Apart from Phillipou, I’d argue they all did enough to warrant selection in the final rounds of the H&A season. MP was lucky to hold his spot , and yes Byrnes & Billings unlucky . If Membrey or Hayes are fit Caminiti does not play and no other tall options , so no case to answer. I reckon MP...

Showed last year that if you allow him to tag good players , they not only take him to the ball but also he nullifies their impact.

Given RL used Clint Jones so effectively as a tagger, I’m surprised he didn’t deploy Windhager in a tagging role all year.

I have a problem with professional athletes (like Cordy and Luke Dunstan in yesteryear) who don’t present themselves in mint condition Not good enough imo Is it just me or has Cordy looked fitter these last few weeks ? Slight change in body shape since Round 1 ? Or is it just that he is more comfor...

Going to the draft With pick 11 Pick 31 Pick 39 (Compo for Gresham) Pick 41 (Clark) 2 x Picks in 50s (one for Billings) That’s 6 picks But not exactly a strong draft hand You might get some good players from that, but not sure you’ll get many stars Others that will be looked at to get some capital ...

Seb Ross is a selection conundrum Brings intensity, leadership - at his best , he can be one of our better players His kicking can be a bit hit and miss but I think he has really worked on holding the ball a bit longer and choosing a good short option rather than blasting away Risk is he breaks down...

Much talk he will leave at year end.

Our midfield depth is paper thin and I just can’t see why we would not be trying to keep him unless we are getting a good deal in return.

Has the ability to establish himself as a starting mid if he can string a decent run of injury free games together.

I thought the first half vs Carlton was as good as we have played all year. The 2nd half exposed the reality - that our midfield talent doesn’t run very deep at all and that overall , our talent is mid table at best. With a bit of luck in the draft and some astute trading we can lock down a spot in ...

I was wrapped that we chased JDG hard last year. Exactly what we need.
We need A grade talent - particularly midfielders.
If we can’t buy them in (preferably as FA’s) then need to get top 10 picks to draft them.
We aren’t going to draft elite mids with pick 20, 30 or 40 something.

Admittedly I’ve seen them only a handful of times , but Van Es and Adams don’t look like they will make it to me. Yes I know it’s a 1st and 2nd year player, but i haven’t seen that little something special that suggests they will make it. It’s a problem because we need desperately to find a burst mi...

I hope Billing and Jones do enough to justify selection next week If so, we might finally start to get some competition for spots which might just raise the intensity and standard - assuming we don’t lose anyone to injury Sharman to play a whole game ! Hope he gets some confidence and can build from...

Love DMac but I think it’s time. He is very much In Hannebery territory now Our recruiting team haven’t been terrible the last 2 years so I’m inclined to let him go and open up a spot for a Stocker, Caminiti, Hayes, style pick before the season starts. Barring injury, those last minute additions hav...

Like most on here , I’m concerned Melbournes midfield and defence have a field day. Could easily be a comfortable 30+ plus win for the Dees but I think it will be closer. I hope Ross throws a few magnets around this week. If we lose but try a few new things I can stomach that. Also if Lever or May h...

Coincidence or not , it feels typical of the messaging this year.
Soften everyone up with a good news story about one player, back it up a day or 2 later with a setback story for another player

Port genuine top 8 contender
Saints genuine top 8 pretender

Based on what we are seeing in the Port V Hawks game , we will be lucky to win 3 more games for the year.

I’m a RL fan - but I wasn’t overly happy with the presser after the game either We’ve had issues for 4 or 5 weeks now, and the so called fitness advantage has disappeared. If the Hawks had kicked straight early in the game it could have easily been a 50 point blowout. RL saying we've only had one ba...

Is it a coincidence that these numbers have happened since Nick Walsh quit? Interesting comment and worthy of further discussion. Same observation made in our household . Hawks had no issue running over the top of us - we look to have lost our fitness edge and that ability to grind away at teams la...

B.M wrote: ↑Tue 30 May 2023 12:06am So it is the list?

If anybody thinks we have a top 6 list based on talent they are kidding themselves

All of us would have taken 7-4 at the start of the season. New coach new system new energy caught every one off guard and every media expert was pulling the system apart on tv in the first 4 weeks as nobody could believe we were top 2 So we finally got worked out and it’s been death by a thousand cu...

The coaching group are very very good in my opinion. The team is not as good. We are a 6-10 placed team. Let’s be realistic. Most of you would have put us in that category before the season started. We are going ok- not great, not poorly. It’s a work in progress. As Sainters we have learnt to be pa...

Not much speed to bring in late in the game with whoever they choose as the sub from those four, I’ve been wondering about this for the last month - is the sub better being a tall rather than a mid ? I’m not sure that any of the mids we have had as subs have made much of a difference. But tall guys...

I think the first few weeks the game style messaging was super simple to the players and after we surprised everyone including ourselves, we've now added layers to that , and the players are becoming more aware of trying not to make a mistake - and now put themselves under more pressure - ironically...

Owens Out Membrey In no further changes unless Windhager comes in. they've been very reluctant to make wholesale changes despite the gnashing of teeth on Seb/Crouch/Pou/Paton/<insert name here of player who should be dropped>. So unless someone pulls up sore, the smart money is for just the one cha...

When Marcus joins the starting mids, I think we may see a passing of the guard. So, rather than him being held back, others may be being held to account, with every opportunity, with what's left of this year, to make a case for a final contract. Which mids are coming out of contract? Maybe that’s t...

Ok they must be seeing something that I am not I think the Pou is going to be a superstar no doubt, but right now , his stats don’t justify a starting centre position over Bytel - or windy for that matter. I’m assuming Steele named on the bench as he is doubtful. Are they trying to fast track Pou’s ...

Opportunity to make some big statements this week
King for Members (inj)
Windhager for Steele (inj/managed)
Webster for Paton
Billings for Philipou - needs to get a few more kicks and hit the scoreboard
Bytel for Ross (sub)
Gresham to resume in the VFL