Cousins To St Kilda

[Plugger35]

WCBC sounds like a typical West Coast supporter, they have been so spoilt by success that they can't handle it when they struggle and all want to jump off.

Good luck to him if he wants to become a St Kilda supporter but I doubt he would last long if he can't handle the tough times. You need a masochistic streak to follow the Saints.

 

[bubblegoose]

Good luck to him if he wants to become a St Kilda supporter but I doubt he would last long if he can't handle the tough times. You need a masochistic streak to follow the Saints.

On the money there Plugger!

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Do you guys think it's a smart move to take Cousins?

It suggests that the Saints think they can win a flag in the next two years. No point getting Cousins if they didn't think that.

I'm sceptical about those chances.

What do you guys think?

 

[bubblegoose]

You're right.

It suggests that the Saints think they can win a flag in the next two years. No point getting Cousins if they didn't think that.

We ended up 4th this year, I don't see the need to down tools just yet.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

We ended up 4th this year, I don't see the need to down tools just yet.

Yeah, you ended up fourth, but you were a long way behind the top two.

To what extent is Cousins going to bridge that gap?

I'd say your list of deficiencies is a fair bit longer than Hawthorn's or Geelong's.

 

[Plugger35]

Yeah, you ended up fourth, but you were a long way behind the top two.

To what extent is Cousins going to bridge that gap?

I'd say your list of deficiencies is a fair bit longer than Hawthorn's or Geelong's.

I wouldn't say we are all that far behind Geelong and Hawthorn. When we played them in the finals we were missing some key players such as Ball, Baker, Maguire and Dempster whilst Geelong and Hawthorn were virtually at full strength.

The main area we were lacking in against those two top teams was in the midfield. Adding a high quality midfielder like Cousins would go a long way to fixing that problem, assuming he can still play to the same standard he showed at West Coast.

You only have to look at how West Coast have struggled since Cousins left to see what a difference he makes to a team. There were plenty of times he almost singlehandedly dragged the Eagles across the line in big games. With any luck he can do the same for us, but a lot of water needs to go under the bridge before that happens.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

I wouldn't say we are all that far behind Geelong and Hawthorn.

Come on, mate.

Those sides were the stand-outs all season.

The Saints looked like missing finals altogether for much of the year before sneaking into the top four.

Be realistic.

You only have to look at how West Coast have struggled since Cousins left to see what a difference he makes to a team.

Well, we did lose another handy player about the same time as Cousins left.

There were plenty of times he almost singlehandedly dragged the Eagles across the line in big games. With any luck he can do the same for us, but a lot of water needs to go under the bridge before that happens.

I would never underestimate Cousins' contribution to West Coast - but I think the Saints are more than one player away from really pushing for a flag.

 

[Plugger35]

Come on, mate.

I would never underestimate Cousins' contribution to West Coast - but I think the Saints are more than one player away from really pushing for a flag.

Well I would agree that Cousins alone probably won't bridge the gap. However as I said before we also had a few more injuries to key players than Geelong and Hawthorn did. Next year may well be different, we may finally have some luck with injuries and have a full strength team and the Hawks or Geelong may have injuries to key players or just go off the boil.

Whether or not he can help us win a premiership is open to debate but either way Cousins at his best will make us a hell of a lot more competitive against the top teams than we were without him. In my opinion we would be mad not to take him, providing he ticks all the right boxes of course.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

I don't think many would have said Geelong were close to a flag even 12 months before they won one.

It's easy to look at their list now and say they don't have many holes but back then they seemingly did.

 

[HoldenMCaulfield]

I don't think many would have said Geelong were close to a flag even 12 months before they won one.

Very good point.

Also, Hawthorn finished 5th after the 2007 h&a season - 20 points behind Geelong.

I am certain that talentwise the Saints are at least close to Geelong and Hawthorn (and would be even closer with Cousins) - it is just a question of putting everything together.

 

[Persevering Saint]

Good luck to him if he wants to become a St Kilda supporter but I doubt he would last long if he can't handle the tough times. You need a masochistic streak to follow the Saints.

So true.... sigh....

 

[daics cousin]

Looking at this scenario more indepth,its strange that you guys are not seeing past what is really going on with Cousins.

Collingwood were gun ho about getting cousins,then all of a sudden things changed dramatically .Why?
We do have the pick before you guys,so reading between the lines the pies must know something the rest don't.one would think.

And also to allow Cousins to play with GARDINER.in normal circumstances,one would think a club would keep these two as far away from each other as possible.

Our club is desperate for someone of the quality of Cousins,but since his past glory days,maybe their is a lot of water under the bridge.
Remember you guys will be getting the 2009 version not the premiership star he once was.

For all we all know maybe the AFL MAY NOT RE REGISTER HIM,but personally he will be passed becuse it may be considered a restraint of trade.

 

[Persevering Saint]

OR, as has been repeated OVER and OVER again, Malthouse realised that with the culture that is currently at Collingwood, with Didak and Co, having Cousins there would be a disaster for both the club and for the man.

ALSO, as has been ABUNDANTLY stated, Gardiner has been cleaned up by the Saints, and this is actually one of the reasons Cousins is interested in us, because he sees our club as being potentially extremely helpful for his rehabilitation.

 

[stfan]

Looking at this scenario more indepth,its strange that you guys are not seeing past what is really going on with Cousins.

Collingwood were gun ho about getting cousins,then all of a sudden things changed dramatically .Why?
.

LOL..

The Pies were also Gung Ho abount getting a long line of good players....Gehrig, Stevens, Lockett etc etc..

FACT is the Pies cannot land good players...and then always offer up bullshit excuses why.

 

[StFly]

We do have the pick before you guys,so reading between the lines the pies must know something the rest don't.one would think.

That your current culture is horrible for rehabilitation? That Eddy is finally running out of cash to throw around to re-enact the Kennedy shooting? That the PI you hired only worked in greyscale and kept walking towards windows and noting to himself of his discoveries?

And then he walked into my door, sweet thing he smelled like money but I knew he was trouble, especially when he looked at me like I was crazy and talking to myself... as if he can hear in my head...

Honestly though, automatically assuming that in this scenario information is damaging is presumptuous, for all anyone knows Cousins changed his mind and plans to nominate the Saints which is what was found out, it doesn;t need to automatically be negative.

 

[DannyJ]

I agree with Gunnar. Saints aren't all that close to the top 2 IMO. I know I go for the Hawks, but this isn't a troll it's just MO which can and has been proven wrong before.

The backline:- Maxy is a great stopper, Maguire a good attacking CHB and then we see great powerful runners in Gram and S. Fisher. The other couple of positions filled by Raph Clarke and maybe a Baker sees out a very good defence. Is good enough for top 2.

The Midfield:- Has a few standout players. Hayes, Ball, Dal Santo, Cousins, and Goddard give you a good 5. King & Kossie in the ruck give you a good combination for sure. Starting Midfield is good enough. The depth severly drops off. Geelong and Hawthorn have clearly more polished midfielders from midfielders 6-10 than the Saints do. Players such as C. Jones, Eddy, McQualter, Armitage, and Ray won't match in Hawthorn position: Ellis, Young, Osborne, Crawford, and Ladson. Just MO.

The Forward Line:- Riewoldt is a star! There is just really know one else in big games that you can rely on. Milne is great against poor oposition, and improved against greater teams in 2008 and is a quality small forward. After that there isn't much. Players such as Allen and maybe a Gwilt (Myabe another tall FWD) up forward have huge question marks. Compare this Hawthorn who have Franklin, Roughead, Williams, Rioli who can all kick goals. Geelong maybe lack some forward power but Mooney, Lonergan, Chapman, and SJ give them VARIETY. Geelong are the standout in midfield & Defence anyway Hawthorn just makes ground up forward.

Overall: I think you have some great players should have taken a longer view with your list. Riewoldt is 25/26, and with Goddard, Ball, Dal, S. Fisher, Gram, Kossie etc all being in there prime for quite a few years, I think you should have developed a few players from the the National Draft from 2007-2010 and then had an assualt from 2011-2013. Instead of recruiting recycled players this should have been your aim. However time will tell, and good luck in 2009.

 

[stfan]

I agree with Gunnar. Saints aren't all that close to the top 2 IMO. I know I go for the Hawks, but this isn't a troll it's just MO which can and has been proven wrong before.

.

Hawks fans are the new Cats fans...and are going to spend all their time from now till next years GF lecturing every other club...just like all the Cat's fans did throughout 2008.

FACTS are:

Not even Cat's fans thought they would win the flag 12 months before they did.

Ditto for Hawks fans...


Danny J...did you 12 months out predict the Hawks and Cat's Flags??? If not then get off your high horse.

 

[stfan]

, I think you should have developed a few players from the the National Draft from 2007-2010 .

So you are not a troll eh ?? You must be a Muppet then.

Now tell me Mr Iamnotatroll who did the Saints Draft in 2009 and 2010???

 

[stfan]

, I think you should have developed a few players from the the National Draft from 2007-.

Now Muppet...you really do not have a clue about the Saints do you??

Our list damage was done by GT pre-2007. Ross Lyon, Drain and our new recruiting guuy that replaced Beveridge have done very well.

In 2007 we actually took big strides forward in developing new young talent..but do not let facts stand in the way of My Team Won A Flag This year so now I must lecture all other fans despite being an idiot..and saying bullshit ill-infonmed things.

Now as to 2007 you Muppet..it was only our second round pick that was traded...the picks for King and Charlie were picks so late that theyt were not real picks.

In 2007 we gained a new future ruckman in McEvoy who wil take time to develop....and then also took two BOTTOM AGE (ie YOUNG!!!) players in Steven (who if you had watched him play , you would know he will bea beauty) plus Eljay.

Meanwhile the rookies were being developed Geary and Eddy should play many games for us, with Jones adding depth.


So Danny J..if you are going to come into the Saints section and lecture us, please do some homework before you lecture us with your Muppet -like ill-informed rubbish.

 

[stfan]

. Instead of recruiting recycled players .

Aand you don't mention of course that the Hawks team that last Saturday in Sept had 3 recycled players in it do you?

Or that this trade period that the Hawks acted immorally by trying the scew the Swans out of O'Keefe...when Pelchin and the Hawks never had any intention of offering fair price for him.

 

[HoldenMCaulfield]

gee, he really got to you, didn't he ?

 

[Cheerthesaints]

Anyone who saw our 3 Finals this year will tell you we had no GUT RUNNING midfielders. I mean real gut runners.

We have no Husan Bolt's in our midfield. For gut runners, Cousins is as good as it gets. I have seen him basically empty his stomach contents and keep running in the one motion-he never stops.

He is the ONE and only ingredient missing in our midfield. Get him, we have the league covered in the central area.

What we do need is more forward options.......More goals.

At the moment if Roo has a bad day, and Milney is covered, we have to manufacture goals. It's like pulling teeth. We need more options and more structure. Maybe with Gardner in the ruck with his mate Cousins, we can have Roo & Kosy as Twin Towers on a permanent basis? with a blend of Milney..and who else can crumb a goal?

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

We have no Husan Bolt's in our midfield. For gut runners, Cousins is as good as it gets. I have seen him basically empty his stomach contents and keep running in the one motion

Bollocks.

I once saw him run through a brick wall without even slowing down.

 

[Cheerthesaints]

Bollocks.

I once saw him run through a brick wall without even slowing down.

Bollocks is right!

I never said he was about to go running through brick walls! he is a runner....nothing more. We already have tough, we have Lenny, we have Luke Ball, we have Goddard.....the list goes on. I said we need a gut runner...a runner, a receiver who will keep running.

Without Cousins and Judd West Coast are just an average VFL side. What a difference 2 players make to an average side.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Bollocks is right!

I never said he was about to go running through brick walls! he is a runner....nothing more. We already have tough, we have Lenny, we have Luke Ball, we have Goddard.....the list goes on. I said we need a gut runner...a runner, a receiver who will keep running.

Tell me again how Cousins spewed and kept running without breaking stride.

Without Cousins and Judd West Coast are just an average VFL side. What a difference 2 players make to an average side.

Yeah - we'll just have to console ourselves with our recent premiership.

You know how hard it is to stay at the top after winning a flag.

Or maybe you don't.

And we were still good enough to beat you last season.