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Its a long hard road being a Saints fan!
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List management is as much an art as it is a science and getting the balance right is the key to ensuring on field…
As the season winds down, the problems for the Lions seem to ratchet up with every poor performance. The recent public declaration of a…
With the deadline passing for first list lodgement clubs are now preparing their lists for the 2016 season. While a number of players have…
The Brisbane Lions are set to request a priority draft pick this season, following Melbourne's unsuccessful request last year. Since the rule changes, moving…
This weekend sees the Suns travel up the M1 to take on the Lions in QClash10. A loss for the Lions is likely to…
The Saints recent 'FutureFest', where they marketed the signing of the clubs young talent, has recently wrapped up with 19 signatures. As a Saints…
With free agency beginning it's third season this year, a lot has been said about the merit or otherwise of the system. Some have…
Dayne Beams wants to go home to Queensland and Collingwood want compensation, with Gary Pert issuing an ultimatum to Brisbane CEO Greg Swann to…
The finals are only a week away but the end of the season also signals the silly season, with trades, free agencies and drafts.…
Turning up to the Dockers versus Lions match on the weekend I was unaware of the late withdrawal of Matthew Pavlich. With Michael Barlow,…
Having had a look at the lower half of the AFL ladder in part 1, today we assess the top of the table and…
With the finals fast approaching, a number of teams find themselves already planning for next year. Whether your team has missed the finals by…
The Saints announced early in the season that they would be targeting the draft and looking to build from the ground up. They would…
The final curtain has been drawn on one of the great forwards the AFL has ever seen, Jonathan Brown. The word champion gets thrown…
So what's an AFL fan living in Queensland meant to do on a night that is dominated by State of Origin? Investigate what is…
Following a third successive loss by more than 70 points the Saints have hit the bottom of the ladder. Is this the bottoming out…
With the second-lowest points scored so far this season and Nick Riewoldt kicking 31 out of the total of 105 goals, Saturday's result highlights…
The halfway mark of the season is a good time to evaluate the list of contenders, especially those looking to challenge the established order…
It's a long hard road being a Saints supporter and, as with a number of other teams in the re-building phase, hope is largely…
If Collingwood traded pick 8 for a higher pick they would then still have a first round pick (1, 2 or 3) and would therefore have to use this pick to snare Darcy Moore if another side bid their first round pick, or forfeit their rights to him. Clearly he is not a top 3 pick so it would be a big call to make a play for a top 3 draft pick. If the Pies don’t want Luke Ball he would make an excellent experienced midfielder to replace Lenny Hayes at the Saints!!
Start the rebuild Mr. Lonergan? Surely it has already begun…
You definitely get a better perspective watching players live and Taberner’s work rate on the weekend was particularly impressive.If he keeps that same work rate and defensive intensity he should get plenty of opportunities to build his confidence levels at AFL level
Bright future for Dockers forwards
I though I must have missed something!! Young players are what Fremantly need. With Pav, Sandilands and McPharlin retiring where is the next generation coming from. Obviously Zac Clarke is a lock to take over the number one ruck spot and I do think they have a few good prospects in Hannath, Taberner and Apeness but the concern is whether these players can pick up the slack immediately. I’d be targetting some young WA talent from other clubs coming out of contract and hope that Lyon does a better job of brinign on the young players at Freo than he did at the Saints
What your club needs in 2015: Part 2
Fair point on the small goal kicking options for the Cats but Hawkins has had to carry the bulk of the load as a lone tall forward at times and they really need some of the young forwards to step up – Kersten, Walker, Brown…. For immediate impact though a short term deal could give them a big kick along.
What your club needs in 2015: Part 2
The biggest indicator the dogs are on the right track and far more advanced (or in a better position than some other middle fo the road clubs regarding their list) is evidenced by the fact that their young players are regularly in the best players each week.
The Saints still rely on their veterans to head the list of best players each week, Melbourne have had some good performances but not as many or as consistently as the Doggies youngsters are starting to be and Carlton don’t have the same quality and depth of youngsters. I’d argue that brisbanes list (if kept healthy and if they actually keep their kids) is in better shape than most of the other struggling Melbourne clubs too
If the Doggies can win 3 out of their last 6 games it would be a big plus for them this year and give them a big moost heading into next year.
Bulldogs on the right track
I think the quality of the Dogs young players was the biggest story to come out of this game. The fact that their youngsters are influencing games at this early stage in their careers is a massive plus. Macrae, Hrovat, Dahlhaus and Johannisen were listed as the best four players for the doggies and up against one of the most hyped future midfields, the young dogs out played them. Add in Hunter, Stringer, Wood, Libba, Wallis, Bontempelli and Honeychrch and the future looks bright for the Dogs!
Bulldogs whack Suns in Cairns
The Saints need to ensure they create a strong culture around their club. Trading Riewoldt, on the back of Goddard and Dal Santo leaving would be the wrong move. Regardless of list management, recruitment or strategy, from the Saints point of view if they want to develop a strong team for the future keeping Riewoldt and maintaining his legacy is must.
I do agree with an earlier suggestion to play him up on the wing. The Saints would benefit from having a player who could deliver the ball to leading forwards would improve their forward set up
Nick Riewoldt should go to Geelong or Fremantle
The Hawks are in a much better position than the Saints were to avoid a crash. With Smith, Shiels, Rioli and Hill stepping up this year and youngsters now getting game time like Langford, Hartung and Hallahan, they have the young talent coming through. They have Stratton and Schoenmakers as young tall backs and have got McEvoy in to take Hales role. Teams like the Hawks, Geelong and Sydney, through various methods, have managed to keep up the top through visionary list management, shrewd recruiting and strong internal devlopment programs – the key areas the Saints have to get right
St Kilda need to fast track their development
I dont think we can afford to have 3 recycled mature recruits performing inconsistently or at an average level. Millera, Trent-Lane and Saad are all very much the same type of player. This is where the club needs ot be strong and decisive with the list. All three guys play the same way, pick one, get rid of the others and free up the list for others
St Kilda need to fast track their development
Let’s not forget part of the reason the Saints have such a hole in those mid twenties players is because younger players never got a run under Lyon. He is a great coach but there needs to be a balance.
St Kilda need to fast track their development
As a saints fan I’ve watched too many games this year. I agree Stanley hasnt proven himself but as i mentioned in the article Billy Longer needs support. He’s too young and raw to take on the ruck load on his own so Stanley needs to play until Hickey returns
The Saints: Rock bottom or harder times to come?
The issue with footy in Brisbane is one of poor development and marketing from both the AFL and AFLQ. Brisbane have access to zone selections and should be doing all they can to invest money into developing local talent. They have a massive area (granted there is significant competition from Rugby codes) to develop and promote the game to juniors and get them interested in the sport. I agree the amount of media coverage is not great – having moved from Victoria 10 years ago there is 1-2 pages at best in the local paper about AFL and the lack of quality games shown on TV in QLD doesn’t help – however what are the lions and AFLQ doing to change this? We live in an age of social media and influence and there would be plenty of promotions and ways to promote the sport in QLD. Getting to off field and boardroom politics sorted would be a great help and a unified marketing campaign with the Suns and the AFL should be launched to increase the profile of the game. Even in the pre-season there is little interest or fan fare that the season is starting.
The game is losing relevance in QLD and it is not just due to poor performances from the Lions
Lemon’s winners and losers, AFL Round 13
Monfries was at Essendon during the supplements saga
ASADA issue show-cause notices for 'Dons: report
I’d have found a spot for Steven May in defence, with Johnson playing as a rebounding defender I think there is a spot for him to slot into. Also surprised to see Dangerfield in (even on the bench). Yes he can change games in a hurry but with the depth of midfield talent he’s been too inconsistent too often to rate a mention. Also Breust and Wingard are clearly the two best small forwards this year
Who makes the All Australian team at the halfway mark?
Yeah the list of deficiencies is long nd way too time consuming to fit into one article. Looking at the list profile I cant see any real progress occurring until season 2017
Forward planning: Life after Riewoldt
Thanks Ryan. As a Saints fan I here plenty of rumblings not only from the Saints but other coaches of developing teams, seemingly focussed solely on contested ball. Yes its important to be competitive but the Hawks and Power seem to be travelling pretty well without topping these stats.
I look forward to your upcoming post
Halfway mark of the season: these are the stats that matter
It is of course an even year – the Cats of old have typically peaked on odd years and given they bounced back from a slight dip in 2012 to be a strong side again in 2013 I would be holding off any judgements until next year. They have a great ability to regenerate their list and the youngsters they have blooded across the past couple of years are now starting to get up around the 50+ game mark which is typically the time we expect them to start having a bigger impact on games. They may not challenge for the flag this year but they will be thereabouts and with more games under the belt of their emerging youngsters I’d expect them to bounce back next year
The Cats' downfall has begun
It’s interesting that people are saying that in this era of ultra defence that players might struggle to kick 100 goals again in a season. I agree with Olivia that football goes through many cycles and I think we’re heading back towards the dominant tall forward lines once again. Look at Day, Lynch and Dixon at the Suns; Cameron, Patton and Boyd at GWS, Tippett and Franklin at the Swans and guys like Kennedy and Hawkins who are all capable of kicking bags of goals. I’d be putting my money on Tom Lynch to be the next 100 goal player, or Patton if he gets his body right. These guys will play in dominate teams and have forward lines and structures developed to suit the existing players in the side. The era of the big forwards kicking bags of goals is coming again!!
Could Tippett buck the trend and kick a ton?
Pretty spot on summary, I had Suns by 37 points and agree Bennell looms as the player most likely to have a big one.
The Saints need to try to limit the outside run of the Suns and given their poor form, a few Saints need to have big games. Stanley, Longer, Weller and Bruce really need to step.
I’m tipping another big game from Lynch
Who do you think gets Ablett? – i think you’ve got to stick with Jones and send Curren to Bennell
St Kilda Saints vs Gold Coast Suns: AFL live scores, blog
A couple of swallows would soon fix their midfield woes
The West Coast Eagles need an A-grade midfielder
Port would definitely be the front runner for most improved but I’d argue the Suns are a very close second. They’ve gone from winning sitting outside the eight to being close to a top four side – especially if they can win their next two games against the Saints and Bulldogs. Plenty of people have bagged their prediction that they want to win a flag next year but given there improvement last year from the year before and the step forward they’ve taken this year, they’ll be a contender next year.
Melbourne and Paul Roos making ground
“Port Adelaide play with the three key elements we all want from our football team, and they are the definition of simplicity itself – they run hard both ways, they are tough and they are skilful”
As a Saints fan with the promise of a Port Adelaide style revival under Richo they seem to be lacking two of the 3 simple elements mentioned above – can’t run both ways and have the skills of a VFL side!
Ken Hinley has to take a massive amount of credit, whether you have a decent playing list or not getting a team to take on board and embrace the coaches message from day one and turn around the clubs fortune straight away takes some serious man management – imagine how the Blues may have been travelling had Hinkley been appointed there!!
Are we making enough fuss about Port Adelaide?
I could write a whole other article on Stanley and Sippos! Sippos reminds me a bit of Jack Watts – looks good when he gets the ball but lacks the desire and work rate to make the most of his talents. In theory having Stanley and Sippos roaming across half forward and marking and lead up targets should be a promising combination, unfortunately they’re not coming along as we would like. At least Stanley has shown some good patches this year.
St Kilda are flying under the criticism radar
Which is why the Saints should have Tomlinson top of their list in the off season!
Leppitsch has high hopes for Lions
There would be plenty of clubs thinking that would like the Swans to lose a couple of players because of their steals in the past couple of years. Malceski, Membrey and Mitchell will get plenty of interest from opposition clubs
AFL silly season is about to start