Changes for next week

[Saintmatt]

The small forward brigade doesn't work too well when you have May, Lever and Gawn down back marking everything or knocking it to their advantage.

It does if you don’t kick it directly to May, Lever and Gawn. Remember that night Port just scrubbed ‘dirty balls’ i50 playing WC instead of bombing to Dixon and having McGovern et al intercept?

Yeah, that ...

[ace]

Whoever was supposed to be playing on Salem should be out this week

It was like a broken record

Gawn to Oliver to Salem running through the wing

I thought Lonie gave much more than either Higgins or Butler

Remember Lonie got at least two free kicks to him that were paid advantage, I like that he wins free kicks

You mean there was supposed to be someone playing on Salem and Oliver.
I thought the plan was to let them run free so that Melbourne could win the game easily.

[Ajantis]

Other than Hill who else gets dropped?

Hill, Higgins, Lonie, Butler, Hunter Clark, Paul Hunter, Mckernan, and lets bring in................. ummmmmm.........

[Impatient Sainter]

Ratts said Crouch is the only certainty to come in next week. Ryder sounded less than likely and Marshall at least 2 weeks away. Last night we had players struggling on every line, hopefully we can get our spark back next week?

Paton is the forgotten man he was so reliable and important playing on the small forwards last year, we are really missing him.

I dont know how many Saints players played against Werribee yesterday, but it looked as though Sandringham got absolutely pumped. So the chance of a VFL Saints players getting a promotion seems very unlikely.

[shanegrambeau]

The VFL doesn’t start until mid April, so hard to get news on things at Sandy. But we can’t drop the whole team anyway.

I wonder what the heck happened. Was it the Spud thing?

But I remember prior to the GWS game, thinking we would drop a lot of games, including this one.

We seem to be vulnerable to simple adjustments our opposition coaches and players make. Additionally, the appalling skill errors seem to have been not only St Kilda’s.

[Sanctorum]

From the way Ratten spoke about Paddy Ryder after the match I assume that he is back at the club - is that confirmed?

If he is back I would definitely bring him in for Hunter, select Jake Carlisle to come in for Tom Highmore and Brad Crouch for Lonie.

I feel sure that Butler and Higgins will be far more active next week, so will Brad Hill, as with Crouch, Steele, Ross and Gresham at the stoppages that will give all the drive required to get the ball into the forward 50.

Expect a big turn around in form next week against Essendon!!

[SAINT-LEE]

Drop Hill....he has to pull his head in....his selfish play...always looking like the fastest, showman on the paddock of under 12's. Fancy this and that....25 games with 2 decent games is B.S.
He IS better than this but why the hell is he getting games when clearly HIS attitude is Hill first...

Carlisle IS NOT INJURED...I saw him running full speed, and turn around and take a mark over his shoulder at training. No dramas. If its his "attitude" and he is unplayable why give him another year?
He hasn't played since Rd 13 2020.

The game was about turnovers, poor disposal, midfield weakness, stupid mentality of bombing to forwards and being dominated by Melbourne's ruck.

No one player will help, but we need to drop big names who gave 10% like Hill and try something different.

The attitude of the team was complete apathy and it pissed me off.

[SAINT-LEE]

From the way Ratten spoke about Paddy Ryder after the match I assume that he is back at the club - is that confirmed?

If he is back I would definitely bring him in for Hunter, select Jake Carlisle to come in for Tom Highmore and Brad Crouch for Lonie.

I feel sure that Butler and Higgins will be far more active next week, so will Brad Hill, as with Crouch, Steele, Ross and Gresham at the stoppages that will give all the drive required to get the ball into the forward 50.

Expect a big turn around in form next week against Essendon!!

Big wins after apathetic losses don't impress...I judge this team by its losses...how and why we lose is more indicative than a win.

We can't win against Essendon but not with the lousy apathy and piss poor form of our midfield.

[saintbob]

Lonie, McKernan and Higgins out

Carlisle, Crouch and Bytel in

[sks023]

So when is Ryder coming back ? I would be out of a job if I took time off in similar circumstances and I earn s*** money . Get your arse back to work Ryder
Enoughs Enough

[ace]

Carlisle, Crouch and Wood could not be worse than Lonie, McKernan and the injured Webster.
Then we have a wait for Ryder and Marshal and a replacement for that idiot Long

You can't call my Wrecking Ball an idiot besides that is clearly racist.
You should assume a pummelling from the PC brigade even if they give you a free pass.

[ace]

So when is Ryder coming back ? I would be out of a job if I took time off in similar circumstances and I earn s*** money . Get your arse back to work Ryder
Enoughs Enough

Surely he is on his way back.
He would want to stick it to those scum who doped him and pretend nothing happened.
Those vermin even named their academy after James Hird.
Send your kid to Essendon academy and get injected.
And it won't be a Covid vaccination.

[ace]

Carlisle back in even if he plays forward, King needs some tall help.
McKernan out.

Webster out, I never wanted him in.
Crouch comes in, and goes mid, we need Hunter Clark back in defence.
Long can be told to ruin Tipungwuti's day.

[Yorkeys]

So Crouch, Mason, Dmac in.
Lonie, Webster, Highmore out.
Can't drop McKernan, Hunter needs a spell at times. Possibly Carlisle for Hill (rested).
Fast track Clavarino. Another candle lit for Rowan's foot.

[sks023]

Can couch hit the side of a barn with his kicking ?
More to lament over in the coming weeks

[Devilhead]

Watch us whack Dopers by 10 goals

[saintsRrising]

Ryder reported as flying back into Vic this week.

He is meant to have kept up his fitness.

If so I would play him, even if we only give him a TOG of 50%, it would be way better than the current disaster.

Bring Carlisle in too. Carlisle can play some ruck. King when forward and the Battle occasionally.

When Paddy is off the ground Battle to play as a follower around the ground.

[bigcarl]

Ryder reported as flying back into Vic this week.

He is meant to have kept up his fitness.

If so I would play him, even if we only give him a TOG of 50%, it would be way better than the current disaster.

Couldn’t agree more. He and Carlisle should both play

[ace]

Ryder reported as flying back into Vic this week.

He is meant to have kept up his fitness.

If so I would play him, even if we only give him a TOG of 50%, it would be way better than the current disaster.

Bring Carlisle in too. Carlisle can play some ruck. King when forward and the Battle occasionally.

When Paddy is off the ground Battle to play as a follower around the ground.

Where is this reported ?

[saintsRrising]

Where is this reported ?

TV Sports News tonight

Ryder flying back in later this week, and Carlisle having played ruck in the VFL practice game this weekend.

[Beno88]

In : McKenzie, Carlisle, Crouch

Out : Webster, McKernan, Higgins

[nostalgicsaint]

In : McKenzie (sub), Carlisle/Ryder, Crouch

Out : Webster, McKernan, Lonie

Gresham and Billings to spend more time forward pushing Lonie out.

Jones and Clark to spend more time at HB pushing Webster out.

McKernan the inferior ruckman. Either ryder or carlisle in for him.

[shanegrambeau]

My hunch is Carlisle back in.
But what does it say about the culture if he only gets picked when we are falling over?
(Given his talent)

Moving on.

I think we just have to assume the whole game was a blip, a slip, and fart.

How else can we deal with it given so many players were down. Did they all eat some bad pie ..or curry?

You can’t drop Sinclair? Battle? These guys.. but how did they go? Not great.

[longtimesaint]

I think the previous week played on a very wet and heavy ground had a big effect, especially on a 6 day break.
I watched the players closely and from the second quarter they were very flat with not the usual speed.
I watched some of the Freo GWS game and GWS were the same.
If we had a full team we probably could have overcome the heavy legs but being smashed in the midfield made the loss a near certainty.
Hopefully we will see a different team this week.

[Ghost Like]

Regardless of what changes happen we know there must be changes on performances offered up otherwise how does Ratten explain to Bytel why he was dropped.

Selection this week will set the standard for the season. I've not given up on Hill, he is definitely the cream but our cake is far from made. The opening two games have been poor, Bytel has been the much better player in his 5 quarters than Hill has in 8. If it's pace & poor disposal we want then McKenzie is even in better form.

Let's pick a side on form not pay packet or draft cost.