Strategy Changes: Round 16 Fremantle vs. St Kilda

[Boomer93]

But the problem is JOM comes in.
How is that any better?

JOM is clearly better than both right now.

 

[CaseySibosadoHOF]

JOM is clearly better than both right now.

And yet since he's come here, we've consistently been a better inside midfield unit when he's not there. This is just another example of that, but it was clear before then. I'd challenge you to find a single player whose presence as an inside mid is more negatively associated with Freo's clearance and contest stats as a team than JOM during his time here.

Now if the argument is "play JOM outside, put Johnno/NOD/others more inside, drop Fyfe/Ras", that's at least a fairer argument. But putting JOM inside is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

 

[EastcoastDocker]

Starlight game this week. Time to see how much Ross hates sick kids

Great cause and the club really does a lot of good work but like couldn't they make the starlight game a night game??

 

[Alfonz]

Did you watch the last time we played them?
We will be bloody lucky to win this.
Ross had a Ross night and J lo had Nothing.
I cannot fathom how anyone thinks we win this easily.

No, I didn't actually watch the game because I had a bad feeling about it and can't watch live on Friday anyway due to work/family.

Anyway, it is irrelevant to me now. But if you want to look to past results, then how about when the Saints got pumped by WC at Optus a month or so ago?

I'm not sure we will win this easily, but we shouldn't need luck to win either. We have a comfortably better team on paper and if we turn up at home and execute then we win.

 

[13then7]

Tl;dr - it’s not all doom and gloom.

Big Footy can be a miserable place. I’ve spent the last 30 minutes catching up on posts this morning. I had to check the ladder and was wondering just how this young talented team had ended up in 14th position, only to realise we were sitting in 6th (equal fourth) having recently beat two of those teams.

People have been calling for JLo’s job since the Geelong game. Drop this player or that player is rubbish. Win by bigger margins, after just watching certain players butcher shots in front of goal. Start the games faster. End games better.

Our best defender and captain has been out recently, our most damaging midfielder has been sidelined almost the entire season. Some of our players have exceeded expectations (in my opinion) under this coach. We’ve won five straight and this season is in our own hands.

We have many reasons to be positive. I don’t think this team is capable of a GF this year, heck, we may even lose to St Kilda this weekend. The players are not ruthless enough, yet.

The best thing is our team is building momentum, getting experience and the season is in our own hands.

Having said that, J-Lo still has a lot to prove but we’ve seen that when he has this team humming, they can beat most teams. He values team defense above all else. He will live and die by that.

It’s the AFL, it’s hard out there.

 

[groggm]

Brad Hill will be BOG.

Actually a convincing argument for sharp to stay in the team, he can run with him all game and hopefully nullify him a bit - stick Banfield on wanganeen-milera as with a negating role and they haven't got much going for them.

 

[heavho]

Reid is ahead of Dudley and Walters. Aside from scoring regularly his score involvements and creativity are massive.

Walters is a long way off at the moment. I liked his PS game against Melbourne but that was back in early March. Three possessions and limited mins for Walters yesterday for Peel.

Not sure if he can get back to that level.

Dudley needs a big pre-season. Loved what he has bought. Even at Peel he looks dangerous and brings other forwards into the game. It’s his fitness that needs to continue to build. Has come a long way reportedly over the past few years.

Reid is a forward mid

 

[swanny1234]

Surely the boys come out breathing absolute fire this week. The absolute embarrassment that St Kilda served us last time, means they should be setting themselves up for a huge performance this weekend.
Anything less than the most fierce pressure we’ve had all year will be hugely disappointing and another sign that Longmuir doesn’t have it.

 

[swanny1234]

JOM is clearly better than both right now.

No, he’s actually not. We’ve won our last 5 games without him. No way he should come back in.
Last time I remember him playing was that utter debacle v St Kilda, and he
was garbage then.
If you’re gonna bring JOM in, you may as well give Brodie a game instead.
He’s not the answer.

 

[Paracleet]

No, he’s actually not. We’ve won our last 5 games without him. No way he should come back in.
Last time I remember him playing was that utter debacle v St Kilda, and he
was garbage then.
If you’re gonna bring JOM in, you may as well give Brodie a game instead.
He’s not the answer.

Based on the quality of your memory maybe you should consider your opinion could be in error.

I mean to be fair I suppose he did get 0 touches that game.

 

[swanny1234]

Based on the quality of your memory maybe you should consider your opinion could be in error.

I mean to be fair I suppose he did get 0 touches that game.

Ok my apologies- it was the Melbourne game where he was rubbish.

Regardless, the guy is a mediocre, slow midfielder that lacks talent. I’d rather Fyfe on one leg, at least his hand passes find a purple jumper.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Clarky said the boys are dead keen to play the Saints and redeem themselves. I struggle to believe we'll come out flat, and when our effort levels are high we always beat mediocre teams even if it's ugly.

I also think winning a little bit ugly is our best MO. It's frustrating as he'll, but when we are super hard to score against and win by kicking 75 points, I reckon they're the kind of games oppo coaches are trying to avoid with us.

 

[Quazar2]

Clarky said the boys are dead keen to play the Saints and redeem themselves. I struggle to believe we'll come out flat, and when our effort levels are high we always beat mediocre teams even if it's ugly.

I also think winning a little bit ugly is our best MO. It's frustrating as he'll, but when we are super hard to score against and win by kicking 75 points, I reckon they're the kind of games oppo coaches are trying to avoid with us.

I agree. Since that debacle of Round 8, Saints have won once - against the Dees in Round 12. Coming off the bye they were smacked at home by the Bulldogs, about 72 points I think? Lost a few at home; won only once in the past 6 rounds they've played - lost to West Coast - the only team to do so thus far. I mean, they're ripe for the picking if we're honest..

Of course, they are no guarantees we just roll up the sleeves and get a job done, but we should. The Saints are now awful and Ross is slipping into that woeful territory he became renown for at the tail end of his time here. Excuses Kingdom!

We should really be able to account for them. I'm not expecting a crushing defeat of them, but I wouldn't rule it out either. Weather might play a part or be a factor, I don't know if it's going to be wet or not come Sunday.

To keep winning, banking the 4 points and hopefully edging closer to a top 4 finish is the dream. I think it's achievable, I also don't mind we're not peaking too early. Saw what happened with Sydney last year. I also think a few teams might slip out of their positions overall, I'm not convinced Hawthorn are where they're good enough to be, and I think one of GWS and Gold Coast might fall out entirely. I'd be surprised if Bulldogs don't take a 5-8 spot based off their percentage alone. Of course, any major injuries for any of these teams could change the dynamics too. There are no guarantees for Fremantle either, despite top 3 recent best form (I think currently #1 now?). We're all walking the razor's edge!!

Nothing is set in stone, but I'm confident we're much better placed to take care of the Saints this time around. Of course bravado and smack talk doesn't get the job done, to be something of a Ross Lyon! Actions get it done! I guess we'll see on Sunday.

 

[heavho]

Saints are going to use dirty tagging tactics on serong and brayshaw. Like they did to daicos hopefully are on the lookout for this and if it does happen we actually get a response from the team and put Voss on them to give them a good Wack

 

[swanny1234]

I agree. Since that debacle of Round 8, Saints have won once - against the Dees in Round 12. Coming off the bye they were smacked at home by the Bulldogs, about 72 points I think? Lost a few at home; won only once in the past 6 rounds they've played - lost to West Coast - the only team to do so thus far. I mean, they're ripe for the picking if we're honest..

Of course, they are no guarantees we just roll up the sleeves and get a job done, but we should. The Saints are now awful and Ross is slipping into that woeful territory he became renown for at the tail end of his time here. Excuses Kingdom!

We should really be able to account for them. I'm not expecting a crushing defeat of them, but I wouldn't rule it out either. Weather might play a part or be a factor, I don't know if it's going to be wet or not come Sunday.

To keep winning, banking the 4 points and hopefully edging closer to a top 4 finish is the dream. I think it's achievable, I also don't mind we're not peaking too early. Saw what happened with Sydney last year. I also think a few teams might slip out of their positions overall, I'm not convinced Hawthorn are where they're good enough to be, and I think one of GWS and Gold Coast might fall out entirely. I'd be surprised if Bulldogs don't take a 5-8 spot based off their percentage alone. Of course, any major injuries for any of these teams could change the dynamics too. There are no guarantees for Fremantle either, despite top 3 recent best form (I think currently #1 now?). We're all walking the razor's edge!!

Nothing is set in stone, but I'm confident we're much better placed to take care of the Saints this time around. Of course bravado and smack talk doesn't get the job done, to be something of a Ross Lyon! Actions get it done! I guess we'll see on Sunday.

To put this more bluntly, if we somehow lose to the Saints, at home, this weekend, given both teams recent form since we last met, JLo should quit on the spot in shame.

 

[swanny1234]

Saints are going to use dirty tagging tactics on serong and brayshaw. Like they did to daicos hopefully are on the lookout for this and if it does happen we actually get a response from the team and put Voss on them to give them a good Wack

The difference is when it happens to Serong, the Vic biased media won't say a thing. All of them have been crying poor Nick all week, even though it's no different to the treatment Serong cops week in week out.

 

[TheLastCall]

Saints are going to use dirty tagging tactics on serong and brayshaw. Like they did to daicos hopefully are on the lookout for this and if it does happen we actually get a response from the team and put Voss on them to give them a good Wack

Because it happened last week, and the media pointed it out. The umpires will have an eye on StK this week.

 

[freo84]

Because it happened last week, and the media pointed it out. The umpires will have an eye on StK this week.

Also Daicos plays it up as well. He makes it obvious by grabbing his chest or stomach and wincing in pain at the contact. Serong doesn't do it and part of me wishes he did so he got the frees he deserves.

 

[ImperialPurple]

Loving this year’s Starlight jumper. Best one yet.

 

[freodog]

No Reid either. It is actually astonishing that we have in form, dangerous forwards. Other than Amiss and Reid most of them have come from bits and pieces of drafting (and Reid wasn’t drafted as a forward, but he is just so clever). Treacy the rookie draft, Voss and Dudley train ons, Switta and Freddie low in the draft.

Shhh, not too loud I'm wondering how long it is until they figure out how good David Walls is until they try to poach him!

 

[Ghost Pig]

Sobering to think we are tied for the fifth greatest win streak in club history.

 

[E Shed]

Tl;dr - it’s not all doom and gloom.

Big Footy can be a miserable place. I’ve spent the last 30 minutes catching up on posts this morning. I had to check the ladder and was wondering just how this young talented team had ended up in 14th position, only to realise we were sitting in 6th (equal fourth) having recently beat two of those teams.

People have been calling for JLo’s job since the Geelong game. Drop this player or that player is rubbish. Win by bigger margins, after just watching certain players butcher shots in front of goal. Start the games faster. End games better.

Our best defender and captain has been out recently, our most damaging midfielder has been sidelined almost the entire season. Some of our players have exceeded expectations (in my opinion) under this coach. We’ve won five straight and this season is in our own hands.

We have many reasons to be positive. I don’t think this team is capable of a GF this year, heck, we may even lose to St Kilda this weekend. The players are not ruthless enough, yet.

The best thing is our team is building momentum, getting experience and the season is in our own hands.

Having said that, J-Lo still has a lot to prove but we’ve seen that when he has this team humming, they can beat most teams. He values team defense above all else. He will live and die by that.

It’s the AFL, it’s hard out there.

I agree with every word you wrote & also reserve the right to scream like a stuck pig and write over the top hyperbolic nonsense as a way of emotional regulation when we lose.

I haven’t watched much of the Saints this year but what I saw against Collingwood was pretty good. The Pies are the industry standard & St Kilda stayed with them for most of the match.
Anyone can beat anyone these days and form doesn’t seem to matter like it used to.

I honestly have no idea what to expect other than I don’t think we’ll roll over.

 

[Perfect Purple]

Saints are going to use dirty tagging tactics on serong and brayshaw. Like they did to daicos hopefully are on the lookout for this and if it does happen we actually get a response from the team and put Voss on them to give them a good Wack

But not the sort of whack that results in Voss getting suspended!

The fact that the Saints kept up with the Pies for three quarters of their game tells us that in spite of their ladder position they won’t be easy beats. We have improved a lot since our last encounter but it will definitely be a hard physical game and we need to get runs on the board very early.

I don’t want to see rolling scrums all game. That’s playing on their terms not ours.

 

[Big Animal]

Ross outcoached JLo last time by focusing on pressuring to cause turnovers on our handball overobsession. And locking down stoppages and playing tight on Serong and Brayshaw to limit easy clearances. If we play like we did against Essendon this week, could get the same result as last time with Saints.

 

[Perfect Purple]

By all accounts Dudley’s performance in the WAFL game did nothing to get him a call up for this week so not so sure about him coming in.