Doomsdayers, Naysayers, Worry Warts, The Sky is falling...

[Pwoit]

Please post here.

[vacuous space]

We're all smart enough to know that game means enough as last week... aren't we?

[SainterK]

We're all smart enough to know that game means enough as last week... aren't we?

[saintbrat]

I worry the commentator may get something right,
Lenny off, no he's not
Peakey back, no he's not he's subbed

And several others

[Moods]

We were crap

[saintsRrising]

Hot night against a team that live there and are hence more acclimatised. Older players looked to be not going too hard.

The younger players went in harder on the whole.

Plus a new gameplan that they are still trying to learn.

Onlya NAB game...so I would not be getting too worried yet.

[AP Erebus]

couldn't give two s***s about the result.

Match practice, no injuries, seeing the kids play.

All that matters.

[Junction Oval]

Correct, the score doesn't matter. Senior players got extra game time (Kosi good early). Some of the younger guys got a run (Stanley showed a bit).

But ....... couldn't see a changed game plan. Delivery dreadful as usual into the forward 50. Scratchy play all night by the Saints. No-one stood out as a "big improver." Rooey still played 2 or 3 - up. West Coast seemed to run freely, but we were always under pressure.

Watters should be worried about our efficiency/ effectiveness tonight. West Coast had some big names out tonight.

Port Adelaide apparantly played very well in their game. A huge amount of improvement needed for the first premiership points match - here's hoping !!

[Dr Spaceman]

"I'm not too worried about it."

[mr six o'clock]

Yes
The moderators need to add a fifth forum titled something like " saints are hopeless " where posters can go and bag the players and the club .
Its only a preseason game FFS , our first full hitout of the year on a 40 degree in perth , against a good side well aclimatised to the heat as they have'nt had to travel .
lets see how we follow up next week against the pies , you gotta love the afl for giving us not even a six day turn around as the game is scheduled for 4 pm friday

[clarky449]

Yes
The moderators need to add a fifth forum titled something like " saints are hopeless " where posters can go and bag the players and the club .
Its only a preseason game FFS , our first full hitout of the year on a 40 degree in perth , against a good side well aclimatised to the heat as they have'nt had to travel .
lets see how we follow up next week against the pies , you gotta love the afl for giving us not even a six day turn around as the game is scheduled for 4 pm friday

Dont see where people are bagging players? Is it because you cant handle when your perfect little team or player gets criticised.

In Saying that.. This is Nab Cup. I dont have high expectations this year so im not to surprised.

[Con Gorozidis]

we are the worst team in the afl. we will finish dead last and be relegated to the vfl. too old. too short. too slow. cant kick. cant take a contested mark. all our guns are washed up and our kids are no good or not ready.

there u go - i got it out of the system in one go.

[Cairnsman]

Bottom 4 this year has been my prediction for a while now. Look at without rose coloured glasses.

[meher baba]

Anyone who believes it won't take the players a few games to learn to play the way Watters wants them to is kidding themselves, surely.

The ruck is easily our biggest concern in 2012. We won't be up against Cox and NicNat every week, but we are rarely if ever going to come out on top in the hitout stats. Therefore Lenny - one of the all-time greats at stoppages - is crucial IMO. Can he regain his old form for 1-2 more seasons? It's a big ask, but Lenny is one in a thousand.

We also looked like we needed more run coming out of defence. I sense that Raph remains at the club under sufferance, but there could be a role for him here. And, of course, BJ only had a light training run. He will be critically important this year: he needs to go far better than he did in 2011.

All is not lost, but we have never been as dependent on our star players as we will be this year.

[borderbarry]

I still shudder whenever CJ gets the ball. Some of his up and away kicks reminded me of under 10's footy.

[bobmurray]

I'm not wearing Rosie's, i'm not bagging the players but there may be some deficiencies in our team that will be exposed by the
better teams in the comp. As the season unfolds the team's performance will be telling all of US where they're at...

Can't wait for some answers......

[Cairnsman]

Anyone who believes it won't take the players a few games to learn to play the way Watters wants them to is kidding themselves, surely.

The ruck is easily our biggest concern in 2012. We won't be up against Cox and NicNat every week, but we are rarely if ever going to come out on top in the hitout stats. Therefore Lenny - one of the all-time greats at stoppages - is crucial IMO. Can he regain his old form for 1-2 more seasons? It's a big ask, but Lenny is one in a thousand.

We also looked like we needed more run coming out of defence. I sense that Raph remains at the club under sufferance, but there could be a role for him here. And, of course, BJ only had a light training run. He will be critically important this year: he needs to go far better than he did in 2011.

All is not lost, but we have never been as dependent on our star player as we will be this year.

It is generrally considereded that it takes 12 to 18 months for a team to adapt to a new game plan. Geelong won the flag last year but most armchair experts could tell you that Scott was just along for the ride and didn't really change the game plan at all. Now if Saints supporters argue that we could do the same then they are kidding themselves because history will tell us that our old game plan PLUS the players available to executed it have proved it wasn't capable of delivering the ultimate success. So it has to change one would think, OR, we need some quality to surface pretty quickly with the list we currently have. This IMO will be one of the fundamental issues this season because we have problems at every line accross the field. The full back and full forward postion are up for grabs, and we are short of one or two elite in the middle including the ruck unless we find a full forward and can then get a good combo with Kosi and Mac. I'm hopeful because I'm a Saints supporter and that is what we are made of but if you look at it objectively then you have to admit we are no chance of getting anywhere near a flag any time soon.

[plugger66]

Anyone who believes it won't take the players a few games to learn to play the way Watters wants them to is kidding themselves, surely.

The ruck is easily our biggest concern in 2012. We won't be up against Cox and NicNat every week, but we are rarely if ever going to come out on top in the hitout stats. Therefore Lenny - one of the all-time greats at stoppages - is crucial IMO. Can he regain his old form for 1-2 more seasons? It's a big ask, but Lenny is one in a thousand.

We also looked like we needed more run coming out of defence. I sense that Raph remains at the club under sufferance, but there could be a role for him here. And, of course, BJ only had a light training run. He will be critically important this year: he needs to go far better than he did in 2011.

All is not lost, but we have never been as dependent on our star player as we will be this year.

It is generrally considereded that it takes 12 to 18 months for a team to adapt to a new game plan. Geelong won the flag last year but most armchair experts could tell you that Scott was just along for the ride and didn't really change the game plan at all. Now if Saints supporters argue that we could do the same then they are kidding themselves because history will tell us that our old game plan PLUS the players available to executed it have proved it wasn't capable of delivering the ultimate success. So it has to change one would think, OR, we need some quality to surface pretty quickly with the list we currently have. This IMO will be one of the fundamental issues this season because we have problems at every line accross the field. The full back and full forward postion are up for grabs, and we are short of one or two elite in the middle including the ruck unless we find a full forward and can then get a good combo with Kosi and Mac. I'm hopeful because I'm a Saints supporter and that is what we are made of but if you look at it objectively then you have to admit we are no chance of getting anywhere near a flag any time soon.

We cant compare us to Geelong because they have won a flag previously but those armchair experts you have been talking too are wrong. He did change the game plan and but a fair bit. Certainly as much as Watters will be looking to change our game plan. It may come down to our type of player just not being good enough to compete for a GF in the near future. Who would know aftera couple of practice games. We have a great draw early and if we dont take advantage of it then the year and the window IMO is over. However I expect us to be able to take advantage of it but to those couple of people who said the first game is a walkover well they are looking pretty silly at the moment especially if they took the odds on offer 3 weeks ago. I am sure they would get much better now.

[yipper]

Malthouse reckons we will challenge for top 4, Watters will get the team to gel and with our hunger and experience we will be there. Given he has a fair idea of what it takes - I will accept his preview over our online " experts" views. Don't think much of Mick as a bloke - from my distant view - but cannot question his football smarts.

[dragit]

Although I didn't like much of what I saw last night…

For a little perspective,

Richmond thrashed Geelong,
Brisbane held Carlton scoreless for a half in a ten goal thrashing,
and Adelaide flogged Collingwood,

[8856brother]

One thing I don't think anyone could argue about, that came out of last nights game. We were very rusty. Much improvement to come. Plenty of upside.

Another 2 things that never change coming into a new season.

1. Jones's kicking doesn't get any better. In fact it may have got worse.
2. What's with Roo's hair again?

We will see a different performance come round 1. Mark my words. Stop stressing out.

[tweedaletomanning]

Malthouse reckons we will challenge for top 4, Watters will get the team to gel and with our hunger and experience we will be there. Given he has a fair idea of what it takes - I will accept his preview over our online " experts" views. Don't think much of Mick as a bloke - from my distant view - but cannot question his football smarts.

But Jake Niall reckons we will finish 10th.

[yipper]

Malthouse reckons we will challenge for top 4, Watters will get the team to gel and with our hunger and experience we will be there. Given he has a fair idea of what it takes - I will accept his preview over our online " experts" views. Don't think much of Mick as a bloke - from my distant view - but cannot question his football smarts.

But Jake Niall reckons we will finish 10th.

True. Hmmmm - tough one... Mick Maltshake played in 1 flag, coached 3 flags been a pretty decent old coach over the years. Mr Jake Niall - 0 flags at AFL level, 0 games AFL level, and played footy for Manangatang 3rds was it???? dunno - but personally will go with the views of a bloke who has been around the odd AFL flag over the years.

[Cairnsman]

Anyone who believes it won't take the players a few games to learn to play the way Watters wants them to is kidding themselves, surely.

The ruck is easily our biggest concern in 2012. We won't be up against Cox and NicNat every week, but we are rarely if ever going to come out on top in the hitout stats. Therefore Lenny - one of the all-time greats at stoppages - is crucial IMO. Can he regain his old form for 1-2 more seasons? It's a big ask, but Lenny is one in a thousand.

We also looked like we needed more run coming out of defence. I sense that Raph remains at the club under sufferance, but there could be a role for him here. And, of course, BJ only had a light training run. He will be critically important this year: he needs to go far better than he did in 2011.

All is not lost, but we have never been as dependent on our star player as we will be this year.

It is generrally considereded that it takes 12 to 18 months for a team to adapt to a new game plan. Geelong won the flag last year but most armchair experts could tell you that Scott was just along for the ride and didn't really change the game plan at all. Now if Saints supporters argue that we could do the same then they are kidding themselves because history will tell us that our old game plan PLUS the players available to executed it have proved it wasn't capable of delivering the ultimate success. So it has to change one would think, OR, we need some quality to surface pretty quickly with the list we currently have. This IMO will be one of the fundamental issues this season because we have problems at every line accross the field. The full back and full forward postion are up for grabs, and we are short of one or two elite in the middle including the ruck unless we find a full forward and can then get a good combo with Kosi and Mac. I'm hopeful because I'm a Saints supporter and that is what we are made of but if you look at it objectively then you have to admit we are no chance of getting anywhere near a flag any time soon.

We cant compare us to Geelong because they have won a flag previously but those armchair experts you have been talking too are wrong. He did change the game plan and but a fair bit. Certainly as much as Watters will be looking to change our game plan. It may come down to our type of player just not being good enough to compete for a GF in the near future. Who would know aftera couple of practice games. We have a great draw early and if we dont take advantage of it then the year and the window IMO is over. However I expect us to be able to take advantage of it but to those couple of people who said the first game is a walkover well they are looking pretty silly at the moment especially if they took the odds on offer 3 weeks ago. I am sure they would get much better now.

So we are on the same page then as it would appear we agreee that amongst other issues it will come down to our players and we are a few good men short of being able to compete for a flag. I also aggree that unless we take advantage of some things like a seemingly good draw then it would appear the window has shut. It would also appear that you are convinced that SW will change the game plan and that that being the case it will take some getting used-to unless ofcoarse we can emulate what Geelong did last year when Scott came in and changed the game plan quite dramatically to which his players immediately adapted and won a flag from. Amazing. They truly are the best team ever. Even better than the Lions of 01/02/03. I also aggree that you can't compare us to Geelong.

[clarky449]

Malthouse reckons we will challenge for top 4, Watters will get the team to gel and with our hunger and experience we will be there. Given he has a fair idea of what it takes - I will accept his preview over our online " experts" views. Don't think much of Mick as a bloke - from my distant view - but cannot question his football smarts.

But Jake Niall reckons we will finish 10th.

True. Hmmmm - tough one... Mick Maltshake played in 1 flag, coached 3 flags been a pretty decent old coach over the years. Mr Jake Niall - 0 flags at AFL level, 0 games AFL level, and played footy for Manangatang 3rds was it???? dunno - but personally will go with the views of a bloke who has been around the odd AFL flag over the years.

Why would you even care who thinks what?