Saints v Port

[sainter]

Hi guys, don't want to get into any arguments about whether you lost it or we won it other than to say our guys put in a really committed effort tonight. I heard Sainter had a go at Rodan and I'm here to defend him.

Rodan got set up by a poor pass from Peter Burgoyne. He was never going to mark that kick. If he contested he'd have been knocked to the ground and you guys would have been away. He did the right thing keeping his feet and holding up the play.

Cheers. Keep up the good work against the Crows.

Fair enough.

Even allowing for the poor pass I still think he had to make an effort. It looked really ordinary. However I was wrong to put him in the same class as the other two because they ducked their heads when they heard footsteps. I suppose we see things differently.

What disappointed me was that that game was there for the taking. Your players had started to make a lot of mistakes and we didn't make you pay however what I was impressed with was your teams endeavour and attack on the ball. It's not an area that I like to see us beaten in.

 

[paramore]

This always happens when we verse Port Adelaide. WTF.

 

[sainter]

I think we won our first five games against them too.

Barely beaten them since.

At least we actually play them in Melbourne this year. First time since 2001 or 2002 I believe.

 

[Toots Hibbert]

Fair enough.

Even allowing for the poor pass I still think he had to make an effort. It looked really ordinary. However I was wrong to put him in the same class as the other two because they ducked their heads when they heard footsteps. I suppose we see things differently.

What disappointed me was that that game was there for the taking. Your players had started to make a lot of mistakes and we didn't make you pay however what I was impressed with was your teams endeavour and attack on the ball. It's not an area that I like to see us beaten in.

I think it's good you're willing to consider a different interpretation. I guess you may not have the benefit of seeing Rodan week to week. Due to the poor way we have played for long periods he is sometimes treated like a key forward marking target! He's always jumped for the ball in those situations rather than shirking the issue the result has inevitably been an opposition mark or the ball being smashed away from him.

On our guys endeavour I think you saw the reaction to two weeks of criticism. I thought the body language the whole way through and particularly at three quarter time was indicative of a determination not to be embarrassed again.

I have a question about Reiwoldt. There was a rumour about his fitness during the week. Was he fully fit in your opinion? His defensive pressure was pretty minimal I thought and Chaplin strolled away from him a number of times with the ball. There was some negative comment about it from those around me at the game but if he was carrying an injury that perhaps would explain his lack of chasing.

 

[Persevering Saint]

That was the most shameful, pathetic, performance from a St Kilda outfit I can remember seeing since the early 1990s. I didn't get to the point where I was booing my own team, but I'll be honest, fellas I was pretty darn close... and I was not alone. I was sitting with the cheer squad and members, and we were all in agony, groaning out, "What on earth are you doing, Saints!?"

If we keep that up, I'm not sure whether I can really be bothered, win or lose each week. Footy's about entertainment as well as loyalty - there is nothing at all entertaining about this. I'll keep my membership (I am Persevering Saint, after all), but like I'll put myself through watching that week in, week out. Why bother? I've got better things to do with my time. I'll just get the scores from Sports Tonight: there's nothing enjoyable about watching St Kilda play most weeks, even when we do win (think the Sydney and Carlton games)...

Ross, take the hint. Let the players play their natural game and let us all actually have some fun.

 

[sainter]

I have a question about Reiwoldt. There was a rumour about his fitness during the week. Was he fully fit in your opinion? His defensive pressure was pretty minimal I thought and Chaplin strolled away from him a number of times with the ball. There was some negative comment about it from those around me at the game but if he was carrying an injury that perhaps would explain his lack of chasing.

He's the last person I would have expected to hear that about which would suggest to me that he might have been injured. No player works harder and runs himself into the ground more than Roo. Perhaps it was just down to frustration and I couldn't blame him really.

 

[mick13]

To those saying Gram turned it over a lot, he scored 131 in Super Coach. Thats actually meaningful as a couple weeks ago he was getting in the 50's. For those who don't know SC is based on effectiveness, while DT is based on quantity. Basically quality v quantity. I didn't see the game, but Gram's SC score was much higher than his DT score, and going by that it seems like he was effective with his kicks. (FWIW, 6 points for an effective kick, 0 for ineffective and -6 for a clanger)

 

[ChrisFooty]

I would like attack attack attack this week against Richmond. Even if we lose. No chipping the ball sideways and backwards. I remember Hawthorn doing this a few years ago and i used to have a chuckle. Now it's us

 

[35Harvs]

hmm I didn't see the first half of the match, but clearly didn't miss much.

I am thinking the game plan is too much change too soon & they're looking confused.

We've never really replaced that toughness of hamill, black or even guerra & I don't think they're playing as a unit.

I don't usually like singling out players but X Clarke, really needs to either stand up or be dropped, that insipid, pathetic attempt at a tackle on the boundary resulting in a goal & (I think) in the back pocket with Dal running on the outside to receive the handball, X just stopped running, no shepherd to create time or space, no running on to receive back. Just stopped. Not good enough.

Re the interest in watching the saints, gotta say, it's not as intense as a few years back. I'll still watch every game, sign up etc but .... we're not going to exactly be pulling 35K and getting kids into the saints with our current game plan.

 

[Sir Robert]

To those saying Gram turned it over a lot, he scored 131 in Super Coach. Thats actually meaningful as a couple weeks ago he was getting in the 50's. For those who don't know SC is based on effectiveness, while DT is based on quantity. Basically quality v quantity. I didn't see the game, but Gram's SC score was much higher than his DT score, and going by that it seems like he was effective with his kicks. (FWIW, 6 points for an effective kick, 0 for ineffective and -6 for a clanger)

Grams lack of chase p!sses me off!

He is more than happy to stroll after someone instead of put in and try effect the kick. I couldn't care how many kicks he gets if he is happy to let his man or someone within range have an inside 50 to advantage. Hurts us more than Frasers lack of chase in the fwd 50.

 

[Squizz]

Grams lack of chase p!sses me off!

He is more than happy to stroll after someone instead of put in and try effect the kick. I couldn't care how many kicks he gets if he is happy to let his man or someone within range have an inside 50 to advantage. Hurts us more than Frasers lack of chase in the fwd 50.

You're kidding aren't you??? Gram brought down at least two guys who would have slipped away from just about anyone else. I did have a couple of drinks during the game, but pretty sure I was watching the right one.

 

[Squizz]

He's the last person I would have expected to hear that about which would suggest to me that he might have been injured. No player works harder and runs himself into the ground more than Roo. Perhaps it was just down to frustration and I couldn't blame him really.

Agree. I feel sorry for him. Absolutely tireless even though we kick it on his head more than out in front.

 

[Squizz]

That was the most shameful, pathetic, performance from a St Kilda outfit I can remember seeing since the early 1990s. I didn't get to the point where I was booing my own team, but I'll be honest, fellas I was pretty darn close... and I was not alone. I was sitting with the cheer squad and members, and we were all in agony, groaning out, "What on earth are you doing, Saints!?"

If we keep that up, I'm not sure whether I can really be bothered, win or lose each week. Footy's about entertainment as well as loyalty - there is nothing at all entertaining about this. I'll keep my membership (I am Persevering Saint, after all), but like I'll put myself through watching that week in, week out. Why bother? I've got better things to do with my time. I'll just get the scores from Sports Tonight: there's nothing enjoyable about watching St Kilda play most weeks, even when we do win (think the Sydney and Carlton games)...

Ross, take the hint. Let the players play their natural game and let us all actually have some fun.

The problem is, we have not played well all year but have got wins against teams who were pretty ordinary (Sydney, Carlton and particularly Essendon). Seems we have not worked on the underlying issue which is ball movement and skill. I was disappointed when the players latched onto the Voss article and seemed to say "yeah, that's it - we were thinking the same". It was always going to be a short term reaction - I was hoping for a couple of weeks but we only got the Essendon game.

It's like "Shut down Dal Santo and put some pressure on the kicker. The Saints will cough it up". Unfortunately that seems to be a winner for opposition teams every week.

I have watched worse from the Saints before, but not when we are capable of so much better.

 

[SAINTS 4 07 FLAG]

Well..Melbourne Saints fans..Go to Saints training and have a chat with Rossy and the boys ! If i were older and lived in Melbourne its exactly what i would do !

 

[Sir Robert]

You're kidding aren't you??? Gram brought down at least two guys who would have slipped away from just about anyone else. I did have a couple of drinks during the game, but pretty sure I was watching the right one.

The Rodan tackle was great I'll admit that. But he couldn't bludge and hide in that one, it was one on one on the wing. There have been countless times this year I've watched him and thought why is he happy to just watch them run off... Just my opinion but unfortunately I've had it for a while.

In saying Gram was far from alone in the disappointment. We may as well have forfeit, as we basically did anyway.

 

[Squizz]

The Rodan tackle was great I'll admit that. But he couldn't bludge and hide in that one, it was one on one on the wing. There have been countless times this year I've watched him and thought why is he happy to just watch them run off... Just my opinion but unfortunately I've had it for a while.

In saying Gram was far from alone in the disappointment. We may as well have forfeit, as we basically did anyway.

I can see what you are trying to say, as I saw this against O'Loughlin in Round 1. Grammy isn't keen on body contact, particularly in marking contests but also sometimes in tackles, which is partly due to his role in the team to run off at every opportunity. However, I thought he was by far our best player on the night.

 

[The Punter]

I agree with Squizzy. Gram has his role, and fulfilled his role best, so he gets the chocolates.

I didn't think we were that bad - we just played a poor ten-fifteen minute period around quarter time, and the rest was not going to be easy.

We didn't manufacture enough goals on Saturday, but we did against Essendon, with Ball, Armitage, C Gardiner all among the goals. Only Armitage kicked a goal this week, and he would be the least likely of the three.

We also blocked and shepharded pretty well. However, skill errors need to be eliminated as much as possible, but that has been a hallmark of the last few years, even under Grant Thomas (more 06 rather than 04-05).

Port Adelaide played in a Grand Final last year, and have played poorly once this year in Sydney. They were never going to be an easy win.

Beat Richmond this week, and Collingwood in our next game, and the draw opens up. We probably won't be Brisbane in Brisbane, but after that we have Melbourne, the Doggies (who we will pump - mark this down), Sydney in Sydney, and Freo over here. All very winnable.