Autopsy Round 3 - Saints v Lions

[Saintscomemarchingin]

I don't think Ro is slowing down at all. He has only ever been effective as a starting ruck and right now he's at the peak of his powers. That's why he tried to leave, because we decided to make him a backup ruck/forward when he should be in the AA ruck conversation.

He can wrestle the ball out, but then he just haphazardly bombs it to our disadvantage most of the time.

 

[PJays]

Our middle is still very young and our list is very young.

Actually we're the 8th most experienced and 9th oldest list this year.

In other words, there are 10 opponents with a less experienced list and 9 teams with a younger list.

Some Saints fans are stuck in 2024/25. We went out and recruited older guys. We're not young.

 

[Curunir]

Owens (in the middle) is who Ross thinks Pou is

 

[Ian Dunross]

Owens (in the middle) is who Ross thinks Pou is

True

Swap them positionally and they probably both excel

 

[Lennylegs]

We're not young though, that's the thing.

We're an experienced team.

The numbers don't lie.

St Kilda's hierarchy can talk about long-term plans and they can spin it however they like, but the fact is they recruited 4 players who are 29, 28, 26 and 24.

They traded away our 1st Rd pick.

They courted Aleer, who is 24, before backing out and opting for JSOS who is 28.

They acted like we’re on the verge of a flag tilt- whether they admit that or not.

They opted for experience, and now we've got an experienced team. Not a development team.

And unfortunately, we're not winning!

All four of those recruits have at least 3 to 4 years of decent footy left in them, which is our club's stated timeline in terms of top four contention. Not once have we stated that this is our year to contend. Only the media has gone with that.

 

[nobhead]

Actually we're the 8th most experienced and 9th oldest list this year.

In other words, there are 10 opponents with a less experienced list and 9 teams with a younger list.

Some Saints fans are stuck in 2024/25. We went out and recruited older guys. We're not young.

We recruited 4 experienced guys togo along with hill and wood and wilkie ,sinclair but the core of our team are still young .
Eg windy
Owens
Phillipou
Hall
Tarau
Garcia
Nas
Wilson.they are our future imo

 

[botts]

What clear is we arnt the finished product but we arnt far off it. We do need some luck though

 

[L_W_P]

I’m really concerned with Pou, and I’ve been high on him, I just don’t know what it is that’s going to make him a great player. He’s on the slower side, he doesn’t get much of the ball, his skills and decision making aren’t the best (how many times is he going to blindly handball it over his head).

He may yet become a great player, but in the meanwhile I just don’t think he can be one of our primary midfielders. I would like to see Hall get more time in the guts because he’s a genuine gun and provides X factor and class we desperately need, and have Pou play that high half forward role and pinch hit in the guts. He should really study Josh Dunkleys game.

Pou reminds me so much of Rayner, who took aaaaages to get going.

Feel like he's gonna be a good player in a good team but just doesn't have the confidence/belief to go and rip games apart just yet.

 

[Sarcoidevo]

I keep expecting Owens, Philipou, Wilson etc to spike and become the elite players they show glimpses of being and get disappointed each time when they fail to take a game by the scruff of the neck.

Not sure if my expectations are off or if the players are off.

None of these guys will peak proper until they are 25+

You are talking about guys that are 22, 21 & 20

 

[StCicatriz]

This game pissed me off more than it should.

Im incredibly impatient now. Over taking the L. Jealous of the likes of Brisbane etc who can win flags.

Some good signs though. Midfield still a huge issue. Need a KPF.

Insert green mile im tired boss gif.

 

[Murraj1966]

We're not young though, that's the thing.

We're an experienced team.

The numbers don't lie.

St Kilda's hierarchy can talk about long-term plans and they can spin it however they like, but the fact is they recruited 4 players who are 29, 28, 26 and 24.

They traded away our 1st Rd pick.

They courted Aleer, who is 24, before backing out and opting for JSOS who is 28.

They acted like we’re on the verge of a flag tilt- whether they admit that or not.

They opted for experience, and now we've got an experienced team. Not a development team.

And unfortunately, we're not winning!

Couldn’t agree more

People act like Phillipou isn’t giving off Billings vibes already

Wilson and probably Collard searching for the door

A bunch of c grade talent getting games around a bunch of overpaid mercenaries producing crap footy and crap results

 

[Yabadoo22]

I'm not devastated about the result today, but gee isn't it just ground hog day. We look like we are no better then we were 5 years ago, we are just stuck in no mans land. To good to get the gun young kids, not good enough to seriously challenge. I'm starting to lose faith in phillipou. Is so one paced and looks to jump out of the way of contact and refuses to tackle. There comes a point in time where you can't keep gifting a young one mid minutes to fast track him to the detriment of the team. Holding Rowan to his contract is gonna come back to bite us, would of been better getting another young kid on the list. I think our recruits have been fine, but unfortunely we didn't recruit them to keep us stuck in mud. I also think we need to start looking past playing wood, he is not the player he was 3 years ago. Can't knock Garcia and Windys efforts, Wilson is such an almost player, don't think he has the killer instinct to ever be a star

 

[Vacuous Space]

Do you reckon there's some advice that Ross is holding back from a 30 game player that would put him on the same level as Lachie Neale?

I don't know how you're getting that. I'm arguing Garcia shouldn't be in there.

I'm saying Ross should coach up our best midfielders if he thinks they are deficient defensively.

 

[L_W_P]

Couldn’t agree more

People act like Phillipou isn’t giving off Billings vibes already

Wilson and probably Collard searching for the door

A bunch of c grade talent getting games around a bunch of overpaid mercenaries producing crap footy and crap results

Rekon Collard will be in Eagles colours next year. Jamie Cripps will hand him the #15.

 

[Saintos The ITK]

Poos not a natural mid. Play him forward.

 

[Southeastsainter]

Harsh on a young guy but wow Tauru had a stinker. Missed from 15m out on a slight angle.

Then with all the momentum in the last, basically spoils our own player (couldn’t remember who) and they turn over goal.

For the life of me… I can’t understand why we don’t swap Pou & Hall. Pou can give us something forward and Hall needs more involvement in the game l, he’s a genuine gun.

Pretty frustrating loss, should’ve been up big early and then just collapsed in the last. Could easily be 4-0, but are 1-3. Sick of honourable loses, I’d be hoping we beat Port over there and build from that!

 

[Banger9798]

Brisbane 0-3 were going to pull out all stops. We're still building. We are not that far off. We have some very good players....it will take some time.

 

[my name was taken]

Actually we're the 8th most experienced and 9th oldest list this year.

In other words, there are 10 opponents with a less experienced list and 9 teams with a younger list.

Some Saints fans are stuck in 2024/25. We went out and recruited older guys. We're not young.

12th oldest

List analysis: Where your club ranks for age and experience

Who has the oldest list, who has the youngest, and which club has the most experience heading into 2026?

www.afl.com.au

 

[Saints43]

All four of those recruits have at least 3 to 4 years of decent footy left in them, which is our club's stated timeline in terms of top four contention. Not once have we stated that this is our year to contend. Only the media has gone with that.

The media keep saying we should play finals, top 4 some of them, given the sPeNDiNg SprEe.
But how many pundits actually picked us to finish in the 8 at the start of the season?

 

[MrFoster]

Pou reminds me so much of Rayner, who took aaaaages to get going.

Feel like he's gonna be a good player in a good team but just doesn't have the confidence/belief to go and rip games apart just yet.

Philipou needs to hone his midfield craft in the VFL, he is not getting it done in the AFL, with Garcia, Nas(all 3 are not even full time mids in the juniors and only started playing full time mids in AFl this year) also in the middle, we are too inexperienced and not good enough in the middle. compared that to Neale, Berry, Ashcroft * 2, no wonder we got slaughtered in the middle.

Should have Windhager, Hall and Flanders in there, it’s still lacking in size and speed, but at least it should break even.

 

[SaintsofSteel]

True

Swap them positionally and they probably both excel

Pou needs to find some form thats for sure. His tackling and repeat efforts are not midfield standard, he has a lot of work to do.

 

[jumperfan]

Honestly thought that was a much better performance, until the last at least. Thought the recruits all had an impact, Ryan and Silvagni especially. Structure overall felt much better with Dougal down back and Tauru forward. Pou is a worry, he just looks slow and reactive to me. Not sure where the power he was supposed to have has gone. I think we're building well, but we aren't there yet. People losing their minds over losing to the back-to-back premiers in the last quarter need to get a grip.

 

[Sarcoidevo]

Brisbane 0-3 were going to pull out all stops. We're still building. We are not that far off. We have some very good players....it will take some time.

Brions were 0 - 2 (losses to Bulldogs & Swans) and coming off a bye

 

[Plugger35]

A discussion on Fox about whether Tauru taking that great grab and kneeing the Lions defender in the head should be looked at.

Mooney the rare voice of reason said if we suspend guys for that we may as well pack the game in but with the AFL who knows.

It wouldn't surprise me if the AFL suspend Tauru for kneeing a bloke in the head while also giving him the mark of the round.

 

[beside the seaside]

Still think Pou will be ok. Honestly I wouldn't mind him just in there shoveling out handballs all day, some good mids do that. He will get better and it will click for him at some stage.