Preview Saints v Port @ AO, Sunday 3:20pm

[beside the seaside]

Another trip to our second home. This time we get to spend a week there taking in the delights of South Australia.

You know what would be really delightful? Beating Port.

Possible outs - O'Connell (consussion), Webster (ankle, but they said after the game he should be ok)
Possible ins - Stocker, Steele, Henry, Butler, King (probs not though).

Port were really bad at Marvel against Essendon but they'll be really keen to get a win and ease the pressure on Hinkley. Would be lovely to break the AO hoodoo and get a good win here but Port are a very experienced side. It will be tough but if we can get our run going, we can do this.

 

[Ducky Tie]

Not too many changes you'd think.

Stocker in for LOC. Hastie back out of the 23.

Steele if he's right, probably in for Travaglia. I'd prefer it not be Travaglia. It's probably either him or Byrnes and I'd be surprised if Byrnes goes out. Travaglia sub if it is him.

 

[beside the seaside]

Not too many changes you'd think.

Stocker in for LOC. Hastie back out of the 23.

Steele if he's right, probably in for Travaglia. I'd prefer it not be Travaglia. It's probably either him or Byrnes and I'd be surprised if Byrnes goes out. Travaglia sub if it is him.

Can't drop Trav after that game I don't think. Some real selection headaches coming up, you love to see it.

 

[Hayes4PM]

Looking at our road ahead, this honestly seems like the most winnable one in the next few weeks. Port stank it up against Essendon (who also stank it up), they're in a weird spot right now after making finals again last year but already conceding their current and acting senior coach is gone at end of year and their forward line looks like Georgiades or bust right now.

I expect their midfield to get the better of ours for most of the night, but if our defence can hold up and we get some quality rebounds out of Sinclair, NAS, Hill and co I think we can roll them. They went 2 rucks last week against Essendon so you'd imagine Keeler stays in to give a chop out. King back in would be huge, but it sounds like he's probably another week away.

 

[Nomis2933]

We are behind only a red hot Adelaide as the second highest scoring team at the moment. Media wont report that though because it shows up their regular negative discourse. One thing is for certain, the Max King debate will get louder if he returns and our scoreline start to drop off. For his sake I hope it doesn't. But if it does, take the two first picks likely to be offered and turn them into more mids.

 

[Klaatu]

One of our achilles heal will be Willie Rioli seems to kick 3 or 4 against us.

 

[Saintbloke]

It seems like we run half pace when we play PA, no idea why. I would be pretty unhappy to see a dud first quarter from us- about time we turned the tables and beat those yobs.

 

[bird_man]

One of our achilles heal will be Willie Rioli seems to kick 3 or 4 against us.

5 goals in 3 games at an average of 1.66 a game.

 

[Cairnsman]

We are behind only a red hot Adelaide as the second highest scoring team at the moment. Media wont report that though because it shows up their regular negative discourse. One thing is for certain, the Max King debate will get louder if he returns and our scoreline start to drop off. For his sake I hope it doesn't. But if it does, take the two first picks likely to be offered and turn them into more mids.

Agree it’s going to be interesting watching how the team scores when King gets back in, he also needs to prove his durability which has been very unreliable since back before he was drafted.

A little premature talking trade though.

 

[stavro#4]

5 goals in 3 games at an average of 1.66 a game.

Averaging 2 goals 1 behind in his last 2 games against us.

 

[The Punter]

Stocker in for O'Connell.

Steele for Hastie, Travaglia the sub. No criticism of his performance the last two weeks, but I'd also consider keeping Toby in the 22 and making Zac Jones the sub.

 

[Ducky Tie]

Got a bit of an optimistic feeling about this game.

Port look vulnerable and we are primed to take a scalp. Not that Port are a contender, but Port on the road for us would be a scalp in context.

We've found our groove with our gamestyle and if we get Steele back, we can hopefully break even in the midfield. From there, we have several advantages around the ground.

 

[bird_man]

Averaging 2 goals 1 behind in his last 2 games against us.

So not 3 o 4 goals?

 

[bird_man]

In: Steele, Stocker
Out: Hastie, O'Connell
Sub: Byrnes

 

[stavro#4]

So not 3 o 4 goals?

No. But that’s more likely the posters PTSD.

Rioli has played us twice since joining Port.

We have lost both games by under 2 kicks.

In both games we have got on a run of multiple goals and Rioli then pops up with the next goal that turns the tide again.

We also don’t have a good match up for him.

 

[bergholt]

I reckon Port have four who'd slot into our side as one of our best two mids: Butters, Rozee, Horne-Francis, Wines.

Honestly I don't really understand why they're so bad, except I guess Butters' injury?

 

[bird_man]

No. But that’s more likely the posters PTSD.

Rioli has played us twice since joining Port.

We have lost both games by under 2 kicks.

In both games we have got on a run of multiple goals and Rioli then pops up with the next goal that turns the tide again.

We also don’t have a good match up for him.

PTSD from a bloke kicking 2 goals against us seems a little excessive.

I think Webster is a decent enough match up for him.

 

[stavro#4]

PTSD from a bloke kicking 2 goals against us seems a little excessive.

I think Webster is a decent enough match up for him.

2 from 11
2 from 12

In tight games.

He is only rivalled by Dixon as a nuisance to us. But Rioli as I mentioned above has bobbed up when the momentum has swung our way and we have kicked a few both times.

He has been trouble for us.

 

[nikkig98]

I reckon Port have four who'd slot into our side as one of our best two mids: Butters, Rozee, Horne-Francis, Wines.

Honestly I don't really understand why they're so bad, except I guess Butters' injury?

JHF has been stinking this season, much to my delight (although not to my fantasy teams).

 

[Flandersss]

Would love to beat our bogey team at AO.

Was 2020 the last time we beat them there?

 

[bird_man]

2 from 11
2 from 12

In tight games.

He is only rivalled by Dixon as a nuisance to us. But Rioli as I mentioned above has bobbed up when the momentum has swung our way and we have kicked a few both times.

He has been trouble for us.

2 from 12 is hardly stats to get frightened over. No doubt he was ok against last time but he has averaged 2 goals and 9 touches over two games and has not scored one coaches vote.

He's not Gary Ablett Snr.

I'd actually be more worried about young Jase Burgoyne who tore us up last time and looks to be tracking well.

I think it will be won and lost in the middle though. Rozee and JHF have been pretty ordinary and I think they might come out fired up this week. I'd be sending Windy straight to the captain and hope he goes to water again.

 

[saintbill]

This is winnable. Just do it Saints.

 

[stavro#4]

2 from 12 is hardly stats to get frightened over. No doubt he was ok against last time but he has averaged 2 goals and 9 touches over two games and has not scored one coaches vote.

He's not Gary Ablett Snr.

I'd actually be more worried about young Jase Burgoyne who tore us up last time and looks to be tracking well.

I think it will be won and lost in the middle though. Rozee and JHF have been pretty ordinary and I think they might come out fired up this week. I'd be sending Windy straight to the captain and hope he goes to water again.

No one is claiming he is Gablett Snr or Jnr for that matter.

I’m aware he hasn’t had much of the ball. But he has gotten bang for buck twice against us.

And again.. both tight loses. We get control of the game hit the front and he bobs up and takes it away from us again.

If you don’t think much of his threat. That’s fine.

But I agree that he is a big threat for us. We just don’t have the right match up for him.

 

[akaifu]

I reckon Port have four who'd slot into our side as one of our best two mids: Butters, Rozee, Horne-Francis, Wines.

Honestly I don't really understand why they're so bad, except I guess Butters' injury?

Their talls are bad

Lachie Jones full back with Aliir CHB and Bergman as third tall. All playing out of position - there should be a proper 196cm+ full back in there. They got Ratugolea back last week but he's probably not the guy you want shutting down oppo #1 fwd

Georgiades imo should be a third tall or CHF, not the spearhead FF that Dixon was. Lord was a test to return last week so he could be back this week

Having Max back for this game would've been huge but Sharman with a game under his belt should cause problems with his height and athleticism. Bergman is probably a decent matchup for Owens. Keeler just needs to prevent the Port defenders from intercepting

Just need to equalise at stoppage and we're a good chance, Row vs Sweet is gonna be a huge battle

 

[Xxxx66]

PTSD from a bloke kicking 2 goals against us seems a little excessive.

I think Webster is a decent enough match up for him.

Love Jimmy as much as anyone, but his one Achilles heal is some of those speedy types