Will we beat Collingwood?

[sauce_head]

We really have nothing to lose except a sense of comfort about how many losses we can afford. Collingwood may be out of the finals race altogether after Friday night, whereas we will be in it still.

Where does all this hype come from? I watched the first quarter of the Richmond game last night and the pre-game buildup was so sensationalist it mades Derryn Hinch look like Gandhi!

If either team lose, it makes it harder to reach the finals. No doors are shutting from either team, it just requires a larger effort to reach them.

I hope we get the win, do not think we will and hope we come good and make a good run at the finals.

I know one thing for sure, it will all be over rated by the media.

 

[Squizz]

The players are oblivious, I'm sure.

The recurrent O'Dea / Greening thread arising like a phoenix from the flames each time our clubs meet has definitely taken the edge off it. No-one (except Tess and Dave the man) can be bothered getting upset about it. It was 1972 - most of our posters were born after then!

It got covered again by the press down here recently which doesn't help people move on.

 

[mg07]

who will take rocca, davis and medhurst?

 

[Squizz]

Not worried about Cloke & Lockyer?

 

[Optimax]

Not worried about Cloke & Lockyer?

expect with rocca being back for us to resort to our normal style forward line and lockyer to return to the midfield, only played theiur last week as we were desperate for a leading forward while medhurst was held by brown

 

[HoldenMCaulfield]

Call me crazy, but if Rocca is playing (and Hudghton is not fit yet), we may see the return of big Fraser in the backline...

 

[Squizz]

expect with rocca being back for us to resort to our normal style forward line and lockyer to return to the midfield, only played theiur last week as we were desperate for a leading forward while medhurst was held by brown

Kicked 4 last game and three the week before. One of the better kicks going around, and has to be respected (often isn't).

 

[Squizz]

Call me crazy, but if Rocca is playing (and Hudghton is not fit yet), we may see the return of big Fraser in the backline...

Didn't you see the other (Dream Team) thread? He's far too hairy to run around at FB, although I guess he would be playing on Rocca. Defenders need to ensure they keep a handful of Anthony's back hair at all times (can Fraser do it with "The Cwarrr"? - that's a "Get Smart" reference if you are wondering).

 

[bubblegoose]

It was 1972 - most of our posters were born after then!

can Fraser do it with "The Cwarrr"? - that's a "Get Smart" reference if you are wondering

I'm sure all the <35yos will thank you for the explanation

 

[Sainters66]

Call me crazy, but if Rocca is playing (and Hudghton is not fit yet), we may see the return of big Fraser in the backline...

no chance..............

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Call me crazy, but if Rocca is playing (and Hudghton is not fit yet), we may see the return of big Fraser in the backline...

Last I heard he was having trouble picking up the ball with his hands, hardly what we want in the backline.

 

[WASaintsFan08]

i didnt know that sore hands stopped you running and leading and chasing:S

if he cant use his hands and cant commit himself he shouldnt be playing

dont get me wrong i love gehrig... i was sad when he retired... excited when he came back but hes given us nothing this year in the nab cup against richmond he played the best game ive seen him play (simular to how mathew richardson is playing now) then the week after against geelong he got injured.. then since then hasnt delivered at all

 

[thegoldenbear]

Call me crazy, but if Rocca is playing (and Hudghton is not fit yet), we may see the return of big Fraser in the backline...

Why not? Rocca moves like wet cement. If they lined up on each other and G was to go for a wander up ground - maybe that big dope Rocca would have to follow and be lead away from the forward 50. Dangerous move considering the lack of ball we seem to be winning around the ground but atleast it will spark some reaction from the oppositon box.

I'd throw King into the side too even if he's underdone - we are missing key players at both ends of the ground, it's chance to have one advantage on the ground.

 

[Optimax]

Kicked 4 last game and three the week before. One of the better kicks going around, and has to be respected (often isn't).

i know how good he is around teh goals put the past two rounds he plyed deep while rocca was out if rocca is back which seems likely then he will move back inot a midfield role drifting forward.

 

[Squizz]

I'm not happy Dale Thomas has been given a rocket by Malthouse. Has played well against us before, and would not surprise to see the Pies get Rocca off (or into the ruck) if he is not firing early and let Didak, Davis, Medhurst, Cloke & Thomas at us (5 man forward line).

 

[TassieSaint]

Changing my tune on this after seeing the teams. King in Fraser out should give us the edge in the rucks, and Max in means there's less chance of their tall forwards dominating (plus from memory Travis and Rocca have only had one great game each this season, with any luck neither will be having their second this week). If the real Collingwood turns up they should beat us, but I'll be changing my tip to the Saints by 5. GO SAINTS!

 

[CHBench]

• MAGPIES coach Mick Malthouse says several of his players are on their last chance in Friday night's clash with St Kilda.

The Pies have lost three of their past four games, including a 10-goal defeat to Hawthorn in Round 7.
"(Friday night's match) is going to tell us a little bit about a few players because … to be 3-4, we haven’t played well and we may be on the last line with a few blokes who are just going," Malthouse said.
"They're not just going because they're avoiding training or looking after themselves or (not) acknowledging game rules.
"Sometimes you can stand still and (other players) will go past you and I’ve got a feeling that there’s…three or four blokes that have been very handy players for us but they really haven’t improved this year for one reason or another."

Malthouse agreed Dale Thomas was one player who not be happy with his recent form.
The Pies coach also confirmed that ruckman Josh Fraser is unlikely to play in Friday night's match due to a knee injury.
Fraser hurt his knee while playing for Victoria in the Hall of Fame tribute match on Saturday night, but the Pies had been hopeful he would be OK for this week's clash with the Saints.
Fraser didn't train with the team this morning, doing light work indoors instead.
Malthouse said his No.1 ruckman was "struggling".
"(The selection committee) will debate whether we name him to give him a chance tomorrow morning, but if we name him that doesn't mean he's in the side," Malthouse said.
On the upside for the Pies, Anthony Rocca trained strongly and seemed free from discomfort in his injured ankle.
"(I'm) highly optimistic that he will play," said Malthouse.
The Pies coach has backed the new interchange regulations, saying it was something that "had to be done" but said he was "amazed" that the AFL introduced them mid-season.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23702137-19742,00.html


Had to fire 'em up now, didn't you Mick

 

[Optimax]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23702137-19742,00.html


Had to fire 'em up now, didn't you Mick

about ____en time if you ask me

 

[makemytime]

Should go alright, Collingwood's form aint great. If we don't win this one, it'll become really hard to prove we are a premiership contender. SAINTS ALL DA WAY

 

[thatday]

One massive factor in the Saints favour is that the game is at the dome. Last time we beat you there was 5 years ago.

 

[Kildonan]

We really have nothing to lose except a sense of comfort about how many losses we can afford. Collingwood may be out of the finals race altogether after Friday night, whereas we will be in it still.

Where does all this hype come from? I watched the first quarter of the Richmond game last night and the pre-game buildup was so sensationalist it mades Derryn Hinch look like Gandhi!

If either team lose, it makes it harder to reach the finals. No doors are shutting from either team, it just requires a larger effort to reach them.

I hope we get the win, do not think we will and hope we come good and make a good run at the finals.

I know one thing for sure, it will all be over rated by the media.

I admit to trying to goad some sort of response from the Collingwood fans (who seem to be in some sort of torpor at the moment), but the half-truth was based on us being 4W 3L and them being 3W 4L so loss for us would bring Collingwood to equal points with us (they could hardly claim this to be a position where we could not make the finals) whereas a win for us puts us 5W 3L and them 3W 5L and under immense pressure from the press who had them the second best team in the comp.

 

[Optimax]

I admit to trying to goad some sort of response from the Collingwood fans (who seem to be in some sort of torpor at the moment), but the half-truth was based on us being 4W 3L and them being 3W 4L so loss for us would bring Collingwood to equal points with us (they could hardly claim this to be a position where we could not make the finals) whereas a win for us puts us 5W 3L and them 3W 5L and under immense pressure from the press who had them the second best team in the comp.

its an extremely important game for both teams.

I hope we win and expect we will (only just) because otherwise top 8 is a pipe dream and top four is an likely as me ending up in the land of Oz (wizard of oz).

Not only that i cant handle some of the bullshit on the collingwood board at the moment its a massive pain in the arse we are still a chance to come good and people are discussing drafts already.

Back to the game.

Hopefully rocca comes back and has a good game, he has had a chance to rest all his niggles, and should be able to beat hudghton, and his presecnce will really help cloke who should dominate this week being freed up to play further up the field where he is more comfortable.

I really hope we win mostly just for my sanity

 

[bradrowe#32]

Big game for us.

Put simply, our midfield has to at least break even. Hawthorn smashed us in the middle and I rate St. Kilda's midfield better, so we have to play well in there. Fraser out is a big loss. Cam Wood has to stand up.

Our backline has to get back to its better form, but no Roo should help us.

Tough game. We really have to win considering our next few weeks.

 

[BigLen]

We haven't beaten Saints at the Dome in 5 years, so I'm told.
Tomorrow night I reckon we're due.
Should be a cracker all the same.
good luck.

 

[Kildonan]

Tough game. We really have to win considering our next few weeks.

Our next few weeks don't look all that easy for us either.

For those who are relying on the Saints performing better in the second half of the season check out rounds 16 -21

Round         Date  Opponent          Venue           Home/Away  Local Time
 
 1 Saturday, Mar 22  Sydney           Telstra Dome    Home 7:10 pm
 
 2 Saturday, Mar 29  Carlton          Telstra Dome    Home 7:10 pm
 
 3 Friday,   Mar 04  Western Bulldogs Telstra Dome    Away 7:40 pm
 
 4 Saturday, Apr 12  Geelong          Telstra Dome    Home 2:10 pm
 
 5 Friday,   Apr 18  Essendon         Telstra Dome    Home 7:40 pm
 
 6 Saturday, Apr 26  Port Adelaide    AAMI Stadium    Away 7:10 pm
 
 7 Saturday, May 03  Richmond         Telstra Dome    Away 7:10 pm
 
 [B][COLOR="Blue"]8 Friday,   May 16  Collingwood      Telstra Dome    Home 7:40 pm
 
 9 Sunday,   May 25  Brisbane Lions   Gabba           Away 1:10 pm[/COLOR][/B]
 
10 Sunday,   Jun 01  Melbourne        Telstra Dome    Home 2:10 pm
 
[B][COLOR="blue"]11 Sunday,   Jun 08  Western Bulldogs Telstra Dome    Home 2:10 pm
 
12 Saturday, Jun 14  Sydney           SCG             Away 7:10 pm[/COLOR][/B] 

13 Friday,   Jun 20  Fremantle        Telstra Dome    Home 7:40 pm
 
14 Saturday, Jun 28  Kangaroos        Gold Coast Stad Away 7:10 pm 

15 Friday,   Jul 11  Carlton          MCG             Away 7:40 pm
 
[B][COLOR="blue"]16 Saturday, Jul 19  Hawthorn         Telstra Dome    Home 7:10 pm
 
17 Saturday, Jul 26  West Coast       Subiaco         Away 2:10 pm
 
18 Sunday,   Aug 03  Port Adelaide    Telstra Dome    Home 2:10 pm 

19 Saturday, Aug 09  Collingwood      MCG             Away 7:10 pm
 
20 Sunday,   Aug 17  Fremantle        Subiaco         Away 2:40 pm
 
21 Sunday,   Aug 24  Adelaide         Telstra Dome    Home 2:10 pm[/COLOR][/B] 

22 Sunday,   Aug 31  Essendon         Telstra Dome    Away 4:40 pm