Preview Round 6, 2019: St.Kilda v Adelaide - Marvel Stadium, Saturday 27th April, 4:35PM AEST

[gringo2011]

Agree. Someone was banging on about him not being AFL standard recently - has been huge.

Part of the new coaching style, we gave him a role and backed him in. He always looked like he was playing to save him self from being dropped. Preseason they told him he'd get to use his kicking as a weapon at kick outs. They started to show him some love instead of punishing him for mistakes and it's unshackled him. He was a gun at the Hawks at times and you have backed him to develop into a very high output player. It's taken some time but he's starting to pay off.

 

[VDS66]

Part of the new coaching style, we gave him a role and backed him in. He always looked like he was playing to save him self from being dropped. Preseason they told him he'd get to use his kicking as a weapon at kick outs. They started to show him some love instead of punishing him for mistakes and it's unshackled him. He was a gun at the Hawks at times and you have backed him to develop into a very high output player. It's taken some time but he's starting to pay off.

I'm honestly still coming to terms with how well we structure up and everyone plays their role.

Was hoping for improvement but fair to say they have exceeded our expectations.

Even our "average" list is looking like shrewd recruiting in hindsight.

 

[Lenny2020]

McKenzie for Geary.

Every player is doing their bit and our balance is perfect. McKenzie can lock-down on the best general forward and Paton can find more of the ball in Geary’s absence.

 

[plugger66]

I'd put Marsh in for Gears, Tough strong and competitive.

Not fit enough and completely the wrong type to replace geary

 

[MOLTEN GANGLANDS]

the way we were using savage last year was terrible, he was getting the ball under pressure on the back flank/wing, at the end of a 'fast' handball chain with only packs to kick to so he was just bombing it. Now he's getting it on the switch, often a bit deeper in our defence with targets breaking down the wing for him to hit, and he's hitting them beautifully. His long kicking has really come to the fore now we're using him/structuring up better.

I wanted him gone last year but I was wrong, he's been brilliant this year.

 

[Joffaboy]

Not only JWEB and Savage have been used to bring the ball out.

Wilkie is so smooth and accurate, Battle is accurate and Kent's field kicking is generally excellent.

Lots of slick movement out of defence.

 

[Joffaboy]

the way we were using savage last year was terrible, he was getting the ball under pressure on the back flank/wing, at the end of a 'fast' handball chain with only packs to kick to so he was just bombing it. Now he's getting it on the switch, often a bit deeper in our defence with targets breaking down the wing for him to hit, and he's hitting them beautifully. His long kicking has really come to the fore now we're using him/structuring up better.

I wanted him gone last year but I was wrong, he's been brilliant this year.

Will be interesting how we counter a team that will cover the switch. I am sure Adelaide will. Do we take it wide then open the corridor?

Cant wait to see.

 

[BangersAndMash]

Just thought I’d mention it - ever since I’ve moved into the heartland, within metres of Linton St we haven’t lost a game #justsayin




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[plugger66]

Will be interesting how we counter a team that will cover the switch. I am sure Adelaide will. Do we take it wide then open the corridor?

Cant wait to see.

It’s seems stats suggest we basically only use the corridor inside 50 Every club will know we will switch a lot now so we need to tinker a little this week

 

[VDS66]

These twilight games are doing my head in due to work commitments and my daughters gymnastics.

Sunday's are fine but Saturdays really suck.

 

[VDS66]

It’s seems stats suggest we basically only use the corridor inside 50 Every club will know we will switch a lot now so we need to tinker a little this week

I think if we can win the hit outs, we will win.

Thoughts?

 

[plugger66]

These twilight games are doing my head in due to work commitments and my daughters gymnastics.

Sunday's are fine but Saturdays really suck.

Not great for people who follow local footy either. At least we have tv

 

[plugger66]

I think if we can win the hit outs, we will win.

Thoughts?

I love hit outs.

 

[bird_man]

Not only JWEB and Savage have been used to bring the ball out.

Wilkie is so smooth and accurate, Battle is accurate and Kent's field kicking is generally excellent.

Lots of slick movement out of defence.

I remember last year's game against North thinking this is the worst St Kilda team I've seen move the footy by foot put of defence.

What a difference 12 months has made. Battle and Wilkie have been huge reasons behind this as well as Paton more recently.

 

[SaintSteele9]

Happy to be proven wrong but I feel as though we’ve employed the switch in previous years as well- the real change is that we’re much more efficient with it so far this year. Positioning and disposal I’d say have improved to assist that.

What’s also improved/ing is our ability to defend those maddening run-ons by our opponents where a six-goal stretch flattens us. We were killed off in a number of competitive matches last year in 20-30 minutes, but we seem to be absorbing pressure far better not conceding too much too quickly. Let’s hope we continue on this trend.

 

[mightymalaka]

I love hit outs.

I love us losing the hit outs to so called advantage every week!
It seems we have found the formula to success!
Long may it continue! Dinosaurs became extinct quite a while back
Don't know why it's taken so long for the AFL to catch up!

Loved watching an injured Jack riewoldt rucking against against Grundy a few weeks back
Where he didn't even bother jumping he just waited on the ground watching to see where Grundy was tapping it
And then roved it himself to win the clearance! lol

 

[triggering bro]

Will be interesting how we counter a team that will cover the switch. I am sure Adelaide will. Do we take it wide then open the corridor?

Cant wait to see.

A couple of interviews I’ve taken notice of since the win against Melbourne:

Steele again talked about the teams fitness & said it brings them confidence seeing the opposition gassed when they are still full of run.

Riewoldt on SEN this morning said that we played on more than usual against the Demons because the opportunity was there to do so. The opposition couldn’t keep up with due to their lack of speed & fitness compared to our players.

The Crows are notoriously a slow side. The Crouch brothers aren’t overly quick nor is Sloane although he’s a fantastic gut runner.

The Crows generate from the back half with Smith & Laird. They will need to be made accountable by Parker, Lonie, Long & Kent. Milera out is a big loss for them.

If we play tight on their running defenders & exploit their lack of pace through the midfield then I don’t think they will be able to keep up with our switch. They will be prepared & try but I think we’ve proven so far that our fitness & speed gives us an advantage over most teams.

It’s also worth noting that in 2017 the Crows built their game on getting goals out the back with Jenkins & Betts. Last year & so far this year that strategy hasn’t worked & their scores have dried up.

Another one of our strengths is ground ball gets in our defence so that will help counter the out the back goals.

The more I think about this game the more I think we match up perfectly against the Crows. As long as we maintain the pressure, intensity & discipline we’ve shown so far then we shouldn’t have an issue against them.

 

[st_trav_ofWA]

efa

well i am more than meets the eye...

 

[st_trav_ofWA]

efa

yeah i do need new glasses

 

[st_trav_ofWA]

EFA.

the fat lady hasnt sung as yet ....

 

[triggering bro]

Happy to be proven wrong but I feel as though we’ve employed the switch in previous years as well- the real change is that we’re much more efficient with it so far this year. Positioning and disposal I’d say have improved to assist that.

What’s also improved/ing is our ability to defend those maddening run-ons by our opponents where a six-goal stretch flattens us. We were killed off in a number of competitive matches last year in 20-30 minutes, but we seem to be absorbing pressure far better not conceding too much too quickly. Let’s hope we continue on this trend.

I’ll just add, our switch is far more effective because our fitness & ability to spread is much improved.

It’s been mentioned a bit in the media (King from memory) that tactically our defenders are not pushing up the ground nearly as much as in the past & are holding back. This has meant that defending we are much better due to strength in numbers but also we have more options coming out of defence which especially helps if we have to hit a target out of defence when under pressure.

 

[plugger66]

I’ll just add, our switch is far more effective because our fitness & ability to spread is much improved.

It’s been mentioned a bit in the media (King from memory) that tactically our defenders are not pushing up the ground nearly as much as in the past & are holding back. This has meant that defending we are much better due to strength in numbers but also we have more options coming out of defence which especially helps if we have to hit a target out of defence when under pressure.

Like the other poster said we have switched before. Every club does it but like you said fitness helps but the other thing is switching with intent. Not just to switch but to create the lose man up the line. Means a lot of running and at the moment it’s working. Clubs will counter act it so it will need adjustments

 

[triggering bro]

Like the other poster said we have switched before. Every club does it but like you said fitness helps but the other thing is switching with intent. Not just to switch but to create the lose man up the line. Means a lot of running and at the moment it’s working. Clubs will counter act it so it will need adjustments

My second paragraph also covers off on why it’s more effective. Defenders aren’t nearly pushing up as much which means we have more options in the defensive half to switch.

 

[Yawkey way]

These twilight games are doing my head in due to work commitments and my daughters gymnastics.

Sunday's are fine but Saturdays really suck.

I hate Sunday games with a passion, I guess it just depends on your circumstances.

 

[Southseas]

I've seen a couple of times we switch and hit players that have seen said switch coming and got on their bike - and so we hit them at a decent clip in space, compared to last year when it was a bit stagnant.