Are We Still In With A Chance to Play Finals Footy?

[damienc]

A genuine question although I suspect I know the answer already.

In theory, yes. In reality, it's complicated. The way we played against Fremantle, second half, you certainly wouldn't pick us to win any of our remaining games.

Assuming we improve, again based more on hope than anything, we should beat the Eagles and the Hawks.

Against the Bulldogs, Lions and Cats? Probably not. And I don't think winning just two of our remaining games will get us into the eight.

Yes, I know we beat the Cats when we played them earlier in the season, but I don't fancy our chances second time around.

There are some who are saying elsewhere, that we've been found out as a footy team.

When the better sides put pressure on us we fold like a deck of cards as we did in the second half against Freo.

I think the answer is more complex than that. Our forward entries are just terrible. No structure, no game plan.

The other sides have figured out how to play Max and he doesn't seem to be strong enough to stand his ground in the contest.

I think the current team isn't good enough to be a genuine premiership contender. It gives me no comfort saying it.

It also sounds defeatist, I know, but I am genuinely looking for a silver lining and honestly I can't see it.

To win a premiership you have to really want it. Be single minded and never give in. To have a plan B when other teams figure you out.

I just don't think we do.

At the moment, club loyalty is a one way street. No question the supporters love the Saints. History shows that. One Premiership in 56 years and we still support the club.

No question I'll keep supporting this footy club but I just wish the Saints could deliver something more than failure, rinse and repeat.

[B.M]

No - we are not!

[The_Dud]

Mathematically, yes.

Realistically, no. Would have to win 5 of our last 6.

Our form since the bye isn’t deserving of finals, it’s as simple as that.

[SaintJohno]

What year? Too many other better teams going for the last spots this year. So Nope.

[shanegrambeau]

Our cake was looking nice in the pan.
Now it's a pancake.

[Impatient Sainter]

We are simply not playing well enough 1. to make the finals & 2. to trouble anyone if we do make it.

Opposition teams worked Rattens game out after about 8 games this year and he hasnt been able to stem the bleeding. I had hoped Ratts was the man to take us forward and up but its now blatantly obvious that he is not capable of improving our list.

We are in for another couple of sad years of mediocrity until he leaves. Hopefully he can at least do the right thing and get us some decent draft picks before he heads off?

Even if the club are able to attract some decent players in this year trade period it will only paper over Ratten's complete ineptness of game day player management.

[bangaulegend]

Not a snowman's chance in Hell IMO

[spert]

We wont got far in finals with that midfield and a dysfunctional forward line.

[Wayne42]

We wont got far in finals with that midfield and a dysfunctional forward line.

Or the short backline.

[Waltzing St Kilda]

My ladder predictor (thanks afl.com.au) had us on 13 wins and still missing the eight.

And that was last week. I thought we'd beat Fremantle.

So no chance.

Lethlean will gamble big and bring in DeGoey.

We'll tread water for another three years.

[Laurie]

No way Jos'e we do not deserve to be there .
The sooner the season ends the better and put me out of my misery once again.
BOOM BOOM

[SunnyErnie]

A genuine question although I suspect I know the answer already.

In theory, yes. In reality, it's complicated. The way we played against Fremantle, second half, you certainly wouldn't pick us to win any of our remaining games.

Assuming we improve, again based more on hope than anything, we should beat the Eagles and the Hawks.

Against the Bulldogs, Lions and Cats? Probably not. And I don't think winning just two of our remaining games will get us into the eight.

Yes, I know we beat the Cats when we played them earlier in the season, but I don't fancy our chances second time around.

There are some who are saying elsewhere, that we've been found out as a footy team.

When the better sides put pressure on us we fold like a deck of cards as we did in the second half against Freo.

I think the answer is more complex than that. Our forward entries are just terrible. No structure, no game plan.

The other sides have figured out how to play Max and he doesn't seem to be strong enough to stand his ground in the contest.

I think the current team isn't good enough to be a genuine premiership contender. It gives me no comfort saying it.

It also sounds defeatist, I know, but I am genuinely looking for a silver lining and honestly I can't see it.

To win a premiership you have to really want it. Be single minded and never give in. To have a plan B when other teams figure you out.

I just don't think we do.

At the moment, club loyalty is a one way street. No question the supporters love the Saints. History shows that. One Premiership in 56 years and we still support the club.

No question I'll keep supporting this footy club but I just wish the Saints could deliver something more than failure, rinse and repeat.

This Friday night against Footscray is our last chance. If we lose it is over. I always want to win but I honestly believe losing this game will be better for us in the long run. The reason I say this is we (in my opinion), need the board to come to the realization that our rebuild has failed and we need to clear the decks and start again. Rebuild based on King's age group and under with a plan to challenge in 5 years time.

My fear is if we somehow beat the Dogs and end up sneaking into the finals the board will continue to think we are close to a flag and continue on this stupid path of trading in "older" players and bringing in Free Agents. I am convinced if we continue on this path we will continue to remain in "no man's" land which is where we have been for about 5 years now.

[bigcarl]

We wont got far in finals with that midfield and a dysfunctional forward line.

Indeed.

I’m torn. Do we still bother trying to make it or is it play-the-kids time?

[D.B.Cooper]

Last time I checked my arse was still pointing to the ground.

[Teflon]

We wont got far in finals with that midfield and a dysfunctional forward line.

Indeed.

I’m torn. Do we still bother trying to make it or is it play-the-kids time?

Ah the perennial question as a saints fan ….
Torn
I think you forget finals
Grab as good picks as u can draft a quality mid
Stay the hell away from De Goey (Lethlean desperate after Hannerbury fail…I reckon he’ll throw the sink at him and tie us up for 3 years while at it)

[Yorkeys]

Are we in with a chance of using the remaining games productively, with an eye to 2023 and saving some memberships and perhaps some street cred?

Do we have any plan. I know we have baseless aspirations, but what's the plan. More of the same doing the same for same outcome?
Ratts has secured his future so now I'm all right, turn the lights off when you leave?

Where's the vision and passion? Did the Board inquire.

Fremantle? tick. Geelong? tick. Moorabbin, so bland and clueless?

Could we aim small: team discipline so no one abuses an umpire for the rest of the year, no one with a mark or free kick gives the ball straight back to the opponents to kick over his head for a goal. From likkle things big tings grow.

[realdeal]

We're such a reactive team that we'll probably win this week!

Supporters (Inc. myself) will then get excited and think we might've turned it around and start believing again.

We'll then s*** the bed against WC over there against a bottom 2 side and the feelings of the last few days after the Freo game (and Ess and Syd games) return and we the supporters will once again feel used, abused and taken for a ride.

[Devilhead]

It's been a funny old year and fortunes can change quickly

We beat the Dullbogs, Hawks and Weagles our % should increase to near 110

Then we have Geelong Brions and Swans .... a few injuries to any of those opposition teams in the coming weeks or if they have their Top2 or Top4 or Top8 spot sealed then they may rest some players

It's definitely a possibility but we have to find some form pretty quick and some teams may need to slump

Tigers have injuries and I reckon Magpies are punching above their weight division

[kosifantutti]

Five games to go and we’re out of the 8 on percentage.
That sounds like impossible odds to me.

[bangaulegend]

Five games to go and we’re out of the 8 on percentage.
That sounds like impossible odds to me.

So Kosi do you honestly think we will make the finals? Sure it's possible

[kosifantutti]

I don’t do predictions.

We’re out of the 8 on percentage. I’ll just enjoy the ride, or not.

In 2008 we were 9th after 17 games. We had just lost to the 2nd last team. We finished 4th.

[SaintPav]

I don’t do predictions.

What about probabilities?

[bangaulegend]

I don’t do predictions.

We’re out of the 8 on percentage. I’ll just enjoy the ride, or not.

In 2008 we were 9th after 17 games. We had just lost to the 2nd last team. We finished 4th.

Fair call I look at our form & teams we play in the remaining rounds & who our competitors for a finals spot play but I have to admit I've never been an optimism unfortunately inherited my mothers genes not my fathers

[asiu]

stop it

you're confusing me

forget finals
that means winning


it'll be so much easier to tank
that we can do

[Wayne42]

Five games to go and we’re out of the 8 on percentage.
That sounds like impossible odds to me.

There's 6 games to go.

Bulldogs @ Marvel.
Eagles @ Optus.
Hawks @ Marvel.
Geelong @ GMHBA.
Lions @ Marvel.
Swans @ Marvel.