Roast St Kilda in no mans land - Part 2

[Lavender Bushranger]

Ins:
TDK
Ryan
Flanders
JSOS
King
Phillipou
Howard
Henry

And some people still think we can't improve in 26.

I don't think anyone is really saying that they won't improve.

I think the discussion is around how much they will improve, and will it be enough to leapfrog the teams around and above them that also expect to improve.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Ins:
TDK
Ryan
Flanders
JSOS
King
Phillipou
Howard
Henry

And some people still think we can't improve in 26.

Howard? I'd have thought you'd be actively hoping to have seen the last of him, he's garbage nowadays.

 

[Saints4ever]

Howard? I'd have thought you'd be actively hoping to have seen the last of him, he's garbage nowadays.

Hard to have a good season when you’re injured.

200cm defenders don’t grow on trees.

Might just surprise a few given an injury free run at it.

 

[Mr Meow]

Ins:
TDK
Ryan
Flanders
JSOS
King
Phillipou
Howard
Henry

And some people still think we can't improve in 26.

They should improve.

An EF loss after a 13 win season is still no man's land though. Floating around 6th-12th without really challenging for a flag.

Top 4 finishes, competitive prelims etc is where you break free from that.

 

[Hoop1888]

O'Connell had some good defensive moments and I think most within the club are happy with his development so far. He needs to work on his attacking side but he was thrown into the midfield late in the VFL season and looked great.

Sort of seeing what the international rookies are brought over for & it doesn't seem there's great expectations on them by the fans of clubs, but more worth taking a stab in the dark. Would be keen to see more boys go over at a younger age and just learn the nuances of the game, conditioning and getting in that environment quick as they can. But get that homesickness and finishing school are big factors they have to deal with.

 

[Tasmanian saint]

I don't think anyone is really saying that they won't improve.

I think the discussion is around how much they will improve, and will it be enough to leapfrog the teams around and above them that also expect to improve.

Our biggest improvement will come from the young players already on our list tauru , Wilson, boxshall, hall ,also can nas consistently play match winning games like this year if they all continue improving with our additions we should be playing finals

 

[Tasmanian saint]

They should improve.

An EF loss after a 13 win season is still no man's land though. Floating around 6th-12th without really challenging for a flag.

Top 4 finishes, competitive prelims etc is where you break free from that.

It all starts somewhere club’s rarely go from nowhere to contending over night without playing some finals football first, you could argue in a way Geelong are in a average position moving into next year will probably make top 4 but made no improvements especially to areas of need while there main competitor made plenty of improvements, making up the numbers to a degree

 

[Seattle Mariners]

St Kilda will improve and win more games next year. Perhaps around that 11 to 13 win mark if things work out.

The TAB projects them to come 11th, and whilst Saints supporters will push back on that prediction and possibly be offended by it, I think that’s about right.

The inclusions are very good and the returnees from injuries will help, but is this team going to go from being a 5-13 side after round 19 to hosting an elimination final 13 months later? Hard to see it happening.

 

[Saints4ever]

Wildcard weekend for teams in no man’s land

 

[stfan]

Would be keen to see more boys go over at a younger age and just learn the nuances of the game, conditioning and getting in that environment quick as they can. But get that homesickness and finishing school are big factors they have to deal with.

This approach is exactly why Eamonn Armstrong started his season late this year after he finished school, and why Kobe McDonald will be doing likewise in 2026.

It sees them finishing school, then starting with a mini-season. Then going home, before returning to Australia to live fulltime here to pursue their new career.

Liam O'Connell was older when he arrived that these two. As were all of our previous Irish Recruits.

Hopefully this new approach will work better for us.

 

[Saints2001]

Liam O'Connell was older when he arrived that these two. As were all of our previous Irish Recruits.

Liam also grew up in Australia so he was already familiar with Aussie Rules - he moved to Australia aged 4, and only moved back to Ireland when he was 11 and was drafted by the Saints at 20...definitely wasn't starting from scratch like Kobe or Eamonn.

 

[Purple Suit]

St Kilda will improve and win more games next year. Perhaps around that 11 to 13 win mark if things work out.

The TAB projects them to come 11th, and whilst Saints supporters will push back on that prediction and possibly be offended by it, I think that’s about right.

The inclusions are very good and the returnees from injuries will help, but is this team going to go from being a 5-13 side after round 19 to hosting an elimination final 13 months later? Hard to see it happening.

Players returning from injury is always a hard one to judge as more injuries will occur in different areas. Ross Lyon has never been known for having teams without injuries in my experience.

I recon 12-13 wins is a fair expectation but the mark was 16 wins last time so the Saints will need to peak at the right time. Ross can be good with that too.

 

[Mr.X]

The inclusions are very good and the returnees from injuries will help, but is this team going to go from being a 5-13 side after round 19 to hosting an elimination final 13 months later? Hard to see it happening.

Put in those terms agree it looks tough

considering their off season, it’s certainly a possibility