Review GCS v St Kilda Pre-Season game #1 -- 7:45pm Thursday - Kayo/Fox

[SaintsSeptember]

My biggest takeaway from this game is our consistent teamwork, always looking for the better option and unselfish football.

Loved it

Yeah it almost seemed like the players were interchangeable , which is perfect. I thought our forward line with Higgins , Ryan , Sharman, and Hall .......was delicious Bwooce.

 

[Saints4ever]

Rowell, Anderson, King and a full 4 qtrs from Petracca and Touk would obviously make a huge difference but geez we looked good moving the ball from back to forward.

TDK giving silver service is something we haven’t seen since Paddy Ryder.

Sharman, Hall, Higgins, Ryan, Wilson, Owens gives us lots of options up forward.

It’s going to be an exciting 2026.

 

[SainterinSydney]

Rowell, Anderson, King and a full 4 qtrs from Petracca and Touk would obviously make a huge difference but geez we looked good moving the ball from back to forward.

TDK giving silver service is something we haven’t seen since Paddy Ryder.

Sharman, Hall, Higgins, Ryan, Wilson, Owens gives us lots of options up forward.

It’s going to be an exciting 2026.

King, Hill and Sinclair will also make a big difference for us.

 

[Saintscomemarchingin]

Stats

Carroll=11 marks?
So he got enough of it, just wasn't poised enough for mine.

 

[Saints4ever]

Carroll=11 marks?
So he got enough of it, just wasn't poised enough for mine.

Agree always seemed rushed and under pressure and couldn’t find those cheap kicks that quality half back find.

 

[Saints4ever]

Carroll=11 marks?
So he got enough of it, just wasn't poised enough for mine.

Looks good on the stats sheet but didn’t pass the eye test for me

 

[CursingFijian]

actually yeah i think boxshall cos had a headband

More tape than Jack Steele.

 

[Saints4ever]

View attachment 2531823

More tape than Jack Steele.

Such a beast

 

[CursingFijian]

Banfield

I couldn't believe his size. I shudder to think what he will become in 3-4 years time.

 

[CursingFijian]

I don't give AF if this is a pre-season game, this is exciting stuff. The attack on the footy from our youngsters like Box and Taura is unreal. Wilson and Pou showing glimpses of clean hands. TDK and Flanders very good.

Wilson was terrific. If he can play that role and hit the scoreboard consistently then lookout.

Deserves the nickname 'Sugar' because he's a glider.

 

[CursingFijian]

Even Byrnes is kicking goals.

Byrnes had some really nice moments. Kicked it well, and showed plenty of run.

 

[CursingFijian]

Flanders is very very very bonerific

 

[SaintsofSteel]

The biggest thing that stood out for me, given the conditions was how good our skills were. Our handballing in particular was really slick and looked exceptionally well drilled.

Our midfield is almost unrecognisable, we were hitting the ball off the ruckmans hand at speed. It is now full of players who if they aren't already, they are well on their way to becoming A graders.

TDK was tapping the ball a metre above Witts hand and directing it where he wanted. His committment at the ball in the air and on the ground was as strong as I've seen him go.

Flanders will become the bonafide A grade midfielder, we desperately need.

Nas everything he touches turns to gold. His poise and skill are on another level, absolute silk!

Hall is like a silent assassin, absolute precision and lethal in everything he does.

Pou now looks like a man and is playing like one. Big year ahead.

Windhager is a future captain. I can see him putting the team on his back and winning us games this year.

Boxshall is a beast who's potential is as high as any. Another with unquestionable courage and thirst to win the footy.

Macrae looked like a 22yo, his energy was amazing. Hopefully the can sustain that energy and feed off the young talent around him.

Wilson will get more and more midfield exposure as the year progresses and go from strength to strength.

Garcia is still over thinking his game. I would use him as a tagger to give him something to focus on.

Banfield didn't look out of place. He is a taller broader version of his dad. They have a low centre of gravity, long torso and shorter legs then most his height.

The other exciting thing was how strong Tauru looked in defence. I was concerned he might be under sized to fill a key position role, but his agility, strength and courage are next level. He is like a cross between Peter Knights and Glen Archer.

Allowing Sharman to play the 2nd or 3rd key forward role is the perfect slot for him. He is so smart and team orientated, hopefully he is in for a huge year.

A nice result and I think the club want to bounce out early and win as many as we possibly can. Knowing it will set us up for a huge back end of the year after a tough block of games early.

 

[CursingFijian]

Not to glaze TDK. He rucks so elegantly in the centre bounce. It looks so smooth and you just know he will hit it to our advantage.

 

[SaintsofSteel]

Agree always seemed rushed and under pressure and couldn’t find those cheap kicks that quality half back find.

He did struggle a little, but it was his first game in the role. He looks to lack a bit of confidence with the footy, but if he can start backing himself to take the game on and get more momentum the game will open up and his delivery will improve.

Not the best game, but don't put a line through him just yet. If he is to make it in the role he definitely needs to become a lot more attacking with his run and carry.

 

[CursingFijian]

Rather have a 70 point win at this point of the season than a 70 point loss.

It wasn't so much about the size of the win. More about how good the system looks and the fitness levels and the improvement in all our kids. Windhager, Wilson, Tauru, Boxshall, Phillpou all made strong contributions.

TDK & Flanders both look like exceptional recruits.

Banfield is a specimen.

Keeler being able to play a role in defense when JSOS went down is underrated.

The forward interplay was mesmerizing at times. We will be fun to watch if Sharman/Higgins/Ryan/Owens/Hall can do that every week.

TDK / Marshall ruck pairing can work.

Tackling was very good tonight.

Does this game count when we go 14 on the trot again?

 

[Ads734]

So like a real nuffie I have gone back and tried to do some data colection. Understand, this is also missing 3 minutes of the second quarter when the feed cut out.

I would say it is 95% accurate disposal wise, 80% clearance wise and 95% mark's wise.

Enjoy

 

[Sully111]

View attachment 2531823

More tape than Jack Steele.

Becoming a favourite. I've had him in my opening round team from the start.

 

[j123]

The people saying the viking needs to develop in the 2s this year can go **** themselves, he looked so much a winning player already

 

[Joffaboy]

He did struggle a little, but it was his first game in the role. He looks to lack a bit of confidence with the footy, but if he can start backing himself to take the game on and get more momentum the game will open up and his delivery will improve.

Not the best game, but don't put a line through him just yet. If he is to make it in the role he definitely needs to become a lot more attacking with his run and carry.

Showed a bit at training, hasn't been as good in match sim, but I agree, he has potential and is new at the position.

Best I have seen Tauru all preseason. Just the one poor kick out of the backline. Is working on this. Really makes the forwards earn their marks as well.
So early days, but from match sims and a praccy, first qtr zones are strong, we move it forward with long kicks to the pack, looking to zone forward and lock it in. Maybe a tweak from last season where we were constantly getting beaten in the first qtr.
When the game opens up we hard transition switch and use space. Players like Wilson, Coops, and Banfield with huge tanks tear up and down the field creating big holes of space.
Reckon we need to capitalise on this fitness early abd catch some teams while they are still a tad underprepared.
I liked the OOB free between the arcs. We got punished four times in the 1st for poor disposal and thats fair in my view. It also gives the umpires a break and takes their opinion out of the decision at least between the arcs. Also seems a bit easier to umpire with the new rules.

 

[Minga]

Sincs and Hill will only improve our ball skills and leadership.

I had completely forgotten they weren’t playing.

And Wood

 

[phantom13]

The people saying the viking needs to develop in the 2s this year can go **** themselves, he looked so much a winning player already

I think it’s a bit half and half.

If JSOS, Wilkie and Camma are fit he probably doesn’t have a spot down back.

If King and Roma both play (as well as TDK) then he probably doesn’t have a spot up forward either.

I’d also rather we let him play in a spot cause wingman is tough enough without being a 10 game 19 year old.

I like him and he’s a competitor but key position kids do need to develop and there are only so many spots for them in a 23

 

[pebblesofsand]

Practice match against QAFL side so the result means nothing. Game style was good - overwhelmed them in the end.

Flanders, Ryan TDK all very positive inclusions

Boxshall looks likely to fill Steele role

Small fwd line suited the conditions - not sure we can run with it all year long. Doubt Marshall will be the answer.

With no King I still think Howard back Caminiti fwd might be the go, TDK and Marshall off the bench.

 

[phantom13]

Without getting too horned up over a pre season match sim the system and the kids looked good.

I reckon the forward line still has some questions. GC didn’t have Collins and he likely would have picked off 84 inside 50s but we did also overwhelm them and hit short targets in the second half.

Wilson turned it on in the second half, seem like he cleaned the butter off his hands at half time.

Flanders, TDK, Hall and Windy were stand outs (Wilkie too but frankly that standard is now just normal for him). Pou was excellent if a touch sloppy by foot. Ryan was good so was Byrnes (who may still struggle for a starting spot come round 1). Banfield and Boxshall continue to develop.

Lot to be excited about

 

[Anythings_sipposible]

And if they played 36 players to our 26 they would have had some guys out there that are a ways off it, so we did play a pretty second rate team for a fair chunk of it, but it’s definitely pleasing that we put them to the sword.

Apart from anything else, it gives us momentum and confidence, and they’re as important as almost anything in footy.

Flip side of that is we had 10 less players rotating through the game but still out run them in humid conditions that should have suited GC. We are a very, very fit side and that should see us always in games right up to the end