Cautiously optimistic (2)

[thejiggingsaint]

I posted on this forum earlier in this season, with the "subject" being: "Cautiously Optimistic" After ten rounds, and almost 1/2 way through this (injury-riddled) season, I feel no reason to change my view. I base this on a comparison with last season (from Hell)

2018: Played:10 Won: 1 Drawn: 1 Lost: 8 Points for: 663 Points against: 946 Premiership Points: 6 % : 70.08 Ladder Position: 16th

2019: Played:10 Won: 5 Drawn: 0 Lost: 5 Points for: 743 Points against: 810 Premiership Points: 20 % : 91.7 Ladder Position: 11th


More wins in 2019. Less losses in 2019 NO floggings in 2019 More points scored in 2019 Less points conceded in 2019 Better percentage in 2019 Higher ladder position in 2019 MORE injuries to key players in 2019!!!

Yes, I know its hardly "flag-winning" form, but my goodness its WAY better than where we were at last season, and THAT (for me at least) is more than enough reason to be "cautiously optimistic" about the Saints in 2019.

[ace]

We are outside the 8 because of percentage.
Finals football is not out of the question.
But our boys can't afford to lose to opponents around them.
This weekend is the beginning against Port
But winning most the games against Adelaide, Brisbane and Fremantle will be crucial.
And no slips ups to inferior teams especially away games against Gold Coast, North & Sydney..
Finishing 6 is not out of the question.

But then Geelong, Collingwood, GWS, Richmond and West Coast await in the finals.
We only play 2 of them in the run home.
Richmond at Marvel, Geelong at the cattery and Adelaide over there will be nightmares.
Gold Coast in Townsville and Sydney in Sydney and North in Hobart are must wins away.

We need 8 wins from 12 games will ensure finals otherwise it will be percentage deciding.
At Marvel unless indicated otherwise
Our draw
11 Port in China
BYE
13 Gold Coast in Townsville
14 Brisbane
15 Richmond
16 North Melbourne in Hobart
17 Geelong at Cattery
18 Western Mongrels
19 Melbourne
20 Adelaide in Adelaide
21 Fremantle
22 Carlton at MCG
23 Sydney in Sydney

[twirlyhair]

And we are currently fielding the youngest team in the comp.

[thejiggingsaint]

We are outside the 8 because of percentage.
Finals football is not out of the question.
But our boys can't afford to lose to opponents around them.
This weekend is the beginning against Port
But winning most the games against Adelaide, Brisbane and Fremantle will be crucial.
And no slips ups to inferior teams especially away games against Gold Coast, North & Sydney..
Finishing 6 is not out of the question.

But then Geelong, Collingwood, GWS, Richmond and West Coast await in the finals.
We only play 2 of them in the run home.
Richmond at Marvel, Geelong at the cattery and Adelaide over there will be nightmares.
Gold Coast in Townsville and Sydney in Sydney and North in Hobart are must wins away.

We need 8 wins from 12 games will ensure finals otherwise it will be percentage deciding.
At Marvel unless indicated otherwise
Our draw
11 Port in China
BYE
13 Gold Coast in Townsville
14 Brisbane
15 Richmond
16 North Melbourne in Hobart
17 Geelong at Cattery
18 Western Mongrels
19 Melbourne
20 Adelaide in Adelaide
21 Fremantle
22 Carlton at MCG
23 Sydney in Sydney

An excellent post Colleague, if I may say so. For what it's worth, I see 7 POTENTIAL wins from the remaining fixtures: Port Adelaide, Brisbane, North Melbourne, Dullbogs, Melbourne, Fremantle, Carlton.

Geelong at the Cattery is a real LONG shot.... (But I always live in hope)

Adelaide at Adelaide Oval............ same story

Sydney (at present) can't take a trick at the SCG.... BUT by round 23?????

Richmond and Gold Coast (in Townsville) are the games that I feel could go either way, depending on our start!

I'm still in "one game at a time" mode and haven't even considered the prospect of Finals footy. A solid second half of the season with several more wins under our belt, while maybe not giving us "september action" could still however provide a good springboard for 2020.

[tedtheodorelogan2018]

We will win in China.

[guitars4]

I posted on this forum earlier in this season, with the "subject" being: "Cautiously Optimistic" After ten rounds, and almost 1/2 way through this (injury-riddled) season, I feel no reason to change my view. I base this on a comparison with last season (from Hell)

2018: Played:10 Won: 1 Drawn: 1 Lost: 8 Points for: 663 Points against: 946 Premiership Points: 6 % : 70.08 Ladder Position: 16th

2019: Played:10 Won: 5 Drawn: 0 Lost: 5 Points for: 743 Points against: 810 Premiership Points: 20 % : 91.7 Ladder Position: 11th


More wins in 2019. Less losses in 2019 NO floggings in 2019 More points scored in 2019 Less points conceded in 2019 Better percentage in 2019 Higher ladder position in 2019 MORE injuries to key players in 2019!!!

Yes, I know its hardly "flag-winning" form, but my goodness its WAY better than where we were at last season, and THAT (for me at least) is more than enough reason to be "cautiously optimistic" about the Saints in 2019.

Yeah mate I think we are half a chance pretty much 50-50 IMO

[samuraisaint]

We will win in China.

I think so too.

[Otiman]

I thought winning 2 out of the last 4 games prior to the Carlton game would be an excellent result for us, would have loved to snatch a win but in reality it was a very tough draw for 4 rounds.

Get some players back and some momentum into the finals and we could do some damage.

Our fitness was a big strong point for us early in the season, I think other teams have now caught up, which reduces some of that advantage.

[Jacks Back]

With the China Syndrome happening over there to us I am Recklessly Pessimistic.

[Sanctorum]

I posted on this forum earlier in this season, with the "subject" being: "Cautiously Optimistic" After ten rounds, and almost 1/2 way through this (injury-riddled) season, I feel no reason to change my view. I base this on a comparison with last season (from Hell)

2018: Played:10 Won: 1 Drawn: 1 Lost: 8 Points for: 663 Points against: 946 Premiership Points: 6 % : 70.08 Ladder Position: 16th

2019: Played:10 Won: 5 Drawn: 0 Lost: 5 Points for: 743 Points against: 810 Premiership Points: 20 % : 91.7 Ladder Position: 11th


More wins in 2019. Less losses in 2019 NO floggings in 2019 More points scored in 2019 Less points conceded in 2019 Better percentage in 2019 Higher ladder position in 2019 MORE injuries to key players in 2019!!!

Yes, I know its hardly "flag-winning" form, but my goodness its WAY better than where we were at last season, and THAT (for me at least) is more than enough reason to be "cautiously optimistic" about the Saints in 2019.

Not hard to agree with the logic JS but the key word is "cautious". Based on most recent form especially the way the team has played in the last 5 rounds, which has not been convincing, I believe that another 8 wins from the last 12 matches is most unlikely. Today's game in Shanghai against Port Adelaide, a team that St Kilda has not beaten since 2011, will require the Saints to play like they did against the Bombers, Hawks and Demons - let's hope that they do!

With some big names likely to come back into the team after the bye, I'm looking forward to the Saints getting back into strong form and winning a few more games.