Autopsy Round 3 - Saints v Lions

[Speck]

Found it very interesting how we played the first two games compared to today. We were very safe coming out of defence and never really took it on. It was chip and switch if we had it on, or long to a contest. Clear direction change.

I think we've got ahead of ourselves with Nas a bit. He was still good today, but he's not having that game winning ability the way we are using him. We need to remember he's only had about 10 games as an out and out mid. He was AA half back for a reason. I'd like to see much more of a 50/50 split with him on half back. We so desperately miss his run and those one two links.

 

[SG34]

I actually completely forgot about Macrae. Jeez he would have been handy today.

Pou is coming back off injury and a really bad corkie two weeks ago. I don't really get the need to compare him to Billings who did play some bloody good games for us by the way.

You are right, but I can’t help compare. AI says ‘sort of’
There are notable parallels between Mattaes Phillipou and Jack Billings in their early St Kilda careers, particularly regarding their status as high draft picks and early injury struggles. However, their contract situations and playing styles differ.
Parallel 1: Early Promise and Draft Pedigree
Jack Billings (Pick 3, 2013): He was the "prized" top-3 pick during the Saints' post-Lyon rebuild. By 2017 (his 4th season), he had established himself as a breakout star, earning a spot in the 22under22 team.
Mattaes Phillipou (Pick 10, 2022): Similar to Billings, he was St Kilda's highest draft pick in several years. He lived up to the hype early, earning a Rising Star nomination in Round 8 of his debut season. [1, 2, 3]
Parallel 2: Early Career Injury Setbacks
Both players faced significant injury interruptions during their first three seasons that threatened to stall their momentum:

• Billings: His second season (2015) was severely limited by a tibia stress fracture, restricting him to just nine games. He also faced quad and ankle issues early in his tenure.
• Phillipou: His 2025 season (third year) has followed an eerily similar path. He was sidelined in January with a femur stress fracture and later suffered a recurring plantaris tendon injury in his calf, which limited him to just four senior games by mid-2025. [2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

Comparison: Contracts and Roles
While the "frustrating early injury" narrative is consistent, their contract and role profiles show some divergence:

Feature [3, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]	Jack Billings (Early Career)	Mattaes Phillipou (Early Career)
Contract Status	Signed multiple short-term extensions (e.g., 2 years in 2017 & 2019) before a later 4-year deal.	Signed a 2-year extension early in 2024 to stay until the end of 2026. Recent reports suggest a more significant deal is already in play.
Playing Style	A "classy" left-footer, primarily a high half-forward or wingmanknown for elite ball use and decision-making.	A powerful, explosive athlete transitioning from forward into a contested midfielder role.
Positional Shift	Moved further up the ground to the wing as his career progressed.	Being groomed as a permanent inside/outside midfield star for the Saints' future.

The Verdict
The comparison is valid regarding the stress fracture/injury frustrations and the pressure of being the "saviour" draft pick. However, Phillipou's physical profile (larger, more contested-focused) and his earlier transition into a pure midfield role suggest St Kilda is attempting to build him into a different type of cornerstone than Billings, who was often used as an outside specialist.
Would you like to compare their detailed statistical output from their respective third seasons?

[1] https://www.saints.com.au
[2] https://www.footywire.com
[3] https://www.sen.com.au
[4] https://www.saints.com.au
[5] https://www.saints.com.au
[6] https://www.zerohanger.com
[7] https://www.afl.com.au
[8] https://www.afl.com.au
[9] https://en.wikipedia.org
[10] https://www.saints.com.au
[11] https://www.saints.com.au
[12] https://www.news.com.au
[13] https://www.afl.com.au

 

[CaptainRisky]

Good old Lance has been at it again it seems

 

[gringo2011]

The worry for me is that the season plays out like our matches do.

Tantalisingly close, as you put it, for a long time then a sustained period of bleh.

The pressure rating was high for both sides today. I thought we showed our inexperience by not having the composure to play through pressure. Again I thought there were multiple chains with one handball too many where we've gone from a good position to a bad one, or from a bad position to a worse one.

We're not far off clicking, but that's no guarantee that it will happen. Boys need to continue to work hard at that.

I feel like we've got too many playing a dour role first and an attacking one second. I'd like to see us flip that or even up the ratio. Windhager, Stocker, Garcia fall into that category. Not knocking them...I'd just like to see them release themselves into attack a little bit more. Stocker for example has a penetrating kick, and could be a very useful link in an offensive switch.

How good is a Tauru mark at the moment?

I was angry at first but have settled down now. The frustration is that we had them well and truely in a battle. It broke open from a couple of unlikely shots going through and they gained confidence while we seemed to go against what we'd done all day and stopped what was working. Then just let them roll over us with little resistance.

The Lions are an unbelievable list and we had them in a real contest. This is a better side than we had last year and we looked closer to what we want to play like IMO.

 

[Captain Paddy]

You are right, but I can’t help compare. AI says ‘sort of’
There are notable parallels between Mattaes Phillipou and Jack Billings in their early St Kilda careers, particularly regarding their status as high draft picks and early injury struggles. However, their contract situations and playing styles differ.
Parallel 1: Early Promise and Draft Pedigree
Jack Billings (Pick 3, 2013): He was the "prized" top-3 pick during the Saints' post-Lyon rebuild. By 2017 (his 4th season), he had established himself as a breakout star, earning a spot in the 22under22 team.
Mattaes Phillipou (Pick 10, 2022): Similar to Billings, he was St Kilda's highest draft pick in several years. He lived up to the hype early, earning a Rising Star nomination in Round 8 of his debut season. [1, 2, 3]
Parallel 2: Early Career Injury Setbacks
Both players faced significant injury interruptions during their first three seasons that threatened to stall their momentum:

• Billings: His second season (2015) was severely limited by a tibia stress fracture, restricting him to just nine games. He also faced quad and ankle issues early in his tenure.
• Phillipou: His 2025 season (third year) has followed an eerily similar path. He was sidelined in January with a femur stress fracture and later suffered a recurring plantaris tendon injury in his calf, which limited him to just four senior games by mid-2025. [2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

Comparison: Contracts and Roles
While the "frustrating early injury" narrative is consistent, their contract and role profiles show some divergence:

Feature [3, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]	Jack Billings (Early Career)	Mattaes Phillipou (Early Career)
Contract Status	Signed multiple short-term extensions (e.g., 2 years in 2017 & 2019) before a later 4-year deal.	Signed a 2-year extension early in 2024 to stay until the end of 2026. Recent reports suggest a more significant deal is already in play.
Playing Style	A "classy" left-footer, primarily a high half-forward or wingmanknown for elite ball use and decision-making.	A powerful, explosive athlete transitioning from forward into a contested midfielder role.
Positional Shift	Moved further up the ground to the wing as his career progressed.	Being groomed as a permanent inside/outside midfield star for the Saints' future.

The Verdict
The comparison is valid regarding the stress fracture/injury frustrations and the pressure of being the "saviour" draft pick. However, Phillipou's physical profile (larger, more contested-focused) and his earlier transition into a pure midfield role suggest St Kilda is attempting to build him into a different type of cornerstone than Billings, who was often used as an outside specialist.
Would you like to compare their detailed statistical output from their respective third seasons?

[1] https://www.saints.com.au
[2] https://www.footywire.com
[3] https://www.sen.com.au
[4] https://www.saints.com.au
[5] https://www.saints.com.au
[6] https://www.zerohanger.com
[7] https://www.afl.com.au
[8] https://www.afl.com.au
[9] https://en.wikipedia.org
[10] https://www.saints.com.au
[11] https://www.saints.com.au
[12] https://www.news.com.au
[13] https://www.afl.com.au

Jesus Christ. Please never post like this again

 

[Goofy975]

I feel like even Mitchito would be a better midfielder than Pou right now

 

[stavro#4]

You know if people are going to bash Pou, they need to do it with facts.

Here are some facts.

60% TOG.
15 disposals
3 SI / 1 direct goal assist
4 clearances: 2 stoppage & 2 Centre clearance (this is equal most clearances for us today)
5 tackles
3 I50
3 R50

Wasn’t the issue. To prove it so.

He effectively had an identical day to Hall but a better day than Wilson from 26% less game time.

 

[Captain Paddy]

You know if people are going to bash Pou, they need to do it with facts.

Here are some facts.

60% TOG.
15 disposals
3 SI / 1 direct goal assist
4 clearances: 2 stoppage & 2 Centre clearance (this is equal most clearances for us today)
5 tackles
3 I50
3 R50

Wasn’t the issue. To prove it so.

He effectively had an identical day to Hall but a better day than Wilson from 26% less game time.

But what was the percentage splits for time in the middle for both?

Pou’s essentially been a starting mid for us and is struggling to touch it 20 times and puts on next to no defensive pressure

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

Good old Lance has been at it again it seems

What an idiot.

All of us know not to be a homophobe even on the cans

 

[gringo2011]

I actually completely forgot about Macrae. Jeez he would have been handy today.

Pou is coming back off injury and a really bad corkie two weeks ago. I don't really get the need to compare him to Billings who did play some bloody good games for us by the way.

I think Dow would actually suit our current set up.

 

[stavro#4]

But what was the percentage splits for time in the middle for both?

Pou’s essentially been a starting mid for us and is struggling to touch it 20 times and puts on next to no defensive pressure

No idea. But you would drawing a long bow laying that on his feet from 60% game time

 

[Mowman]

I think Dow would actually suit our current set up.

Turning it over ?

 

[gringo2011]

You know if people are going to bash Pou, they need to do it with facts.

Here are some facts.

60% TOG.
15 disposals
3 SI / 1 direct goal assist
4 clearances: 2 stoppage & 2 Centre clearance (this is equal most clearances for us today)
5 tackles
3 I50
3 R50

Wasn’t the issue. To prove it so.

He effectively had an identical day to Hall but a better day than Wilson from 26% less game time.

I didn't think he was too bad. Not sure why he's copping it to be honest. He wasn't exceptional but he was okay.

 

[stavro#4]

I didn't think he was too bad. Not sure why he's copping it to be honest. He wasn't exceptional but he was okay.

Same view.

Not sure why his ToG is so low.

We took it up to them. Fell short and it’s bloody ****ing annoying.

 

[gringo2011]

Turning it over ?

He's a bit quicker than Macrae but can rack up touches. Just needs to feed it out. Think he's injured anyway.

 

[Mowman]

I didn't think he was too bad. Not sure why he's copping it to be honest. He wasn't exceptional but he was okay.

still think he is more a Forward/mid than a Mid/Forward if that makes sense

 

[stavro#4]

 

[Mowman]

He's a bit quicker than Macrae but can rack up touches. Just needs to feed it out. Think he's injured anyway.

Knee 2 to3

 

[gringo2011]

still think he is more a Forward/mid than a Mid/Forward if that makes sense

He's been one of our better contested players in the midfield this season. Does some dumb shit at times but he's young and inexperienced so that's to be expected.

 

[Captain Paddy]

No idea. But you would drawing a long bow laying that on his feet from 60% game time

Drawing a long bow to suggest that 60% tog isn’t on Pou at all

 

[BrutThough]

Still think Pou will be ok. Honestly I wouldn't mind him just in there shoveling out handballs all day, some good mids do that. He will get better and it will click for him at some stage.

He needs a proper month of uninterrupted football. He hasn't had that in a very long time. And the corkie that impacted him the past 2 weeks set him back again.

People hate hearing it, but we need to continue to be patient with these kids. He's 21 and isnt going to be the finished product as a A grade mid immediately.

 

[Mowman]

He's been one of our better contested players in the midfield this season. Does some dumb shit at times but he's young and inexperienced so that's to be expected.

Did Hall attend many centre bounces

 

[Vacuous Space]

But what was the percentage splits for time in the middle for both?

Not exact mid splits, but CBAs today were:
Nas 25
Garcia 24
TDK 22
Flanders 13
Pou 12
Windy 12
Marshall 9
Hall 7

 

[Mowman]

Not exact mid splits, but CBAs today were:
Nas 25
Garcia 24
TDK 22
Flanders 13
Pou 12
Windy 12
Marshall 9
Hall 7

Hall should attend more

 

[Lennylegs]

Hall should attend more

****ing oath! For God's sake let's just have a look at it for a game.