Autopsy Round 4, 2025 - Saints upset Port in Adelaide!

[pebblesofsand]

Heath?

Heath hasn’t shown a single thing that makes him look close to an AFL gig.

At this point he would be one of the first names for a delisting at seasons end.

Keeler has had one possession by half time in all of his games and has been easily beaten in pretty much every marking contest in the fwd half.

Don't doubt he's got a better skillset than Heath but we aren't talking about swapping out Marshall's outputs for Heaths. Its swapping out not very much for another sort of not very much.

 

[Saintbloke]

That’s a win that will leave me happy all week.

Fantastic result for us.

But let’s not let the winning form paper over the Ryan Byrnes cracks in the backline.

Overall Byrnes played a good game, and a lot of players on both sides made errors here and there in such a pressure game. If anything I was more concerned with how Windy coughed up the ball under pressure a bit too often around the middle of the ground, but it's something that will improve as he matures. A top team effort.

 

[Diehard Saint]

Selection will be interesting. I like Keeler but surely we can't keep playing him when he's so easily beaten in marking contests, and is just thrown aside in the ruck unless he can get a run and jump at it. Butler and Henry will have to keep banging the door down while Higgo, Collard and Hall keep performing. From training reports it sounds like King is nowhere near ready but we need another big target up forward so I'd go with Boyd replacing Keeler. I'd basically instruct him to treat overhead marking contests like the ruck - palm it down to the advantage of Higgins/Collard/Hall/Owens.

Out: Keeler, Byrnes
In: Boyd, Steele

B: Webster, Wilkie, Stocker
HB: Nas, Caminiti, Sinclair
C: Hill, Steele, Wilson
HF: Higgins, Sharman, Wood
F: Collard, Owens, Boyd

Foll: Marshall, MaCra, Windhager
Int: Jones, Hall, Garcia, Hastie
Sub: Travaglia

If/when Keeler ( read anyone) is good enough, he’ll get a go.
Huge competition for spots right now - just the way it should be. Ask Butler. Interested to see when he gets in. Collard and Hall deserve tp keep their spots right now.

 

[stavro#4]

The kid has kicked a bag of 5 at VFL level despite clearly being best suited to playing ruck. 43 goals from 50 VFL games, has had 59 hitouts in a game.

Was he not named emergency at times last year? That suggests he was pretty close to an AFL gig. Still only 22 years old. Not many rucks have accomplished anything at that age.

Mate.

Gus McLennan got games last year and I wouldn’t have him anywhere near this 22 (23).

You don’t draft a ruck and throw 1.7m at another if your belief is that Heath is going to make it.

And to replace Keeler. Who - whilst not great. Shows afl traits with his athleticism.

Heath is like a giraffe

 

[stavro#4]

Keeler has had one possession by half time in all of his games and has been easily beaten in pretty much every marking contest in the fwd half.

Don't doubt he's got a better skillset than Heath but we aren't talking about swapping out Marshall's outputs for Heaths. Its swapping out not very much for another sort of not very much.

Sure.

But he got games off the back of taking his opportunities in the small time he got. Took marks. Had an impact.

Heath can’t even get himself to the level to give himself a go. He was immediately replaced by Boyd in the pecking order and then jumped by Keeler.

It’s okay not to believe every kid is going to make it. Thinking Heath can just come in and contribute more has no basis to it.

 

[Verdun]

Just watched the replay, and you’re spot on.
Got him around the neck.
Apologies Jonesy.

To be fair Jones (and I'm a fan) should have got rid of it before the clothesline.

 

[stavro#4]

To be fair Jones (and I'm a fan) should have got rid of it before the clothesline.

Yes.

But it still was a free.

Had that happened at the other end of the ground and Owens applied the same tackle to Rozee.

Would we have been given the HTB free? I highly doubt it.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Just watched Hinkley's press conference, haha seething just below the surface.

 

[sauce_head]

Coops is a big game player- does the right things at the right time.

He was good at certain times. My only criticism of him was not halving quite a few marking contests down the line. He’s a bit under sized for that to be fair but would have helped to at least get a fist there.

Otherwise a great game again.

 

[Verdun]

Yes.

But it still was a free.

Had that happened at the other end of the ground and Owens applied the same tackle to Rozee.

Would we have been given the HTB free? I highly doubt it.

Yep totally agree....but watching it my first thought was he should have got rid of it earlier.

Yes it should have been a free to Jones.

 

[BrutThough]

If you are still pumped up don't listen back on Kane's take this morning. Still 'holding' on a bottom four finish for us and only banged on about how mid field vs. mid field the result didn't make sense.

Nothing worse than a media muppet who cant admit they maybe got something wrong.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

I'm not sure if Arie would be much more competitive than Keeler. Has similar issues with physicality/strength at the moment. Despite conceding a few, I think Hammer is progressing very well for a raw young key defender and should be allowed to settle there - we've seen how being thrown back and forth worked for Battle and Sharman.

Bit of a shame that Heath is injured as he's shown that he can be a presence up forward at times. We just need a tall target who can be a long bomb option at times and bring the ball to the ground. Unfortunately Keeler just gets outbodied and beaten in the air too easily at the moment. A fit Jack Hayes sure would be handy.

It wouldn't surprise me if we rush an underdone and unfit King back, TBH.

There’s always Cordy up fwd although he appears to be injured as well???

 

[Saintos The ITK]

If you are still pumped up don't listen back on Kane's take this morning. Still 'holding' on a bottom four finish for us and only banged on about how mid field vs. mid field the result didn't make sense.

There’s nothing worse than a stubborn midwit.

 

[BrutThough]

Fantastic performance. To not just hold on, but get those crucial goals late to create a buffer showed a lt of growth in the group.

The improvement from Collard since preseason has been incredible. The tackle and defensive intent we have seen in games is not what we were seeing in the preseason. Obviously the switch has flicked in his mind about what it takes to play at the level and it's great to watch.

 

[pebblesofsand]

Sure.

But he got games off the back of taking his opportunities in the small time he got. Took marks. Had an impact.

Heath can’t even get himself to the level to give himself a go. He was immediately replaced by Boyd in the pecking order and then jumped by Keeler.

It’s okay not to believe every kid is going to make it. Thinking Heath can just come in and contribute more has no basis to it.

You might have an argument if Keeler was setting the bar somewhere above limbo level - simple fact is that he isn't. His contributions have been minimal.

You can be athletic as you like but its all a bit useless if you can't win the ball or halve contests.

 

[beside the seaside]

If you are still pumped up don't listen back on Kane's take this morning. Still 'holding' on a bottom four finish for us and only banged on about how mid field vs. mid field the result didn't make sense.

Bottom 4 lol.
To be fair plenty had us there.
But that's a horrible take.

 

[Joffaboy]

The kid has kicked a bag of 5 at VFL level despite clearly being best suited to playing ruck. 43 goals from 50 VFL games, has had 59 hitouts in a game.

Was he not named emergency at times last year? That suggests he was pretty close to an AFL gig. Still only 22 years old. Not many rucks have accomplished anything at that age.

Heath has not come on, is a slug and if we get TDK will be guaranteed to be delisted at years end.
Boyd is a much better option. We have Keeler and Dodson. Heath will make a good VFL ruckman.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

You might have an argument if Keeler was setting the bar somewhere above limbo level - simple fact is that he isn't. His contributions have been minimal.

You can be athletic as you like but its all a bit useless if you can't win the ball or halve contests.

True. We haven’t lost anything though by playing Keeler, and blokes like Hastie and Collard for that matter. It definitely shows them the level they need to be at.
Need to be a bit careful with Keels though I think, that we don’t knock the confidence out of him.

 

[beside the seaside]

Fantastic performance. To not just hold on, but get those crucial goals late to create a buffer showed a lt of growth in the group.

The improvement from Collard since preseason has been incredible. The tackle and defensive intent we have seen in games is not what we were seeing in the preseason. Obviously the switch has flicked in his mind about what it takes to play at the level and it's great to watch.

The thing that Collard has on top of his pressure is he's absolute silk. So skillful. Wonderful to see him coming of age as a footballer.

If we can find a way to get Butler and Henry and of course King we could have one of the most potent forward lines in the comp.

This is a line that has been as much of an issue as the midfield in my opinion so it's really pleasing to see.

 

[phantom13]

I think it bares mentioning that Keeler looked absolutely ****ing shot to pieces after the Geelong game. Id wager hes still not fully recovered, big kids usually struggle with backing up week to week.

No doubt when King is available hell be given a spell but hes doing a job right now.

If we have a major strength at the moment its adaptability. Byrnes goes for me, he tries his heart out but too many costly errors. Wood to regain his defensive wing position. Henry to take the high HF and Steele back probably for Hastie.

Pick your sub from whoever.

 

[phantom13]

The thing that Collard has on top of his pressure is he's absolute silk. So skillful. Wonderful to see him coming of age as a footballer.

If we can find a way to get Butler and Henry and of course King we could have one of the most potent forward lines in the comp.

This is a line that has been as much of an issue as the midfield in my opinion so it's really pleasing to see.

The play that ended with his goal was just three superb individual efforts.

Macrae the clearance under immense pressure. Sharman the gather, step and depth kick. Collard the outrageous turning bump, mark.

Im sure Macrae is getting his roses but he deserves more, has totally changed our midfield profile and look.

 

[L_W_P]

Rekon we just play Keeler until King is ready. He might only have 2 kicks but he draws a decent defender and can be used to give RoMa a chop out.

If Heath is done then the other other option I can really see would be giving Arie games as a forward.

 

[sammm]

Same here. Seen it so many times. Said in the game thread. ‘Please let us break their hearts for a change’. We owe them quite a few!

And the boys delivered.

i couldn't watch it much either. but saw the last 5 minutes.

 

[Sully111]

He was good at certain times. My only criticism of him was not halving quite a few marking contests down the line. He’s a bit under sized for that to be fair but would have helped to at least get a fist there.

Otherwise a great game again.

I'm a massive Coops fan but I agree with this. It's an area he can look to improve.

 

[sammm]

That takes our recent record to 8 wins - 2 losses in our last 10 games and 11-5 in our last 16. Maybe a few of our media knockers should take note.

Also I reckon Stocker is on the cusp of being our new Stevie Baker.

Finally, one big plus to RTB is his ability to do his homework on oppo teams. He's been able to orchestrate some unanticipated victories throughout his coaching career. Not all the time but sufficiently to give you hope when a win seems unlikely.

I think we have better assistant coaches now. Even Harvey is in the correct place as a midfield coach instead of forward coach. Rivers, don't know much about him as an assistant coach. but the forwards are doing well. it will be interesting when Max gets back. hope the saints don't become too Max centric.