Only disappointment

[maverick]

Were the youngsters tonight.
Been so good for most of the NAB Cup but struggled a little bit tonight in a big game and against a big bodied, hard running team.

Geary - Started slowly, but did work his way into the game and finished well on Goodwin
Armitage - very quiet (not sure on his game time though)
Gilbert - struggled
Jones - very quiet
Allen - played down back, but quiet

I was particularly disappointed in Armitage, just not sure how much game time he got.

[saintsRrising]

One factor however I think was that many had much reduced ground time.

I thought that when he was on that Geary was good.

Gilbert agreed had a shocker....we badly need Max and Goose for our key defensive posts.

Rutten gave Kosi a bit of a lesson.

Raph gots lots of the ball...but agin had many brain fades. Someone needs to tell him to not kick to stationary players.

Armo was quiet...and like you I suspect his game timewas down.

CJ was quiet.....did not see alot of him..so don't know his ground time.

At one stage he was on Mcleod and was decoying him away from the ball...



I think another factor is this was the best team we had fielded this year....and so the kids possibly were used less.

Bally probably had more ground time too.

[saint66au]

The learning experience is priceless though..go to AAMI on a 37deg day and play in a GF

Might come in very very handy should we end up playing another, more important final there down the track

Oh and I dont think Armo even played 50% of the game

[maverick]

Good to hear on Armo, did wonder.
Would like to say that I didn't think they panicked or coughed it up at all, Gilbert was beaten but that's OK.
Agreed its a learning experience, was just hoping to see one of them bob up a bit more.

[Teflon]

One factor howerver I think was that many had much reduced ground time.


Rutten gave Kosi a bit of a lesson.

Not sure I agree with that - yes Rutten played well but the delivery into fwd 50 for most of the game took to long and was hardly what youd call "pin point".

To me - without rose colored glasses - the biggest dissapointment after a supposed big pre season was Raph Clarke by a mile. All the talk of sublime talents to me right now translates to slow decision making and lazy skills. Hes got this year to turn it round for mine.

[saint66au]

One factor howerver I think was that many had much reduced ground time.


Rutten gave Kosi a bit of a lesson.

Not sure I agree with that - yes Rutten played well but the delivery into fwd 50 for most of the game took to long and was hardly what youd call "pin point".

To me - without rose colored glasses - the biggest dissapointment after a supposed big pre season was Raph Clarke by a mile. All the talk of sublime talents to me right now translates to slow decision making and lazy skills. Hes got this year to turn it round for mine.

I have to say..even with rose coloured glasses on..I thought Raph very ordinary tonight

No great shame to lower your colours to Rutten imho. Best FB in the comp for mine and his getting injured was a huge factor in us beating the Crows at TD last year

[Devilhead]

Oh and I dont think Armo even played 50% of the game

Armo had 39% gametime according to radio reports

[Enrico_Misso]

Barely noticed Fiora do anything except re-enact his famous half somersalt ground-butt move.
Perhaps he spent a lot of time on the bench ?

[saintsRrising]

Rutten is a superb FB.....so no disgrace getting beaten.

Kosi often got caught behind....and scragged Rutten.

I am sure that it was a good lessen for him.

Tis also a reason why I like Kosi playing further out from the goal square.

[Enrico_Misso]

Despite being on Rutten and the extra lose man, Kosi still had enough of it to get three easy shots at goal which should have made him a 3-goal hero.

[esaint66]

only dissapointment for me tonight was that i originally picked kurt tippet in my dream team after seeing him oplay against the pies in dubai now his price will be through the roof

[plugger66]

only dissapointment for me tonight was that i originally picked kurt tippet in my dream team after seeing him oplay against the pies in dubai now his price will be through the roof

Price doesnt change at all.

[red1975]

Barely noticed Fiora do anything except re-enact his famous half somersalt ground-butt move.
Perhaps he spent a lot of time on the bench ?

At least fizz stood up when it counted. 5 handy possessions in the last quarter. Hopefully its the start of something?

[noddy]

Allen was on HAVEABET Goodwin and kept him very quiet. Off the ball HAVEABET was pushing and shoving Allen trying to put him off his game and Allen more than held his own and gave a bit back...Good on him

[bobmurray]

What could you get for Raph at trade time at seasons end.....

[fonz_#15]

What could you get for Raph at trade time at seasons end.....

a piece of bread?

[Oh When the Saints]

Gilbo had an awful night ... easily his worst game for us.

Showed that he is excellent off the bench, but has a long way to go when given responsibility in a pressure situation.

Still, we know that he has a lot of improvement in him ... as does CJ who struggled a bit more tonight than in previous weeks ...

[Saint Bev]

["]What could you get for Raph at trade time at seasons end.....

[/quote]

a piece of bread?[/quote]

Raph did what Raph always does, nothing.................

[joffaboy]

["]What could you get for Raph at trade time at seasons end.....

a piece of bread?[/quote]

Raph did what Raph always does, nothing................. [/quote]

Excepts stay cool under tremendous pressure to get the ball into space which eventuated in the winning goal to Milne.

But you Raph bashers convienently forget that dont you?

Had an ordinary game but no less ordinary than Gilbert or Allen in the backline.

You bashers only see what you want to see Will never ever see the good things your whipping boy does.

Makes you wonder on the motive?????

[St DAC]

Raph was his usual mixed bag ... some good, some bad, some ugly. He appears slow and lazy, but appearances can be deceiving; it looks to me as if that's his natural style, not laziness. I'd agree that on the whole it wasn't his best game, but he was pretty cool under pressure in the last quarter and was certainly a factor in us getting over the line.

[riccardo]

I never noticed Birss or Fiora once until the last quarter.

Feel bad for Gilbo and Raph, they clearly had very off nights. Jones was OK-ish, but he scares me every time he gets the ball.

Can someone please tell Ross Lyon that Jason Blake is as horrible a defender as he is a ruckman. He should NOT be playing deep in defence, and would be better used as a CHB/deep midfield link man, if at all.

[bigcarl]

He appears slow and lazy, but appearances can be deceiving; it looks to me as if that's his natural style, not laziness.

agree. looking at the game again he actually did some nice things under pressure in the last quarter.

[asiu]

ffs raff , slipped outa my gob a couple of times last night as well

but , well worth persevering with imo .....he's got it

[Solar]

agree with the thoughts that raph just needs time to iron out his game at the highest level. Great sign that when the match was on the line was put his body on the line, got the hard ball and set up a VERY important handpass off half back. In fact if you add a lovel spoil that lead to a turnover goal he finished the game very very well.

thought there was merit in playing birss as a medium forward, got better hands then I have ever given him credit for and seems to know where to lead.

everytime I write fizz off he comes out with a great quarter, just needs to make that into 4 consistantly good quarters.

How much better does ball look!

[asiu]

birss certainly takes a good grab .....he's a solid target