Positives heading into the finals

[PJ]

I think generally our overall team looks more even than last year in terms of individuals contributing to the group - most have stepped up a notch

Improved

McEvoy - massive improvement (different player)
Armitage - more consistent with a reasonable level of development
Steven - massive improvement
Kosi - found his role in the team and gained fitness
Raph - gaining consistency from injury interrupted 2010
Dal - most consistent player in the team for 2011
Milne - keeps on keeping on - AA this year
Peake - Outrageously better than 2010
Polo - probably the best patch of his career
Jonesy - fit again as opposed to his hobbling finals campagne 2010
Dempster - has arrived, amazingly strong, amazingly consistent
Fisher - improved despite massive attention from opposition
Monty - slightly more mature for mine doesn't fade as badly as he used to

The Same

Schneids - finding form at present and working back to his best
Gram - had a bad 2010 with injuries but is holding form
Blake - has been dropped a couple of times but is pretty much par for the course
Geary - little opportunity but is going as predicted
Faz - doing the team things but is not shinning

Gone Backwards

Roo - injuries, but is working hard and consistently producing a level
Gilbert - absolute shocker but is finding form
Goddard - started in a mental hole but has dug his way out and is starting to find top gear

The biggest positive is that all these 3 have stepped up of late and can produce come finals so in balance the team looks better than 2010 for mine.


Done and Dusted

Bakes - super trooper but the fat lady has arrived
Gardi - good to have back up for Kosi and Ben

[SainterK]

*No burden of expectation

[PJ]

*No burden of expectation

which ones do you think are wrong?

[Jacks Back]

I think he's saying that finishing top 1 or 2 gives every one a burden of performing in the finals due to the high ladder finish but this year we can just take it 1 week at a time and aren't expected to win.

By the way I think you are pretty much spot on.

[whiskers3614]

Dawson??

[SaintPav]

Ross keeps improving as well.

[BigMart]

Would say dempster was good in 2010....especially finals...
Smashed johnno, didak.....

Gwilt......massive loss, good player indeed
Hayes......the equivalent of three players

But your right
If riewoldt, goddard, kosi, gilbert find form and confidence...add joey

We can match it with anyone

[saintspremiers]

*No burden of expectation

Due to the Sooky Saints Rounds 1 to 8, an exceptionally tough draw early, and not many games at Jihad in the first half of the season.

[bergholt]

Monty - slightly more mature for mine doesn't fade as badly as he used to

that may be true, but he's definitely had less impact this year than the previous two. probably this is because in the absence of hayes he's had to play a bit more under the feet of the ruckmen.

last year he picked up 16 brownlow votes, this year he'll be lucky to get 8.

[dcstkfc]

*No burden of expectation

Not sure this is a positive. If we play like we have nothing to lose, we will lose against sides fearful of a blown opportunity.

The guys have to play as though there is a premiership at stake.

[spert]

I want to see a bit more out of Monty- sure he's getting disposals, but doesn't seem to be hitting the contests as hard around ball ups and throw ins. I would also like a little bit more from Schneids over four quarters. The rest of the season is in our hands..win 5 more games Saints!

[noob]

Attacking game plan is improving various stages each round.

[bergholt]

Not sure this is a positive. If we play like we have nothing to lose, we will lose against sides fearful of a blown opportunity.

The guys have to play as though there is a premiership at stake.

nah, depends on the individual personality. some people are better motivated negatively and some are better motivated positively. let's hope the coaching staff know which each of our players are.

[dcstkfc]

Not sure this is a positive. If we play like we have nothing to lose, we will lose against sides fearful of a blown opportunity.

The guys have to play as though there is a premiership at stake.

nah, depends on the individual personality. some people are better motivated negatively and some are better motivated positively. let's hope the coaching staff know which each of our players are.

Makes sense.

[SainterK]

*No burden of expectation

Not sure this is a positive. If we play like we have nothing to lose, we will lose against sides fearful of a blown opportunity.

The guys have to play as though there is a premiership at stake.

I'm confident they still want to win one pretty badly.

It will just be without the hype of being favourites this time round.

I also like the late momentum, coming into the finals with form, 2009 and 2010 appeared to be on the back of some very strong, but tired campaigns.

[Dr Spaceman]

*No burden of expectation

Not sure this is a positive. If we play like we have nothing to lose, we will lose against sides fearful of a blown opportunity.

The guys have to play as though there is a premiership at stake.

I'm confident they still want to win one pretty badly.

It will just be without the hype of being favourites this time round.

I also like the late momentum, coming into the finals with form, 2009 and 2010 appeared to be on the back of some very strong, but tired campaigns.

Like I said in another thread

Unlike 2009 & 2010 this is not a year where we need to fear losing the flag. It is a year to try to snatch it.

[saintspremiers]

*No burden of expectation

Not sure this is a positive. If we play like we have nothing to lose, we will lose against sides fearful of a blown opportunity.

The guys have to play as though there is a premiership at stake.

I'm confident they still want to win one pretty badly.

It will just be without the hype of being favourites this time round.

I also like the late momentum, coming into the finals with form, 2009 and 2010 appeared to be on the back of some very strong, but tired campaigns.

It's also without the benefit of a Top 4 finish.

Reality is you're screwed trying to win it from 5th or below.

[SainterK]

*No burden of expectation

Not sure this is a positive. If we play like we have nothing to lose, we will lose against sides fearful of a blown opportunity.

The guys have to play as though there is a premiership at stake.

I'm confident they still want to win one pretty badly.

It will just be without the hype of being favourites this time round.

I also like the late momentum, coming into the finals with form, 2009 and 2010 appeared to be on the back of some very strong, but tired campaigns.

It's also without the benefit of a Top 4 finish.

Reality is you're screwed trying to win it from 5th or below.

Top 4 is great.

However so is momentum.

I strongly feel we have it the other way around this year, so let's see what happens.

[plugger66]

*No burden of expectation

Not sure this is a positive. If we play like we have nothing to lose, we will lose against sides fearful of a blown opportunity.

The guys have to play as though there is a premiership at stake.

I'm confident they still want to win one pretty badly.

It will just be without the hype of being favourites this time round.

I also like the late momentum, coming into the finals with form, 2009 and 2010 appeared to be on the back of some very strong, but tired campaigns.

It's also without the benefit of a Top 4 finish.

Reality is you're screwed trying to win it from 5th or below.

Top 4 is great.

However so is momentum.

I strongly feel we have it the other way around this year, so let's see what happens.

Not sure that is based on fact. We have actually lost 2 of past 3 so it depends on how far you go back. Anyway you look at it ,I dont think anyone can win from outside the top 4 especially the way the pies and Hawks are playing.

[Moorabbin Man]

Also balanced (to our detriment) by the fact that there's no Lenny or Jimmy.

[Sainternist]

*No burden of expectation

exactly what i was thinking before opening thread.

we really have F**K ALL to lose here and almost EVERYTHING to gain

if you reflect on the first half of the season, we were almost completely written off to even qualify. a fine achievement by RL and team to advance into "post-season".

to think people would have preferred to not see us in the finals. just laughable really.

a mate of mine, who is a richmond fan, thinks we're a good chance to really upset an applecart or two in the finals.

i gotta admit, i'm quite enjoying the current underdog status we have earnt from this year.

[saint tash]

I think generally our overall team looks more even than last year in terms of individuals contributing to the group - most have stepped up a notch

Improved

McEvoy - massive improvement (different player)
Armitage - more consistent with a reasonable level of development
Steven - massive improvement
Kosi - found his role in the team and gained fitness
Raph - gaining consistency from injury interrupted 2010
Dal - most consistent player in the team for 2011
Milne - keeps on keeping on - AA this year
Peake - Outrageously better than 2010
Polo - probably the best patch of his career
Jonesy - fit again as opposed to his hobbling finals campagne 2010
Dempster - has arrived, amazingly strong, amazingly consistent
Fisher - improved despite massive attention from opposition
Monty - slightly more mature for mine doesn't fade as badly as he used to

The Same

Schneids - finding form at present and working back to his best
Gram - had a bad 2010 with injuries but is holding form
Blake - has been dropped a couple of times but is pretty much par for the course
Geary - little opportunity but is going as predicted
Faz - doing the team things but is not shinning

Gone Backwards

Roo - injuries, but is working hard and consistently producing a level
Gilbert - absolute shocker but is finding form
Goddard - started in a mental hole but has dug his way out and is starting to find top gear

The biggest positive is that all these 3 have stepped up of late and can produce come finals so in balance the team looks better than 2010 for mine.


Done and Dusted

Bakes - super trooper but the fat lady has arrived
Gardi - good to have back up for Kosi and Ben

What about McQualter and Eddy????

[Dr Spaceman]

What about McQualter and Eddy????

What about McGuire and Eddie????

Oh sorry, that’s the same person isn’t it! Of course you’d know that more than anyone.

Now go away and play on Johnston Street

[Sainternist]

What about McQualter and Eddy????

What about McGuire and Eddie????

Oh sorry, that’s the same person isn’t it! Of course you’d know that more than anyone.

Now go away and play on Johnston Street

I once heard that Tash likes to play with many a johnson on Johnston Street. But, of course, that comes at a price and (even worse) a risk not many of us would ever want to take

[jays]

we can make the prelim easy imo beat blue then swans and i give us a real chance at hawkes or cats