Crows v St Kilda

[am Bays]

Crows by 50 pts @ 3/4 time.....

Go you good things, I picked St Kilda, once again I demonstrate I know nothing about Footy!!!

[am Bays]

Don't tell MAL but Hudgeton has just been carried off the ground - Telstra Doom again....

[sydney-dog]

Grant Thomas you are a joke

Your side is a rable, no structure, no leadership (your rotation policy does not work), you have no plan B in your game plan and the skill level of your side has gone seriously backwards

tonight you not ony got a lesson in coaching but you watched a side that has been educated on how to play football by a coach that teaches

Thomas, it is time for you to go

[heater31]

Grant Thomas you are a joke

Your side is a rable, no structure, no leadership (your rotation policy does not work), you have no plan B in your game plan and the skill level of your side has gone seriously backwards

tonight you not ony got a lesson in coaching but you watched a side that has been educated on how to play football by a coach that teaches

Thomas, it is time for you to go

sadly i think that the St Kilda's chance for a flag is well past them now.

Time for a new broom to sweep out the rubbish, starting with the coach and play book too

[Maddogmike]

Brilliant - With 7 of last 10 to be at AAMI - I reckon top 4 if not top 2 looking solid. I get back to Australia the day before the AFL GF, so might be straight back on the plane to Melb!!!!

Magnificent!

[Maddogmike]

P.S
The 15/1 I got Goodwin at is boosted by again another 2 or 3 votes tonight. If he stays fit I reckon he will go very close. COMEON!

[Coorong]

Sat in the forward pocket last night, ground level, three rows from the front. Some observations: Goddards presence around the ground was obvious. He is a stand out type of player. Ruttens reading of the play is outstanding. The way he played Fraser, then run off him, down the ground, mark, move the ball into the forward line and then back to position was beautiful to watch close up for two quarters. Another all Australian fullback this year. Maric will be something special.

The Saints insistance to go sideways last night frustrated their supporters and some started leaving before half time (with a cherio I might add) The sideways movement had no purpose or direction other than to control the ball. But each time it came unstuck. Frustratingly the Crows at times do the same thing, but a couple of criss cross plays allows players to run off their opponents and their away.

My main observation though, never seen a side that is a total team like this before. The awarness of each other is just so apparent. In tight and locked in batlles, they get away an imossible handball to an outside player. Its like they have a radar. Coming off the field you sense the team spirit.

Not a thriller of a game, they simply did their job and did it well.

[sydney-dog]

Maddogmike

I got goody at 43/1

Crows,
80 tackles last night - outstanding
Discipline as a footy club is second to none
for those who live in Adelaide, go and watch them train, Craigy trains them flat out, the players are always on the move, and they train to the whistle, they are very fit and well drilled
While other clubs still have light runs during the week, Craigy pushes for improvement in all areas and it is showing

St Kilda play
without leadership, so the rotation policy is clearly not working - gret idea Thomas
Leg speed, too slow, players like Baker, Peckett, Voss cannot get to the loose ball
Skill level - ordinary, they just do not hit targets often enough for a top 4 side
Game Plan & Structure - PLAN A or PLAN A or PLAN A
Playing List, has been seriously over estimated, I always believe you judge your side by the worse 6 players and you judge your list by the strength of your depth, the Sainsts top 6 players are very good like any other club but they sadly fall away from about player 15

Unfortunately for the Saints, all these things are fixable, but they need a coach that educates and develops a list and a game plan the players can be confident in, the Saints have been a rabble this year and this is the result of Thomas's 4 years at the club

The window of opportunity has shut, Thomas needs to be held accountable

[stan]

I believe the saints will have plenty of more oppertunities in years to come. Simply because there team is not built around the Veterans that play for them but rather the early drafties that they have had. There team is built around there midfield players: Ball, Hayes, Dal Dalsantoooo, Gram and a few others. Hayes out, hit them hard. Hes the one that gets them going in the middle. Which hopefully Thomas can see that relying on too few is a bad idea.

So what do they need. Well its simple. A strong leader as captain. Harvey is on his way out, and I mean that in regards to injuries and not ability. So Heres what they do. Get rid of Thomas for a start and I know thats a chorous thats sung plenty of times, but i really believe its time to give the job to a more experianced coach. What they need to do is to get someone like Eade or Wallace in. A season hardend coach if you will. The reason for this is they need to build a sense of unity in the team and also when your game plan gets worked out, you need to be able to react and make the moves. Thomas cant do that. When Hayes is back from his knee injury sometime next year or whenever, its my opinion that he should be captain. He has played a few years now and is the on field leader in my opinion.

Gerhig has to either retire or get fitter. Simple as that. When Fergi comes back there going to have to blood him as they need him if big Fraser cant cut it anymore. Blood him as a defender if you have to. Houghton is good as a 3rd defender. So that area will need some work as well.

Thats the end of stans rant.

[stan]

The crows, well there a good team. Very fit team as well. Craig has done a good job. These guys work ahrd for each other. Run hard, tackle hard.

A good example of guys working hard for each other. The ball is coming in hi and long to the forward line. Stevens has Reiwolt. Reiwolt goes up, stevens is there....Massie comes from the side and Bassett also comes to help out. All night this was happening.These guys are preparedot help each other and win the football.

Also well done to craig for the way he has re developed Stevens as a defender. And Massie as well. Playing fantastic football.

Really not much to say about the crows, there in pretty good nick.

End of stans rant again.

[ORDoubleBlues]

Didn't see game last night but going on other comments and the stats, it seems that Goddard is still being used as a quarterback type player who they try to run the ball through downfield.
Will most likely be the last hurrah for Gehrig, Harvey, Peckett and possibly Hudghton as well given his injury last nigt. Am hearing rumblings that there are serious concerns about the Clarke brothers and whether they have the discipline or the ticker to make it as AFL footballers.
They could still sneak into the top 4 but it seems they are relying on too few players.

[Rik E Boy]

I believe the saints will have plenty of more oppertunities in years to come. Simply because there team is not built around the Veterans that play for them but rather the early drafties that they have had. There team is built around there midfield players: Ball, Hayes, Dal Dalsantoooo, Gram and a few others. Hayes out, hit them hard. Hes the one that gets them going in the middle. Which hopefully Thomas can see that relying on too few is a bad idea.

So what do they need. Well its simple. A strong leader as captain. Harvey is on his way out, and I mean that in regards to injuries and not ability. So Heres what they do. Get rid of Thomas for a start and I know thats a chorous thats sung plenty of times, but i really believe its time to give the job to a more experianced coach. What they need to do is to get someone like Eade or Wallace in. A season hardend coach if you will. The reason for this is they need to build a sense of unity in the team and also when your game plan gets worked out, you need to be able to react and make the moves. Thomas cant do that. When Hayes is back from his knee injury sometime next year or whenever, its my opinion that he should be captain. He has played a few years now and is the on field leader in my opinion.

Gerhig has to either retire or get fitter. Simple as that. When Fergi comes back there going to have to blood him as they need him if big Fraser cant cut it anymore. Blood him as a defender if you have to. Houghton is good as a 3rd defender. So that area will need some work as well.

Thats the end of stans rant.

Nice rant stan

Can't say I agree with your statement tho. The reason that St Kilda has failed in recent series is because the players they rely on haven't stood up in terms of availability. My point is this..who will kick the goals once G Train goes (Fergus Watts?? LMAO, maybe as a defender that was a good point), who will be the 'spiritual leader' once Hamill goes, when will they ever get more than 18 matches out of Justin Koshacksche, How will they replace Harvey, also: players such as Thompson, Peckett and Hudgton coming close to the end. No, they are gone in my book..they have an older squad than (for example) Geelong and as such can't afford to miss out like we have this year. F

End of REB's rant

regards,

REB

[mal]

1980 TASSIE V RUCCI

I hate to say this but your comparism of DALSANTO/REILLY
is out of left field, DALSANTO is surely a better footballer.
I hate to say this but i have to agree with RUCCI and not you.
Brownlow medal night will be interesting will REILLY get a vote
as i am sure DALSANTO will.

[stan]

I believe the saints will have plenty of more oppertunities in years to come. Simply because there team is not built around the Veterans that play for them but rather the early drafties that they have had. There team is built around there midfield players: Ball, Hayes, Dal Dalsantoooo, Gram and a few others. Hayes out, hit them hard. Hes the one that gets them going in the middle. Which hopefully Thomas can see that relying on too few is a bad idea.

So what do they need. Well its simple. A strong leader as captain. Harvey is on his way out, and I mean that in regards to injuries and not ability. So Heres what they do. Get rid of Thomas for a start and I know thats a chorous thats sung plenty of times, but i really believe its time to give the job to a more experianced coach. What they need to do is to get someone like Eade or Wallace in. A season hardend coach if you will. The reason for this is they need to build a sense of unity in the team and also when your game plan gets worked out, you need to be able to react and make the moves. Thomas cant do that. When Hayes is back from his knee injury sometime next year or whenever, its my opinion that he should be captain. He has played a few years now and is the on field leader in my opinion.

Gerhig has to either retire or get fitter. Simple as that. When Fergi comes back there going to have to blood him as they need him if big Fraser cant cut it anymore. Blood him as a defender if you have to. Houghton is good as a 3rd defender. So that area will need some work as well.

Thats the end of stans rant.

Nice rant stan

Can't say I agree with your statement tho. The reason that St Kilda has failed in recent series is because the players they rely on haven't stood up in terms of availability. My point is this..who will kick the goals once G Train goes (Fergus Watts?? LMAO, maybe as a defender that was a good point), who will be the 'spiritual leader' once Hamill goes, when will they ever get more than 18 matches out of Justin Koshacksche, How will they replace Harvey, also: players such as Thompson, Peckett and Hudgton coming close to the end. No, they are gone in my book..they have an older squad than (for example) Geelong and as such can't afford to miss out like we have this year. F

End of REB's rant

regards,

REB

Once Hamill goes? Sorry REB I cant remember the last time he played.

Also I didnt mention, they need to get more out of schwarze. Sam Fisher is looking to be a good player as well.

[sydney-dog]

Mal

Surely your not leaving it in the umpires hands to judge who is the better footballer, let's just say if Rielly was olaying for the Saints he would get more votes then he will playing for the Crows......

The saints have had a poor year and their will be a light spread of vote getters, while Rielly will be competing with Goody, Edwards, Mcleod, Stiffy, Roo and others for votes......

Dal Santo copped an absolute hiding last night and in my opinion has been given the champion tag way too early in his career, lets compare the two in a couple of more seasons, I think Rielly will develop in to a real good player under Craigy's tuition

You watch how many players from other clubs will start nocking on the crows door to play under Craigy

[ORDoubleBlues]

1980 TASSIE V RUCCI

I hate to say this but your comparism of DALSANTO/REILLY
is out of left field, DALSANTO is surely a better footballer.
I hate to say this but i have to agree with RUCCI and not you.
Brownlow medal night will be interesting will REILLY get a vote
as i am sure DALSANTO will.

As I've said before, I don't dispute that Dal Santo is a superior footballer but at least Reilly will be a solid AFL footballer for at least another 8 years and when Rucci brings that subject up, at least he could mention the Power's drafting of one of the all time biggest duds in Michael Stevens at pick 5 in '98 ahead of Lenny Hayes and Jude Bolton.

[mal]

Crows are the red hot favorite to win the flag in 2006
now that St Kilda is out of contention.

A week is a long time in footy, nobody mentioned the
great win in Sydney but were all quick to sink the
boots in after Adelaide walloped them.

[Blue Boy]

Great win to the crows as I was ready to say we will drop the game - I did tip them in my tips but that was with my heart !!!

I am eatin my words on the Stevens v St Nick clash - very well played by Stevens and I hope he backs it up with a couplke more performances like that

With the Brownlow voting I think you will find to many blokes pinchin votes of each other and as I have previously stated watch out for Zoomer !!!

[giffo]

Was I hearing things Friday night? I'm sure I heard the commentators say that the Saint's were playing ok seeing they were against a nearly full strength Adelaide. Welsh, Perrie, Bock, Hart, Van Berlo, Hudson- all forgotten so soon!

[mal]

GIFFO

Your right BUT it makes no difference if the guys
taking thier spots are performing.
For example HART out a massive out but Stevens
is playing as good.
The others have not been missed[yet]
Whereas the Saints cant cover the 6 they have out
and thier replacements are have an inferior form line.