Analysis Saints have 4th easiest run home...

[n1ck]

With 5 very winnable matches (if we play the kind of footy we played last weekend) and the club talking realistically about guys like Webster, Battle, Steven and Hannerbery seriously coming back into the lineup, could we actually push for a sneaky finals spot?

Would you want to? Or would you prefer the higher draft pick?

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[Pardon me]

Win.
Anything less than 100% effort to get the points is an unacceptable mentality.
Winning will do more for the group then any potential draft pick and as has recently been proven a higher draft pick does not equal a better player.
The day my team stops actively trying to win is the day I walk away from afl.
I’m very strong on this stance: tanking is total bs and never worth the long term damage for short term higher draft picks.

 

[Lenny2020]

Yeah I’d much rather win. Could you imagine if we actually made the finals? My head would explode.

Plus, prospective signings would be more likely to want to join a team that was on the up. A new coach, a new winning culture and a great feeling around the club after six long years of mediocrity.

Keep winning footy matches.

 

[n1ck]

Win.
Anything less than 100% effort to get the points is an unacceptable mentality.
Winning will do more for the group then any potential draft pick and as has recently been proven a higher draft pick does not equal a better player.
The day my team stops actively trying to win is the day I walk away from afl.
I’m very strong on this stance: tanking is total bs and never worth the long term damage for short term higher draft picks.

FWIW I completely agree, I want to start winning again and fostering the winning culture and attitude amongst what is an already young squad. From memory, we had the 3rd youngest lineup out of all teams on the weekend against WB.

I bet there are people who would prefer to lose and bank a few spots higher in the draft, though.

 

[Mikka84]

Yeah I’d much rather win. Could you imagine if we actually made the finals? My head would explode.

Plus, prospective signings would be more likely to want to join a team that was on the up. A new coach, a new winning culture and a great feeling around the club after six long years of mediocrity.

Keep winning footy matches.

So would Richo's.

 

[lewdogs]

If we win all 5 we could genuinely make the finals. You'd be disappointed with anything less than 2 wins out of 5.

 

[BrutThough]

I want to win as many games as possible.
And winning one of the interstate game would be especially nice since we've beat either Adelaide or Sydney

 

[n1ck]

So would Richo's.

Does that mean he'd be reappointed as per the terms of his contract?

 

[Mikka84]

Does that mean he'd be reappointed as per the terms of his contract?

Can you imagine..

 

[stfan]

Does that mean he'd be reappointed as per the terms of his contract?

What contract? He has now left and has no contract.

 

[Saint Watto]

FWIW I completely agree, I want to start winning again and fostering the winning culture and attitude amongst what is an already young squad. From memory, we had the 3rd youngest lineup out of all teams on the weekend against WB.

I bet there are people who would prefer to lose and bank a few spots higher in the draft, though.

With you 100 % there...…….for me,the winning culture just cannot be under estimated.

Imagine the atmosphere at the club and amongst the players after we won the first 6 out of 7 games this season...the 2 JLT games included.

I was really surprised that Coff hadn't played in a winning side in his previous 14 games......I was actually dumb struck at that stat.

Luke Dunstan wasn't aware of that stat.......I read this morning that he asked Coff after the song what was he doing in the middle when the song was belted out.

A high draft pick may take years to come on or may not come on at all....as we have witnessed.

I remember when Richo was asked a season or so back after we had a big win...."what's the best part for the players after a win?

He answered...…."the first 15-20 minutes straight after a win is the best part of it for them".

 

[Saint Watto]

So would Richo's.

Lol there.....if we did make finals Richo would be marching up and down Linton St with a placard saying.."bring me back.....you pressed the eject button too soon"

 

[saintastic]

Win. The difference in draft order is not what we are about I hope.

 

[Indie Rock]

Ratten will be looking for a senior coaching role at the end of this year so you can bet he’ll be sending us out to win every game.

If am honest I was meh about losing games towards the end of the year under Richo. When watching the game I wanted the W but big picture had lost interest.

Under a new coach it’s re-energised everyone I reckon most would want to win them all.

I also think a team that looks on the up and a more attractive proposition for trade targets or FAs could put us in a better overall position next year than say, having pick 4 over pick 8 in the draft.

 

[Diehard Saint]

Ratten will be looking for a senior coaching role at the end of this year so you can bet he’ll be sending us out to win every game.

As he should.

 

[Indie Rock]

As he should.

Yeah, as the OP asked the question if anyone would prefer a higher pick....well if that was the club’s stance they would have just kept Richo in until the end of the year and not put Ratten in.

 

[bergholt]

If we could still finish second bottom I’d be in favour of losing, but that’s impossible now. I’d like to win them all, I think if we win more than two I’ll be pretty happy though.

 

[plugger66]

I cant Believe there is even a question about winning or better draft picks. You win for 2 reasons. Slight chance for finals, well certain if we win all of them and we wont get good FA if we are crap. And finally winning beats losing.

 

[TheEnsign]

If we win all 5 we could genuinely make the finals. You'd be disappointed with anything less than 2 wins out of 5.

Per the AFL ladder predictor, if you put St Kilda winning our last 5 games, and for every other game you choose the higher team on the ladder; then we would make finals with 12 wins; with Port, Hawthorn and Adelaide all on 11 wins.

This is obviously not going to happen, it's like the 1 scenario in 11 million where we defeat Thanos; but still it's interesting that there is a pathway still.

 

[lewdogs]

I cant Believe there is even a question about winning or better draft picks. You win for 2 reasons. Slight chance for finals, well certain if we win all of them and we wont get good FA if we are crap. And finally winning beats losing.

How good was last week. I feel like this is the most I've enjoyed a footy week in a long time. If we end up finishing the season strongly and getting around 10 wins we could still be an attractive destination for a free agent. Much rather attract a Hill right now than get a high draft pick.

 

[Remboy]

How good was last week. I feel like this is the most I've enjoyed a footy week in a long time. If we end up finishing the season strongly and getting around 10 wins we could still be an attractive destination for a free agent. Much rather attract a Hill right now than get a high draft pick.

I agree. I found myself pumping my fists during last week's game. Can't remember the last time I got that excited during a win.
Winning is so important in giving the young guys belief. Have a look at the way we finished 2003 when Roo, Kosi, Goddard, Dal etc were young. We won four of the last five by ten goals from memory, then that led into 2004.
Also think about what that does for membership, sponsors etc.

 

[n1ck]

We now have the 3rd Easiest run home. Still, the big outlier is this weekend's match in Adelaide.

2026 AFL Club Schedule Difficulty | Strength of Schedule

Get ahead of the game with our 2026 AFL Club Schedule Difficulty analysis. Find the Strength of Schedule for each team and plan your bets.

www.statsinsider.com.au

 

[plugger66]

We now have the 3rd Easiest run home. Still, the big outlier is this weekend's match in Adelaide.

2026 AFL Club Schedule Difficulty | Strength of Schedule

Get ahead of the game with our 2026 AFL Club Schedule Difficulty analysis. Find the Strength of Schedule for each team and plan your bets.

www.statsinsider.com.au

Did a side get worse in 3 days?

 

[marcus1232]

If we beat Adelaide I honestly believe we can win out.
Carlton - will be a battle but we are better
Freo - go for a percentage boost
Sydney - will have put the cue in the rack

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I cant Believe there is even a question about winning or better draft picks. You win for 2 reasons. Slight chance for finals, well certain if we win all of them and we wont get good FA if we are crap. And finally winning beats losing.

Teaching our team to win is way more important than getting a slightly better draft pick.