We have lost our flair and have become

[Rubyjo]

Role players again under Ross the Boss..
It sure looks like it . The first few games look totally different to know ...Robots again.

[Teflon]

It’s interesting but I think you’ll find sides who early May have thought they could run over us
Now set themselves for us
We are a known quantity now so sides were always going to tighten the screws on us
It’s how we respond
Last year folded like cards
Let’s see how back half this year goes that’ll give an indication

[Jacks Back]

I think you're right. We had flare and dare in those first few rounds. The players looked like they were enjoying themselves back then but, maybe not any more.

[SydneySainter]

It’s not that. For the first time in 8 years, we’re playing with structure but regrettably, the weaknesses of that structure have been exposed.

Better it happens now then later in the season.

But who are we kidding? The list is not top 4, no matter who the coach.

[Teflon]

It’s not that. For the first time in 8 years, we’re playing with structure but regrettably, the weaknesses of that structure have been exposed.

Better it happens now then later in the season.

But who are we kidding? The list is not top 4, no matter who the coach.

Yup

[nostalgicsaint]

Teams are working really hard defensively against us to take away our run.

They're blocking our switches and getting numbers back.

We will have games like we did at the start of the year- just not every week.

[Teflon]

Think we were also better side comfortably second half
Should’ve won by 5 goals
But misses from Clarke Pou Byrnes - all very gettable hurt
They missed too it must be said but as RTB said in his presser…think we had the bull of the play

[skeptic]

I don’t know.

There’s stuff RTB is doing I like and other stuff I don’t so much or wish would be done differently.

All I can really conclude is that we’ve exceeded expectations to date and I doubt we’d have done as well with Rats. Criticism not with standing, it’s a pass for now

[saynta]

It’s not that. For the first time in 8 years, we’re playing with structure but regrettably, the weaknesses of that structure have been exposed.

Better it happens now then later in the season.

But who are we kidding? The list is not top 4, no matter who the coach.

On that point, we can agree to disagree.

We are yet to play with a full deck of cards.

[shanegrambeau]

Yep..

The adrenaline-boosted enthusiasm of the back of all the Ross-the-boss/old boys-back-at-the-ranch hubris had to wear off soon enough.

We do have structure and I suppose that is built on one assumption.

We have a mediocre list and a very mediocre mid-field.

And yes, other teams are following the trend.

But here is the thing.

These trends don't last.

I've read the cycles can go for about six weeks before they need a change-up.

Think of our team as a fleet of slow ships in an Atlantic convoy.

We have to zig-zag to avoid the torpedos.

[saynta]

Yep..

The adrenaline-boosted enthusiasm of the back of all the Ross-the-boss/old boys-back-at-the-ranch hubris had to wear off soon enough.

We do have structure and I suppose that is built on one assumption.

We have alist and a very mediocre mid-field.

And yes, other teams are following the trend.

But here is the thing.

These trends don't last.

I've read the cycles can go for about six weeks before they need a change-up.

Think of our team as a fleet of slow ships in an Atlantic convoy.

We have to zig-zag to avoid the torpedos.

I refuse to believe that our list is " mediocre ". Including the midfield.

Who says so? A bunch of know nothing guys on an internet forum, and a few f***wit commentators like Kane f****** Cornes. I suppose at least Cornes has kicked a football in anger, but still...

Sorry, I just don't accept that rubbish.

After 10 games we are 5th, same as last year.

Only difference is last year the injuries came in the latter part of the season.

I believe that with a full list we can beat anyone.

[asiu]

yes

'n as Firery noted ... ya gotta be in it to win it

currently ... we are in it

thats gotta be a positive

[samuraisaint]

I have seen us play with structure - under RL and to a lesser extent under GT.
Then, I have seen us play for 11 years without structure.
I know which is better. You win more with structure.
There will be teams that will be able to expose us, and there will be a lot who will not.
I would expect us to open up the scoring a lot more in the next game we play.
I like the way we ketp going against the Giants, and we kept playing the way we have been drilled to play, no matter whether we were 10 points in front or 10 points behind, and I appreciate winning.

[Sanctorum]

I refuse to believe that our list is " mediocre ". Including the midfield.

Who says so? A bunch of know nothing guys on an internet forum, and a few f***wit commentators like Kane f****** Cornes. I suppose at least Cornes has kicked a football in anger, but still...

Sorry, I just don't accept that rubbish.

After 10 games we are 5th, same as last year.

Only difference is last year the injuries came in the latter part of the season.

I believe that with a full list we can beat anyone.

I'm impressed with your optimistic outlook saynta

But I believe the quality of the list remains in the 'mediocre' category compared to teams such as Collingwood, Geelong, Melbourne, Brisbane, and even Footscray and Port Adelaide.

Right now I can't think of a single senior St Kilda player that can be rated in the ranks of the AFLs established elite. - yes, Jack Sinclair is heading in that direction, maybe Callum Wilkie, Rowan Marshall but they're not there yet, Max King should certainly get there soon. But there's not a single player that can dominate, take the game apart, win it off his own boot: think Dusty, Paddy, the Bont!

And sure, there are some really outstanding young guys that have shown a lot of potential to become elite, but that will take at least another year or two.

So I've lowered my expectations for my footy team this year, no longer care all that much if they don't make finals, but will be delighted if they do...

Overall I'm extremely happy with the way St Kilda is shedding the 'irrelevancy' mantle this year with a highly credentialled Football Opertions unit guiding the club to future success.

[saynta]

I refuse to believe that our list is " mediocre ". Including the midfield.

Who says so? A bunch of know nothing guys on an internet forum, and a few f***wit commentators like Kane f****** Cornes. I suppose at least Cornes has kicked a football in anger, but still...

Sorry, I just don't accept that rubbish.

After 10 games we are 5th, same as last year.

Only difference is last year the injuries came in the latter part of the season.

I believe that with a full list we can beat anyone.

I'm impressed with your optimistic outlook saynta

But I believe the quality of the list remains in the 'mediocre' category compared to teams such as Collingwood, Geelong, Melbourne, Brisbane, and even Footscray and Port Adelaide.

Right now I can't think of a single senior St Kilda player that can be rated in the ranks of the AFLs established elite. - yes, Jack Sinclair is heading in that direction, maybe Callum Wilkie, Rowan Marshall but they're not there yet, Max King should certainly get there soon. But there's not a single player that can dominate, take the game apart, win it off his own boot: think Dusty, Paddy, the Bont!

And sure, there are some really outstanding young guys that have shown a lot of potential to become elite, but that will take at least another year or two.

So I've lowered my expectations for my footy team this year, no longer care all that much if they don't make finals, but will be delighted if they do...

Overall I'm extremely happy with the way St Kilda is shedding the 'irrelevancy' mantle this year with a highly credentialled Football Opertions unit guiding the club to future success.

Noted. I think ultimate success is not that far away.

[Zed]

I think the first few weeks the game style messaging was super simple to the players and after we surprised everyone including ourselves, we've now added layers to that , and the players are becoming more aware of trying not to make a mistake - and now put themselves under more pressure - ironically making more mistakes - whist also becoming a lot more predictable to the opposition.

RTB has acknowledged a couple of times this year in his pressers that they are "very coachable" or words to that effect, which suggests to me that the players are playing are trying to juggle multiple instructions - or at least more than they were during the first few rounds.

[Killa]

In the absence of King and Membrey, Higgins currently leads our goal kickers in 2023 with 22 goals.

And we have jagged a few from elsewhere.

What is of interest to me is the scoreboard pressure applied by our established mids, where IMO, we do not get enough return (and I would put for very specific reasons).

I would prefer to see these mids contributing, on average, a goal every second game.

Instead we have:-

Crouch 49 goals from 144 games
Ross 33 goals from 190 games
Steele 56 goals from 144 games
Sinclair 51 goals from 151 games
Gresham 124 goals from 112 games.

The figures of Sinclair and Gresham reflect the history of the positions they have held leading to mid-field responsibilities.

Billings has 107 goals from 152 games
Jones has 34 goals from 132 games.

Butler has 133 goals from 115 games
Higgins has 108 goals from 90 games

If you are talking about "flair" resulting in goals, start from the foregoing - and spreading the scoring from reliance on King and Membrey

So our mids getting into dangerous positions and having an impact on the scoreboard (and adding to the confusion which is AFL footy today)

We once had Gram kicking 4 off a half back flank - and Maguire roosting some from CHB, so getting into dangerous positions.

Then our rucks, noting the reliance on Marshall so a difference to having Marshall and Ryder.

The more avenues to goal the better.

Then we will have "flair"

In due course, I would like to think that the likes of Phillipou, Owens and Windhager will be our midfield leaders, and kicking goals on a regular basis.

[Vortex]

Role players again under Ross the Boss..
It sure looks like it . The first few games look totally different to know ...Robots again.

when did we have flair?

[saynta]

In the absence of King and Membrey, Higgins currently leads our goal kickers in 2023 with 22 goals.

And we have jagged a few from elsewhere.

What is of interest to me is the scoreboard pressure applied by our established mids, where IMO, we do not get enough return (and I would put for very specific reasons).

I would prefer to see these mids contributing, on average, a goal every second game.

Instead we have:-

Crouch 49 goals from 144 games
Ross 33 goals from 190 games
Steele 56 goals from 144 games
Sinclair 51 goals from 151 games
Gresham 124 goals from 112 games.

The figures of Sinclair and Gresham reflect the history of the positions they have held leading to mid-field responsibilities.

Billings has 107 goals from 152 games
Jones has 34 goals from 132 games.

Butler has 133 goals from 115 games
Higgins has 108 goals from 90 games

If you are talking about "flair" resulting in goals, start from the foregoing - and spreading the scoring from reliance on King and Membrey

So our mids getting into dangerous positions and having an impact on the scoreboard (and adding to the confusion which is AFL footy today)

We once had Gram kicking 4 off a half back flank - and Maguire roosting some from CHB, so getting into dangerous positions.

Then our rucks, noting the reliance on Marshall so a difference to having Marshall and Ryder.

The more avenues to goal the better.

Then we will have "flair"

In due course, I would like to think that the likes of Phillipou, Owens and Windhager will be our midfield leaders, and kicking goals on a regular basis.

Those figures are a bit stark. Clearly the failure of our midfielders to regularly hit the score board is a reason we haven't made finals, apart from 2021, this past decade.

[saynta]

Role players again under Ross the Boss..
It sure looks like it . The first few games look totally different to know ...Robots again.

when did we have flair?

[cwrcyn]

We've had one stinker in 10 rounds. That's something to be happy about. Admittedly, we haven't played Melbourne, Geelong, or Brisbane yet.

The list is pretty good, not top 4 yet, but could get there in 18 months. Still a lot of scope for improvement in younger players who are already performing well

King (22)
Wanganeen-Milera (20)
Windhager (20)
Owens (19)
Philipou (18)
Stocker 23)
Caminiti (19)
Byrnes (22)

We have one senior player aged 30 or over (Ross)


The midfield is solid but lacks a superstar. If we had just one superstar in that midfield, it would make us much harder to beat.

There is no reason to be downbeat about our playing list.

Let's see how we go when we get Mckenzie back. He was one of our best before his injury last year. Don't underestimate his importance.

Then there's Coffield, who still has huge upside

And we might just find ourselves a gem among Keeler, Hotton, and McLennan


If our list was as bad as some on here think, we'd be behind North Melbourne.

[Vortex]

We've had one stinker in 10 rounds. That's something to be happy about. Admittedly, we haven't played Melbourne, Geelong, or Brisbane yet.

The list is pretty good, not top 4 yet, but could get there in 18 months. Still a lot of scope for improvement in younger players who are already performing well

King (22)
Wanganeen-Milera (20)
Windhager (20)
Owens (19)
Philipou (18)
Stocker 23)
Caminiti (19)
Byrnes (22)

We have one senior player aged 30 or over (Ross)


The midfield is solid but lacks a superstar. If we had just one superstar in that midfield, it would make us much harder to beat.

There is no reason to be downbeat about our playing list.

Let's see how we go when we get Mckenzie back. He was one of our best before his injury last year. Don't underestimate his importance.

Then there's Coffield, who still has huge upside

And we might just find ourselves a gem among Keeler, Hotton, and McLennan


If our list was as bad as some on here think, we'd be behind North Melbourne.

We are a middle of the table list. Have been for a while now and Lyon will need a few years in charge to rise up the ladder. Reference to North Melbourne is silly.

[Saintmike65]

Geez…some people are hard to please!
We lost all our tall forwards pre season & had to patch together a forward set up.
The boss inherited a pedestrian midfield which has been at least competitive.
We’ve had 1 bad game in 10 outings, with a percentage of 120!!
We played some good footy against GWS, any win interstate are tough to come by.

[The Fireman]

Geez…some people are hard to please!
We lost all our tall forwards pre season & had to patch together a forward set up.
The boss inherited a pedestrian midfield which has been at least competitive.
We’ve had 1 bad game in 10 outings, with a percentage of 120!!
We played some good footy against GWS, any win interstate are tough to come by.

Yep …there is a couple of real miserable supporters among us

[cwrcyn]

We are a work in progress and everyone knows it. But to poo poo the playing list altogether is a bit negative.

I've said it a few times. We need two, quick and talented midfielders and a tall, powerful defender. Everything else is in pretty good shapt