Autopsy Round 10 - West Coast v St Kilda

[CaptainRisky]

Disgraceful effort. I knew we were going to lose this game when I saw Macrae just stand still and let his opponent slowly jog past him with the ball in the opening minutes.

List build and selection just doesn't make sense. We're carrying too many mids who can't get the ball and/or kick it to a teammate. Our wings are fumbly turnover merchants who dominate the GPS. We played a bloke who can't hit a target in the VFL. We continue to play Byrnes in defence who is an absolute liability. Our only power forward can't get on the park.

Good thing we're going to land our 1.7mil big fish to replace our ruck who just had 27 disposals, 40 hitouts, 8 marks, 5 tackles, 5 clearances and a goal. We'll probably end up trading him out for a third rounder next year after the two rucks don't work together.

As many others have mentioned, the squad is physically weak compared to other clubs. Yet there is no evidence of this so-called superior running capacity reaping any reward.

Remember all the pre season hype how we were going to be the quickest team and run them off their legs , we also had Equivalent's of
Bont
Dusty
Danger
Tom Stewart and the list goes on


Cant wait for Pre season 2026

 

[jumperfan]

In regards to NAS deliberate, Bailey Williams was more blatant later in the game and was no free kick.

It's just incompetent and it feels like we are on the wrong end of the stick too often.

5 minutes before Nas did it Baker smacked the ball right back out of bounds from a throw-in. The inconsistency is just criminal at this point.

 

[CaptainRisky]

100% combination of all three.
But the last is in our hands and we need to do better. For a must win game we needed to select the experience we have available. I don’t care what anyone thinks of Jones and Clark, they needed to be there. Time enough for all the youngsters.

It’s not only that we got pantsed, but the fact of who beat us. Was an arrogant team selection imo. Hope it stings the whole lot of them.

Jones was a must and deserved a game , not sure pasta arms would have made any difference

 

[sauce_head]

Early in second quarter from a Sinclair kick in:

What? Do you have rocks in your head? The answers are obvious:

1. The crowd didn’t make enough noise for the umpires to call it so it’s not a free kick.
2. It went to Reid who kicked a goal which is awesome, so no point bringing it back.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

What’s this winning culture you speak of?

The one growing between Jack Carroll's toes.

 

[sauce_head]

5 minutes before Nas did it Baker smacked the ball right back out of bounds from a throw-in. The inconsistency is just criminal at this point.

Happens at Adelaide oval as well. They just run the ball over with impunity. The ball bounces at right angles and goes out for us - free kick. The AFL don’t care. The stats were there for all to see with blatant incorrect umpiring in Perth and, for that matter with Joel Selwood, yet they do nothing.

 

[Diehard Saint]

And a fortnight ago we absolutely obliterated a team who's currently 9th (only missing the 8 on percentage).

It was one of the most dominant wins anyone has recorded against anyone this season.

Many statistical records were broken or challenged- contested possession dominance, clearance dominance, opposition inside 50 count, etc.

When you're fielding a young team with more kids than anyone else, guess what's gonna happen? You'll get inconsistent performance. That's a hallmark of youth and inexperience.

My point was- play the long game. Look at the big picture.

We're 4-6. Right on track for the 9 to 11 wins I expected.

And still ahead of most pundits who had us bottom 4....

We understand all that - but it’s the seniors who are not standing up - even if we ultimately lose. Where’s the leadership?

Steele, McCrae, Hill, Wood (disappeared completely after a good start) Jimmy.

Marshall and Wilkie were good.

 

[pebblesofsand]

Yeah but swap Keeler and Heath. Keeler worth persisting with as a forward because he does pretty things occasionally and he's so strong in the contest, and if Heath is any good at all then he can quickly adjust to playing AFL-level key back even though he's never played back there ever before.

Keeler is worth persevering with but I don’t recall him being strong at the contest in the games he played. Quite the opposite in fact. We have a list hole here, especially with King out (who isn’t the strongest at the contest yet either), that we can’t fix without more cattle. Perhaps the mid season draft? That’s probably too optimistic though.

I think bergholt was taking the p*** with his comment because of the way selection has been going.

We need height in defence and fwd so I'd play Keeler back because its simplifies the game for him - run, jump and punch, perhaps mark if the delivery was crap.

If he gets beaten because of lace out delivery so be it.

Heath to play fwd because he has both height and strength to at least contest in the fwd half and, despite never being credited with it, does show some fwd craft as well as ruck skills.

His rucking would allow Marshall to rest fwd for parts of the game which in turn would allow someone like Mitch Owens to (dare I say it???) - have a run as a mid without actually weakening the fwd line representation.

 

[Diehard Saint]

Taru.

You can blame the AFL/VFL for that one. Has the physicality of stocker but the marking of Sharman.

I know you’re excited about him. We all are.
But let’s not put the pressure of being the team messiah on his shoulders just yet.
He’s just a kid. Let him find his feet.

 

[Diehard Saint]

For the love of everything that’s holy can SOMEONE teach Owens how to kick a set shot for goal?

It’s just completely demoralising that after some rare good team play he misses 3 regulation shots. It is just not good enough, especially if he’s continuing to play as a forward.

Get Sharman onto it.

 

[Dard Ball Get]

For the love of everything that’s holy can SOMEONE teach Owens how to kick a set shot for goal?

It’s just completely demoralising that after some rare good team play he misses 3 regulation shots. It is just not good enough, especially if he’s continuing to play as a forward.

Get Sharman onto it.

I find it completely bewildering and disgraceful that an AFL player
1. Holds it like an AusKicker,
and
2. Has been allowed to continue to do so.

Pathetic from all involved.

 

[sauce_head]

For the love of everything that’s holy can SOMEONE teach Owens how to kick a set shot for goal?

It’s just completely demoralising that after some rare good team play he misses 3 regulation shots. It is just not good enough, especially if he’s continuing to play as a forward.

Get Sharman onto it.

I thought he had sorted it out a couple of weeks ago. Apparently not.

 

[luca77]

Called the club this morning and told the membership team I don't want to be contacted next year regarding membership. I said the club is not getting another cent of my money until they can show they've got their shit together. I've had enough of the same shit year after year of watching a team with no skills and no composure. Sick of the excuses.

That's good.
I'm putting you on ignore until you get your shit together. "I don't wish to be contacted next year." The most floggy request I've heard in a long time. Club decisions might be made on numbers, not on turnips calling up, making w@nker requests.

Anyway, my request is that you kindly stop creating gameday threads, and leave it to the moderators, or at least to the St. Kilda supporters.
Again, for those people who don't know, the gameday threads are invisible to people who have you on ignore. So if you're a quitter, a sook, or a sniper - show some consideration and leave it to others.

 

[Goofy975]

We’re stuck in Purgatory.

Not good enough to play finals.
Not bad enough to get a top 5 pick.

That Higgo goal for “winning culture” didn’t translate — and now it’s come back to bite us in the long run.
Could’ve had someone like that Langford
kid.

 

[Suburbanhack]

I find it completely bewildering and disgraceful that an AFL player
1. Holds it like an AusKicker,
and
2. Has been allowed to continue to do so.

Pathetic from all involved.

Agree. I love Mitch but 4th year in the system and still not capable of a proper ball drop. Goal kicking is a lottery with that technique. Surprised it was not sorted out as a junior but inexplicable it has not been resolved at the 'elite' level.

 

[MightySaintas]

Agree. I love Mitch but 4th year in the system and still not capable of a proper ball drop. Goal kicking is a lottery with that technique. Surprised it was not sorted out as a junior but inexplicable it has not been resolved at the 'elite' level.

Speaks volumes about our academy

 

[Sully111]

That's good.
I'm putting you on ignore until you get your shit together. "I don't wish to be contacted next year." The most floggy request I've heard in a long time. Club decisions might be made on numbers, not on turnips calling up, making w@nker requests.

Anyway, my request is that you kindly stop creating gameday threads, and leave it to the moderators, or at least to the St. Kilda supporters.
Again, for those people who don't know, the gameday threads are invisible to people who have you on ignore. So if you're a quitter, a sook, or a sniper - show some consideration and leave it to others.

The club has dished up 14 straight years of drivel. I don't see holding off financial contributions until they get it together as particularly outlandish. I also don't see that calling them up and (politely) telling them that's the case as over the top.

 

[Dr Spaceman]

Saints supporters are used to losing, were not used to losing games that embarass us when were supposed to be improving.

Were uniquely resilient.

 

[Dard Ball Get]

We’re stuck in Purgatory.

Not good enough to play finals.
Not bad enough to get a top 5 pick.

That Higgo goal for “winning culture” didn’t translate — and now it’s come back to bite us in the long run.
Could’ve had someone like that Langford
kid.

 

[Big 0]

the way Steele runs around the park tells me that he’s been told to play a pure defensive role focussing more on structure and not getting the ball. He keeps getting games so he must be doing what they ask of him

 

[beside the seaside]

We’re stuck in Purgatory.

Not good enough to play finals.
Not bad enough to get a top 5 pick.

That Higgo goal for “winning culture” didn’t translate — and now it’s come back to bite us in the long run.
Could’ve had someone like that Langford
kid.

Whether we had Langford right now would make absolutely no difference to how we are going. Travaglia is already dominating VFL games as a midfielder, shame he didn't play a whole game yesterday but he looks good. People just like to blame that win for all our issues but it really would make no difference right now.

 

[The Jack]

For the love of everything that’s holy can SOMEONE teach Owens how to kick a set shot for goal?

It’s just completely demoralising that after some rare good team play he misses 3 regulation shots. It is just not good enough, especially if he’s continuing to play as a forward.

Get Sharman onto it.

He’s a horrible kick and always has been. So demoralising for us fans, must be soul destroying for his team mates.

I pretty much expect him to miss every time and get surprised occasionally.

The action itself is diabolical.

 

[PJays]

My admittedly more pessimistic read:

All Australians: Steele, Sinclair

Probably should be AA but Max Gawn exists: Marshall

Solid contributors on their day: Membrey, Ross, Acres, Battle (three of these now on other lists)

Serviceable players that oppo fans do/did not think about at all: Webster, Long, Gresham, Bruce (two on other lists)

Guys who never made it at AFL level: Newnes, Dunstan, Lonie, Goddard, Phillips, McCartin, Longer, McKenzie

I really hope I'm wrong but I can't help but think we've got a few blokes under 24 who are headed for the latter couple groups on current trajectory. Until they actually earn respect from our opposition I find it hard to take them seriously.

With respect, I think your analysis is a bit off the mark.

I couldn't give a rats what opposition fans think of say, Jimmy Webster. He's played almost 200 games for St Kilda. A hard working guy who gives consistent effort and plays a role.

Newnes absolutely made it at AFL level. Played 207 games.

McKenzie (calf), Mccartin and Longer (concussion) were unlucky. But it's AFL footy- a brutal game. It happens.

Guess we'll see in a few years. But I feel more optimistic about our current group than I did about that crew in 2017.

And that 2017 group was under utilised by poor club management (trading Acres for example).

In hindsight, if St Kilda had gone a different route in 2015 - 2020 we'd be in a much better position now.

Imagine we'd drafted Harry McKay or Charlie Curnow (taken at 10 and 12) instead of trading pick 6 for Carlisle in 2015.

Imagine in 2019 we kept Blake Acres and picked Kosi Pickett, Will Day, Miles Bergman, Cody Weightman, Mitch Georgiades or Sam De Koning (picked 12 - 19) instead of trading Acres and pick 10 for Brad Hill. (Freo traded the pick and used the points to get Liam Henry at 9. Tom Green was academy at 10th).

We could have Charlie Curnow, Kosi Pickett and Acres.

Instead we've got Brad Hill.

Over the next few years I'd like St Kilda to keep following this strategy (which, to be fair, they've done the last few years):

1. Keep first round picks. Just don't trade them. Ever.

2. Only trade draft picks for young guys (like Higgins. Membrey. Steele. Etc. Not Hill who was 26)

 

[Leap of Faith]

That's good.
I'm putting you on ignore until you get your shit together. "I don't wish to be contacted next year." The most floggy request I've heard in a long time. Club decisions might be made on numbers, not on turnips calling up, making w@nker requests.

Anyway, my request is that you kindly stop creating gameday threads, and leave it to the moderators, or at least to the St. Kilda supporters.
Again, for those people who don't know, the gameday threads are invisible to people who have you on ignore. So if you're a quitter, a sook, or a sniper - show some consideration and leave it to others.

He's well entitled to express his displeasure. Made the same decision myself this morning. Not getting another cent of my money. It's like throwing good money after bad. Banging head against brick wall. Am also totally over it. The ongoing incompetence and lack of genuine progress is not worth investing in. DGAF if you think I'm a quitter. Been following this club since 1969. Long enough.

 

[Mowman]

For the love of everything that’s holy can SOMEONE teach Owens how to kick a set shot for goal?

It’s just completely demoralising that after some rare good team play he misses 3 regulation shots. It is just not good enough, especially if he’s continuing to play as a forward.

Get Sharmaonto it.

Maybe an extra day a week training on skills ?