Discussion Last Night

[krusden]

After listening to the whole match last night and watching the first half I believe that a most pleasing aspect for us is that, despite what my Geelong supporting mate says, we can get better in regards of goal kicking and running out a match.
What are other people's general thoughts on this - are we playing "above ourselves" as this bloke obviously believes or will we be able to constantly improve especially in mind of the displayed disappointment Tony Shaw spoke about in the last minute when a defender stuffed up and cracked the poops at himself despite being 83 points up?

 

[HoldenMCaulfield]

There is always room for improvement.

Schneider said on MMM last night that they want to win every quarter - I like that attitude, but although the scoreline says we did, I don't think Collingwood was too far away in the first (they could easily have been two goals up after the first quarter).

Geelong 'clicked' in 2007 and have won 48 of their last 51 (I think) which shows that it is possible to maintain that new standard of play over a long time. Will we be able to do that ? I don't know, but I'm gaining cofidence every week.

Pleasing !

 

[Riewoldting]

Yes, I think they can keep it up; they have given no reason to suggest they can't. The way they get out in tight situations and come forward in packs shows how far we've come.

And as long as Nick Riewoldt is there - no one can stop him.

 

[StFly]

Playing above ourselves? It's a catch 22 when you consider we all knew we could play good footy we were just inconsistent, now that we're consistently playign good footy that cliche has come out fo the woodwork to rear its ugly head. The consistency of the intensity is above what we have dished out season past, although that's also nothing new as clubs seek to improve with every season wherever possible.

Goal kicking is an issue and can be improved, stoppages can be improved as they do get run ons unhindered sometimes, tackling can be improved as I saw a fair few miss or slip off so by no means are we peaking too soon or have acheived all that we cana achieve simply because the goal has to be perfection. Kicking every goal opportunity, laying every tackle, winning every stoppage, every kick to advantage, every mark taken because any less is a weakness to be exploited.

It's nice that as Shaw said, 83 points up a half hearted effort or fumble was still damaging because it shows mentality and beign switched on for a long duration no matter the circumstance. But by no manner has really any club peaked, just at this point you could say that 2 clubs are just playing that much better footy than the rest of the comp.

 

[krusden]

Playing above ourselves?

yer, it's a BS cliche. I personally believe that we can and will get better and are playing, as you mentioned, consistent football week in week out.
Thus, I believe that we aren't slapping ourselves on the back after last night at the Club today and planning intently for next week.

and i am jolly pleased with that

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Can't play above yourselves for 7 weeks in a row.

 

[ohhhBigMalcho]

might be the wrong thread but what do you guys think of luke balls performances this year? i think he has looked very sharp but is down on his tackle counts compared with his career. so wats everyones thoughts on him this year?

 

[SammyFish25]

Was at the game and listening to MMM
and they had Doc Larkins on the boundary..
our only injury concerns were

Montagna and Gwilt had breathing difficulties...


BTW.. luke ball had the flu

 

[Zainta]

I think in regards to running out a game, if the match is within a goal Saints would run it out, but when we're up by 88 points, there's no need to risk an injury just for an already high percentage.

 

[krusden]

I think in regards to running out a game, if the match is within a goal Saints would run it out, but when we're up by 88 points, there's no need to risk an injury just for an already high percentage.

I think that is an EXCELLENT point

 

[IllBeTheJudge]

might be the wrong thread but what do you guys think of luke balls performances this year? i think he has looked very sharp but is down on his tackle counts compared with his career. so wats everyones thoughts on him this year?

I don't know about his stats as far as tackle count, but he's sure making his tackles count! As is much of the team.

I think he's had a great season so far, but he's playing one of those games where it's difficult to notice him.

His inside work against Collingwood I thought was sensational, getting the ball and dishing it out with a deft handpass that went to one of our players, and one of our players who was in the clear. Think I saw 3 or 4 examples of that, and that was only when I started really looking for it. I was surprised he wasn't named as one of St Kilda's best for the match, but then again how many can you name?

 

[sauce_head]

I think that is an EXCELLENT point

It is a good point but the 100 point winning margin was probably more behind the anger at stuffing up more than anything.

If we had of been up bu 66 or something, it probably would not have been as big an issue.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

There's only one player with the ball at a time, and poor Luke has to wait in the queue for his turn to tackle, where last year they left it for him.
In particular Joey and Jones have stepped up in the midfield.
One of my main concerns about the team de-railing are if Ball and Hayes are injured at the same time ( like 2008 ). But I've got to say that we will not be as bad if it happens this year, as we were last year.

 

[Half Back Pocket]

There's only one player with the ball at a time, and poor Luke has to wait in the queue for his turn to tackle, where last year they left it for him.
In particular Joey and Jones have stepped up in the midfield.
One of my main concerns about the team de-railing are if Ball and Hayes are injured at the same time ( like 2008 ). But I've got to say that we will not be as bad if it happens this year, as we were last year.

It wouldn't be great...but, as you say, not as bad as last year. This is my take on our midfield this season:

Elite:
Dal - silky smooth, mostly outside. great finisher.
Joey - lifted to a new level, mostly outside, goes when its his turn.
Lenny - gun. heart & soul of the club. hard nut with good skills.
Goddard - as per joey. great skills by foot or hand.

Very Good:
Bally - doing the 1%ers (unrecognised?) pace & penetration only concerns(?)
Gram - fast, mostly outside (very versatile). kicking a worry.
Mini - has been excellent. Hard at it. close checking & going fwd kicking goals
Ray - revelation at StK. Hard nut, good skills. prepared to run back & forward

Good:
CJ - pace & endurance (good concentration too). skills improving (but ? still)
Geary - as per jonesy. playing his part through midfield - stopping or carrying.
Eddy - again, plays his part. decision-making a ?. can he get fitter?