Preview Round 3: Essendon vs St Kilda, Marvel Stadium, Saturday 30/03/24 @ 4:20 PM

[MiguelM]

There you go we lack forward flankers that push up and back. Funny how the defenders seem to cop most of the flak when we have had a dysfunctional forward line for years now.

Yep, lack of forward pressure kills any team defence.

Been happening for a long time.

Our backline has actually stood up considering the bombardment they get,

 

[ant555]

To be fair, we have Wright going out with a small mid, a wing and a back flank coming in. Changes don’t have to be and often aren’t exactly like for like.

You have to have a guy able to come in to replace Wright who is actually in form or 100% fit and ready.

 

[ant555]

Kelly defence, Tsatas midfield.

Tsatas midfield in the VFL yes.

 

[supportyourteam]

Stringer and Langford as forward targets does me. In the bag. McKay is due for a dominant performance. Been patchy so far. Here's hoping Parish brings the touch he had in the Geelong outing.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Stringer and Langford as forward targets does me. In the bag. McKay is due for a dominant performance. Been patchy so far. Here's hoping Parish brings the touch he had in the Geelong outing.

Reckon we will see some Cox inside forward 50 too at times.

 

[MiguelM]

As I posted in the Dursma thread I would try Dursma as a mobile forward and put Kelly wing (apparently trained there preseason). Dursma may be able to spread an create space forward and he is not a bad mark for his size.

 

[bombadeer]

Sydney transitioned through the middle like a hot knife through butter. The Saints will have more trouble getting through their banner than our midfield if that trend continues.

A smaller, more defensive forward line will improve things. For that reason, I hope we play Hind forward.

 

[Seb78]

Rumour on Blitz is Setterfield out for Jones. Nothing official yet though.

 

[Vander18]

Hope Setters out, Jones in is untrue. (1) We need Will and (2) I like the small ball forward set up.

Ruck Goldy 80%, Drapes as the big forward target smashing packs, Langers and Package running riot on a quick deck at Marvel. I’m happy with that.

 

[Vander18]

Sydney transitioned through the middle like a hot knife through butter. The Saints will have more trouble getting through their banner than our midfield if that trend continues.

A smaller, more defensive forward line will improve things. For that reason, I hope we play Hind forward.

It is an issue but I need to be convinced that Saints can move the ball like Sydney did. Running power was part of it (which Saints also have) but their system and IQ to move it quickly and change angles from back half and through the middle was absolutely elite.

Are Saints at this sort of level? We’ll find out!

 

[joey_jo_jo]

Rumour on Blitz is Setterfield out for Jones. Nothing official yet though.

I think thats based on the Scott presser from Wednesday. Sounds like its the back up plan if setters' knee is still sore.

 

[MiguelM]

Will be very interested to see if the imrpoved midfield form of Perk, Caldwell & Durham is further improved with the elite clearance handballs from Parish.

Could be game changing.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Jack Steele

9

Jack Steele

Age

28

Ht

187cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

20.9

5star

K

8.7

3star

HB

12.2

5star

M

3.7

4star

T

6.8

5star

CL

3.6

5star

D

21.3

5star

K

10.0

4star

HB

11.3

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

5.8

5star

CL

4.6

5star

D

16.8

4star

K

5.0

2star

HB

11.8

5star

M

2.6

3star

T

6.4

5star

CL

3.6

5star

trained separate to main group due to illness. Monitoring closely according to Ch 7 news last night

 

[Rick Ross]

Reckon we will see some Cox inside forward 50 too at times.

That’s what I’m thinking.
A lot of big Cox penetrating the F50 with precision kicking. Big Cox nailing a goal or two as well.
My boy… Utility… needed up forward this week.

 

[andleanback]

Rumour on Blitz is Setterfield out for Jones. Nothing official yet though.

Well jones was apart of the captains run today so wouldn’t surprise me. Considering they wouldn’t use him as an emergency again, he’d be playing vfl. Setters out is a huge loss

 

[The Donners]

5% chance of winning.

While our defensive efforts are as poor as they are we’re not beating anyone better than us or in a similar range.

Saints by 40.

 

[Vindicater]

Rumour on Blitz is Setterfield out for Jones. Nothing official yet though.

 

[mcgrath_truther]

IMPORTANT MESSAGE : $3 hotcross buns & face painting at the victory room pregame!!!

lucky they're telling us that instead of updating us on the status of our team!!

 

[BuffDog]

Sydney transitioned through the middle like a hot knife through butter. The Saints will have more trouble getting through their banner than our midfield if that trend continues.

A smaller, more defensive forward line will improve things. For that reason, I hope we play Hind forward.

We didn’t even go with a banner against the Swans, perhaps somewhat symbolic of our defensive efforts.

 

[supportyourteam]

We didn’t even go with a banner against the Swans, perhaps somewhat symbolic of our defensive efforts.

You mean invisible. Was at least mildly surprised that none appeared.

 

[Mootsy]

who's winning??
i missed the start..

 

[DallasCrane316]

I think thats based on the Scott presser from Wednesday. Sounds like it’s the back up plan if setters' knee is still sore.

Blitz mentioned that he wasn’t at training today so I’m guessing he will miss.

 

[MiguelM]

who's winning??
i missed the start..

Carlton, it's Good Friday

We play tomorrow!

 

[mcgrath_truther]

who's winning??
i missed the start..

ask again in 24 hours

 

[aussierulesrules]

Butler and Caminiti to replace King and Henry for the Saints.

Butler has been a problem for us previously...

Butts will likely be very underdone, like Sinclair was last week. Missed basically the whole preseason and had just 7 disposals in the VFL last week, in his first hitout of any kind 6 months. Ideally would be in the VFL for another week or two.

Saints are coming off finals and are playing 5 kids from the past 3 drafts

We’re supposedly a “rebuilding team“ coming off an 11th placed finish - and we have only Hobbs from the past 3 drafts.

It’s actually 7 if you include Caminiti (who was just 19yo last season- he’s only 3 months older than Cadman), but to be fair, a lot of that is due to unavailability.

We’re at the stage where the only ones we have available to bring in now are old man Tom Campbell (who is break glass in case of emergency for Marshall), or a whole lot of kids, who have played one game between them.

Everyone other than Campbell who’s played more than 1 AFL game is either in the team this week, or unavailable for senior selection.

Hoping it’s a good game (for us ) and no injuries to either team.