And that's the end of another season

[sainter]

Well, for my side anyway.

I just a few brief observations on tonights match.

Colonial Stadium did not open up Level 4 which actually made quite a lot of sense with the crowd being only 16,000.

It was also as close to an English soccer crowd that I have seen with each clubs supporters taking up roughly half the ground.

I was sitting behind our cheer squad and the action really started to heat up in the last quarter. Obviously the saints supporters were giving Carey a lot of stick which everyone does. He must have been listening because a few minutes later he banged a ball from the goal square as hard and low as I have seen, almost decapitating a woman in a wheelchair. (She found the whole thing quite funny, and I realise he was aiming at kicking it into the crowd as hard as he could and not into her). At the same time, a few drunk roos supporters were throwing a few empty bottles and singing about our wooden spoon from Level 2. The saints supporters then replied by chanting "Sydney, Sydney".

I did not bring that information up to highlight any specific events but I thought some of the by-play between the supporters was quite humorous.

And lastly, I want to congratulate Nathan Burke for addressing the supporters after the game. If there is one thing you have to say about our players, they genuinely care about our fans. Burke paid tribute to the supporters, thanked them for turning up week in, week out, and vowed to improve next year. (I do think he was given the microphone to pay tribute to Tim Watson but he thanked the supporters instead).

A VFL premiership would look a lot better next to the wooden spoon!

 

[Westy Boy]

Sainter,
Don't feel too down.
As you said, you have a strong reserves team (usually a good sign), and a lot of good quality young kids coming through (as I saw on the telecast tonight).
And the best thing after a season like this is that, in four weeks, you are in the same position as 14 other clubs, except in a better position to get top quality youth, and the odd uncontracted senior player.

Next year you will have a new coach (keep your hands off Wallace though!!!), and hopefully a new feeling of hope and culture around the club. We were down and out in 96, but bounced back. I'm know you have the talent and people in the club to do the same. You will do well in the VFL, which will provide a spring board to a successful senior campaign in 2001.
Fairytale grand final of the battlers, Doggies Vs St Kilda grand final in 2001, as it should have been in 97.

 

[Westy Boy]

Sainter,
Don't feel too down.
As you said, you have a strong reserves team (usually a good sign), and a lot of good quality young kids coming through (as I saw on the telecast tonight).
And the best thing after a season like this is that, in four weeks, you are in the same position as 14 other clubs, except in a better position to get top quality youth, and the odd uncontracted senior player.

Next year you will have a new coach (keep your hands off Wallace though!!!), and hopefully a new feeling of hope and culture around the club. We were down and out in 96, but bounced back. I'm know you have the talent and people in the club to do the same. You will do well in the VFL, which will provide a spring board to a successful senior campaign in 2001.
Fairytale grand final of the battlers, Doggies Vs St Kilda grand final in 2001, as it should have been in 97.

 

[sainter]

Thanks Westy Boy, I hope you are right!

It will be interesting to have some early picks for a change, over the last 3 or 4 years our first pick has something like 10 or 11. Having the first two picks is pretty exciting.

I honestly think we have a lot of talented youngsters. It is more the middle rung of players that have let us down. I hate to use the "rebuilding" word but that is what we are in the process of doing.

As for Terry Wallace, before your team played Carlton I thought we may have had a good chance to poach him. Unfortunately his coaching of late has proved how good a coach he is and have only served to add a few more digits to an already lucrative offer to stay a bulldog.

Agggghhhh, the ruined dream of 1997. How good for football would a saints vs dogs Grand Final have been? A 2001 Grand Final between our teams would be great because let's face it, one of our teams would finally win a flag. (As hard as we would both try to lose)

By the way, after Williamstown's performance today, don't discount a VFL premiership heading out west.

 

[Groucho]

Sainter

Good post. I thought the mightys showed a bit last night, particularly in the second quarter when they seemed to have the ball on a string but couldn't get it through the goals as often as they should have. The crowd was interesting wasn't it ? A lot of byplay that I hadn't experienced at Colonial before. It wasn't heated but had a certain edge to it, a bit like a suburban ground. Good luck for the future and with some early draft picks and aggressive recruiting of uncontracted players along with a new coach with at least SOME experience and ideas and you could just about be a challenger next year,it could happen that quickly with the right mix.

 

[Richmondfan#1]

Hey sainter,
I'm with Westy Boy. Don't feel too down. I am a huge tiger supporter and it's been ages since they made the finals. At least your side made a grand final a few years ago. Things will start to look up for the saints with a new coach and all. Just whatever you do-NEVER give up on your team.

 

[NICK THE PIE MAN]

I know how you feel Sainter,
its been happening to my team for the past 6 years!!!

[This message has been edited by NICK THE PIE MAN (edited 13 November 2000).]

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

They'll come back.

If the Blues have to lose a player to anyone, I don't mind it being the Saints.
Jezza, McConville, Wow Jones, Sheldon the list goes on and on.

Onya Sainter

 

[sainter]

Nick,

1997 for us came completely out of the blue and the success disappeared as quick as it arrived.

There is no doubt Mick Malthouse is working on a long term plan to turn things around. I hope for your sake it isn't as brief as ours was.

The Old Dark Navy's,

As happy I am about poaching Hamill, I understand the disappointment that your team feels about losing him. For a youngster to be picked up so late in the draft and to develop into a potential top-line player only to leave at the time he looks like taking the next step is like a kick in the guts.

While I have no sympathy for the John Elliott's of this world, it is decent supporters like yourself that I feel sorry for.

I just hope that Aaron has the passion for the St Kilda jumper that some of our other players (Harvey, Burke, Loewe) show rather than be spurred on by his disenchantment at the Carlton administration.