A must win opportunity

[CQ SAINT]

Beating PA will be reward enough but there is a lot at stake this week. We must win.
While Melbourne is likely to stay undefeated, the next round presents s few opportunities for the top 4 to break away from the rest of the pack, with both the Freo vs. Geelong and the Sydney vs Lions matches potentially splitting the 8.
Expectations should be on us for a convincing win as we look to control the game with a dominant 4 quarter effort.
If our forwards have their kicking boots on we could be in for a big win but PA will be desperate for a fight but look totally out classed on form and will be lucky to hold on for a 30-40point loss.
But regardless of the score and any expectations, we just need to find a way to win. Another win on the road just adds to our credibility and if Freo beat Geelong and Brisbane overcome Sydney, we head to Geelong with the wind in our sails. The next 4 weeks shapes our season and only a win in round one against the Pies could have improved our efforts so far.
A lot can happen in 4 weeks.

[Wayne42]

What's our form line like at Cazalys Stadium ?

[Zed]

Agreed this a big game - but to be fair they all seem like games atm.

IF we want to play finals, I feel like we need to beat Port this week.
The following 2 weeks then give us an idea of how deep into finals we might go.
Melb look like they will finish top 4
Brisbane for me are the other team that almost certainly will be top 4.
Beat Port & Geelong and we give ourselves a good shot of finishing top 4

[SaintPav]

I’m not talking this game lightly.

Just look at our recent history against this team. It’s not great.

[Yorkeys]

Power: Prelim finalists 2021.
FNQ has been deluged.
Good oval but no atmosphere.
Long flight.
Humid as.
Only the finest and fiercest will survive. Both teams likely to suffer in following week's match.
Hope the extra $s are worth it. Ironically a game where Dunstan might be very useful. Hand to hand combat, very draining.

[meher baba]

Power: Prelim finalists 2021.
FNQ has been deluged.
Good oval but no atmosphere.
Long flight.
Humid as.
Only the finest and fiercest will survive. Both teams likely to suffer in following week's match.
Hope the extra $s are worth it. Ironically a game where Dunstan might be very useful. Hand to hand combat, very draining.

Games like this on unfamiliar grounds in humid conditions tend to see both teams a bit subdued and below their usual intensity. I doubt we’ll see hand to hand combat: more likely lots of turnovers from long kicks.

This will lead to lots of opportunities for our counter attacking style, although the hot conditions should make it more energy-sapping even than usual.

When the club leaders agreed to this game, they must have been thinking that we wouldn’t be serious contenders in 2022. The timing of it could hardly be worse.

[Vortex]

Power: Prelim finalists 2021.
FNQ has been deluged.
Good oval but no atmosphere.
Long flight.
Humid as.
Only the finest and fiercest will survive. Both teams likely to suffer in following week's match.
Hope the extra $s are worth it. Ironically a game where Dunstan might be very useful. Hand to hand combat, very draining.

Games like this on unfamiliar grounds in humid conditions tend to see both teams a bit subdued and below their usual intensity. I doubt we’ll see hand to hand combat: more likely lots of turnovers from long kicks.

This will lead to lots of opportunities for our counter attacking style, although the hot conditions should make it more energy-sapping even than usual.

When the club leaders agreed to this game, they must have been thinking that we wouldn’t be serious contenders in 2022. The timing of it could hardly be worse.

The clubs didn't get a say, significant lucrative kickbacks to the AFL are the motivation with funding from local and state coffers.

The monsoon trough is late in moving north this season so it could be a wet game.

[perfectionist]

...

The monsoon trough is late in moving north this season so it could be a wet game.

Yep, the forecast is for rain. Players will need to wear their galoshes.

[Impatient Sainter]

All games are important when you want to play finals. If Marshall plays we will have a massive advantage in the rucks. Hopefully it will be a dry night so our skills can shine. Thankfully we have got an 8 day break before the Melbourne game, so the boys will have time to recover.

[Life Long Saint]

If we're fair dinkum about 2022, then we win this game.
Port have been dreadful.
Smashed by Hawthorn.
Not even close to Melbourne.
Carlton stopped at half time, and they still couldn't win.
Then, they get the easy kill of the Eagles. A WAFL team at the moment.

We're the only team to beat the Dockers this season (and in Perth, to boot).
Looking at the teams around us on the ladder (not Melbourne), we are the only ones yet to play WCE or North. Sydney have played both! And we still have a percentage of over 130%.

We're playing pretty good footy built on a solid defensive game plan...All without Jones, Billings, Clark, and Ryder (for all but 2 games).
We have built on the back half of last season nicely.
And we'd have smashed GWS if our forwards kicked straight. Higgins should have kicked at least 6 and King should have kicked at least 5.

[Impatient Sainter]

Given its a night game the forecast is showers in the morning, so hopefully its a dry game.

'Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely during the morning. Winds southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h'.

[Yorkeys]

Don't do dry at night in FNQ. Air will be wet, ground will be evaporating, 90% humidity. Everyone sweating, will need lots of fluids. There are likely to be bats on the oval rather than seagulls. Melbourne will be laughing as it will be so enervating. Be beautiful for spectators though, as long as you walk slowly to the bar for a Great Northern.

[spert]

A wet, heavy ground and very humid- I would be leaving Marshall and his double corky home for this one.

[older saint]

Good teams beat poor teams even when playing badly.
Its great Port got an easy kill this week gone , take pressure off and wall papers cracks.

Come out with effort and execution and should take care of business and get the win.

Ryder for Hayes
Jones for Windy

Assume Marshall fit - if not then weather will determine things but possible Campbell or Heath come in - like for like policy

Then look ahead Melb then Geel (at Marvel).

A 3-2 split in the next 5 will be what is needed min.

Turn halfway at 8-3 with Clark and Billings back in by the end of the 5 games is a good place to set up the second half of the season

[Zed]

Yep it’s a big game in the context of the season.
We have a very tough draw post the bye.
No easy games - except North maybe.
WC over in the west are never easy.
Essendon didn’t look too bad yesterday so by the time we get them they may actually be playing more like what most experts predicted pre season.
Adelaide have improved and look better again with Tex back. We play them on their home deck as well.
We still need to find another 7 wins and can’t afford to let this one slip.

Actually not bad that we play Melbourne the week after. If we are going to be below par due to longer recovery then losing to Melb isn’t unexpected- and helps keep something up our sleeve for when we meet them in the finals.

[Yorkeys]

Don't get why young Winghager should make way for anyone let alone Jones. Windhager seems to have done all that's required, shown courage, strength and skill.

Jones went MIA for a long spell and is subject to soft tissue problems. Windhager seems quick enough and good mark.

Is it a last on first off thing or the urge to make change for sake of it.

Won every game Windhager has played in.

[Sainternist]

Port has actually been our biggest bogey team in the last decade. That win against them in 2020 was the first since 2011. It would give me great pleasure to see our lads put them to the sword on Saturday.

[bangaulegend]

IMO we are looking a little weary after a great start to the year . A real gutsy effort on Friday night but it was a real grind so its going to be hard to back that up considering we are on the road again & get Port who came off a bruise free encounter against West Coast. Still hopeful but it will be another challenge that's for sure.

[D.B.Cooper]

What's our form line like at Cazalys Stadium ?

Not sure, when was the last time we were “up there”…

[saintsRrising]

What's our form line like at Cazalys Stadium ?

Not sure, when was the last time we were “up there”…

St Kilda 8.12 60 defeated by Adelaide 9.12 66
Round 13, Cazaly's Stadium, Attendance: 5969
Saturday, 12th June 2021

[bigred]

Flying up on Wednesday. So the flight should have no bearing.
This does have a bit of a banana peel feeling about it, but we should be good.

Ryder for Hayes.
Any other changes as they see fit.
They know what they are doing.