Comments on: St Kilda show the way on recycled players

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 14:04:21 +0000

A very exciting last quarter. I think what made it so exciting was the fact that we all knew the Dons were going to turn it over and every turnover was like a 50% chance of a goal to the Saints!!

But every now and then, late in the game, Essendon would take a chance and run it forward – and even if they didn’t manage to score a major, those few set shots they managed very late proably helped them hang on.

By: Michael DiFabrizio

Michael DiFabrizio — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:57:46 +0000

And what a game it was! Real edge-of-the-seat stuff. Well done to Essendon, they certainly deserved the win. Eighth spot has been there waiting for someone to just grab it by the horns, and there’s no better way to do that than by defeating a team that’s 19-0!

As for the Saints, I think despite what they’ve been saying, it’ll take a bit of pressure off. The weight of being a club with only one premiership is enough to burden a finals campaign with. They probably don’t want anything else on top of that.

By: megatron

megatron — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:17:15 +0000

Well the undefeated run has come to an end. I’m happy. It means Bombers kick the undeserving Power out of the 8.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 04:45:54 +0000

But Adam Schneider and Sean Dempster have already won a flag for the Swans. And both played a key part in the premiership winning team. And Ross Lyon was on the coaching staff for the premiership winning Swans as well. I don’t think this is the big ugly duckling story your making it out to be.

By: Michael DiFabrizio

Michael DiFabrizio — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:59:46 +0000

Yeah good point, megatron. I think from memory there were four men left in the final round of interviews for the coaching gig, and the media had all been pumping up the other three. (I think even John Longmire was one of the candidates). That’s why I’m a fan of how Richmond have gone about their coaching search.

I must admit I thought when St Kilda sacked Grant Thomas it was a backwards step and would come back to haunt them. In hindsight, it was a backwards step. But it was the backwards step they needed to take in order to go to the next level. The results are showing now.

By: megatron

megatron — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:35:35 +0000

I remember when Lyon was hired I had never heard of him. Shows that the biggest name isn’t always best. They’ve been building intellegently to this point.

By: Michael C

Michael C — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 23:12:04 +0000

I recall my Rooboys back in the ’90s did quite okay with recycled players – such as Abraham, Bell, ‘Fridge’ Roberts, McCartney, Robert Scott, Dean Laidley, and Pike, Clayton and Blakey all coming from other clubs, and only McCartney missing a premiership medallion due to suspension.

It helps though when you’ve got the key posts filled, such as with Carey, McKernan, Martyn,…….and of course the Saints have Priority picks from the same year to thank for Riewoldt and Kosi, and Carlton I guess to thank for Goddard.

The restructuring of priority picks means the Saints might be the ‘last of the tanking’ super teams. (note too that in that period, Collingwood picked up Fraser and Didak via Priority picks).