Why can't we make the eight in 2013...

[SainterK]

....If we still manage to secure a mature tap ruckman and a fullback?

Terry Wallace is adamant we won't finish in the top 8 (good enough reason to think we will ) but I can't see why we can't push for finals?

I don't want typical 'you just think st kilda is a fluffy cloud full of goodness' answers.

State your case why we will, or why we won't...

I think we can, but only if:

The club fills those two positions, getting a bit concerned, not confident we can carry similar list deficiencies as this years and make any ground.
Roo, Milne, Joey, Geary, Dempster (all this years more consistent players) have similar seasons
Steven, Gwilt, Dal, Stanley, Armo, Saad, McEvoy especially improve on their 2012

[clarky449]

Core past their best. Younger players have some potential, but dont think they would be good enough to make us a premiership threat. Still unsure on the coach.

[gringo]

Siposs, stanley, Newnes will be better along with Saad and Mlera. Lee will win a rising star award and kick 50 goals in his first season. We will get a mature ruck from somewhere as a back up and a full back, might just be our second or third choice.

[dragit]

Carlton, Richmond and Essendon will improve more than us next year.

[The Redeemer]

Carlton, Richmond and Essendon will improve more than us next year.

No yes no.

I still think we can get into the 8.

Our best is fantastic however what separates us from the Grand Final sides is that we do not play fantastically well enough.

[Dr Spaceman]

I've just done a quick poll.

I've asked:

• Nick Riewoldt
• Lenny Hayes
• Nick Dal Santo
• Sam Fisher
• Stephen Milne

They all seem to think we can make the eight. In fact they seemed a bit put out that I had even asked and queried why the hell would they keep going if we couldn't.

So that's good enough for me












PS: I didn't really ask them, I just said that for effect

[bigcarl]

We should have made the finals this year.

We were downright robbed on several occasions (Fremantle and Collingwood come to mind), beat the eventual premiers, should have beaten Collingwood.

I was heartened this week to see we were second in the competition for inside 50s, albiet only 12th for efficiency once inside.

A genuine goal-kicking key forward as Lee appears to be (early days yet, I know) could really complement Riewoldt in a way that we haven't seen since Gehrig.

That ought to shake things up a bit.

Also, the draw in which all the top 4 teams of last season play GWS, Gold Coast, Melbourne and the Bulldogs only once ought to help.

[rexy]

I think the acquisition of a FB and at least one more quality ball user plus the continued evolution of Scott Watters as a coach and the players understanding of his game mean we can make the 8. Think our forward options with a fully fit Stanley, Sippos Lee, the 4 smalls and Kosi and Roo means that we should have a really versatile and dangerous front 6. Our mids are good and the extra could come from Ledger Ross Newnes Winmar or elsewhere! Don't believe our ruck issues are as bad as we think, back 6 needs a big unit!
#loyaltyunites

[felix]

Whilst we have the extraordinary leaders in roo and Lenny inspiring the young guns to give every ounce of blood and fire in their souls we are in with a chance.

[ROLS-LEE]

Alot of ifs but definately need a full back and a backup ruck.
Not only that our best and fairest winner (hayes) had a leaky heart and was coming off a knee reco and still won our best player award. That is were part of the issue is. Not hayes fault.
We need more spread of good players all the time and no carrying anyone anymore or role.
Players like Stanley and Steven and co now need to make the next step.
Less turnovers and kicking efficiency needs to improve.

After all of that, no injuries and a favourable draw and we could make the 8.
Otherwise no.

[Teflon]

cant see us making the 8

Apart from FB/Ruck weaknesses IMO we lack real midfield depth and look like losing our next "ready" type player in Cripps.

Unless Ledger, Ross, Curran?........or another 1 or 2 come through from somewhere we will struggle as hayes/Dal/Montagna cant carry it on their own - even with Stevens/Armo.

[PJ]

Yes we can but....

Must get a fullback.... doesn't need to be an AA

I actually think Cripps can be a big improver if he stays...and Faz if given the opportunity offers us alot (luv the faz)

You say mature ruckman - what's wrong with Hickey? Future....future!!

[bobmurray]

We won't make the 8 because we are in transition.....the core of this group weren't good enough to win a flag, their best is done....

Probably another reason why Greedard left...he knows we are done....

We are reloading for another tilt, we just have to recruit the RIGHT players....and be patient..it's only 46 years since our last flag

[chook23]

Dont think we will make 8

2nd 2010
7th 2011
9th 2012

have lost goddard

ageing stars

No one of REAL CLASS coming through....our drafting (non top 8 picks for sometime) ladder finish playing its role

lack of class coming through indicates to me at this stage that our decline is likely to continue.

Not sure yet if the landing /bottom will be as hard Bulldogs

worst case we are 18 months behind where Dogs are now.

[Spinner]

Midfield is below average compared to the rest of the comp.

Forwards are below average.

Defenders are below average.

Rucks are below average.

[rexy]

Midfield is below average compared to the rest of the comp.

Forwards are below average.

Defenders are below average.

Rucks are below average.

We did very well to finish 9th then!

[PJ]

Wow below average forwards - sorry Rooey & Milney apparently you're crap, schneids your disposal is shizen and you don't use the ball well. Saady forget it mate make more of your opportunities, loser. Stanley laern to mark and for gods sake get a bit of speed onya.

[Con Gorozidis]

Of course we can make it.
Difference between 4th and 14th wasnt really much this year. Sure gws/demons/suns/port were off the pace but everyone was competitive and the top 4 werent really that scary either. So Ill give some credit to the AFL - its a fairly even comp and a very close/fine line in many games.

The question then is - can we improve from last year? - we only need to improve (1 or 2%).

Chances are Lenny/Milney and Roo will not be as good next year... and Im ready to write Kosi off AND of course No BJ....

BUT

I expect (hope) to see significant improvement from Macca, Schneider, Stanley, Steven & Gwilt - none of them really had good years.

We then need the upper and middle guys to stay where they are - Dempster/Fisher/Dal/Joey/Simpkin/Armo/Geary/Gilbert

Then where things get interesting is the 2nd and 3rd year players...... This is where the magic happens or the nothing happens.... The great unknowns...

Newnes/Siposs/Wilkes/Saad/Milera/Markworth/Cripps/Dunell....

Then the 1st year wildcards - Tommy Lee/Curren and maybe some other mature first year player will emerge from the earths crust...

So we can make it. But as usual injuries/team spirit and a little bit of wild-card luck needs to come our way.

[Austinnn]

you have to factor in improvement or otherwise in the other 17 teams.
There is no science in the following just feeling.
Swans - down slightly
Hawks - more consistent
Pies - down
Crows - down slightly
Eagles - same
Freo - better
Geelong - significant drop
North - about the same
Saints - better
Blues - ?
Tigers - better
Dons - more consistently good
Lions - slightly better
Port - drop
Doggies - slightly better
Demons - better
Suns - better
Giants - slightly better

[Con Gorozidis]

Hawks v Bombers GF Austinn?

Dockers and Eagles also wont be far behind again....

[Austinnn]

not sure Con; how did you rate Hird as coach? I didn't spend a long time thinking about this, cos let's face it, who really knows, but I can see more teams improving than dropping down, can't you?

We really need that gorilla fb and tap ruck specialist to avoid dropping next year. Hope Stanley's injury problems are behind him. I'm just desperate enough to consider Kosi as FB, could see him giving away a few frees though. Otherwise we can give the Pies our first 2 picks for whoever their second string FB is. Please take my car keys off me

[saintspremiers]

Too early to call.

The next few weeks of trading are vital.

We need to pull off a big trade or two be in finals contention.

[plugger66]

Our best players who are once in a generation players are getting older and cannot improve and may even go backwards. You have to eventually with age. We have lost BJ who is a very good player and wont be replaced next year. We again had bugger all injuries. The question is will that keep happening. Our younger guys will continue to improve but the competition does anyway. But the real reason IMO is we finished a game or 2 out of the 8 with Essendon and Carlton behind us. i think Carlton are certain to make it next year and maybe Essendon. I can only see North dropping out and in a shock maybe Geelong. Even North have a better group than us now especially if our stars start to feel their age.

Best we can hope for IMO is 8th but my range would be 9th to 12th next year.

[saint6709]

depending on what happens in the next 2 weeks I am predicting top 4 - easy!

[wally]

win a few more games that are winnable, those close loses, when it's all said and done we get the ball inside 50 but dont kick goals,
old blokes older, need to recruit a couple, other teams improve, similar to this year lf we fall into 8 won't go far.
Hurts to say it though.