Preview Round 2 - GWS v St Kilda [Saturday 21 March 2026 • 4:15 PM (AEDT) • Engie Stadium]

[D2D3]

I really don’t like the balance in our backline or forward lines…. Wilkie, Silvani, Caminiti and Tauru really still seems to tall in the back line for me, think we have to pick between one of Caminiti or Silvani and have Wilkie play on the second key forward.

And Ryan and Higgins also seem to play quite similar to me leaving us without a genuine pressure forward.

Both of these together leaving us incredibly exposed at ground level at both ends of the ground and I think that stood out in both our games so far frankly. Think we’re on the backfoot again just at team selection again.

 

[The Punter]

Srs question - is this opinion piece satire? Because Damo does not possess this bravado, sass etc in his interviews 1:1, case in point the Ross Lyon piece only 3 weeks ago

No journo ever pushes back on Ross to his face. It's all when he is not around.

 

[Sir Owens]

Praying we don't match Caminiti with Hogan, that's another 6 goal haul incoming

And 3 brain dead free kicks against.

 

[akaifu]

Sorry to intrude - does anyone who follows training notice if Tauru trained with the forwards? Or Windhager with the mids? I assume one will move with Stocker in

I didn't watch training but I assume Stocker in means Windy and Flanders both play full-time mid, rather than rotating HB/mid like they have the first fortnight

 

[Yawkey way]

We will know how many are a coin flip very early on Saturday as the VFL start at 11.

So if all 3 are held out. We might be in some trouble.

Is it too early to start tanking and do we really need to if this is who we are.

 

[stavro#4]

Is it too early to start tanking and do we really need to if this is who we are.

you'll probably be able to answer this question yourself by 7pm Saturday.

It gets no easier next week. So we really need some big performances

 

[projectv]

Srs question - is this opinion piece satire? Because Damo does not possess this bravado, sass etc in his interviews 1:1, case in point the Ross Lyon piece only 3 weeks ago

He writes this slop about every club every week.

 

[stavro#4]

I didn't watch training but I assume Stocker in means Windy and Flanders both play full-time mid, rather than rotating HB/mid like they have the first fortnight

If BOTH were playing half back/Midfield over the first 2 weeks. How does losing Macrae as a full-time midfielder and bringing in Stocker as a full time small back mean BOTH will play full time mids?

surely they keep the same roles but just have increased exposure on ball.

 

[Saintbloke]

Two games down and already we look like the tyres are running slightly flat. I watched the Hawks last night and they played as a tight unit- excellent team football, not a bunch of individuals running around with no road map like we have been. There is a big finger that needs to be pulled out at RSEA park.

 

[stavro#4]

Praying we don't match Caminiti with Hogan, that's another 6 goal haul incoming

ill start by saying that I thought Caminiti was crap. But so was everyone else in our back 6. If your midfield cannot and will not clamp down on the opposition transition and your forwards will not lock the ball in. It doesn't matter if we had prime Maxxy and Fisher playing key back.

THe opposition forwards will get clean looks and straight line lanes to the ball coming in and kick bags anyway.

happy for someone to point me to what exactly Hammer did that was so disgustingly crap, outside of the fact that average Melbourne forward kicked 6

 

[stavro#4]

Basically, if you'd used a word like normality, instead of mediocrity, no one would have any problem with what he said. It's just semantics and poorly chosen word.

He is very media savvy. It isn't semantics. He is coming across all Trump like lately and I don't think that crap is needed representing us.

 

[SainterinSydney]

Praying we don't match Caminiti with Hogan, that's another 6 goal haul incoming

When I met Hogan at the Saints v GWS AFLW game last year, I told him to go easy on us this year. So don't worry--I got us covered

 

[The Punter]

ill start by saying that I thought Caminiti was crap. But so was everyone else in our back 6. If your midfield cannot and will not clamp down on the opposition transition and your forwards will not lock the ball in. It doesn't matter if we had prime Maxxy and Fisher playing key back.

THe opposition forwards will get clean looks and straight line lanes to the ball coming in and kick bags anyway.

happy for someone to point me to what exactly Hammer did that was so disgustingly crap, outside of the fact that average Melbourne forward kicked 6

I thought on the first JVR goal he made a mistake by playing in front. His strength as a defender IMO is straight line speed and reach. I'd prefer Hammer to play back shoulder.

After that one, I didn't see a lot wrong considering the quality of the delivery.

 

[Yawkey way]

Two games down and already we look like the tyres are running slightly flat. I watched the Hawks last night and they played as a tight unit- excellent team football, not a bunch of individuals running around with no road map like we have been. There is a big finger that needs to be pulled out at RSEA park.

They were very good.

Hawthorn have recruited well for years, they definitely prioritise skills and guys with some aggression.

 

[Yawkey way]

I thought on the first JVR goal he made a mistake by playing in front. His strength as a defender IMO is straight line speed and reach. I'd prefer Hammer to play back shoulder.

After that one, I didn't see a lot wrong considering the quality of the delivery.

With clean delivery and some space good luck playing back shoulder all day.

We need some pressure on the ball carrier, Melbourne had some crazy space at times last week.

 

[akaifu]

happy for someone to point me to what exactly Hammer did that was so disgustingly crap, outside of the fact that average Melbourne forward kicked 6

I thought on the first JVR goal he made a mistake by playing in front. His strength as a defender IMO is straight line speed and reach. I'd prefer Hammer to play back shoulder.

After that one, I didn't see a lot wrong considering the quality of the delivery.

JVR's 3rd goal was Caminiti just completely losing concentration and not following the lead. JVR gets about 7m separation from a standing start which is ridiculous

5th goal idk who's fault it was but JVR is wide open with no one within a 10m radius 45m out from goal. IF he was Caminiti's direct opponent, then he has to be responsible for handing him over if he wanted to stay deep. This mistake isn't as bad because part of the blame goes on the rest of the team for not communicating, but it shows how costly one tiny mistake can be

 

[SaintsofSteel]

He is very media savvy. It isn't semantics. He is coming across all Trump like lately and I don't think that crap is needed representing us.

I can understand Lyon and the club are not enjoying the media comments in recents times, but the thing that will turn the script is to consistently win games. Trying to be a sarcastic smart arse at every press conference is the 2011 version of Lyon and he is doing himself and the club no favours.

 

[The Punter]

JVR's 3rd goal was Caminiti just completely losing concentration and not following the lead. JVR gets about 7m separation from a standing start which is ridiculous

5th goal idk who's fault it was but JVR is wide open with no one within a 10m radius 45m out from goal. IF he was Caminiti's direct opponent, then he has to be responsible for handing him over if he wanted to stay deep. This mistake isn't as bad because part of the blame goes on the rest of the team for not communicating, but it shows how costly one tiny mistake can be

Fair enough, the one I mentioned was right in front of me so I saw it. Perhaps the other two were at the Punt Rd end and I couldn't see the build up play as clearly.

 

[Remboy]

Praying we don't match Caminiti with Hogan, that's another 6 goal haul incoming

As good as I think Caminiti is I can't see him kicking six on Hogan.

 

[Remboy]

I embraced the life of mediocrity I have led

Your training reports are anything but mediocre Joffa.

 

[Klaatu]

On Caminiti, that match up stunk Wilkie should of started on him & Caminiti picks up Miocheck more suitable,JSOS was fine on Fritsch

 

[SainterinSydney]

On Caminiti, that match up stunk Wilkie should of started on him & Caminiti picks up Miocheck more suitable,JSOS was fine on Fritsch

That was the big surprise. Forehead usually carves us up.

 

[akaifu]

On Caminiti, that match up stunk Wilkie should of started on him & Caminiti picks up Miocheck more suitable,JSOS was fine on Fritsch

Wilkie played on Fritsch for majority of the game

Silvagni on Mihocek

Caminiti on JVR

I think the matchups were fine. It was just our midfield was utterly useless

 

[stavro#4]

JVR's 3rd goal was Caminiti just completely losing concentration and not following the lead. JVR gets about 7m separation from a standing start which is ridiculous

5th goal idk who's fault it was but JVR is wide open with no one within a 10m radius 45m out from goal. IF he was Caminiti's direct opponent, then he has to be responsible for handing him over if he wanted to stay deep. This mistake isn't as bad because part of the blame goes on the rest of the team for not communicating, but it shows how costly one tiny mistake can be

3rd goal. We have a spare defender fat side in no man’s land. We have a loose Melbourne forward near the 50.

Jsos is following a man to the goal square, Wilkie decides to go back to his man instead of standing the leading lane.

Multiple poor handovers and lack of gut running to plug the space.

5th goal.

Wilkie has him on the hand over and is nowhere near him. Boxshall doesn’t go hard enough to compete.



Neither in the cold light of day look like Hammer is at fault.

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Surely Wilkie on Hogan - Stocker on Stringer.

191cm vs 196 and 184 vs 192

That's electing to give up a lot of size in those matchups when we don't need to