Comments on: It’ll be the Cats by 6 in a thrilling Grand Final

By: gazz

gazz — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:08:36 +0000

I cant tip this one at all. I think if it is ordinary weather that favours the Saints. Lower scores, sloppier skills. Saints for me, by 3 goals.

By: Redb

Redb — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:25:11 +0000

Weather stills looks ordinary. In typical Melbourne fashion we will have sunshine in the morning, showers early afternoon and if we were lucky a full blown thunderstorm by half time.

One more sleep.

Redb

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:02:33 +0000

Yes – Hawks were a bit flakey this year.

By: Jaffa

Jaffa — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:57:05 +0000

Saints to win by a kick or two – they have set the standard for the whole season , and have the necessary mental toughness. Geelong remains brittle in front of goal. They blew Collingwood off the park last week in the last two quarters, but the Pies were shot ducks after the epic struggle agianst the Crows so a blowout was always on the cards.The tough graft against the Doggies will have focussed The Saints’ minds nicely for the task ahead.
It will be vital for Kozzie, Hayes et al to make a maximum contribution but Riewoldt will be the matchwinner – my pick for the Norm Smith medal

By: Michael C

Michael C — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:00:34 +0000

was it a tad slippery down in Launceston when the Saints (with their weakest possible on paper line up) got over Hawthorn??

By: Michael C

Michael C — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:57:52 +0000

hmmm, speaking of Wellington, down to the Shire of Wellington and Maffra won the WestGippyLatrobe GF last weekend, I think over Traralgon who kicked 9.12.66, and Maffra??…they went via the ruddy Cape to get the chocolates……7.27.69

…..now, should Mooeny et al have a bad day at the radar console, then, 7.27 might be on the cards on Saturday arvo.

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:10:07 +0000

Good points – but it has to be admitted that playing under the roof (and a ground as hard as cement) is a completely different game to playing on a ground open to the elements.

By: ren

ren — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:51:40 +0000

but they both train outdoors, and i’d suspect that more of the skills training would be done at morrabin for the sainters, especially given the state of docklands

By: hazey.the.bear

hazey.the.bear — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:41:38 +0000

I dunno Pip……

I remember when the Saints took on Sydney last year (at least, I think it was last year), and the weather was atrocious, and everyone was tipping the Swans to win in that weather because it was their strength…But the Saints beat the Swans at their own game (to the genuine surprise of everyone)…

I think that was the same round as Angus Monfries’ “hollywood” banana kick (when they lost to the Hawks) – Maybe Redb remembers that one a little better….

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:12:41 +0000

Well, Geelong play at Kardinia Park, and St Kilda generaly play under the roof – so I reckon Geelong would have the natural advantage.

Also, St Kilda places a great reliance on Riewoldt and Kossie taking contested marks in the forward 50 – if they have the elements to contend with, on top of what’s already a pretty good defence, St Kilda might be history.

Riewoldt took 7 contested marks last weekend, and the Bullies only took 12 in total – so when you have a go-to player like that, it means that it’s not coming straight back at you as often, and that’s worth plenty.

But I’m thinking he will be less influential this weekend – and that might be the ball game.

By: Tifosi

Tifosi — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:00:59 +0000

With the weather set to be pretty awful by all accounts, does anyone know the results of both teams playing in the wet this year?

By: hazey.the.bear

hazey.the.bear — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:59:26 +0000

In terms of the context of a game, I don’t think anything can take away from Leo’s grab in 2005…But it’d be nice if the teams gave it a go, eh?

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:54:48 +0000

…well, let’s hope there’s at least one towering mark.

By: hazey.the.bear

hazey.the.bear — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:49:44 +0000

Pip,

If you substitute a few names, you could come up with details of the recent Eagles/Swans classics:

Beau Waters making defenders twice

Smother from Chick ends up with Hunter scoring

A score within 15 seconds from the ball up from Goodes

A towering grab from Barry to win the game

* I couldn’t come up with anything for “About a dozen Saints touch the ball for this goal, with first class crumbing from Milne” off the top of my head, but I’m sure there’s a similar scenario in there somewhere

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:23:57 +0000

What we wouldn’t mind seeing this weekend:

Rooke making defenders think twice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FAx5j30zVk

Smother from Selwood in the middle of the ground ends up with Stokes scoring:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgsfA0K5h1U&feature=related

A goal within 9 seconds of the ball up from Ablett:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-hteyK3LY4

About a dozen Saints touch the ball for this goal, with first class crumbing from Milne:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIXJiODc5Q0&feature=related

A towering grab from Gardiner to win the game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyVQMK7Hiac

By: Redb

Redb — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:03:02 +0000

Reiwoldt is a champ no doubt about it and the key if St Kilda are to win.

By: Redb

Redb — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:02:12 +0000

Sheek,

I think the Saints look a little tired as well. Last quarter fitness will determine this game IMO and the Saints have not looked at their best since Round 14. The so called ‘frontal pressure’ has dropped off and to be honest they are a 4 goal better side than the Bulldogs and could not put them away even with an extra weeks rest up their sleave.

Geelong played like a team hitting form and fitness in their prelim.

I’d like St Kilda to win but just cant see Geelong being beaten based on last week (up until then was definitely not convinced about the Cats)

Redb

By: ren

ren — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:47:43 +0000

saints by 10 points with reiwoldt to kick 5 and bag himself a norm smith

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:17:43 +0000

if there’s less than a goal in it, I won’t mind who wins…

By: sheek

sheek — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:11:09 +0000

Yeah, I reckon the Cats to win. I think they are in better form going into the GF, really hitting their straps & they are still pissed off with their slack-arsed attitude from last year’s GF. They know they threw 2008 away.

The Saints appear a bit flat & might be just off the edge of optimum, which will also help the Cats. I think there will be close to nothing in it for the first 3 quarters, perhaps continuing half way into the last quarter. Then the Cats will pull away.

The Saints best hope is to build up a big lead early, then try to hang on. But I don’t think the Cats will allow them that luxury. I think the Saints are physically hurting, & sometime early in the last quarter, the team will collectively “hit the wall”.

By: Republican

Republican — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:01:47 +0000

The Cats in a runaway anti climactical cricket score me thinks.

The Saints have lost any attacking flair shown in their mid season form especially v Geelong in July’s cracker.

They have battoned down the hatches playing Swannies style negative footy which may have worked in the last few rounds against lesser opposition but it wont hold up v a very good Geelong attack.

If however St Kilda play positive attacking footy, they may just get across the line. I also have a preminition that Riewoldt will struggle to play more than a quarter of footy due to his fraught knee.

Go the mighty Saints!

By: Redb

Redb — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:58:29 +0000

If the St Klda v Bulldogs game is any guide in terms of tight defensive tussles, a low score in those conditions is very likely.

By: onside

onside — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:32:04 +0000

Reads like a beach day in Wellington.How’d ya reckon the Wallabies would go against the Cats

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:24:05 +0000

Could end up being a very scrappy affair under those conditions.

8.15 might be a pretty good prediction of the winning score.

By: Bruce Walkley

Bruce Walkley — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:23:45 +0000

Yes, Cats by 6 – goals.

By: Art Sapphire

Art Sapphire — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:20:41 +0000

Forecast for Saturday – Cloudy. Scattered showers with local hail or thunder possible in the afternoon. Winds west to northwesterly averaging up to 35 km/h tending west to southwesterly during the afternoon. Min 8 Max 15

Therefore I conclude the winning score will be 8.15 – 63

The Saints to win just for the reason that I know quite a few StKilda social club members and I have felt sorry for them from the time the Bombers beat them for 20 odd consecutive matches.

Riewoldt to kick the winning point ala 1966.

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:50:42 +0000

heh, heh – if Mooney kicks 6.3 rather than 2.9, you might be right!!

By: onside

onside — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:42:32 +0000

Agree .Cats by six……………..goals!

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:38:20 +0000

I agree with a lot of that, but I think the Cats have been the better team in the finals, which is why I’m narrowly backing them.

By: Redb

Redb — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:53:10 +0000

the only part I agree with is Mooney