Changes Vs. Hawthorn

[ChrisFooty]

Mcqualter had 15 touches and kicked a goal. Did a solid tagging job. I do not think he will be dropped. Eddy would be dropped before him. There will only be two changes maxiumum i feel. Baker needs another VFL match most likely to get fitness and form up.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

in: m.gardiner, schneider/baker
out: allen, mcq (unlucky)

need gardiner as they have taylor & campbell

gwilt i think will stay as a tall down back we need him there with their forwards of franklin, roughead, williams etc.

if baker comes in mcq will go if schneids comes back in i think it might be eddy even though he is looking good hope he doesnt get dropped

dont think x will come back probs not bakes either but never no

Gwilt would not be able to stop franklin, roughead, williams etc.
Just because someone is tall does not mean that they are a good defender. ( Or a good basketballer for that matter ).

 

[sainter]

I´m travelling around Europe for the remainder of the year so I´ll be more reliant than ever on you all to keep me up to date.

I only read the reviews of the Carlton game but it´s such a good sign to read in this thread that we got through unscathed and have senior players fit and ready to return.

Gwilt and Allen do seem the obvious candidates to be dropped. Mini has worked so hard to get back into the team and if he had such a strong game on Murphy you´d be foolish to drop him. We want competition for places, definitely. But we can´t go around dropping players who are performing.

 

[Squizz]

I congratulated Mini on his game (when he was down at Casey watching), even though I normally leave the players alone. He seemed pretty happy with the job he did, so I've no idea why anyone would suggest he get dropped. Murphy ended up staging for free kicks and was ineffective on the night.

 

[stfan]

I cannot see anyone but Allen and Gwilt being omitted.

The casey match rep[orts all had Geary, Birss. M Gardiner and Schneider playing well.

Bakes was evidently still not looking too fit...and Raph was very error prone.

Birrs has also now strung together very good games at Casey when he was dropped, and he was stiff to be dropped in the first place.

Are M Gardiner and Schneider fully fit????


So possible ins are M Gardiner, Birrs, Geary and Scneider.

I cannot imagine 4 changes though. Only 2.

 

[carntheroos4eva]

Gwilt has to go. He's been doing nothing but the undiscipline stuff when playing. I would like to see both clarke brothers playing.

 

[Kildonan]

Gwilt has to go. He's been doing nothing but the undiscipline stuff when playing. I would like to see both clarke brothers playing.

I'm not sure that X is ready yet, and Raph - whom I'm a rap for, has just come off his worst game in some time.

Gwilt is too much of a risk though in modern football - I would prefer to see Allen moved back than get a replay of Gwilt's Carlton game.

Time to forgive Birss (he must have reversed into the selectors' ferarri or something) and let him back into the fold, and Geary has major claims as well.

 

[dg102]

GWILT HAS TO GO! You cannot have backmen that consistently turn over the ball and give away free kicks.
To beat Hawthorn we need to bring in as much pace as possible. They run and rebound so quick through CHB. Bringing in M. Gardiner even if he is fit is a big mistake. He's extremly slow. Bringing in Shnieder, Geary, Birss and GWILT, Allen out.

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

Dude, people forget how good MG was rucking. He wasn't having much of an impact around the ground but he's a better ruckman than King. Just wish he could flipping stay on the ground for more than a couple weeks at a time. Him and king swapping on and off would be very beneficial for us againt the Hawks.

Although I agree that Kosi has done very well around the ground in MG's absence.

 

[dg102]

I just think with MG coming in it takes away ruck time from King which is unnessasary and yes Kos can fill in for him while he rests. We dont need another ruckmen in the team atm. Dont forget throw ups are just a small part of the game. When MG isnt in the ruck he's very slow around the ground. Probably slowest on the team and Hawks are way quicker than us. I think saints should try balance that out.

 

[Sir Robert]

Dude, people forget how good MG was rucking. He wasn't having much of an impact around the ground but he's a better ruckman than King. Just with he could flipping stay on the ground for more than a couple weeks at a time. Him and king swapping on and off would be very beneficial for us againt the Hawks.

Although I agree that Kosi has done very well around the ground in MG's absence.

Agreed - even if King, Kosi and M Gardiner swap whilst one is in the forward line and the other on the bench would be fine by me, as long as all three aren't on the ground at the same time.

 

[Darkhour]

MG very definitely needed in the team, as is Xman.... it will be good to see them back in the side.. Birss deserves another crack at the moment and could be used as a shut down player or another mi forward etc... there is always the option of playing ruckman on bench, one forward and alternate Kosi in the ruck for a moment if he's not seeing the ball...

 

[Squizz]

Agree Darky.

Gardi would have had the bulk of the reported 52 hit-outs for Casey.

Hopefully he is fit and X can play with Casey this week.

Birss has been in the best three for 3-4 weeks in a row, so can't do much more.

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

I just think with MG coming in it takes away ruck time from King which is unnessasary and yes Kos can fill in for him while he rests. We dont need another ruckmen in the team atm. Dont forget throw ups are just a small part of the game. When MG isnt in the ruck he's very slow around the ground. Probably slowest on the team and Hawks are way quicker than us. I think saints should try balance that out.

I don't think this is true at all. Rioli is the only player with real pace. I think we matchup decently in the pace department.

 

[Signd Sealed Saint]

Anyone know where the game actually is? Said on the news it was at the G' yet on all the websites it says Telstra Dome even the Ticketmaster site. Confirmations appreciated.

 

[Squizz]

Definitely at the Dome.

I got thrown out with the Carlton game, as the draw I printed pre-season had it at the Dome (but I think it got over-run by the other religious event - the Y-Generation rally).

 

[Harry Yorkie]

Any WA Saints know where we can watch this game, not on FTA or Fox in Perth.

 

[Kildonan]

GWILT HAS TO GO! You cannot have backmen that consistently turn over the ball and give away free kicks.
To beat Hawthorn we need to bring in as much pace as possible. They run and rebound so quick through CHB. Bringing in M. Gardiner even if he is fit is a big mistake. He's extremly slow. Bringing in Shnieder, Geary, Birss and GWILT, Allen out.

I don't think this is true at all. Rioli is the only player with real pace. I think we matchup decently in the pace department.

The Hawks do have a few pacey players, but the secret to their defensive pressure and attacking speed is their well-drilled zone defence.

The Saints played them on their own terms early in 2007 and it was a shocker of a match - low scoring and full on defensive battle. The brilliance of Buddy and a radical approach to their forward structure led to their last quarter superiority.

We got to play them again, this time after we had schooled on their style of play. Ross Lyon got together with the boys and devised a way of toppling the Hawks. They weren't happy either - the Hawks - they didn't like being shown up - and they displayed it with a physical reaction - like children collectively spitting the dummy.

 

[beejay]

Any WA Saints know where we can watch this game, not on FTA or Fox in Perth.

good question mate - to tell u the truth i have absolultey no idea and i doubt any pubs would be showing it cos their precious eagles will be the preferred match shown so they can all get their hopes up and think they will win and get crushed again haha (this is what my dad is always like)

 

[dg102]

I don't think this is true at all. Rioli is the only player with real pace. I think we matchup decently in the pace department.

You should watch a few Hawks games. If you think their only player with pace is Rioli. They run off the back line and through the middle with serious pace.

 

[HoldenMCaulfield]

I would expect (in the order of likelihood - I would not mind an unchanged side either, though) :

In : M Gardiner / Out : J Allen

Allen did not play well at all on Friday and Gardiner was even better then King before his injury - Koschitzke should not be a pure full forward, resulting in him being bored and out of the game, but Hawthorn's ruckmen are a very different category than Carlton's. Gardiner is rather slow, yes, but will also provide an additional option in the forward line.

In : A Schneider / Out : D Armitage

I know, I'm not sure myself that I'd really like this, but I can't think of anyone else to make room for Schneider who apparently had a phantastic game with Casey and can play a 'playmaker' role in the midfield and score goals. Armitage is tough, something we will need against Hawthorn, but I believe that the only other candidate, Eddy, is contributing more to the team, as much as I like Armitage and would feel bad for his omission. Gwilt - see below - would be, apart from Allen, the only 'obvious' candidate to be dropped, but that would probably require Gram to move back again - unlikely after his excellent performance on Friday.

In : J Geary (or S Birss) / Out : J Gwilt

Gwilt improved towards the end of the game, but he was a real concern being slow and indecisive and giving away frees (his performance on Friday will not have cemented the spot Lyon was talking about...). Geary apparently played very well for Casey for two weeks running and deserves another go. Birss most definitely deserves another go and was unlucky to have been dropped in the first place, but appears to not be on Lyon's list for whatever reason. Baker has missed a real lot of footy and should get a few more games with Casey (also, there is no immediate need to bring him in with McQualter playing very well).

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

You should watch a few Hawks games. If you think their only player with pace is Rioli. They run off the back line and through the middle with serious pace.

They are no faster than when Montagna and Gram do it mate. Birchall and Ladson are no faster than our boys in the same position.

 

[Squizz]

Not sure how much this gives away, but note Schneider not mentioned and Fiora maybe ahead of Gears & Birss?

St Kilda returns to basics

By Pat Devery 12:14 PM Wed 16 July, 2008
ST KILDA assistant coach Anthony Rock says the club will continue to focus on the basics as it attempts to upset third-placed Hawthorn at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.
Speaking to saints.com.au Rock noted that the team's effort over the past three games - each of which has ended in a Saints victory - had improved, and the coaching staff would be concentrating on replicating that against the in-form Hawks.
"Over the last three or so weeks, we've really got an effort", said Rock. "Our ball use has been a lot better, and the way we've ran and carried the ball and shared it around.
"Our tackling efforts have been really good as well - really all the basics you hear time and time again: you tackle well, you win the ball and really focus on the contested ball."
Rock also highlighted the selection pressure being exerted by several players in the VFL who were pressing for inclusion against Hawthorn.
"We're in a really good spot at the moment. Michael Gardiner returned from injury and was pretty solid in the ruck. I'm sure he will be in contention this week, along with Aaron Fiora who has been pushing his name back up. His performances have been pretty good over the last three or four weeks.
"Jarryn Geary had 40 possessions in the VFL and that's pleasing from a coaching perspective because he's a young, developing player."
Leigh Fisher and Shane Birss were other players Rock said had been consistently good and were close to senior selection.
As for the challenge presented by Hawthorn on the weekend, Rock said several Saints were capable of curbing the influence of the Hawk big guns, including Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Lance 'Buddy' Franklin.
"We've done reasonably well in the past particularly on Hodge," he said.
"Sean Dempster really did a good job last week on (Nick) Stevens; Andrew McQualter was good on (Marc) Murphy.
"I'm not too sure [who will pick up Hodge or Mitchell] but ... they're dangerous players and I'm sure they'll be a focus in our preparation.”
Rock said creating pressure in the midfield and in the forward 50 was vital if the Saints were to limit the scoring chances of Franklin, a player he described as "pretty hard to stop".

 

[Signd Sealed Saint]

Hope Fiora doesn't come back into the side, a 26 year old failure is the last thing we need to be honest. Trade him and hopefully we get something decent (e.g young player or 3rd round pick). Anyway hopefully we can play Schneids tho, he brings pace and that X factor. Handy.

 

[makemytime]

I thought Fiora was pretty decent last year, or am I wrong? His last game was shocking though, playing on the wing and only getting 4 touches