, Dylan Roberton and Steven are in that bunch.

The rest of them come and go such as Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey, Billings, Newnes, Maverick Weller and Gilbert.

So, who are the Saints?

They are a pressure team, but have they anything else?

Cats coach Chris Scott said this week on AFL360 the Saints have more depth as a team than just applying pressure.

They do move the ball exceptionally well from the back half to the front half and when they want to, or are allowed to, play the outside game, it can be done.

In Round 1 game against Melbourne, which they lost by five goals after leading by four goals at the first break, the Demons dismantled St Kilda’s game by reducing its ability to apply pressure.

Melbourne kept the ball. The Demons were +59 for uncontested marks and +107 for disposals.

In Round 4 against Collingwood, which St Kilda won by 14 points, the Saints did a Demons. They were +34 for uncontested possessions and +32 uncontested marks.

They can play both styles.

One problem is they have only won the contested footy count once and that was against the Brisbane Lions.

The major positive — and why Saints fans must stick fat — is St Kilda is ranked No.2 for scores from inside-50s.

But its other major problem is it misses too many shots at goal — it is ranked 17th, above only Collingwood, for accuracy.

What a mixed bag the Saints are.

They get ball inside, their midfield is getting smashed, the back-half ball movement is outstanding, they need more stars and they stiffen up in front of the big sticks.

Their goalkicking, like their ruckmen, surely is frustrating the coach.

Richardson often talks about his “kickers and catchers’’, about where forwards run and where the ball is kicked to.

In the opening minute of the last quarter against the Cats, and with the Saints five points in front, they had a situation which ended terribly for them.

Montagna was streaming along the wing and kicked long and high to Bruce against Tom Lonergan. They were 35m directly in front of goal and it was an easy spoil for Lonergan to effect.

As it turned out, Bruce barely contested it and the ball was quickly spirited away by the Cats’ defence.

There was no lead from Bruce, no kick to his advantage from Montagna, and that one moment was an example of the need for improvement in their “kickers and catchers”.

A better kick, a mark and a goal and, who knows, momentum was full swing.

It’s little things like that which can help, while big things like a harder-working and functional midfield can definitely help.

Today’s the day when they have to stand up.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...n/news-story/fd0ed2d660a3f8e78755f2d401306155

 

[bird_man]

I said it before as well. Bad shoulder reco. GAJ missed an entire season even though he had the shoulder around round 15 or so the previous year.

I think Dunstan should be on LTI to be honest given how he is going and looking. Shoulder reco gets less recognition in the AFL media, but it should be almost a 12 month layoff.

Didn't seem to be bothering him in rounds 2 and 3 though.

 

[Verdun]

Slobbo's article is up. Hope a few of the boys read it tomorrow morning, a few choice words amongst it, "fake tough" is the stinger.

Can't say I disagree with much of it.

I've cut out the recap of last week, and left Robbo's meaty analysis - just google the headline if you want the entire thing.


Underperfoming midfield is killing St Kilda, and it’s not the only issue writes Mark Robinson

There are positives in the middle, and time and experience will help, but the fact is his midfield is letting him and the team down.

David Armitage and Jack Steven have missed games, but the collective numbers are damning.

The Saints are said to be blue collar, hardworking, tough and resilient, but the numbers don’t show that.

They are fake tough.

Not one St Kilda midfielder is rated elite or above average for contested footy this season and only Jack Steele and Seb Ross are above average in pressure points. The Crows have four players.


Gotta admit - do not disagree
Luke Dunstan paid the price this week, but what about Jack Newnes, Jack Billings and Sam Gilbert? All three fail badly in those two areas.

Clearly, the ruckmen don’t do enough. Tom Hickey averages 79 SuperCoach points per game which is below average and Billy Longer, in his first game last week, had 56.

They are better than that, we’ve seen it, but this season, those two have given nothing around the ground, nothing on the scoreboard and nothing in the ruck.

They are killing Richardson.

The whole midfield is killing Richardson.

The midfield group is either 16th, 17th or 18th in the league for disposals, kicking efficiency, uncontested ball and clearances.

Their supposed one wood, contested possessions, has them ranked 11th.

Against the Cats, they were exposed on many fronts when the game was up for grabs.

The midfield surrendered, Nick Riewoldt had a bung knee and ankle which meant there wasn’t a matchwinner forward, and the defence, which has been individually outstanding and only average collectively, was under siege.

Where were their stars like Selwood and Dangerfield?

Who are their stars? Riewoldt and Steven, but Jack’s underdone. Seb Ross is coming along nicely, but he ain’t a star yet.

Who else is there? Who will make a stand? Who changes games?

Two of the best players this year have been Riewoldt, who is 34, and Montagna, 33. Ross, Dylan Roberton and Steven are in that bunch.

The rest of them come and go such as Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey, Billings, Newnes, Maverick Weller and Gilbert.

So, who are the Saints?

They are a pressure team, but have they anything else?

Cats coach Chris Scott said this week on AFL360 the Saints have more depth as a team than just applying pressure.

They do move the ball exceptionally well from the back half to the front half and when they want to, or are allowed to, play the outside game, it can be done.

In Round 1 game against Melbourne, which they lost by five goals after leading by four goals at the first break, the Demons dismantled St Kilda’s game by reducing its ability to apply pressure.

Melbourne kept the ball. The Demons were +59 for uncontested marks and +107 for disposals.

In Round 4 against Collingwood, which St Kilda won by 14 points, the Saints did a Demons. They were +34 for uncontested possessions and +32 uncontested marks.

They can play both styles.

One problem is they have only won the contested footy count once and that was against the Brisbane Lions.

The major positive — and why Saints fans must stick fat — is St Kilda is ranked No.2 for scores from inside-50s.

But its other major problem is it misses too many shots at goal — it is ranked 17th, above only Collingwood, for accuracy.

What a mixed bag the Saints are.

They get ball inside, their midfield is getting smashed, the back-half ball movement is outstanding, they need more stars and they stiffen up in front of the big sticks.

Their goalkicking, like their ruckmen, surely is frustrating the coach.

Richardson often talks about his “kickers and catchers’’, about where forwards run and where the ball is kicked to.

In the opening minute of the last quarter against the Cats, and with the Saints five points in front, they had a situation which ended terribly for them.

Montagna was streaming along the wing and kicked long and high to Bruce against Tom Lonergan. They were 35m directly in front of goal and it was an easy spoil for Lonergan to effect.

As it turned out, Bruce barely contested it and the ball was quickly spirited away by the Cats’ defence.

There was no lead from Bruce, no kick to his advantage from Montagna, and that one moment was an example of the need for improvement in their “kickers and catchers”.

A better kick, a mark and a goal and, who knows, momentum was full swing.

It’s little things like that which can help, while big things like a harder-working and functional midfield can definitely help.

Today’s the day when they have to stand up.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...n/news-story/fd0ed2d660a3f8e78755f2d401306155

Do not disagree with this

 

[Sir Skid]

Enough is enough with the personal attacks on this board!

This Big Footy board is a safe place for St Kilda supporters to discuss all things about our team and express different views.
This is NOT Bay 13 or the main AFL board so please tone it down.

We, the moderators of this board, Kildonan Armitage2Riewoldt and I have have observed a large increase in the number of posters potting each other for little or no reason.

We have now recently received a number of complaints from respected posters about the demise of this board and we are genuinely concerned.
We are not about to stand by and see this board deteriorate into a daily / weekly slanging match between particular posters.

IT NEEDS TO STOP AND STOP NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/thre...ead-them-before-posting-on-this-board.324902/
We refer you to the list of Golden Rules clearly articulated by Kildonan above.

Of particular note is rule number 3. No personal abuse. Treat your fellow posters with respect. If you disagree with something someone said - GO THE BALL NOT THE MAN - explain how you see the issue without attacking the poster.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! PLAY BY THE GOLDEN RULES OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES!!!!!!!!

 

[bird_man]

Slobbo's article is up. Hope a few of the boys read it tomorrow morning, a few choice words amongst it, "fake tough" is the stinger.

Can't say I disagree with much of it.

I've cut out the recap of last week, and left Robbo's meaty analysis - just google the headline if you want the entire thing.


Underperfoming midfield is killing St Kilda, and it’s not the only issue writes Mark Robinson

There are positives in the middle, and time and experience will help, but the fact is his midfield is letting him and the team down.

David Armitage and Jack Steven have missed games, but the collective numbers are damning.

The Saints are said to be blue collar, hardworking, tough and resilient, but the numbers don’t show that.

They are fake tough.

Not one St Kilda midfielder is rated elite or above average for contested footy this season and only Jack Steele and Seb Ross are above average in pressure points. The Crows have four players.

Luke Dunstan paid the price this week, but what about Jack Newnes, Jack Billings and Sam Gilbert? All three fail badly in those two areas.

Clearly, the ruckmen don’t do enough. Tom Hickey averages 79 SuperCoach points per game which is below average and Billy Longer, in his first game last week, had 56.

They are better than that, we’ve seen it, but this season, those two have given nothing around the ground, nothing on the scoreboard and nothing in the ruck.

They are killing Richardson.

The whole midfield is killing Richardson.

The midfield group is either 16th, 17th or 18th in the league for disposals, kicking efficiency, uncontested ball and clearances.

Their supposed one wood, contested possessions, has them ranked 11th.

Against the Cats, they were exposed on many fronts when the game was up for grabs.

The midfield surrendered, Nick Riewoldt had a bung knee and ankle which meant there wasn’t a matchwinner forward, and the defence, which has been individually outstanding and only average collectively, was under siege.

Where were their stars like Selwood and Dangerfield?

Who are their stars? Riewoldt and Steven, but Jack’s underdone. Seb Ross is coming along nicely, but he ain’t a star yet.

Who else is there? Who will make a stand? Who changes games?

Two of the best players this year have been Riewoldt, who is 34, and Montagna, 33. Ross, Dylan Roberton and Steven are in that bunch.

The rest of them come and go such as Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey, Billings, Newnes, Maverick Weller and Gilbert.

So, who are the Saints?

They are a pressure team, but have they anything else?

Cats coach Chris Scott said this week on AFL360 the Saints have more depth as a team than just applying pressure.

They do move the ball exceptionally well from the back half to the front half and when they want to, or are allowed to, play the outside game, it can be done.

In Round 1 game against Melbourne, which they lost by five goals after leading by four goals at the first break, the Demons dismantled St Kilda’s game by reducing its ability to apply pressure.

Melbourne kept the ball. The Demons were +59 for uncontested marks and +107 for disposals.

In Round 4 against Collingwood, which St Kilda won by 14 points, the Saints did a Demons. They were +34 for uncontested possessions and +32 uncontested marks.

They can play both styles.

One problem is they have only won the contested footy count once and that was against the Brisbane Lions.

The major positive — and why Saints fans must stick fat — is St Kilda is ranked No.2 for scores from inside-50s.

But its other major problem is it misses too many shots at goal — it is ranked 17th, above only Collingwood, for accuracy.

What a mixed bag the Saints are.

They get ball inside, their midfield is getting smashed, the back-half ball movement is outstanding, they need more stars and they stiffen up in front of the big sticks.

Their goalkicking, like their ruckmen, surely is frustrating the coach.

Richardson often talks about his “kickers and catchers’’, about where forwards run and where the ball is kicked to.

In the opening minute of the last quarter against the Cats, and with the Saints five points in front, they had a situation which ended terribly for them.

Montagna was streaming along the wing and kicked long and high to Bruce against Tom Lonergan. They were 35m directly in front of goal and it was an easy spoil for Lonergan to effect.

As it turned out, Bruce barely contested it and the ball was quickly spirited away by the Cats’ defence.

There was no lead from Bruce, no kick to his advantage from Montagna, and that one moment was an example of the need for improvement in their “kickers and catchers”.

A better kick, a mark and a goal and, who knows, momentum was full swing.

It’s little things like that which can help, while big things like a harder-working and functional midfield can definitely help.

Today’s the day when they have to stand up.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...n/news-story/fd0ed2d660a3f8e78755f2d401306155

It's funny that at the start of last year we thought we had too many inside mids and not enough outside run. I feel like we have really improved on the outside, although our skills let us down at times. But our inside game has not improved one bit.

We keep saying we desperately need to recruit a big inside beast, but we already have a fairly big midfield. So why are went good enough?

Adam Kingsley seems to get a huge wrap from other coaches although I'm not sure the results suggest he's doing a great job.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Slobbo's article is up. Hope a few of the boys read it tomorrow morning, a few choice words amongst it, "fake tough" is the stinger.

Can't say I disagree with much of it.

I've cut out the recap of last week, and left Robbo's meaty analysis - just google the headline if you want the entire thing.


Underperfoming midfield is killing St Kilda, and it’s not the only issue writes Mark Robinson

There are positives in the middle, and time and experience will help, but the fact is his midfield is letting him and the team down.

David Armitage and Jack Steven have missed games, but the collective numbers are damning.

The Saints are said to be blue collar, hardworking, tough and resilient, but the numbers don’t show that.

They are fake tough.

Not one St Kilda midfielder is rated elite or above average for contested footy this season and only Jack Steele and Seb Ross are above average in pressure points. The Crows have four players. CORRECT I've been on this for 3 years.

Luke Dunstan paid the price this week, but what about Jack Newnes, Jack Billings and Sam Gilbert? All three fail badly in those two areas.
WRONG. For the sort of players they are , they are ok, i don't expect these guys to be like Dustin Martin. Though I'm not sure where Gibert is.
Clearly, the ruckmen don’t do enough. Tom Hickey averages 79 SuperCoach points per game which is below average and Billy Longer, in his first game last week, had 56. Supercoach is not a great judge of player.

They are better than that, we’ve seen it, but this season, those two have given nothing around the ground, nothing on the scoreboard and nothing in the ruck.

They are killing Richardson.

The whole midfield is killing Richardson.

The midfield group is either 16th, 17th or 18th in the league for disposals, kicking efficiency, uncontested ball and clearances.

Their supposed one wood, contested possessions, has them ranked 11th.

Against the Cats, they were exposed on many fronts when the game was up for grabs.

The midfield surrendered, Nick Riewoldt had a bung knee and ankle which meant there wasn’t a matchwinner forward, and the defence, which has been individually outstanding and only average collectively, was under siege.

Where were their stars like Selwood and Dangerfield?

Who are their stars? Riewoldt and Steven, but Jack’s underdone. Seb Ross is coming along nicely, but he ain’t a star yet.

Who else is there? Who will make a stand? Who changes games?

Two of the best players this year have been Riewoldt, who is 34, and Montagna, 33. Ross, Dylan Roberton and Steven are in that bunch.

The rest of them come and go such as Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey, Billings, Newnes, Maverick Weller and Gilbert.

So, who are the Saints?

They are a pressure team, but have they anything else?

Cats coach Chris Scott said this week on AFL360 the Saints have more depth as a team than just applying pressure.

They do move the ball exceptionally well from the back half to the front half and when they want to, or are allowed to, play the outside game, it can be done.

In Round 1 game against Melbourne, which they lost by five goals after leading by four goals at the first break, the Demons dismantled St Kilda’s game by reducing its ability to apply pressure.

Melbourne kept the ball. The Demons were +59 for uncontested marks and +107 for disposals.

In Round 4 against Collingwood, which St Kilda won by 14 points, the Saints did a Demons. They were +34 for uncontested possessions and +32 uncontested marks.

They can play both styles.

One problem is they have only won the contested footy count once and that was against the Brisbane Lions. Yes we need to improve at winning contested ball, fit Armo and Stevens may help, but the rest won't.

The major positive — and why Saints fans must stick fat — is St Kilda is ranked No.2 for scores from inside-50s.

But its other major problem is it misses too many shots at goal — it is ranked 17th, above only Collingwood, for accuracy.

What a mixed bag the Saints are.

They get ball inside, their midfield is getting smashed, the back-half ball movement is outstanding, they need more stars and they stiffen up in front of the big sticks. Stars are rated retrospectively.

Their goalkicking, like their ruckmen, surely is frustrating the coach.

Richardson often talks about his “kickers and catchers’’, about where forwards run and where the ball is kicked to.

In the opening minute of the last quarter against the Cats, and with the Saints five points in front, they had a situation which ended terribly for them.

Montagna was streaming along the wing and kicked long and high to Bruce against Tom Lonergan. They were 35m directly in front of goal and it was an easy spoil for Lonergan to effect.

As it turned out, Bruce barely contested it and the ball was quickly spirited away by the Cats’ defence.

There was no lead from Bruce, no kick to his advantage from Montagna, and that one moment was an example of the need for improvement in their “kickers and catchers”.

A better kick, a mark and a goal and, who knows, momentum was full swing.

It’s little things like that which can help, while big things like a harder-working and functional midfield can definitely help.

Today’s the day when they have to stand up.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...n/news-story/fd0ed2d660a3f8e78755f2d401306155

Yet we held our own for three quarters against the cats and their umpires.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

It's funny that at the start of last year we thought we had too many inside mids and not enough outside run. I feel like we have really improved on the outside, although our skills let us down at times. But our inside game has not improved one bit.

We keep saying we desperately need to recruit a big inside beast, but we already have a fairly big midfield. So why are went good enough?

Adam Kingsley seems to get a huge wrap from other coaches although I'm not sure the results suggest he's doing a great job.

I always got howled down when i suggested we needed a better inside "BALL WINNER"

 

[StKing11]

GWS-Dogs game is on at the hotel bar in Launie, a bunch of Saints coaches/staffers/parents are here. Anyway Mumford just smashed Libba and dumped him on his head and after it happened I overheard Aaron Hamill say "I hope Billy Longer is watching this, because he should be able to play exactly like that."

Interesting.

 

[Saint_J]

GWS-Dogs game is on at the hotel bar in Launie, a bunch of Saints coaches/staffers/parents are here. Anyway Mumford just smashed Libba and dumped him on his head and after it happened I overheard Aaron Hamill say "I hope Billy Longer is watching this, because he should be able to play exactly like that."

Interesting.

You got to love Aaron Hamill

 

[Ads734]

I do t think dunstans at all soft. I think it's the way in which he is being asked to play. First and for most play him for longer then 80 per cent of the game. As a player you never forget how to win the ball. He may not have the same confidence in his body at this stage but he isn't soft just out of form.

 

[bennymc7]

Lot of overreaction on here about a form slump.. 3 weeks of 30+ and straight back in

Simple

 

[Tommy Wigs]

Do not disagree with this

Probably. Might depend on the result! 3-3and having had a big shot at two very difficult games. Can't be all as bad as that. If we lose, then he'll be getting closer!

 

[FlyingSledghamer]

Slobbo's article is up. Hope a few of the boys read it tomorrow morning, a few choice words amongst it, "fake tough" is the stinger.

Can't say I disagree with much of it.

I've cut out the recap of last week, and left Robbo's meaty analysis - just google the headline if you want the entire thing.


Underperfoming midfield is killing St Kilda, and it’s not the only issue writes Mark Robinson

There are positives in the middle, and time and experience will help, but the fact is his midfield is letting him and the team down.

David Armitage and Jack Steven have missed games, but the collective numbers are damning.

The Saints are said to be blue collar, hardworking, tough and resilient, but the numbers don’t show that.

They are fake tough.

Not one St Kilda midfielder is rated elite or above average for contested footy this season and only Jack Steele and Seb Ross are above average in pressure points. The Crows have four players.

Luke Dunstan paid the price this week, but what about Jack Newnes, Jack Billings and Sam Gilbert? All three fail badly in those two areas.

Clearly, the ruckmen don’t do enough. Tom Hickey averages 79 SuperCoach points per game which is below average and Billy Longer, in his first game last week, had 56.

They are better than that, we’ve seen it, but this season, those two have given nothing around the ground, nothing on the scoreboard and nothing in the ruck.

They are killing Richardson.

The whole midfield is killing Richardson.

The midfield group is either 16th, 17th or 18th in the league for disposals, kicking efficiency, uncontested ball and clearances.

Their supposed one wood, contested possessions, has them ranked 11th.

Against the Cats, they were exposed on many fronts when the game was up for grabs.

The midfield surrendered, Nick Riewoldt had a bung knee and ankle which meant there wasn’t a matchwinner forward, and the defence, which has been individually outstanding and only average collectively, was under siege.

Where were their stars like Selwood and Dangerfield?

Who are their stars? Riewoldt and Steven, but Jack’s underdone. Seb Ross is coming along nicely, but he ain’t a star yet.

Who else is there? Who will make a stand? Who changes games?

Two of the best players this year have been Riewoldt, who is 34, and Montagna, 33. Ross, Dylan Roberton and Steven are in that bunch.

The rest of them come and go such as Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey, Billings, Newnes, Maverick Weller and Gilbert.

So, who are the Saints?

They are a pressure team, but have they anything else?

Cats coach Chris Scott said this week on AFL360 the Saints have more depth as a team than just applying pressure.

They do move the ball exceptionally well from the back half to the front half and when they want to, or are allowed to, play the outside game, it can be done.

In Round 1 game against Melbourne, which they lost by five goals after leading by four goals at the first break, the Demons dismantled St Kilda’s game by reducing its ability to apply pressure.

Melbourne kept the ball. The Demons were +59 for uncontested marks and +107 for disposals.

In Round 4 against Collingwood, which St Kilda won by 14 points, the Saints did a Demons. They were +34 for uncontested possessions and +32 uncontested marks.

They can play both styles.

One problem is they have only won the contested footy count once and that was against the Brisbane Lions.

The major positive — and why Saints fans must stick fat — is St Kilda is ranked No.2 for scores from inside-50s.

But its other major problem is it misses too many shots at goal — it is ranked 17th, above only Collingwood, for accuracy.

What a mixed bag the Saints are.

They get ball inside, their midfield is getting smashed, the back-half ball movement is outstanding, they need more stars and they stiffen up in front of the big sticks.

Their goalkicking, like their ruckmen, surely is frustrating the coach.

Richardson often talks about his “kickers and catchers’’, about where forwards run and where the ball is kicked to.

In the opening minute of the last quarter against the Cats, and with the Saints five points in front, they had a situation which ended terribly for them.

Montagna was streaming along the wing and kicked long and high to Bruce against Tom Lonergan. They were 35m directly in front of goal and it was an easy spoil for Lonergan to effect.

As it turned out, Bruce barely contested it and the ball was quickly spirited away by the Cats’ defence.

There was no lead from Bruce, no kick to his advantage from Montagna, and that one moment was an example of the need for improvement in their “kickers and catchers”.

A better kick, a mark and a goal and, who knows, momentum was full swing.

It’s little things like that which can help, while big things like a harder-working and functional midfield can definitely help.

Today’s the day when they have to stand up.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...n/news-story/fd0ed2d660a3f8e78755f2d401306155

Cant argue with that.

This is disgraceful!
"The midfield group is either 16th, 17th or 18th in the league for disposals, kicking efficiency, uncontested ball and clearances"

 

[FlyingSledghamer]

GWS-Dogs game is on at the hotel bar in Launie, a bunch of Saints coaches/staffers/parents are here. Anyway Mumford just smashed Libba and dumped him on his head and after it happened I overheard Aaron Hamill say "I hope Billy Longer is watching this, because he should be able to play exactly like that."

Interesting.

Were you wearing a trench coat and sunglasses?

 

[SaintLex]

Why are we acting like our midfield is all of a sudden s**t though? We knew that going into the year.

We made a concerted effort to build our spine first, and find mids later. This was always the in-between year where our defence and forward line had settled, but we were a major risk of getting pummelled in the middle. It's why we bought in Koby cheaply as the stop-gap before we could really top up at the end of the year with a FA or two.

 

[Sab22]

I still have confidence in Ross to be elite by end of the season. Billings, Steele, Acres, Dunstan will only improve as the season goes on. Yes they form isn't the best but they still young and we shouldn't expect them to be like a Dangerfield or Fyfe. Billings isn't a winger, playing him on the wing is hurting us, he can be genuine half forward who can change the game around. Playing the players in the right position is our key. Bruce is a part time Ruck, it effects when he goes forward. Acres doesn't spend that much of time in middle.

I love our backline. With Carlisle and Brown we are bit slow than last year but more damaging this year with Webster & Roberton.

Something is up with our rucks and forwards. We ain't accurate, you expect membrey to kick easy ones but he misses them now.

Maybe the pressure of making finals have gotten on to them.

 

[dct66]

Slobbo's article is up. Hope a few of the boys read it tomorrow morning, a few choice words amongst it, "fake tough" is the stinger.

Can't say I disagree with much of it.

I've cut out the recap of last week, and left Robbo's meaty analysis - just google the headline if you want the entire thing.


Underperfoming midfield is killing St Kilda, and it’s not the only issue writes Mark Robinson

There are positives in the middle, and time and experience will help, but the fact is his midfield is letting him and the team down.

David Armitage and Jack Steven have missed games, but the collective numbers are damning.

The Saints are said to be blue collar, hardworking, tough and resilient, but the numbers don’t show that.

They are fake tough.

Not one St Kilda midfielder is rated elite or above average for contested footy this season and only Jack Steele and Seb Ross are above average in pressure points. The Crows have four players.

Luke Dunstan paid the price this week, but what about Jack Newnes, Jack Billings and Sam Gilbert? All three fail badly in those two areas.

Clearly, the ruckmen don’t do enough. Tom Hickey averages 79 SuperCoach points per game which is below average and Billy Longer, in his first game last week, had 56.

They are better than that, we’ve seen it, but this season, those two have given nothing around the ground, nothing on the scoreboard and nothing in the ruck.

They are killing Richardson.

The whole midfield is killing Richardson.

The midfield group is either 16th, 17th or 18th in the league for disposals, kicking efficiency, uncontested ball and clearances.

Their supposed one wood, contested possessions, has them ranked 11th.

Against the Cats, they were exposed on many fronts when the game was up for grabs.

The midfield surrendered, Nick Riewoldt had a bung knee and ankle which meant there wasn’t a matchwinner forward, and the defence, which has been individually outstanding and only average collectively, was under siege.

Where were their stars like Selwood and Dangerfield?

Who are their stars? Riewoldt and Steven, but Jack’s underdone. Seb Ross is coming along nicely, but he ain’t a star yet.

Who else is there? Who will make a stand? Who changes games?

Two of the best players this year have been Riewoldt, who is 34, and Montagna, 33. Ross, Dylan Roberton and Steven are in that bunch.

The rest of them come and go such as Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey, Billings, Newnes, Maverick Weller and Gilbert.

So, who are the Saints?

They are a pressure team, but have they anything else?

Cats coach Chris Scott said this week on AFL360 the Saints have more depth as a team than just applying pressure.

They do move the ball exceptionally well from the back half to the front half and when they want to, or are allowed to, play the outside game, it can be done.

In Round 1 game against Melbourne, which they lost by five goals after leading by four goals at the first break, the Demons dismantled St Kilda’s game by reducing its ability to apply pressure.

Melbourne kept the ball. The Demons were +59 for uncontested marks and +107 for disposals.

In Round 4 against Collingwood, which St Kilda won by 14 points, the Saints did a Demons. They were +34 for uncontested possessions and +32 uncontested marks.

They can play both styles.

One problem is they have only won the contested footy count once and that was against the Brisbane Lions.

The major positive — and why Saints fans must stick fat — is St Kilda is ranked No.2 for scores from inside-50s.

But its other major problem is it misses too many shots at goal — it is ranked 17th, above only Collingwood, for accuracy.

What a mixed bag the Saints are.

They get ball inside, their midfield is getting smashed, the back-half ball movement is outstanding, they need more stars and they stiffen up in front of the big sticks.

Their goalkicking, like their ruckmen, surely is frustrating the coach.

Richardson often talks about his “kickers and catchers’’, about where forwards run and where the ball is kicked to.

In the opening minute of the last quarter against the Cats, and with the Saints five points in front, they had a situation which ended terribly for them.

Montagna was streaming along the wing and kicked long and high to Bruce against Tom Lonergan. They were 35m directly in front of goal and it was an easy spoil for Lonergan to effect.

As it turned out, Bruce barely contested it and the ball was quickly spirited away by the Cats’ defence.

There was no lead from Bruce, no kick to his advantage from Montagna, and that one moment was an example of the need for improvement in their “kickers and catchers”.

A better kick, a mark and a goal and, who knows, momentum was full swing.

It’s little things like that which can help, while big things like a harder-working and functional midfield can definitely help.

Today’s the day when they have to stand up.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...n/news-story/fd0ed2d660a3f8e78755f2d401306155

Good timing for this type of article. Time to show up in Tassie and show everyone who we are.

 

[austinnn]

I reckon the coaches and players all need a clear the air meeting. Something isn't right.

 

[Diehard Saint]

Good timing for this type of article. Time to show up in Tassie and show everyone who we are.

Very coincidental timing....wonder if Richo gave his "new mate" Robbo a nudge and a wink when they were on AFL 360 on Tuesday night?