The season so far

[Crossy66]

Not quite the halfway mark, but still worth taking stock and discussing how the season is shaping up.
I expected us to win the first 5 games, so 4 from 5 was ok and we could have knocked over Freo if we kicked straight
I didnt expect to win any of the last four against the best in the comp, so I think we are tracking OK in the W/L area
Goal Kicking - We are playing well and are hampered by one major issue - If we can get this right, perhaps we could have jagged one of the last four - Its fixable
Injuries crippled us - other teams have a few more A Graders so it hurt us a little more. But the positive is we have found some really good players suck as Wilke, Parker, Kent, Marsh and got games into a few others like Battle, Marshall, Paton etc and this will makes us a better team than had we played them at Sandy
Game plan - Working well, big improvement in pressure and tackling and the group seem more up and about compared to last year.

The second half of the season.
The draw opens up for us a little, so expect to win 6 to 8 games which I think will be a pass mark for the coaching staff (any less then who knows)
Add Carlisle, Gears, Hanna's, Steven - thats two defenders and 2 class mids, and we are a serious team. THe big plus in adding class players will be the likely lifting of players like Acres, Bruce, Billings, Dunstan, Clark, Long etc that have another gear, but need good players to bring it out in them. I reckon Acres for one could be a superstar at a few of the top clubs.

What I would like to see in the last half of the year -
Marshall spend more time forward. I still think we are one KPF down, hes a great mark and a nice kick and we are missing that. It would create more opportunity for Bruce and Members with an extra tall.
Really looking forward to seeing M King debut, but really hope they allow him to spend most of the year at Sandy.
Would also like to see someone step up and push Brown out of the team. Atm, hes the best we have to look after the big fellas

[Legendary]

I fully agree with this.

I thought if we got to Round 10 at 5 wins and 5 losses, we would be tracking pretty well. With a bit of luck this week, that's where we'll end up.

We have fielded the least experienced and second least experienced side in the AFL over the last three weeks. Injuries have been particularly cruelling as it has been our experienced players suffering. We've played teams ranked 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th over the past month, coinciding with the worst time for our injury list.

Looking at the fixture, I reckon we'll win 5-6 of our last 8 games - North (W), Geelong (L), Bulldogs (W), Melbourne (W), Adelaide (L), Fremantle (W/L), Carlton (W), Sydney (W). That would give us 10-11 wins for the year if we can beat the Blues this week.

I reckon we are tracking as expected and the idea that we would knock off GWS, West Coast or Collingwood in the last month was fanciful.

[Enrico_Misso]

Not quite the halfway mark, but still worth taking stock and discussing how the season is shaping up.
I expected us to win the first 5 games, so 4 from 5 was ok and we could have knocked over Freo if we kicked straight

WOW - You EXPECTED us to win the first 5!!!!!!
While this place went delirious with our 4-1 start you were just ticking them off.
Did you back ScoMo for an outright win too?

[Cairnsman]

Great thread, agree we are one key tall forward short of getting the right structure. We don't need 2 rucks, I've seen enough of Marshall to think he's our guy to go it alone with support from part timers in the forward line and backline.

And absolutely short a couple of mids hence why all the attention from the opposition can neutralise our mid field, or in the case of the Pies game, wear them down.

[Crossy66]

Not quite the halfway mark, but still worth taking stock and discussing how the season is shaping up.
I expected us to win the first 5 games, so 4 from 5 was ok and we could have knocked over Freo if we kicked straight

WOW - You EXPECTED us to win the first 5!!!!!!
While this place went delirious with our 4-1 start you were just ticking them off.
Did you back ScoMo for an outright win too?

Pretty much Enrico. Preseason I thought we would win 12 and be knocking on the door as did many others...or so I thought.
Thrilled for ScoMo, but didnt see that coming!

[CQ SAINT]

Not quite the halfway mark, but still worth taking stock and discussing how the season is shaping up.
I expected us to win the first 5 games, so 4 from 5 was ok and we could have knocked over Freo if we kicked straight

WOW - You EXPECTED us to win the first 5!!!!!!
While this place went delirious with our 4-1 start you were just ticking them off.
Did you back ScoMo for an outright win too?

Pretty much Enrico. Preseason I thought we would win 12 and be knocking on the door as did many others...or so I thought.
Thrilled for ScoMo, but didnt see that coming!

I thought so too.

[Yorkeys]

Well balance assessment Crossy66. Its hard to quantify the impact of having one really poor player in a game, but I guess at the moment its a couple of goals at least. We usually carry several each week and that ends up hurting big time. We can't afford several passengers against the top 8 sides and two free ride games in a row should mean churn unless you are an undisputed class act. Jack Newnes are you keeping a future star out? In terms of season so far, are not Wilkie, Marsh, Hind and Marshall just peaches. And Membrey must be heading for Saints hall of fame given what he has to do. We are getting there. Unfortunately not in 2019.

[samuraisaint]

I fully agree with this.

I thought if we got to Round 10 at 5 wins and 5 losses, we would be tracking pretty well. With a bit of luck this week, that's where we'll end up.

We have fielded the least experienced and second least experienced side in the AFL over the last three weeks. Injuries have been particularly cruelling as it has been our experienced players suffering. We've played teams ranked 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th over the past month, coinciding with the worst time for our injury list.

Looking at the fixture, I reckon we'll win 5-6 of our last 8 games - North (W), Geelong (L), Bulldogs (W), Melbourne (W), Adelaide (L), Fremantle (W/L), Carlton (W), Sydney (W). That would give us 10-11 wins for the year if we can beat the Blues this week.

I reckon we are tracking as expected and the idea that we would knock off GWS, West Coast or Collingwood in the last month was fanciful.

We won't beat North or Sydney. Not on past history we won't.

[guitars4]

The best thing we did was recruit 3 or 4 middle aged recruits Wilkie has been amazing,Parker has shown he has x factor which we need ,Young only 1 game but showed he has potential & although we haven't seen Hind yet I think he might be exactly what we need fast ,good ball user,good tank just need to get him in there.

[Crossy66]

I fully agree with this.

I thought if we got to Round 10 at 5 wins and 5 losses, we would be tracking pretty well. With a bit of luck this week, that's where we'll end up.

We have fielded the least experienced and second least experienced side in the AFL over the last three weeks. Injuries have been particularly cruelling as it has been our experienced players suffering. We've played teams ranked 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th over the past month, coinciding with the worst time for our injury list.

Looking at the fixture, I reckon we'll win 5-6 of our last 8 games - North (W), Geelong (L), Bulldogs (W), Melbourne (W), Adelaide (L), Fremantle (W/L), Carlton (W), Sydney (W). That would give us 10-11 wins for the year if we can beat the Blues this week.

I reckon we are tracking as expected and the idea that we would knock off GWS, West Coast or Collingwood in the last month was fanciful.

We won't beat North or Sydney. Not on past history we won't.

neither North or Sydney are what they have been. If we get a few back we will trouble most teams. I reckon top 4 this year will be Collingwood, GWS, Eagles and Tiges, so losing to 3 of those with an undermanned side is no disgrace.

[The Fireman]

heart breaking

[tedtheodorelogan2018]

If we go 5-5 we have done well.

[samuraisaint]

I fully agree with this.

I thought if we got to Round 10 at 5 wins and 5 losses, we would be tracking pretty well. With a bit of luck this week, that's where we'll end up.

We have fielded the least experienced and second least experienced side in the AFL over the last three weeks. Injuries have been particularly cruelling as it has been our experienced players suffering. We've played teams ranked 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th over the past month, coinciding with the worst time for our injury list.

Looking at the fixture, I reckon we'll win 5-6 of our last 8 games - North (W), Geelong (L), Bulldogs (W), Melbourne (W), Adelaide (L), Fremantle (W/L), Carlton (W), Sydney (W). That would give us 10-11 wins for the year if we can beat the Blues this week.

I reckon we are tracking as expected and the idea that we would knock off GWS, West Coast or Collingwood in the last month was fanciful.

We won't beat North or Sydney. Not on past history we won't.

neither North or Sydney are what they have been. If we get a few back we will trouble most teams. I reckon top 4 this year will be Collingwood, GWS, Eagles and Tiges, so losing to 3 of those with an undermanned side is no disgrace.

We haven't been beating reasonable competition interstate for a great many years. We've beaten the new expansion clubs and Brisbane who have been at the foot of the ladder for a decade, but nobody else - except Hawthorn the once in Launceston.

I actually think we'll win three of the next four, only losing to Port in China, btw.

North and Sydney have been beating the pants off us since 2012 and the reasons they have beaten us so easily have not been solved. Indeed I think some of those issues are worse than ever, probably mainly due to the large injury list which seems to consist mainly of our better and most important players. We cannot beat North and Sydney by kicking ten goals against them and our forward line is still not productive, and our mids don't kick goals.

[Crossy66]

I fully agree with this.

I thought if we got to Round 10 at 5 wins and 5 losses, we would be tracking pretty well. With a bit of luck this week, that's where we'll end up.

We have fielded the least experienced and second least experienced side in the AFL over the last three weeks. Injuries have been particularly cruelling as it has been our experienced players suffering. We've played teams ranked 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th over the past month, coinciding with the worst time for our injury list.

Looking at the fixture, I reckon we'll win 5-6 of our last 8 games - North (W), Geelong (L), Bulldogs (W), Melbourne (W), Adelaide (L), Fremantle (W/L), Carlton (W), Sydney (W). That would give us 10-11 wins for the year if we can beat the Blues this week.

I reckon we are tracking as expected and the idea that we would knock off GWS, West Coast or Collingwood in the last month was fanciful.

We won't beat North or Sydney. Not on past history we won't.

neither North or Sydney are what they have been. If we get a few back we will trouble most teams. I reckon top 4 this year will be Collingwood, GWS, Eagles and Tiges, so losing to 3 of those with an undermanned side is no disgrace.

We haven't been beating reasonable competition interstate for a great many years. We've beaten the new expansion clubs and Brisbane who have been at the foot of the ladder for a decade, but nobody else - except Hawthorn the once in Launceston.

I actually think we'll win three of the next four, only losing to Port in China, btw.

North and Sydney have been beating the pants off us since 2012 and the reasons they have beaten us so easily have not been solved. Indeed I think some of those issues are worse than ever, probably mainly due to the large injury list which seems to consist mainly of our better and most important players. We cannot beat North and Sydney by kicking ten goals against them and our forward line is still not productive, and our mids don't kick goals.

But we have never lost in China...ever

[samuraisaint]

I fully agree with this.

I thought if we got to Round 10 at 5 wins and 5 losses, we would be tracking pretty well. With a bit of luck this week, that's where we'll end up.

We have fielded the least experienced and second least experienced side in the AFL over the last three weeks. Injuries have been particularly cruelling as it has been our experienced players suffering. We've played teams ranked 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th over the past month, coinciding with the worst time for our injury list.

Looking at the fixture, I reckon we'll win 5-6 of our last 8 games - North (W), Geelong (L), Bulldogs (W), Melbourne (W), Adelaide (L), Fremantle (W/L), Carlton (W), Sydney (W). That would give us 10-11 wins for the year if we can beat the Blues this week.

I reckon we are tracking as expected and the idea that we would knock off GWS, West Coast or Collingwood in the last month was fanciful.

We won't beat North or Sydney. Not on past history we won't.

neither North or Sydney are what they have been. If we get a few back we will trouble most teams. I reckon top 4 this year will be Collingwood, GWS, Eagles and Tiges, so losing to 3 of those with an undermanned side is no disgrace.

We haven't been beating reasonable competition interstate for a great many years. We've beaten the new expansion clubs and Brisbane who have been at the foot of the ladder for a decade, but nobody else - except Hawthorn the once in Launceston.

I actually think we'll win three of the next four, only losing to Port in China, btw.

North and Sydney have been beating the pants off us since 2012 and the reasons they have beaten us so easily have not been solved. Indeed I think some of those issues are worse than ever, probably mainly due to the large injury list which seems to consist mainly of our better and most important players. We cannot beat North and Sydney by kicking ten goals against them and our forward line is still not productive, and our mids don't kick goals.

But we have never lost in China...ever

And we've never won overseas ever either - four losses in New Zealand! I still think we'll win 3 of the next 4, and agree with you about all of the other games you think we'll win, just not North and Sydney. I thought 9 wins at the beginning of the year - if we win 9 or more than that I'll be happy.

[Crossy66]

I fully agree with this.

I thought if we got to Round 10 at 5 wins and 5 losses, we would be tracking pretty well. With a bit of luck this week, that's where we'll end up.

We have fielded the least experienced and second least experienced side in the AFL over the last three weeks. Injuries have been particularly cruelling as it has been our experienced players suffering. We've played teams ranked 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th over the past month, coinciding with the worst time for our injury list.

Looking at the fixture, I reckon we'll win 5-6 of our last 8 games - North (W), Geelong (L), Bulldogs (W), Melbourne (W), Adelaide (L), Fremantle (W/L), Carlton (W), Sydney (W). That would give us 10-11 wins for the year if we can beat the Blues this week.

I reckon we are tracking as expected and the idea that we would knock off GWS, West Coast or Collingwood in the last month was fanciful.

We won't beat North or Sydney. Not on past history we won't.

neither North or Sydney are what they have been. If we get a few back we will trouble most teams. I reckon top 4 this year will be Collingwood, GWS, Eagles and Tiges, so losing to 3 of those with an undermanned side is no disgrace.

We haven't been beating reasonable competition interstate for a great many years. We've beaten the new expansion clubs and Brisbane who have been at the foot of the ladder for a decade, but nobody else - except Hawthorn the once in Launceston.

I actually think we'll win three of the next four, only losing to Port in China, btw.

North and Sydney have been beating the pants off us since 2012 and the reasons they have beaten us so easily have not been solved. Indeed I think some of those issues are worse than ever, probably mainly due to the large injury list which seems to consist mainly of our better and most important players. We cannot beat North and Sydney by kicking ten goals against them and our forward line is still not productive, and our mids don't kick goals.

But we have never lost in China...ever

And we've never won overseas ever either - four losses in New Zealand!

Well played!