We won't improve our position this year, unless....

[cwrcyn]

These players improve their output and influence by 50%

Billings
McCartin
Acres
Steele
Sinclair
Gresham
Dunstan


If they tread water, then we'll finish no higher than 12th

[mr six o'clock]

These players improve their output and influence by 50%

Billings
McCartin
Acres
Steele
Sinclair
Gresham
Dunstan


If they tread water, then we'll finish no higher than 12th

Should we also try a sophisticated supplements program .
I hear they get results.

[saintspremiers]

Billings - realistic 10% just goal kicking needed already A grade
Paddy - needs 300% improvement off a low base
Acres - agree 50%
Steele - likewise
Sinclair - close to peaking - 25%
Gresham - as above
Dunstan - probably 50%, but was getting there late in the year.

[axcellence]

Will be mightily and happily surprised if the team wins the same or more games than last year.

The team will be replacing Montagna and Riewolt with pretty much under 50 gamers.

[samuraisaint]

Accuracy in front of goal will go a long way to helping us win 11/12 games again. No way should we have lost to Port Adelaide, for example.
The club have focused on this over the pre-season I understand, so I will be looking for improvement in this aspect of our game in the practice matches. Don't believe we'll play finals this year, but should be around ninth I think.

[bigcarl]

Will be mightily and happily surprised if the team wins the same or more games than last year.

The team will be replacing Montagna and Riewolt with pretty much under 50 gamers.

I'm hoping that will work in our favour. A new dynamic, men stepping up. Opportunities for the ambitious.

[WellardSaint]

Accuracy in front of goal will go a long way to helping us win 11/12 games again. No way should we have lost to Port Adelaide, for example.
The club have focused on this over the pre-season I understand, so I will be looking for improvement in this aspect of our game in the practice matches. Don't believe we'll play finals this year, but should be around ninth I think.

+1

Folks get mad at the 'we'll not make the 8'
but other clubs close to our level have improved much more than us (based on last year's results)
and other team's players have improved.
Saints' fringe players such as Lonie, Minch, Wright should have gone,
but the club's stubborn attitude to keeping them makes me think
they are in denial and the club thinks these guys are somehow going to magically morph
into superheroes.
We're like Norf and Carlton, hanging onto rubbish.

Saints needed to remove underachievers.

[degruch]

Saints' fringe players such as Lonie, Minch, Wright should have gone,
but the club's stubborn attitude to keeping them makes me think
they are in denial and the club thinks these guys are somehow going to magically morph
into superheroes.
We're like Norf and Carlton, hanging onto rubbish.

Saints needed to remove underachievers.

I wouldn't stress about it too much, Richmond's list last year was chock full of dead wood...they made massive personnel changes between when we pantsed them and the final game of the season, which included throwing guys like Rioli, Graham and Bolton to the wolves.

I'm not even going to attempt to pick where we'll finish after last year's dross, but I think hanging onto a handful of fringe players is far from the end of the world.

[parkeysainter]

Saints' fringe players such as Lonie, Minch, Wright should have gone,
but the club's stubborn attitude to keeping them makes me think
they are in denial and the club thinks these guys are somehow going to magically morph
into superheroes.
We're like Norf and Carlton, hanging onto rubbish.

Saints needed to remove underachievers.

I wouldn't stress about it too much, Richmond's list last year was chock full of dead wood...they made massive personnel changes between when we pantsed them and the final game of the season, which included throwing guys like Rioli, Graham and Bolton to the wolves.

I'm not even going to attempt to pick where we'll finish after last year's dross, but I think hanging onto a handful of fringe players is far from the end of the world.

Fringe players and deadwood on every AFL list is simply the reality and consequence of an even competition that includes a salary cap and yearly draft. You can't replace "all" these players with better players because they don't exist out there or they're on other AFL lists and not gettable. It is that simple.

We don't want the AFL would be like the EPL either where the same 5 or 6 clubs always finish top and outbid the other clubs with their finances.

[BringBackMadDog]

These players improve their output and influence by 50%

Billings
McCartin
Acres
Steele
Sinclair
Gresham
Dunstan


If they tread water, then we'll finish no higher than 12th

If Billings improves by 50% he could be the best player in the country by the end of the year, he only needs to improves his goal accuracy and get his disposal average to around 22-25 per game.
Steele, Sinclair and Gresham were all very good last year so 10-15% improvement would be fantastic, Dunstan just has to continue where he finished, his last 6 games were as good as anyones at the club, he looks fitter and quicker across the ground so he should be a big improver.

I believe the difference between us being average or having a great season lies with the following players:
McCartin
Acres
Bruce
Armitage
Steven
and one of our new draftees having an impact