Preview R6: Changes vs. St Kilda

[1970crow]

Soligo isn't near his best but he's also no longer in the midfield rotation and doing about as much as others playing his role as a non key position forward in our forward line.

Those that want to drop him so he can get fit, how does that happen that wouldn't be the case at AFL level? Feel like he's just as likely to build his fitness in the AFL side as he would in the seconds. So the question becomes whether we'd get more from Edwards/Dowling in his role - not sure we would.

--------------

Butts in for Borlase (who is a fantastic 4th string KPD at present, unlucky in a way).

Hinge to go out, unsure of a direct replacement.

If Fogarty is fit, he should return.

Could those two swap and shuffle it around? If not, one of Dowling or Edwards.

And if not a shuffle around, Maley should go (1 goal and one smart assist is a solid return) but we're then back at who takes the ruck minutes when McAndrew is off. Almost need to have him rest during general play, use Thilthorpe for that and have McAndrew come on for every center bounce.

Why isn't he fit though? He had a near full preseason, had a couple of weeks off around the heart issue and then was back in full training.

 

[kirky]

Why isn't he fit though? He had a near full preseason, had a couple of weeks off around the heart issue and then was back in full training.

So you do think the heart issue wouldn’t have an effect?

I don’t know if it does but it can’t be helpful.

 

[1970crow]

So you do think the heart issue wouldn’t have an effect?

I don’t know if it does but it can’t be helpful.

The heart issue was minor and was fully fixed. There were posters who'd had the same procedure and pretty sure they said you're instantly better. He'd done all the work, he shouldn't be lacking fitness. Surely with game time he'd be improving, not going backwards from midfielder to forward.

 

[kirky]

The heart issue was minor and was fully fixed. There were posters who'd had the same procedure and pretty sure they said you're instantly better. He'd done all the work, he shouldn't be lacking fitness. Surely withngame time he'd be improving, not going backwards from midfielder to forward.

Ok, then he should be at full fitness just out of form.

 

[n4sir]

The heart issue was minor and was fully fixed. There were posters who'd had the same procedure and pretty sure they said you're instantly better.

I had the same procedure about 12 and a half years ago, and sometimes it's not an instant and permanent fix.

I have occasional relapses that require medication to correct (which it does usually in about an hour), and they have become more regular - I suspect Ollie Wines is having the same issue. I did have a repeat procedure to check the area they did, but the conclusion was that the original procedure did the job, and that wasn't the issue anymore.

 

[radiojake]

far out

Saints really stitched up with this fixture

9 day break (Adelaide - no travel) vs 6 day break (staying away from home for the week) -

not only that, they played Port in Gather Round so two genuine away games in Adelaide consecutively

Atleast Freo got a 'neutral' Collingwood for Gather Round with their consecutive Adelaide games

Surely if Saints were getting Adelaide the week after Gather Round they could have avoided Port on the Sunday night before hand

 

[daniel_4tw]

far out

Saints really stitched up with this fixture

9 day break (Adelaide - no travel) vs 6 day break (staying away from home for the week) -

not only that, they played Port in Gather Round so two genuine away games in Adelaide consecutively

Atleast Freo got a 'neutral' Collingwood for Gather Round with their consecutive Adelaide games

Surely if Saints were getting Adelaide the week after Gather Round they could have avoided Port on the Sunday night before hand

Assuming they’re not flying back to Melbourne and just staying in Adelaide, maybe a request? Play in Adelaide back to back to minimize travel?

I’m surprised Fremantle and West Coast don’t do it for more games tbh. Spend a week in NSW and play both GWS and Sydney, then have more games at home after? Obviously Melbourne for them could easily be accommodated for them.

It’s what they do in US sports, but then they’re playing every or every other night so you can get through 10 days in 2 weeks. Not sure if the players would like spending a few weeks away from home but surely it’s better than the 8+ hours of flying they do every second week.

 

[maxlilly]

far out

Saints really stitched up with this fixture

9 day break (Adelaide - no travel) vs 6 day break (staying away from home for the week) -

not only that, they played Port in Gather Round so two genuine away games in Adelaide consecutively

Atleast Freo got a 'neutral' Collingwood for Gather Round with their consecutive Adelaide games

Surely if Saints were getting Adelaide the week after Gather Round they could have avoided Port on the Sunday night before hand

Thanks Ross

Does it really matter who they play in Gather round ?
I thought everyone was happy playing against Port

 

[CrowBloke]

Was nice to have a ruckman who can kick a drop punt.

Yes! Neither ootf, nor straight into the (surprised, but grateful) Man on the Mark.
FOOTball.

It’s the little things…

McAndrew's a big improvement on ROB imo.
Not as big, not as fit, but an asset for us in areas where ROB has let us down, sadly.

 

[CrowBloke]

Outside of us being a bit too keen to give our depth a go and not discarding the nothing prospects early.

Did you mean "... a bit too keen not to give our depth a go ..."?

The only time/s our depth gets 'a go' is through injury, not through player development or experimentation.
Nicks has his best 25 (or so) players chosen and set in stone at the start of the year.
Senior players are only replaced
--- when they are injured, very rarely if they're underperforming,
--- and after recovering they are back in and their replacement goes back to the SANFL.
It's terrible selection policy, as explained by Kane McGoodwin , above.

But that's just the fringes. The vast majority is the same as everyone else.

Not the case.
The best Coaches often drop underperforming senior players
AND
rest players to freshen them up, giving a junior player a chance to show their wares and getAFL-game experience.
Either: Nicks thinks we have incompetent depth and does not trust them
OR: he is too lazy to develop our youth, preferring underperforming seniors ("back the boys in"),
or both.

 

[CrowBloke]

The correct pronunciation is blitz-arse (I'm not kidding).

More like BLITZ-ahvs (with the "tz" as in "tzar")

(Google: "The surname Blicavs is pronounced Blitz-ahvs (/ˈblɪtsɑːvz/), with the emphasis on the first syllable. It is a Latvian name often mistakenly pronounced "Blick-avs," but the "c" acts as a "tz" sound")

 

[CrowBloke]

All I know is our replacements for injuries are likely to be:
Jones and Sholl for this upcoming game.

As appalling as those choices are, I think you're right.
Jones and Sholl have 'experience' which = seniority, to Nicks. Therefore, preferred.

I hope not but it would be a shock for Dowling or Edwards.

I'd love to see either or both get an opportunity, ahead of Jones/Sholl.

 

[spenze]

Yes! Neither ootf, nor straight into the (surprised, but grateful) Man on the Mark.
FOOTball.

McAndrew's a big improvement on ROB imo.
Not as big, not as fit, but an asset for us in areas where ROB has let us down, sadly.

Robs fitness is overrated, I mean he is too puffed to even kick a football properly most of the time

 

[Crow_Magnon]

far out

Saints really stitched up with this fixture

9 day break (Adelaide - no travel) vs 6 day break (staying away from home for the week) -

not only that, they played Port in Gather Round so two genuine away games in Adelaide consecutively

Atleast Freo got a 'neutral' Collingwood for Gather Round with their consecutive Adelaide games

Surely if Saints were getting Adelaide the week after Gather Round they could have avoided Port on the Sunday night before hand

You mean like us off two six day breaks playing the Cats at KP off a 12 day break? Not good for the Saints, but the fixturing in general is abysmal.

 

[huludicidal]

Not sure about this statement. He was terrible late last year in important games. I'd personally try Edwards before him. Bond comes back for Hinge, Butts for Borlase (unlucky TBH), or could come in for N.Murray who's not giving us much. Not convinced on Maley in the ruck, maybe Toby Murray for him.

Dowling didn’t play in any important games late last year so not sure where you’ve invented that from. He played 1 game for the entire season, against North Melbourne, and kicked 2 goals.

 

[adelaidecrows]

Dowling didn’t play in any important games late last year so not sure where you’ve invented that from. He played 1 game for the entire season, against North Melbourne, and kicked 2 goals.

people have painted Dowling a potato because of that game where his defensive efforts were questionable and had multiple goals kicked on him in the midfield. Issue is this was his only game in 12 months and the entire team played poorly and Dowling was scapegoated because magically his opposing midfielders scored multiple goals on turnovers not caused by Dowling.

He deserves a lengthy crack at AFL

 

[Scorpus]

You mean like us off two six day breaks playing the Cats at KP off a 12 day break? Not good for the Saints, but the fixturing in general is abysmal.

The fixturing for the Saints is especially bad because they had a bye last week into a Sunday match.

It's not like they had to play Sunday for the 6 day break, they could easily have played on Saturday

 

[FR0GGY]

The fixturing for the Saints is especially bad because they had a bye last week into a Sunday match.

It's not like they had to play Sunday for the 6 day break, they could easily have played on Saturday

They got the umpiring compensation package though.

 

[Betts are off]

Who do we think will run with NWM this week?

Bond coming back in would be a obvious candidate who can follow him all around the ground. But perhaps Max might be a better matchup in the air.

 

[FR0GGY]

Who do we think will run with NWM this week?

Bond coming back in would be an obvious candidate who can follow him all around the ground. But perhaps Max might be a better matchup in the air.

Peatling is the guy I believe.

 

[Slim258]

Peatling is the guy I believe.

Peatling through the middle, Nibbler if he goes back, Max when he goes forward

 

[FR0GGY]

Peatling through the middle, Nibbler if he goes back, Max when he goes forward

Surely keays is the better match up if he goes back.

 

[Betts are off]

Surely keays is the better match up if he goes back.

Yeah I love Keays in that role, cause he is aggressive enough running back towards goal to burn the player he's tagging. Its a very fine balance, but Ben seems to be pretty good at finding it.

 

[FR0GGY]

Yeah I love Keays in that role, cause he is aggressive enough running back towards goal to burn the player he's tagging. Its a very fine balance, but Ben seems to be pretty good at finding it.

Even just the body shape/height/speed, he’s a better match up.

 

[Betts are off]

I wonder which opposition coach will be the first to put time into Wayne this year?

I feel like this is Wayne best since 2018, and hes still a bit under the radar. But it won't take long to find out how important he is to our rebound scoring.

Could be Ross the Boss this weekend.