Concern about Brisbane forward line

[B.M]

The most efficient team in the comp for I50 entries to scores and possessions per score

Daniher 201
Hipwood 201
McStay 195
Cameron, Bailey, McCarthy (aerial threat)

Vs

Howard 199
Wilkie 191
Highmore 192
Webster, Sinclair, Hill

The midfield battle will be crucial to stop quantity and quality of entries

[Vortex]

The midfield battle is of equal concern, the Lions are red hot in that department too. Not saying we will get slaughtered, but the last time we played a top 4 side we got slaughted.

A fair class gap exists between us and top 4 sides.

Having said that, our current group of players pick and choose when to have a crack so let's hope they give it a shake this week.

[The_Dud]

Brisbane are just a better team than us, so I think concern should be all over the ground.

We've played 2 poor teams in a row, I think this one might be an eye opener!

[Banger9798]

Brisbane are just a better team than us, so I think concern should be all over the ground.

We've played 2 poor teams in a row, I think this one might be an eye opener!

Agreed, Brisbane are very powerful.

Tough match ups everywhere and a strong physical team.

Will be good to see if we can rise to the challenge.

Dunstan , Crouch and Steele strong in the centre
DMac and Battle should both play this week also to give some grunt.

If we finish within 4 goals we have done well.

[older saint]

Got a bit of Geelong last year feel about it. Come in as the up and commer and really hanging on by finger tips for a while until things break and suddenly 5 goals down midway through the third. Death by 1000 cuts.

[MC Gusto]

We’ll do well to stay within ten goals

(Note, said the same thing about the tigers so see this as a good luck statement)

Still we’ll be lucky to be within 10 goals

[Teflon]

Brisbane are just a better team than us, so I think concern should be all over the ground.

We've played 2 poor teams in a row, I think this one might be an eye opener!

Must say these are the games I worry about..
Saints played 2 poor sides for 2 wins....people start to think finals? ....maybe????
Prime time TV ....can Saints stand up
Good opponent this week....
Could get a smacking....we are due..

[JR23]

I like the match up. Height in this case is irrelevant . Defence should stand up but forwards maybe the weakness

Should be better mid field. Need to kick straight and bomb

Feeling confident

Get on board

[shanegrambeau]

Saints are paying 4.10 for this game.

I think our defence will put up a good fight.

But let's be honest our mids seem average and inconsistent,but it is our forward line that is the worst and our forward transition is broken.

Then we have a little problem called 'turning off and zoning out'.

Zorco's 200th game too.

Do we have an anniversary game on our side?

If Brisbane are a little 'off' their game, we might get a sniff.

[B.M]

Are these terrible Mids you speak of

Jack Steele? Avg 27ppg 7 tackles
Brad Crouch? Avg 26ppg 6 tackles
Luke Dunstan? Avg 25ppg 4 tackles

Backed up by
Ross 22ppg
Jones 23ppg
Byrnes

I’m more worried about their forward line, which is the most efficient and effective in the AFL

[Impatient Sainter]

If we can put 4 quarters together we will be competitive. I wouldnt be surprised if the club brings in -

Joyce or Clavarino to take Hipwood.
Howard to Daniher
Highmore to McStay
Wilkie to McCarthy
Webster to Cameron
Sinclair to Bailey/Coleman

Hill back onto a wing to match up against McLuggage

[mad saint guy]

It would certainly make sense to bring in the 195cm Joyce or 197cm Clavarino...but I'm guessing we're gonna back in Wilkie and Highmore to take Hipwood and McStay.

[spert]

If our forwards don't start getting more productive, then we wont win this one

[Sanctorum]

Interesting comments about match-ups etc against the Lions and it's certainly true to say that they are a very strong team across all positions and will be hard to beat.

My feelings are that there may be just the one change to the side that played last week - Zak Jones for Leo Connolly.

The game will be decided on who can win the clearances and in this regard St Kilda has the potential, through Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall, to win a fair share of these contests. If the Saints bring their A game brand of pressure football with intense tackling, that will give them a chance to cause an upset and knock off the favourites.

Another factor is that the Brisbane players have only just returned home after a couple of weeks away, so maybe they'll be a little unsettled and distracted back in the embrace of their families and "home comforts".

Saints players have a lot to prove, this is very much "do or die", and I expect them to have a red hot go at Metricom!!

[Vortex]

It would certainly make sense to bring in the 195cm Joyce or 197cm Clavarino...but I'm guessing we're gonna back in Wilkie and Highmore to take Hipwood and McStay.

Highmore is starting to develop into one of this season's postives, I hope he finishes the season at AFL level and proves he's best 22 material, a long way to go but he looks like worth investing in more than Joyce and Clavarino (at this stage).

[Banger9798]

Would love to recruit Rhys Mathieson from Brisbane
I reckon he has menace and aggressiveness we lack.

[The Recruit]

Brisbane will tear us apart
Just hope we dont give up and make it an under 5 goal loss

The only way we win is if we kick 14.4
Max kicks 4 or 5 straight and the lions miss a few they kick 11.15

[The Recruit]

Brisbane will tear us apart
Just hope we dont give up and make it an under 5 goal loss

The only way we win is if we kick 14.4
Max kicks 4 or 5 straight and the lions miss a few they kick 11.15

Close enough

[skeptic]

They were no problem

[Premium89]

Would love to recruit Rhys Mathieson from Brisbane
I reckon he has menace and aggressiveness we lack.

Beast mode. Good to see we’ve developed a bit of “beast mode” over the last few weeks!

[Trev from the Bush]

Just hopped into this thread to have a chuckle at the glass half empty comments.

Now off to grab a single malt, glass half full. Bugger it, fill er up! Go you mighty Saints!

[Vortex]

It would certainly make sense to bring in the 195cm Joyce or 197cm Clavarino...but I'm guessing we're gonna back in Wilkie and Highmore to take Hipwood and McStay.

Highmore is starting to develop into one of this season's postives, I hope he finishes the season at AFL level and proves he's best 22 material, a long way to go but he looks like worth investing in more than Joyce and Clavarino (at this stage).

Bumping proudly...seriously who saw that coming, he looked as assured as a 200 gamer.

[B.M]

Hipwood going down helped, but the defence were unbelievable

Against a forward line no one has been able to stop

[Vortex]

Hipwood going down helped, but the defence were unbelievable

Against a forward line no one has been able to stop

The sum of all parts, if Brisbane dominate the middle then their forwards probably do better, ironically our midfield gave our forward line a chance to shine.

[B.M]

Their mid 6 is meant to be close to the best in the business
Neale, Lyons, Zorko, McLuggage, Robison, Bailey

They were pretty much flogged tonight

I am very coy about our midfield

Add Gresham, Clarke to the mix - it’s not to shabby