Training 2020 Pre-Season

[Nutsngum]

Looking at this logically, what are the chances 800 odd players, their families, club support staff ALL not getting CV?

Slim to SFA imho so Pluggs, fair call. You may be right here that the Season will get canned part way through.

There is currently 200 cases in a country of 25 million people. If they are serious about limiting large crowd contact its really pretty reasonable that exposure will be very limited. Particularly to a group of people with much more restricted dealings with the general public in the first place

 

[Verdun]

Are we suffering from pre season over confidence (*if it goes ahead)?

Most journos are tipping us to be 14th - 17th, I believe out list is stronger than that both with the impact of recruits and development of players such as Clark, Coffield, Long, Parker, Gresham, Marshall, Billings, Battle etc

Where do those on here (Saints board) think we will end up??

 

[Phoenix_9]

Are we suffering from pre season over confidence (*if it goes ahead)?

Most journos are tipping us to be 14th - 17th, I believe out list is stronger than that both with the impact of recruits and development of players such as Clark, Coffield, Long, Parker, Gresham, Marshall, Billings, Battle etc

Where do those on here (Saints board) think we will end up??

7th-12th depending on injuries/form. Hopefully 8th.

 

[Verdun]

7th-12th depending on injuries/form. Hopefully 8th.

Think you are about right; we are still a bit skinny in the midfield but have added pace with Jones, Hill and Butler.

If we can sneak in to the 8 will be very happy, if we end up 9th or 10th would not be surprised anything lower would be disappointing.

 

[Phoenix_9]

Think you are about right; we are still a bit skinny in the midfield but have added pace with Jones, Hill and Butler.

If we can sneak in to the 8 will be very happy, if we end up 9th or 10th would not be surprised anything lower would be disappointing.

Yeah, I’d be disappointed if we finish lower than 10th, but it’s definitely possible. Would love finals, if the season goes ahead...

Reckon there’s a clear top 6 sides, and probably 6 sides clearly worse than us. We’ll be somewhere in the middle 6.

 

[Sab22]

We could either be like Brisbane, rise up the ladder or just drop off like the Demons.

 

[borderbarry]

Somewhere between 5th and 10th I hope.

 

[Keg on legs]

7th-12th depending on injuries/form. Hopefully 8th.

Exactly my thoughts. 7th the best we could reasonably hope for with a good injury run. 12th worst case scenario if we repeat last year's injury list.

That is, if the seadon actually happens

 

[pebblesofsand]

Just thinking that this time next week I'll be enjoying a post game beer celebrating a solid first up win over the Kanga's and a top 4 spot.

 

[plugger66]

Just thinking that this time next week I'll be enjoying a post game beer celebrating a solid first up win over the Kanga's and a top 4 spot.

Well if that happens then I think that is where will finish. Really can’t see many if any games played this year

 

[SufferingS8INT]

If our forward line gels quickly we will play finals. IMO Josh Battle must Play forward in order for us to kick enough goals... can’t see enough coming from Ryder.

 

[luca77]

We could either be like Brisbane, rise up the ladder or just drop off like the Demons.

Lol. Why not add being steady to the post and call yourself Nostradamus?
No way we drop off imo. Can rule that one out with the changes made.

 

[CursingFijian]

Stumbled upon the North Melbourne Round 1 thread the other day. The first two pages are all about how bad a beating they’re going to dish out to the Saints.

The last two pages they were saying to make sure to wear good underpants because the Saints are going to pull their pants down.

Point is, we know we have improved already just from the eye test. Even opposition supporters can see the organic growth after just 2 games of preseason football.

Hopefully winning is a by product of that improvement.

 

[Sab22]

Lol. Why not add being steady to the post and call yourself Nostradamus?
No way we drop off imo. Can rule that one out with the changes made.

Honestly, I'm loving the positive vibes around this forum, the club, and the fans. Considering how much we've dealt with collectively, I felt this exact same way about 2018, and I was just left with disappointment.

Everyones entitled to how they feel about this season. Positive, neutral or negative.

I just want to see how we go first before I jump on that train again, but it's gonna be different considering the current circumstances we're facing right now.

 

[Premium]

Honestly, I'm loving the positive vibes around this forum, the club, and the fans. Considering how much we've dealt with collectively, I felt this exact same way about 2018, and I was just left with disappointment.

Everyones entitled to how they feel about this season. Positive, neutral or negative.

I just want to see how we go first before I jump on that train again, but it's gonna be different considering the current circumstances we're facing right now.

The last couple years have taken there toll for sure - no one could of forecast the injury's we where hit with - Richardson had no chance when last year Carlisle , Hannerbery where going to miss a good part of the season even before it began and then Roberton and McCartin being ruled out for the season and then to top it off Steven has mental health issues.
What hurt the most for me was losing Paddy after the club had gone out there way to get as many games into the kid and just hoping he could fill a void left by Reiwoldt , but one too many head knocks finished him.

Coming into last season we new we had a problem in the ruckman department and after round 1 we lost our supposedly main 2 ruckmen - Pierce and Longer - but it left the door open for Marshall who showed he was far better than both of them. - so it wasn't all doom and gloom.

Now with a new coach and a totally different atmosphere at the club we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Just having Carlisle , Hannerbery and Roberton fit will be a big addition to the 22 - but also having Brad Hill , Zac Jones and Howard coming into the team gives us added class.
Not to mention the expected improvement of our young guys we are going to give every team a hard time.

The football talk last year was about we never had any A - Grade players - well we still might be able to call many super stars but I'll tell you this a lot of them would a game at most clubs.

Membery
Carlisle
Roberton
Brad Hill
Billings
Gresham
Ross
Zac Jones
Marshall

then you have a lot of the younger kids who have shown they can play and could well be anything

Hunter Clark
Max King
Coffield
Paton
Battle

We also have proven performers who usually play there role and a more than B grade

Dunstan
Steele
Ryder
Wilkie
Butler
Kent
Lonie
Webster
Geary
Long
Savage
Sinclair
Brown

Out of all these guys I have mentioned we could easily end up with some super stars - who's to say Marshall , Hunter Clark , Howard , King don't become our next Diterich , Harvey , Frawley and Lockett.

One thing that everyone must remember is if we start to dominate in position it is going to make other players come into the game , so our forwards will get easier ball and you could well see vast improvement from guys like Dunstan , Steele , Ross.

Oh well it is easy to dream , but after the last couple years our list is full of promise.
No more - how is Newnes getting a game or seeing guys like Weller , Wright , Longer get gifted games because we had no depth.

 

[Sarcoidevo]

I am going to call it - 17 Round season coming up

Each club plays each other once

Season start will be postponed until 25 April - if need be the bye will be removed and then the season could begin in May potentially

At least postpone the start and then if need be cancel the season later if the CV crisis does not improve

Well first bit is on the cards - Gill called me last night and next thing you know they make the 17 game announcement

 

[aussierulesrules]

Are we suffering from pre season over confidence (*if it goes ahead)?

Most journos are tipping us to be 14th - 17th, I believe out list is stronger than that both with the impact of recruits and development of players such as Clark, Coffield, Long, Parker, Gresham, Marshall, Billings, Battle etc

Where do those on here (Saints board) think we will end up??

3 of the captains picked us to play finals, FWIW.

Giving us the 10th most votes to do so.

 

[Premium]

3 of the captains picked us to play finals, FWIW.

Giving us the 10th most votes to do so.

I'm usually way too positive to be making a call on this - but we will be playing finals - the reason why is last year we only missed out on finals by around 2 games , with a side that was savaged by injury.
With a fit stronger squad there is no reason we could push way higher than 8th.

1st GWS
2nd Tigers
3rd West Coast
4th Saints

 

[BangersAndMash]

Here's some good news for a change

 

[bergholt]

I’m sure the season will end up cancelled or at least so disrupted that no GF is played.

That said, I think we’re in an ok position with the age demographics of our list. Other sides will be much worse next year because of aging - Geelong springs to mind.

But we should just be more mature and therefore hopefully better.

 

[Grav]

I’m sure the season will end up cancelled or at least so disrupted that no GF is played.

That said, I think we’re in an ok position with the age demographics of our list. Other sides will be much worse next year because of aging - Geelong springs to mind.

But we should just be more mature and therefore hopefully better.

I’m leaning the other way in thinking we will get the 17 games in during the year (health & wellbeing permitted)
Admittedly it’s not all about sport, but along with NRL & Horse Racing it gives us all something to hang onto & help take our mind off this virus etc.

 

[bergholt]

I’m leaning the other way in thinking we will get the 17 games in during the year (health & wellbeing permitted)
Admittedly it’s not all about sport, but along with NRL & Horse Racing it gives us all something to hang onto & help take our mind off this virus etc.

Completely agree it would be great if it all happened, but I suspect events are going to get out of the control even of the AFL.

 

[ScrappyDo]

I’m leaning the other way in thinking we will get the 17 games in during the year (health & wellbeing permitted)
Admittedly it’s not all about sport, but along with NRL & Horse Racing it gives us all something to hang onto & help take our mind off this virus etc.

I thinking the same. With the flexibility available now in fixture and mini drafts and so on, l think there's enough to massage the season through.

And TBH since our list is in the position where we'd like to rotate a good number of guys through, and bed in a new game style, l think this situation works well for us compared to most other clubs.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I keep hearing people say that "there are more important things than footy".
Of course that's true. But its not an argument for or against.

I don't believe for a second that one additional person will die from this virus if AFL goes ahead as its currently suggested.
I don't believe that one single victim will be saved by the action of stopping the AFL.

Its as stupid as if my kids asked for ice cream and i hysterically yelled at them "there are more important things than ice cream ".

 

[BrutThough]

I keep hearing people say that "there are more important things than footy".
Of course that's true. But its not an argument for or against.

I don't believe for a second that one additional person will die from this virus if AFL goes ahead as its currently suggested.
I don't believe that one single victim will be saved by the action of stopping the AFL.

Its as stupid as if my kids asked for ice cream and i hysterically yelled at them "there are more important things than ice cream ".

If it is deemed medically safe and the players consent to playing, then rd1 should go ahead.

At a time with so much uncertainty, I think having something familiar and normal for people to turn on to distract themselves for a few hours can do more good than harm.

Being able to watch and talk about footy doesn't downplay the seriousness of this virus and it's impact on the world.