What a night

[Tom_Sainter]

The last time i went and watched St.Kilda beat essendon was back in 1994 when Plugger kicked 9.1 and Loewe took 20 odd marks. What a fantastic win, although this is pre season, the team we have is a real contender, not just for the finals but for the big one as well.
So many positives to come out of that game, but i was so happy with Heath Blacks game, 28 disposals and a real gutsy performance. Great to see Blacky at his best!
And how good was Milneys goal off the post, that so called superstar Hird was just watched it, while the intelligent Milne ate it up.

 

[Passmore]

I've been a doubter, but geez the Saints were impressive tonight. Very slick ball movement and some of those youngsters..bloody hell. Goddard must have some contagious desease and is Ball a classy mover!!!

As for Gehrig, you blokes owe us. His career was down the tubes until his 9 goal effort against the Roos. He hasn't looked back. He just dominates up forward now.

Any room on the bandwagon?

 

[dasler]

Originally posted by Passmore
I've been a doubter, but geez the Saints were impressive tonight. Very slick ball movement and some of those youngsters..bloody hell. Goddard must have some contagious desease and is Ball a classy mover!!!

As for Gehrig, you blokes owe us. His career was down the tubes until his 9 goal effort against the Roos. He hasn't looked back. He just dominates up forward now.

Any room on the bandwagon?

About time we are starting to see what the young Saints are made of. A very exciting team from an Eagle perspective.

 

[sainter]

It's only the wizard cup

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But how good was it?

Best thing about Black is that we haven't seen the best of him. The events that unfolded in the off-season has appeared to reaffirm his committment to the club. Hopefully tonight was a glimpse of things to come.

Fraser was unstoppable tonight. Not many players can outpoint Fletcher like that but the guy is just a tank. No-one can outbody him in a one on one contest and he's lightning fast on the lead. Whether he has a big season or not, opposition clubs are going to have to play their best defender on him and that will hopefully free up Riewoldt and Hamill. Very impressed with Milne, again showing he is far more than the one-dimensional player that he may appear on the surface.

The spotlight has been on our ruckman and I'd be happy for that to continue because sooner or later people are going to realise just how good our midfielders are. Time after time we won the ball out of the middle with Jason Blake battling gamely in the ruck. A rotation of Harvey, Hayes, Powell, Ball, Dal Santo, Black, Thompson is going to be very hard to stop. Last season we rated very highly in the clearances despite not having an established ruckman for most of the year. Full credit for Knobel for battling away, unfortunately he'll never give us much around the ground.

I won't go through all the players but I can't wait to watch the replay. I just hope we don't suffer a bit of a let down next week. With the week off after the game, I don't think we'll have to worry about any sort of hangover. I couldn't think of a better lead-in to the season for the younger players than the current preparation.

 

[Munga]

Originally posted by Passmore
I've been a doubter, but geez the Saints were impressive tonight. Very slick ball movement and some of those youngsters..bloody hell. Goddard must have some contagious desease and is Ball a classy mover!!!

As for Gehrig, you blokes owe us. His career was down the tubes until his 9 goal effort against the Roos. He hasn't looked back. He just dominates up forward now.

Any room on the bandwagon?

Room for all . Since round one last year I've liked Gehrig's game. Where he was before that I don't know. We used to be really light down back and had Everitt Loewe Hall up forward, plus he was injured often. Very grateful they have gone and we can see this monolith at his best. He could've taken out the coleman, well he might now. They don't build them like Gehrig too often. I've seen him out mark four opponents. And did you see the way he just brushed off Fletcher tonight numerous times!

 

[bOmBeR_BoY1]

Congratulations St. Kilda on a throughly deserved and comprohensive victory ... in the Wizard Cup. You guys should beat Geelong pretty convincingly next week.

Don't expect Round 2 to be as straight forward against us, Tom_Sainter. You guys don't own us at all yet.

 

[Cyclops]

Didn't the Saints look good in vertical Black and White stripes?

Well played.

 

[bomberbilly]

Originally posted by Tom_Sainter
The last time i went and watched St.Kilda beat essendon was back in 1994 when Plugger kicked 9.1 and Loewe took 20 odd marks. What a fantastic win, although this is pre season, the team we have is a real contender, not just for the finals but for the big one as well.
So many positives to come out of that game, but i was so happy with Heath Blacks game, 28 disposals and a real gutsy performance. Great to see Blacky at his best!
And how good was Milneys goal off the post, that so called superstar Hird was just watched it, while the intelligent Milne ate it up.

well done saints but please dont start talking grand finals just yet. You have an awesome exciting team that will no doubt make the 8. well done on making the Wizard cup grand final and all the best for the season proper. btw Tom_Sainter Its MR HIRD to you! he is a superstar!

 

[Tom_Sainter]

Shouldnt Bomber supporters stay in their own boards? Or is it that they are old and stale, just like their team

 

[bomber_carlee]

congrats guys!!!!

good luck for next week

 

[Kildonan]

Thanks for the gracious congratulations Bomber fans.

I know, and more importantly, the players know that this is the pre-season.

It is my belief that teams that go all out for the Wiz Cup often have a poor start in the H&A season. I am concerned, therefore, that we will not retain our red hot form once the real season begins.

We are a silverware deprived club, so it is natural that we become a little "enthusiastic" at the acquiring of our first since 1996.

It will be a real test for Grant Thomas to keep the boys "up" for such a long period - ie most of this team hasn't even played in the finals - let alone finals at both ends of the season.

Clearly this season will be the longest one played by the Saints for a long time.

From all appearances, it does seem that the players are pretty level-headed about it at this stage. (I would have been disappointed if the were all hyped up by the win against the Bombers). The main focus has to be on the H&A season.

This year we HAVE to get finals experience. We will need it for our campaigns in 2005 and 2006 when we will approaching our peak.

I think Thomas has got the players' heads right at the moment, I just hope that our supporters can show the same level of maturity.

 

[Winmar]

Loved it last night. When you're as success-starved as us, you have to take every chance you get. Fraser was unstoppable (pretty much literally), Milney continued his good form, and all the young blokes did really well. Still waiting for Xavier to play a decent game though.

 

[JeffDunne]

The most exciting thing about the team ATM is the team spirit (oh ok, the skills of the kids are pretty exciting too). There isn't a player on the list who isn't committed to the cause. Heath Black last night was fantastic. His attack on the ball and his selfless acts were a real highlight. Thomas may have his doubters but I don't remember a more committed and unified StKilda team.

Finally guys, I think we have a team that can build us some long term respect.

 

[sainter]

Originally posted by JeffDunne
The most exciting thing about the team ATM is the team spirit (oh ok, the skills of the kids are pretty exciting too). There isn't a player on the list who isn't committed to the cause. Heath Black last night was fantastic. His attack on the ball and his selfless acts were a real highlight. Thomas may have his doubters but I don't remember a more committed and unified StKilda team.

Finally guys, I think we have a team that can build us some long term respect.

It appeared to me that fostering a better sense of camaraderie amongst the team and replacing those uncommitted players that you spoke of with quality young people was Grant's priority from day one and we are starting to see the benefits of that.

 

[JeffDunne]

Originally posted by sainter
It appeared to me that fostering a better sense of camaraderie amongst the team and replacing those uncommitted players that you spoke of with quality young people was Grant's priority from day one and we are starting to see the benefits of that.

He is the Messiah! And I should now because I've backed a few!

Some people, especially his critics, may soon have to confess that the "process" is working.

 

[sainter]

Originally posted by JeffDunne
Some people, especially his critics, may soon have to confess that the "process" is working.

Looking forward to that day.

 

[Savatage]

Originally posted by Winmar
Still waiting for Xavier to play a decent game though.

Umm, what?

I've been a BIG critic over Clarke due to his inability to string it all together during a game, this pre-season is a complete change. Every touch is silk, his reading of the play is spot on.

He was off the ground for a long time because he was injured don't forget.

 

[samm]

Originally posted by Savatage
Umm, what?

I've been a BIG critic over Clarke due to his inability to string it all together during a game, this pre-season is a complete change. Every touch is silk, his reading of the play is spot on.

He was off the ground for a long time because he was injured don't forget.

It looked like he was getting his ribs strapped (the cameras showed this - this was in the rooms at the end of the game)