Is Goddard one of the huanted?

[Cairnsman]

Goddard's temperament has let him down in the past and I'm wondering if he's one of the players that Gram was referring to in his post match comments from Friday night. He certainly hasn't been energetic in the first two rounds.

And good on Gram for speaking his mind too. A little more drinking from the truth cup will be needed IMO.

[SainterK]

Thought Grams interview was terrible, his call of older guys going through the motions in their last year, was almost as bad as Brent Harvey naming and shaming kids.

Goddard is copping attention, and will continue to cop alot of it now he has been identified as one of the comps best. I'd like to see more of our teammates helping each other out, because we want the ball in the hands of those who use it best.

[Sainternist]

I'd be putting Gram in front of BJ in terms of looking more of the haunted of the two.

[Animal Enclosure]

If Gram wasn't a lazy sh1t then maybe blokes like Goddard would have less pressure on them to do everything.

When he spoke of blokes going through the motions...well Gram is prime suspect #1

[Sainternist]

P.S. IMO, Gram could do with a week in the Magoos to make earn a spot in the firsts.

[SaintPav]

Goddard's temperament has let him down in the past and I'm wondering if he's one of the players that Gram was referring to in his post match comments from Friday night. He certainly hasn't been energetic in the first two rounds.

And good on Gram for speaking his mind too. A little more drinking from the truth cup will be needed IMO.

Are you making that call from your comfy lounge in Cairns again?

Grammy squibbed it in the last when he ran around the ball. I didn't mind his honesty but I thought it sounded a bit funny coming from him.

[Cairnsman]

Goddard's temperament has let him down in the past and I'm wondering if he's one of the players that Gram was referring to in his post match comments from Friday night. He certainly hasn't been energetic in the first two rounds.

And good on Gram for speaking his mind too. A little more drinking from the truth cup will be needed IMO.

Are you making that call from your comfy lounge in Cairns again?

Grammy squibbed it in the last when he ran around the ball. I didn't mind his honesty but I thought it sounded a bit funny coming from him.

Yes I am. But from my postion at the ground on Friday night it looked like Goddard was a little sulky.

[InkerSaint]

Did nobody catch Goddard in the guest spot on Before The Game last night?

He was asked about Gram's comments on SEN and was very quick to distance himself from them. Words to the effect of "he can speak for himself but as far as I am concerned he doesn't speak for the group"... looked very shirty about addressing the subject.

I actually thought the thread was titled "Is Goddard one of the hunted?" which would make more sense, quite frankly.

[Cairnsman]

Did nobody catch Goddard in the guest spot on Before The Game last night?

He was asked about Gram's comments on SEN and was very quick to distance himself from them. Words to the effect of "he can speak for himself but as far as I am concerned he doesn't speak for the group"... looked very shirty about addressing the subject.

I actually thought the thread was titled "Is Goddard one of the hunted?" which would make more sense, quite frankly.

Interesting

[Moods]

Did nobody catch Goddard in the guest spot on Before The Game last night?

He was asked about Gram's comments on SEN and was very quick to distance himself from them. Words to the effect of "he can speak for himself but as far as I am concerned he doesn't speak for the group"... looked very shirty about addressing the subject.

I actually thought the thread was titled "Is Goddard one of the hunted?" which would make more sense, quite frankly.

Interesting

Yes. Very interesting. Didn't catch it myself, but would be interested to hear other posters perspective on the i/view (not that I doubt your own view INkersaint)

BJ is clearly out of form. If we're going to sh!tcan Gram and call him a squib, then we should really call it is as it is, and say that BJ has not lived up to pre-season hype at all so far. Even go as far as to say that he is one of the major reasons we are playing poorly. I love BJ but he needs to pull his finger out.

And I thought Gram was one of the key factors in the 1st 1/4 as to why we looked so good. Yes there were a couple of clangers, but there were also some beautiful 60m passes that set up goals. I certainly hope the team isn't turning on itself and playing the blame game.

And yes, whilst I did find Gram's comments interesting, thought they were unnecessary. Leave those comments for the coach or the captain I reckon.

[CeilidhSaint]

In or out of form, hunted or haunted BJ gives 100% at every contest. Can't say the same for Gram unfortunately.
Saw Gilbert and Dawson put in some very very weak efforts at the man/ball too and they are hardly playing out their last year.

[defacto]

the more i think of grams comments. the more i think we should play him next week.

if he wants to make those comments, then back it up with good form. if you cant back it up with form then double the punishment.

so next week:
out: archer, hayes, baker/dempster
in: kozi, steven, scheinder

if gram doesnt have a blinder then he's dropped for two weeks. in comes the best performing midfielder from the seconds.

time has come to upgrade walsh from the rookie list. to put pressure on the back 6.

players under the spotlight:
- dempster: poor disposal and decision making. playing down back, too many backman in the side
- baker: slow. ageing player taking the place of a younger players development. playing down back, too many backman in the side
- blake: see baker
- peake: goes missing for too long especially when the game gets tough
- gram: effort isnt there. as with peake goes missing for too long especially when the game gets tough. unless the ball hits him on the chest he wont go and get it
- gilbert: really worrying. just doesnt look interested

players who are starting to come under the spotlight:
- clarke: had a bad game with bad disposal and bad decision making
- gamble: just isnt providing fwd 50 defencive pressure. isnt helping roo. seagulls too often
- jones: has he been on the field the past two weeks?

[SainterK]

Did nobody catch Goddard in the guest spot on Before The Game last night?

He was asked about Gram's comments on SEN and was very quick to distance himself from them. Words to the effect of "he can speak for himself but as far as I am concerned he doesn't speak for the group"... looked very shirty about addressing the subject.

I actually thought the thread was titled "Is Goddard one of the hunted?" which would make more sense, quite frankly.

Interesting

Yes. Very interesting. Didn't catch it myself, but would be interested to hear other posters perspective on the i/view (not that I doubt your own view INkersaint)

BJ is clearly out of form. If we're going to sh!tcan Gram and call him a squib, then we should really call it is as it is, and say that BJ has not lived up to pre-season hype at all so far. Even go as far as to say that he is one of the major reasons we are playing poorly. I love BJ but he needs to pull his finger out.

And I thought Gram was one of the key factors in the 1st 1/4 as to why we looked so good. Yes there were a couple of clangers, but there were also some beautiful 60m passes that set up goals. I certainly hope the team isn't turning on itself and playing the blame game.

And yes, whilst I did find Gram's comments interesting, thought they were unnecessary. Leave those comments for the coach or the captain I reckon.

Yep he distanced himself, very much so.

I am not sure BJ is out of form, I watched the replay last night, he had one of those nights were nothing quite worked out. Ended up flat on his backside I don't know how many times, he is going to get heaps more attention this year.

Gram spoke about what was going on his own head IMO.

[saintbrat]

within the audio/ video from the media post game
http://www.saintsational.com/forum/view ... hp?t=68387

there are clips of grammy's comment and BJ's response

Video
http://www.saintsational.com/forum/view ... hp?t=68562

and Grammy's response

gramsy_1 Jason Gram
Don't u hate it when u say something and it comes out the wrong way

I re heard part of grammy's comments on radio and he said 'possibly' the last year

and in reality there are 3/4 players who may well decide to go at tned of year.

[joffaboy]

S,hit you blokes, dont shoot the messenger.

Gram was echoing what had been said after the game by RL.

His interview was raw and FULL of emotion.

And he did not say he was not part of the problem.

Jesus, instead of attacking Gram, i think he has a valid point, and others have a vaild point about Gram.

As as someone else said, yes play him next week. We are down Lenny, and "outside" players like him and Dal Santo have to step up and take the grunt work a bit more.

there are a few people that have forgotten Gram was almost a Norm Smith medallist in 2009 - the guy can play and play well in huge games.

Time for him to step up and have the courage of his words.

[ralphsmith]

Some players may be haunted, Goddard may be one of them.

But eventually these guys are going to pull their heads out and start enjoying footy again.


Beaten into the dust from whence he came, the metal is ready for the makers hand.

[SainterK]

As long as they are being given permission to grieve the losses, and the 'bubble' doesn't become some defence mechanism to pretend everything is OK when it's not.

Grieve, but don't mope, should be the message.

I still think nobody should be retiring people in their interviews, I don't really care how emotional they are at the time.

[miskycat]

Just shut up is what I want to say.
We have enough people bagging the Saints without one of our own doing it publicly.
Shut up and get back to training hard and playing with real heart.
Now, that's a statement.

[bigred]

Gram was right to speak his mind like he did. I dont have a problem with that.

Thing is that he was talking about himself as much as anyone else.

He did squib it on Friday, no denying it.

We have far too many passengers. Far too many.

[Cairnsman]

Phew!

Thank you for some of the comments in this thread.

I thought it was just me.

It sounds like the bubble is losing oxygen.

[spert]

There's an old saying "criticize in private, praise in public" . This needs to be put in place by RL or higher at the club. OK for Gram to say the team is a bit flat in public, but shouldn't go any deeper than that. Having said that, quite a few of our senior players need to pull their collective fingers out, Gram is not the worst offender there.

[Sainternist]

S,hit you blokes, dont shoot the messenger.

Gram was echoing what had been said after the game by RL.

His interview was raw and FULL of emotion.

And he did not say he was not part of the problem.

Jesus, instead of attacking Gram, i think he has a valid point, and others have a vaild point about Gram.

As as someone else said, yes play him next week. We are down Lenny, and "outside" players like him and Dal Santo have to step up and take the grunt work a bit more.

there are a few people that have forgotten Gram was almost a Norm Smith medallist in 2009 - the guy can play and play well in huge games.

Time for him to step up and have the courage of his words.

Some valid points, mate. The problem with Gram is that his last good game was probably the 2009 GF. I know he had the hip injury last year, but right now he really needs to put those words into action.

Don't get me wrong, I really want him to make the critics eat our words.

I said it before and I'll say it again, this Essendon game is going to be a true test of character.

Can we start to exorcise the demons?

[markinUSA]

I started to think, well, who are the older players?
To try to work out who he might be talking about.
And here they are - 30 or over:

Baker
Blake
Gardiner
Hayes
Milne

The people who are 29 are:

Fisher
Kosi
Riewoldt

If 28 is old, then they are here:
Montagna
Peake

-----------

That's it... I don't think anyone would say that 27 is old.

So, anyone want to speculate... or do you not believe Gram's comments are accurate?

[Johnny Member]

S,hit you blokes, dont shoot the messenger.

Gram was echoing what had been said after the game by RL.

His interview was raw and FULL of emotion.

And he did not say he was not part of the problem.

Jesus, instead of attacking Gram, i think he has a valid point, and others have a vaild point about Gram.

As as someone else said, yes play him next week. We are down Lenny, and "outside" players like him and Dal Santo have to step up and take the grunt work a bit more.

there are a few people that have forgotten Gram was almost a Norm Smith medallist in 2009 - the guy can play and play well in huge games.

Time for him to step up and have the courage of his words.

I'm with you.

I'm wrapt to hear someone getting a bit grumpy and putting it out there!

[SainterK]

Goddard, 25, was given three days off in a bid to recharge his desires for the game after three successive poor outings by his lofty personal standards to start his 2011 campaign.

Goddard is regarded as one of the finest players in the uncompromising AFL competition, with some experts even rating the brilliant Saint as a legitimate rival to superstars Chris Judd, Luke Hodge and Gary Ablett as the best midfielder in the game.

Goddard has played 165 games with his beloved Saints, but is said to be one of the most psychologically wounded Saints from last year’s demoralising drawn grand final with Collingwood and then a nine-goal thumping in the replay.