Positive & Negatives v Hawthorn

[Manimal_Dunstan]

Loving the young guys!!

 

[Monika72]

Some of the young kids showed a lot today.
I would like to see St Kilda change some of their coaches next year. I would like to see a new forward coach.

 

[hayes]

Whoever made the Schneider comparison about Mini is pretty spot on IMO. There's a lot of class about the kid and didn't look overawed at any stage. Really liked the look of him, looks like we might've found another one. Must finish out the season.

The younger brigade in general showed a lot.

 

[Manimal_Dunstan]

Whoever made the Schneider comparison about Mini is pretty spot on IMO. There's a lot of class about the kid and didn't look overawed at any stage. Really liked the look of him, looks like we might've found another one. Must finish out the season.

The younger brigade in general showed a lot.

Agree.. If Saad is gone with the drugs stuff and Milne retires i reckon if he can keep the form up at AFL level could get promotion to the senior list at the end of the season for good.. Him and Curren, not sure of Fergo has to be elevated i think by the rules.

 

[thomas_m18]

In the second quarter I felt like we were right in the game and just needed to snag a goal to make the game really tight again before realizing that we were 6 goals down. I guess I was partially enjoying myself then.

In what were their first games back for ages, I thought that both Adam Schneider and Jason Blake were terrific. Schneids obviously lit up the second half, and Blake honestly looked as if he'd been playing AFL footy all season. If Buddy plays I'm probably criticizing him but he did well. Both still AFL standard footballers. A club like Melbourne or GWS could possibly benefit from a teacher like Blake who has had to go without size for his career, but Blake's legacy as a one club player would be nice to maintain.

Everyone showed a bit which is what you can hope for. Balls kicked out of bounds going down the wings too much, and we do that too much in general. I would like to see us get a Matthew Watson or a Shannon Hurn type in who can just smash a ball 60-70m with ease to break the game open a bit more, although with our current defensive frailties and lack of a true functioning forward set up we would probably get smacked doing it.

Tom Lee passing off shots from 50 is a negative. If you can do anything, it's kick nice and straight, so just have a crack at it. Probably a bit disappointing but we scored 7 goals so.

If Macca's sick don't play him. He's not that important atm, and Hickey could use the senior experience. Wasn't his finest outing.

Roughead covers both Gwilt and Blake in every capacity you could possibly think of. No chance.

Good effort, beaten by a better team etc.

 

[mysainters]

Is it just me, or do we suddenly have some leg speed? We can really learn to use this to our advantage.

Starting to see some synergy amongst the young ones, passing it to each other, anticipating one another's moves.

Geary was the only one to beat roughy one on one tonight and went the golden fist, maybe we went a little too far the other way and attempt to out mark the unmarkable. Nothing like a perfectly executed punch/spoil

Roo needs a break, send him away early to get him right for next year, mentally and physically spent and his emotions are bubbling to the surface to easy

Liked the two first time goal kickers tonight

 

[CHBench]

Scott Watters is the king of saying alot of words without really saying anything at all. Feels like he's just pulling out the same script at each presser.

 

[karaoke]

All the kids were positives last night.

You could see with the tackling intensity that it was a never give up attitude until final siren.

A couple of SMitchell clearances in 2nd qrtr resulted in scores that put the gap on the scoreboard, which was effectively the final margin.

Unfortunately, like almost dragging us across the line in the GF of 2010, Lenny is looking like he's doing the same with his own body now for the end of the year - looking more like his last year to me - absolute respect

 

[Smoke_Me_AKipper]

Forgot to add earlier - want to big up Jason Blake who played a great game. 100 DE and had a number of possessions and in traffic.....

 

[God Save Max King]

Scott Watters is the king of saying alot of words without really saying anything at all. Feels like he's just pulling out the same script at each presser.

I reckon it is brilliant to do so while there are some question marks over the club and the direction we are heading. It seems like he is giving the media a satisfactory answer but his answers actually have little material that could make the front page.

 

[Half Back Pocket]

Will be great to see Blakey playing for the Saints over the next 3 weeks. A fitting finale for a true warrior!

 

[Sir Skid]

Good thread IMO.
FWIW, as much as we lost to a better team it's exciting again watching the kids being developed.
Yes, through major lack of mid age list and dearth of key defenders.
I won't name all the kids but thought the attitude of all and commitment was great.
As someone mentioned, how good is Blakey to step straight in and play like he had never left.
The most underrated player in the AFL again showed his worth.
Looking forward to next week!

 

[Smoke_Me_AKipper]

I just watched SW press conference and he's saying without saying or reading between the lines, (and not necessarily in this particular press conferences but over a number of them), "look right now we're shit due to not blooding kids and poor recruiting. We have to blood the kids and keep on playing them. We're managing their workloads as they are not mature enough to play the whole game sometimes let alone the whole season. They are showing a bit and doing the right things that we ask of them. We need some more midfielders and key defenders as well"

Interesting comment though about improving the culture. I was wondering if there were issues here. I am guessing it was from Ross Lyons time where there were favourites and players were ignored.

I think SW is the right coach for where we are at the moment. I think he will grow into the role also....

 

[VDS66]

How good is Schneids? Gwad we have missed him. Give Milne a farewell game and that's it.

OK...

Watching a number 35 run through the middle and deliver to our key fwd turned back the clock for this old timer. Maybe an omen for things to come?

All the kids showed glimpses and hopefully they will continue on the same track of improvement next year... there is a lot to like about them, and if they do, then our place at the bottom weill be short lived IMO. Add Gilbert, wright etc and we will be more competitive next year.

I reckon Dal did some good work in the middle, and Joey is... Joey.

Ray showed why we extended his contract. Good move IMO as contributes well.

Roberton for leadership group next year. What a bargain!

Negs:

Bloody injuries sh1tting me off this year.

Jones should not play beyond this year.. sorry. He is hard at it etc... heart of a Lion and hard as a cat's head, but let's be honest, he does not have the polish we desperately need.

RE: D. King... why the heck would we gift Essendon another star and help them win a flag is beyond me. Dal and Joey can see out their days with us thx.

Our midfield is 2nd class at the moment. we are one gun and another a-grader away from having a premiership midfield. If the mods fall, then defence is under the pump and fwd entry is crap.

Lee is still raw and Roo gets out numbered. Missing Maister.

We need a key defender desperately. Poor Jimmy just wasn't up to it against Roughie... total mist match.

 

[saintersown]

Lots of things I could talk about, but for a change why don't I talk about ONE (or maybe a few)positives.

TC played well, and Newnes, Webster, pretty much all the kids played well.

Saunders. Wow. When a player registers only 11 disposals, but has a performance like that, it really makes you want to stand up and clap. That's right only 11 disposals, but if you look at his influence and effect (let's not even start on effort), it was sensational. Essentially all those 11 disposals where him breaking past 3 hawthorn defenders and taking the game on, straight down the corridor, it gave me the shivers!

 

[Sheeza69]

Good thread IMO.
FWIW, as much as we lost to a better team it's exciting again watching the kids being developed.
Yes, through major lack of mid age list and dearth of key defenders.
I won't name all the kids but thought the attitude of all and commitment was great.
As someone mentioned, how good is Blakey to step straight in and play like he had never left.
The most underrated player in the AFL again showed his worth.
Looking forward to next week!

Will be a huge loss at the end of the year Blakey, has displayed commitment & loyalty to the Saints the minute he walked into the club..

Even when he get's beaten in the previous contest, he immediately backs up for the next contest & often wins it..

Has never received the accolades he deserves externally, though internally he is held in high esteem..!

Special mention to the younger players, the improvement with each game is noticeable & with some savvy drafting/trading this year, we can once launch an assault at the the top 4 in 4-5 years..

 

[Bull3tblitz]

Negs:
Lee is still raw and Roo gets out numbered. Missing Maister.

Sure Lee is still raw but I think it was him who was garnering 2-3 players on him in most marking contests, and the best part about his game? He never gave up, tried his heart out. Give him another full year and see how he is in 2015. Cause that could indeed be the start of new beginnings with Lee and White (and potentially Boyd) leading our forward line.

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

Positives:
Curren , Saunders, Lee were impressive in my book. Steven played well. Loved the Schniderman back in. Kicked a couple of impressive goals.
The first QTR in general I was happy about.

Negatives:
Turning the ball over by just kicking it down the opposition's throat.
Roo. A couple of times he was flapping his arms around screaming for the ball when in reality kicking it too him was never the best option on the field. The one that stood out was in the 2nd QTR(I think) where he was standing very very deep in the pocket after the ball was rightly kicked towards the danger zone he had a go at whoever kicked. He can call for it but it just seems he feels he's entitled to it.

On another note I liked those LED boards that flashed up GOAL! every time a player kicks one!

 

[VDS66]

Sure Lee is still raw but I think it was him who was garnering 2-3 players on him in most marking contests, and the best part about his game? He never gave up, tried his heart out. Give him another full year and see how he is in 2015. Cause that could indeed be the start of new beginnings with Lee and White (and potentially Boyd) leading our forward line.

I actually see Lee as a positive. Just not quite ready.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Some of the young kids showed a lot today.
I would like to see St Kilda change some of their coaches next year. I would like to see a new forward coach.

What is Hammils role?

 

[saintsrfreak]

What is Hammils role?

Part time specialist coach I believe.

 

[Squizz]

In the second quarter I felt like we were right in the game and just needed to snag a goal to make the game really tight again before realizing that we were 6 goals down.

Same for me, T18.

Agree with everything in your post.

Thought Blake was very good, and I'm not surprised to see that he had 9 1%ers.

We did kick it out on the full too much, although we probably needed to keep it close to the paint given Hawthorn was chopping us up on the spread (whilst we were able to shut them down on the wing and half forward many times, eventually the dam wall breaks).

Murdoch's ability to take contested marks does suggest that half forward isn't the worst position, but we do lose the depth in his kicking (he doesn't get some of the easier possessions you can get at half back). He and Webster have the kicking depth to hurt teams - I think that (as I noticed against Brisbane) it's not having 1 or 2 good kickers that makes the difference, but across the board depth of high standard kickers. We really need guys like Siposs and Dunell to come on quicker, as they add to this depth.

Also surprised that Hickey wouldn't play, although I wonder whether he's still getting over the gastro (even if Macca appears to be suffering right now).

 

[saintsrfreak]

There is no justifiable reason as to why it took Tom Curren so long to get a game.

 

[Sheeza69]

I like the way Murdoch used his body around across half-forward last night, with Hamill's touch we might have another defensive forward bull who can put doubt in the opposition's defence....[/quote]

 

[Plugger35]

Lenny's best is behind him but I hope he plays on next year, just his presence and ability to be a midfield general and inspire the young guys is worth it's weight in gold.

Just loved the effort from our young guys last night, I can live with skill errors as long as they keep showing effort and fighting hard for the Saints jumper they're wearing.