PREDICTION: SAINTS TOP 4 IN 2012

[BackFromUSA]

We shall be a Top 4 side in 2012.

Forget the so called experts. They are clueless.

Why?

No emotional letdown after losing 2 Flags (whilst getting so close)

No majorly interrupted pre-season (caused by post season surgeries)

No pre-season distractions / controversy / media persecution

Fantastic draw in terms of playing lower and mid ranked sides twice

A positive coach who has a great grounding / background in defensive strategies

Larger and better coaching panel (and I really rate Laidley as a game day coach)

Our 10 players so crucial to our structure (not necessarily our top players) can get better in 2012:

Lenny returns after missing most of 2011 and he is a crucial clearance player

Roo is healthier physically (and importantly emotionally) than 2011 but time will tell.

Kossie has lost weight and is no longer pigeon holed as a power forward and can play back and ruck.

Fisher, Milne and Dal Santo can and will maintain their consistent 2011 form

Montagna, Goddard and especially Gilbert were well below par in 2011 and will rebound for sure

Schneider had a very interrupted start to 2011 and his intelligent ball use was really missed

A new mix of players will fill the other 12 spots in our best 22:

McEvoy, Armitage and Steven will continue to grow into valuable consistent footballers

We have 8 youngsters knocking down the door and will make valuable contributions in 2012
- Ledger
- Siposs
- Cripps
- Simpkin
- Stanley
- Saad
- Milera
- Ross

Others like Winmar, Crocker, Newnes and other new boys are also a chance to add to this list during 2012

Wilkes as a mature recruit adds an option in our forward line in case Kossie is elsewhere

Players (e.g. Blake, Dempster, Jones, Peake, Ray, Gram, Clarke, Geary, Polo etc) are fighting for spots

We have almost full list to pick from Round 1 (except Gram and Gwilt)

James Gwilt (last year in our best 10 players) returns by Round 7 and fully match fit for Round 11

But most of all ...

We have a point to prove.

Baring 8 games to start 2011, our record over the past 3 years is Top 2 in the AFL.

Our core experienced players MUST feel offended that they are being pensioned off at 27 to 32

Yes Lenny and Tiprat are 32 but the rest have 3 to 5 years of very good footy left.

In 2012 – our window to finish top 4 is wide open.

Make top 4 ... and a flag is then up to luck as much as good management.

I backed our list on Saintsational after 8 rounds last year to make the 8. They did.

I am backing them now to make top 4.

And I am dreaming of top 2.

Only time will tell if my optimism is misplaced.

Over to you Scotty.

[Teflon]

Love the optimism.

Heard Scotty on The Panel tonight stating they dont expect the kids to stand up from rd 1 and for Saints fans to be patient...also indicating he wished as a list we had more in that 23-24yr age bracket........but wasnt gonna say he was knocking recruiting/development (which he was...)...

Anyway, lets hope for a miracle...

[defacto]

i'm not too fussed about on field performance this year. super draft is coming up.

i am more concerned about the off field stuff, i want to see:
- another major sponsor
- increased membership and a better membership dept
- a good accademy director
- pathways made into playing the anzac game in NZ in 2013
- building better relationships with businesses
- getting a better image and brand on tv
- debt reduction

[mr six o'clock]

agree

[SaintPav]

Love the optimism.

Heard Scotty on The Panel tonight stating they dont expect the kids to stand up from rd 1 and for Saints fans to be patient...also indicating he wished as a list we had more in that 23-24yr age bracket........but wasnt gonna say he was knocking recruiting/development (which he was...)...

Anyway, lets hope for a miracle...

I didn't see the interview but I would be disappointed and surprised if he said that exactly.

[gringo]

Love the optimism.

Heard Scotty on The Panel tonight stating they dont expect the kids to stand up from rd 1 and for Saints fans to be patient...also indicating he wished as a list we had more in that 23-24yr age bracket........but wasnt gonna say he was knocking recruiting/development (which he was...)...

Anyway, lets hope for a miracle...

I didn't see the interview but I would be disappointed and surprised if he said that exactly.

I think you will find probably 2 to 3 young players will be in at a time he is probably lowering the expectations of wholesale changes. You wouldn't expect 10 newbies every week anyway.

[tweedaletomanning]

i'm not too fussed about on field performance this year. super draft is coming up.

Don't quite understand your excitement.....doesn't EVERY club pick players from the "superdraft"

Why would we benefit more than other clubs?

[sainter104]

Im with you BackFromUSA
AND i put freo and collingwood out side the 8 ohhh what a year this shall be

GO THE MIGHTY SAINTS !!!!!!!

[Con Gorozidis]

i'm not too fussed about on field performance this year. super draft is coming up.

Don't quite understand your excitement.....doesn't EVERY club pick players from the "superdraft"

Why would we benefit more than other clubs?

are you advocating the tank defacto?

[groupie1]

We shall be a Top 4 side in 2012.

Forget the so called experts. They are clueless.

Why?

No emotional letdown after losing 2 Flags (whilst getting so close)

No majorly interrupted pre-season (caused by post season surgeries)

No pre-season distractions / controversy / media persecution

Fantastic draw in terms of playing lower and mid ranked sides twice

A positive coach who has a great grounding / background in defensive strategies

Larger and better coaching panel (and I really rate Laidley as a game day coach)

Our 10 players so crucial to our structure (not necessarily our top players) can get better in 2012:

Lenny returns after missing most of 2011 and he is a crucial clearance player

Roo is healthier physically (and importantly emotionally) than 2011 but time will tell.

Kossie has lost weight and is no longer pigeon holed as a power forward and can play back and ruck.

Fisher, Milne and Dal Santo can and will maintain their consistent 2011 form

Montagna, Goddard and especially Gilbert were well below par in 2011 and will rebound for sure

Schneider had a very interrupted start to 2011 and his intelligent ball use was really missed

A new mix of players will fill the other 12 spots in our best 22:

McEvoy, Armitage and Steven will continue to grow into valuable consistent footballers

We have 8 youngsters knocking down the door and will make valuable contributions in 2012
- Ledger
- Siposs
- Cripps
- Simpkin
- Stanley
- Saad
- Milera
- Ross

Others like Winmar, Crocker, Newnes and other new boys are also a chance to add to this list during 2012

Wilkes as a mature recruit adds an option in our forward line in case Kossie is elsewhere

Players (e.g. Blake, Dempster, Jones, Peake, Ray, Gram, Clarke, Geary, Polo etc) are fighting for spots

We have almost full list to pick from Round 1 (except Gram and Gwilt)

James Gwilt (last year in our best 10 players) returns by Round 7 and fully match fit for Round 11

But most of all ...

We have a point to prove.

Baring 8 games to start 2011, our record over the past 3 years is Top 2 in the AFL.

Our core experienced players MUST feel offended that they are being pensioned off at 27 to 32

Yes Lenny and Tiprat are 32 but the rest have 3 to 5 years of very good footy left.

In 2012 – our window to finish top 4 is wide open.

Make top 4 ... and a flag is then up to luck as much as good management.

I backed our list on Saintsational after 8 rounds last year to make the 8. They did.

I am backing them now to make top 4.

And I am dreaming of top 2.

Only time will tell if my optimism is misplaced.

Over to you Scotty.

I agree with everything you say except for your classification of Sean Dempster, who I reckon sits with the pick-themselves-10.

[groupie1]

Love the optimism.

Heard Scotty on The Panel tonight stating they dont expect the kids to stand up from rd 1 and for Saints fans to be patient...also indicating he wished as a list we had more in that 23-24yr age bracket........but wasnt gonna say he was knocking recruiting/development (which he was...)...

Anyway, lets hope for a miracle...

I didn't see the interview but I would be disappointed and surprised if he said that exactly.

I think you will find probably 2 to 3 young players will be in at a time he is probably lowering the expectations of wholesale changes. You wouldn't expect 10 newbies every week anyway.

10 newbies every week would require a list of over 242. So, yeah, not expecting 10 newbies a week.

[philtee]

I'm with youse backfromUSA.

[saintspremiers]

Well I'll be at Football Parknon Sunday with the kids barracking like a madman that I am for the ALMIGHTY SAINTERS!!!

[Sobraz]

i'm not too fussed about on field performance this year. super draft is coming up.

i am more concerned about the off field stuff, i want to see:
- another major sponsor
- increased membership and a better membership dept
- a good accademy director
- pathways made into playing the anzac game in NZ in 2013
- building better relationships with businesses
- getting a better image and brand on tv
- debt reduction

Are you weighing up buying shares in the team, or supporting it to a flag??...

Very odd post... What if we finish bottom 4, no kids come on, Roo, Lenny and Milne are past it, BJ to GWS??...

But it's ok, we're focussing on the bottom line!!...

[SainterK]

No argument here, I predict 6th or above.

[Sobraz]

No argument here, I predict 6th or above.

+1...

[paddy]

One of the most positive parts of Scotty's approach has been getting the team involved with the community etc...

all that good press, will get us more interest from sponsors.... and more exposure, will mean more membership....

This will mean there is more money for us to throw around (hopefully)

Ross Lyon's bubble, and his dislike for media cooperation, MAY have helped on field, but sponsors want their logo in the paper.... its no wonder sponsors can be sheepish about the saints

[MrCordz]

i'm not too fussed about on field performance this year. super draft is coming up.

i am more concerned about the off field stuff, i want to see:
- another major sponsor
- increased membership and a better membership dept
- a good accademy director
- pathways made into playing the anzac game in NZ in 2013
- building better relationships with businesses
- getting a better image and brand on tv
- debt reduction

I tend to agree with this - this is what you do in periods of growth - ensure stability and strength for the future of the club whilst building your list and enforcing a positive and professional culture.
Whilst I love the optmiism in the original post, there is a list of negatives equally as long - far longer than most other finals challenging sides,

[matrix]

Well I'll be at Football Parknon Sunday with the kids barracking like a madman that I am for the ALMIGHTY SAINTERS!!!

see ya there
row e for us

[defacto]

i'm not too fussed about on field performance this year. super draft is coming up.

i am more concerned about the off field stuff, i want to see:
- another major sponsor
- increased membership and a better membership dept
- a good accademy director
- pathways made into playing the anzac game in NZ in 2013
- building better relationships with businesses
- getting a better image and brand on tv
- debt reduction

Are you weighing up buying shares in the team, or supporting it to a flag??...

Very odd post... What if we finish bottom 4, no kids come on, Roo, Lenny and Milne are past it, BJ to GWS??...

But it's ok, we're focussing on the bottom line!!...

i'm not saying we give up on the flag. i am merely saying our off field situation has slipped, getting it back on track is more important for the long term stability and success of the club than making the finals this year.

onfield we have been up the top for a while now, i will not be shattered if we go back down to the bottom and have to rebuild. we have to go back down at some point. the AFL's equalization policy dictates that. having said that i still want us to make the finals. if we are going to bottom out, this is the year to do it.