Ladder Prediction & Why 2021

[SAINT-LEE]

I feel like 2021 could be a strange year.

I have us finishing:
Highest: 6th
Lowest: 9th

I know many will differ.

I believe the challenge is:

- we have had significant soft tissue injuries, rampant almost. Some are repeat customers others new.
- we have a 2nd year big man with little on field forward line support. 50% of the time teams get a grasp on the 2nd year bolter and a slump year unfolds. If a healthy Rowan was down there a lot I'd be more confident, but he isn't healthy and he has the weight of the ruck now.

- our ruck situation significantly improved our midfield advantage, that's in crisis right now and we dont know when it will change 5 games, 10 games into the season?

- one of the major reasons we held the defence in the half back is out for the year, will someone lift? Maybe, maybe not.

- Also the big defender Frawley was looking fit and his leadership set to boon our backline....gone.

- I wonder how we will fire in 2021? I think we will struggle against the top 6-8.

I say all this desperately hoping I'm wrong, but I have a bad vibe.

[bangaulegend]

Going to be tough , expectation from last year a harder draw & injury to key players but I still think we are on the right track . This year is going to be grounding year & we will struggle to make the 8 but I think it will hold us in good stead for the future IMO

[B.M]

If we don’t get a good run with injuries the high hopes supporters have (of us naturally taking the next step) will see a huge let down.

We have a tougher draw

We already have key outs

It ain’t a natural linear progression football

[desertsaint]

anywhere between 1st and 16th. i have no idea. no faith. only hope.

[Vortex]

A little known fact is that Fortius Quo Fidelius translates into, prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

[bangaulegend]

quote=Vortex post_id=1890433 time=1615550895 user_id=23596]
A little known fact is that Fortius Quo Fidelius translates into, prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
[/quote]

[SAINT-LEE]

I am not down, depressed discouraged and disheartened.

I think we are still a forward a defender a ruck and a mid away from multiple gf glory.

But we are close and when you're close you can finish in 3rd or 9th. You can blow everyone away and lose first round finals or come from 8th and win it all.

We are so close, so very damn close.

[The Barometer]

5-8th. Our core are young and progressing nicely. We now have depth that a few injuries should not worry. Right players fit come finals I’d expect we play in a prelim.

[PADDLEPOP1001]

Injuries from round 1 not great,we need to be 4/5 after 5 with the loss of players for the first few matches it makes it hard as we have a hard run home but when you look at what the tiges did improvement in other areas will help & maybe we can copy them!

[shanegrambeau]

Something happened to us between Aug 1 - Aug 6 last year. Suddenly, we were beatable.

The reverse will happen this year!
R1 L
R2 L
R3 W
R4 L
R5 L
R6 L
R7 W
R8 W
R9 W
R10 W
R11 W
R12 W
R13 W
R14 Bye
R15 L
R16 L
R17 L
R18 W
R19 L
R20 W
R21 L
R22 L
R23 W

I see us winning 11! Scraping into the 8 and then going all the way! But I expect a grim start.

You see what I am doing here. Early wins are gonna be like joyous gifts from heaven.

[darylcowie]

10th with 10 wins.
Next year 5th with 15 wins.

[bangaulegend]

I think the early injury toll & the hard run home is going to make it pretty hard to make the 8. I'm thinking somewhere between 10th & 12th with 9 wins

[Impatient Sainter]

INJURIES will be our biggest opponent this year. If the season continues as it has started, I would have us finishing out of the top 8. If our luck changes we could finish as high as 4th.

It has to be some sort of record having 8 x players unavailable for Round 1 -

Ryan Byrnes Hamstring 4-8 weeks 
Brad Crouch Suspension Round three 
James Frawley Hamstring 8-12 weeks 
Jarryn Geary  Fractured leg 3-6 weeks 
Dan Hannebrey Calf 2-4 weeks 
Rowan Marshall Foot 2-4 weeks 
Ben Paton Broken leg Season
Max King Concussion 1 week

[WellardSaint]

With all the outs we have, we're going to find the going tough.

Our biggest strength last yr, and the huge advantage we had over the other clubs, was being cooped up in close quarters and being able to bond closer than most other clubs; adapting and turning the hub into a weapon.

This year sees normality in family life, so the 'hub' is no longer bonding us and cracks will show both on and off-field.
When we lose games that we should win, there'll be finger pointing and factions within the squad will develop, where some will secretly be unhappy with tactics, strategy and the fact that some players won't get a game, which will result in unhappiness from their mates in the squad.
E.g. Jake might miss out on selection, Ryder will think 'Jake's better than Player X, it's not fair'

I suspect we'll actually win fewer games than last year.
And just miss the finals

[The Billings Method]

14 wins 8 losses.
5th or sixth
We'll be challenging, alright. All this doom and gloom prior to round one has me puzzled. We have as much depth as any team in the competition. If we win the first three, which is very likely, even with the injuries we have, then look out!

Stop the typical sainter doom and gloom. This is the new saints. The Ratten/Lethers saints. The injury list may look bad right now, but just wait a fortnight.

Remember how deflated we were after losing to that shitstain Norf Melbourne in Round 1 last year? Meant nothing in the end. We have a top 4 list. Max, Roma, Paddy, Gears and Crouch are all back in the first few rounds, we will be as competitive as anyone else. Go sainters!

[saynta]

With all the outs we have, we're going to find the going tough.

Our biggest strength last yr, and the huge advantage we had over the other clubs, was being cooped up in close quarters and being able to bond closer than most other clubs; adapting and turning the hub into a weapon.

This year sees normality in family life, so the 'hub' is no longer bonding us and cracks will show both on and off-field.
When we lose games that we should win, there'll be finger pointing and factions within the squad will develop, where some will secretly be unhappy with tactics, strategy and the fact that some players won't get a game, which will result in unhappiness from their mates in the squad.
E.g. Jake might miss out on selection, Ryder will think 'Jake's better than Player X, it's not fair'

I suspect we'll actually win fewer games than last year.
And just miss the finals

Just