Autopsy Round 4, 2025 - Saints upset Port in Adelaide!

[Diehard Saint]

They mean something when you are trying to sell hope but if you play the real stuff like this no-one cares.

Should have another membership drive day tomorrow

 

[bergholt]

I really want to be 4-4 at worst. Means we have to win one of: GWS away, Dogs at home, Brisbane at home, Freo at home. All tough ones but sneaking one would be fantastic.

 

[Premium]

That takes our recent record to 8 wins - 2 losses in our last 10 games and 11-5 in our last 16. Maybe a few of our media knockers should take note.

Also I reckon Stocker is on the cusp of being our new Stevie Baker.

Finally, one big plus to RTB is his ability to do his homework on oppo teams. He's been able to orchestrate some unanticipated victories throughout his coaching career. Not all the time but sufficiently to give you hope when a win seems unlikely.

Stocker is a tough customer and whoever he plays on will have a tough time - to me he is a must have in the team because he can be given multiple tasks in a game.
When we get back Steele , King , Howard , Phillipou who I imo expect to be in our best starting line up a lot of these kids who are currently playing are going to be hard done by - but the experience they have gained is only going to make our team stronger.

It’s amazing, only a couple of years ago we looked slow and not much depth to the squad . Now we are so much faster with the ball and our disposal it so much better . Also with so many good young players coming through it’s going to be hard to get a spot in the team .
Collard has really stepped up to AFL football speed and skill .
Macrae has been excellent since he came over from the dogs . He is playing so good I don’t know why the dogs got rid of him .
I can’t wait for us to get Pou back in the side , he was just getting the pace of the game when he got injured.
It will be interesting when King and Sharman are both fit and playing together.
I would say this is our best team since 2009 and 2010.

Last year Macrae had a fall out with the coach , when played he was played as a half forward after being one of the best midfielders in the game for years - being a 3 times All Australian we picked up one of the best players running around however he is no spring chicken and I just hope he can just keep going for a few more years.
He has made our team far stronger and if Steele can get back to his best when he comes back in we are going to have a very good year.

Daniels was another that left the club who was also a All Australian.
Losing 2 top line players and guys like Bailey Smith and now Hagan Dog fans must be spewing because they are totally destroying a team that should be fighting for a flag but now look to have dropped the bundle.

 

[nobhead]

It’s amazing, only a couple of years ago we looked slow and not much depth to the squad . Now we are so much faster with the ball and our disposal it so much better . Also with so many good young players coming through it’s going to be hard to get a spot in the team .
Collard has really stepped up to AFL football speed and skill .
Macrae has been excellent since he came over from the dogs . He is playing so good I don’t know why the dogs got rid of him .
I can’t wait for us to get Pou back in the side , he was just getting the pace of the game when he got injured.
It will be interesting when King and Sharman are both fit and playing together.
I would say this is our best team since 2009 and 2010.

The best thing about today's win was no king pou howard henry clark butler steele.arguably all best 22 .going to have to play consistantly well boys to hold your spot in the team now.add to that no tarau or barret yet either or dow and carrol ,awsome we finally have some depth and real competition for spots.

 

[topbillings]

Yep. The H-S report is nearly all Port.

Media don't know what to make of us, and don't want to look foolish by going out on a limb and saying we're "contenders" - so it's easier to go negative on Port.

Better to fly under the radar anyway. Less criticism when you lose, less hype to not live up to. I'm happy to just quietly go about our business.

 

[Premium]

I really want to be 4-4 at worst. Means we have to win one of: GWS away, Dogs at home, Brisbane at home, Freo at home. All tough ones but sneaking one would be fantastic.

GWS next week will be our toughest game , to me the rest are all very winnable.
Must be remembered we are playing young guys who are only playing due to injury - surely King will get more of the ball than Keeler and Steele will only make the side stronger.
Having beaten the Cats and Port at home gives us momentum to beat teams like the Dogs , Fremantle and even the Lions are beatable if we deliver on the day - of course if we don't we get flogged.

 

[Sir Owens]

What a great win, and to think we could have King, Steele & Henry all back for GWS!!

I'm a saints tragic from Adelaide and have been to many floggings there over the years. It feels amazing to finally get one back on those bastards.

I loved the subtle clip from Ross in the presser: "At least we get the home change rooms for gather round." Gee whizz what an advantage to have a home game in gather round.

 

[TheJackal]

I noticed Hammer gets caught out with his reaction time for his opponent on the lead. It's his 3rd game as a KPD and we are getting him to learn on the job. That said, incredible intercept marking and reading the play once the ball is in the air. Super exciting prospect and easy to forget his age and inexperience.

As for Keels, it's not through lack of effort, he's just simply not strong enough yet. This is where a weak Sandy is so poor to go back to, he might struggle to develop with the 'quality' there. Needs to get in and stay in the gym. I hope we sign him on and give him the confidence to develop his game and body, there's signs, we need to trust like we did with Collard. Poor bloke plays like Nas and is built like him but is near on 200cm.

 

[Diehard Saint]

Going to be electric at some stage of his career.

I’m not asking for much - just another Cyril…

 

[SainterinSydney]

Now ask it to make the Port Adelaide players adult-sized babies and crying.

I live to serve

 

[_Maximus_12]

I really want to be 4-4 at worst. Means we have to win one of: GWS away, Dogs at home, Brisbane at home, Freo at home. All tough ones but sneaking one would be fantastic.

Wtf kinda simp negative mindset is this. We’re going 7-1 after 8 games and not losing another match for the seasom

 

[psychosaints]

I nearly smashed the TV when he reverted to his old habit of trying to take on too much and was caught htb in the backline, giving up a goal.
Hope they show him that a number of times. If I was Ross I would’ve dragged him immediately.

Just watched that. Should have been a free to him for too high. Of course the bias commentators say nothing.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

One day we’ll see Hugo smile. I pity the fool who will have made him do it.

When they put the medal around his kneck.

 

[Tommy Wigs]

Another Stocker bone crunching tackle the highlight of the game, also, the legend hated being a Carlton player.

That 5 mins and 3 goals late in the second quarter against the tide was key. Great win.

God that tackle was superb. He’s not always perfect but I love his hardness. RIP to the poor fella that got knocked into next week

 

[Barrels]

Loved watching Garcia ****ing ROCK Butters during the 1st quarter scuffle too.

These kids don’t take a backward step.

 

[StFly]

GWS next week will be our toughest game , to me the rest are all very winnable.
Must be remembered we are playing young guys who are only playing due to injury - surely King will get more of the ball than Keeler and Steele will only make the side stronger.
Having beaten the Cats and Port at home gives us momentum to beat teams like the Dogs , Fremantle and even the Lions are beatable if we deliver on the day - of course if we don't we get flogged.

Lions are out litmus IMO.

We're so like them with a strong D50, and usually at least bonafide KPF and smalls going through as gone are the days of the trio of centres linking with wingers of that three peat day and the Eagles and such previously. We pip the Lions then we can say pretty emphatically that we're there and asking questions about a cup.

We beat Freo and it's like, you have ice cream, it's vanilla, you add a bit of flavour via a berry to it. Congrats but it's still rather bland.
Dogs are similar in that no one knows WTF they are doing, are they contending, dropping, off their rocker again, who knows. So questions are still there.

But Brissie, people expect, people plead that they are there and there abouts, so even if we have "honourable" losses via the other two, we pump Brissie and it's a "on their day Saints can beat anyone" sort of convo.

 

[SainterinSydney]

And because it was a special win that has been a long time in the making

 

[luca77]

I noticed Hammer gets caught out with his reaction time for his opponent on the lead. It's his 3rd game as a KPD and we are getting him to learn on the job. That said, incredible intercept marking and reading the play once the ball is in the air. Super exciting prospect and easy to forget his age and inexperience.

As for Keels, it's not through lack of effort, he's just simply not strong enough yet. This is where a weak Sandy is so poor to go back to, he might struggle to develop with the 'quality' there. Needs to get in and stay in the gym. I hope we sign him on and give him the confidence to develop his game and body, there's signs, we need to trust like we did with Collard. Poor bloke plays like Nas and is built like him but is near on 200cm.

Some of those passes to Georgiadis were mint though, and he's a bloody good lead. I reckon he might have been a 50+ a season goalkicker if he played in the 90s.

Actually I was thinking while watching, is Nas really a better pass than Willie Rioli? They're both awesome to watch.

Anyway, enough about Port. Back to thinking about Lance, and how he's turned around our opinions so quickly, and how we fit Butler and Henry back into the team.

 

[Tommy Wigs]

Media don't know what to make of us, and don't want to look foolish by going out on a limb and saying we're "contenders" - so it's easier to go negative on Port.

Better to fly under the radar anyway. Less criticism when you lose, less hype to not live up to. I'm happy to just quietly go about our business.

I think most of them do know what to make of us. And that’s - Still not much talent, wouldn’t know most of the kids, try hard, maybe gutsy. There’s quite a bit of that that I’ve already seen tonight.

But I’m pretty happy to not watch too many shows now. It’s all repetitive and the focus is primarily on the negative stories of the round.

 

[The Cobra]

Excellent win in hostile territory.

We are improving inch by inch.

Macrae just outstanding- don’t think he was rotated off in Q4 given our lack of midfield depth - PA had all their midfield guns rotate on with 10 minutes to go and still couldn’t do the job.

Windy - to be honest I’m a big fan but panicked too often today. Hugo - big fan but probably off the pace - too be expected after 12 games.

Travaglia - very nice performance for 2nd game in a hot contest.

Coops - outstanding agility and left foot kick to Lance in Q4. Lance - good lad - keep working it’s coming.

Higgo- super dangerous.

Need King back and being a threat, Howard to release Wilkie and Steele & Pou to improve the midfield. In the meantime keep working hard until the cavalry arrives.

Next week probably a bridge too far but let’s enjoy the win!

 

[Tommy Wigs]

Since Wood?

Since Paddy Ryder?

All 3 seem to have had a large impact as mentors. With the full package in mind, I’d vote for Wood too. Seems to have been an incredible pick up even if you only count off field.

 

[MightySaint]

Hugo is an animal. I'm in love.

 

[Tommy Wigs]

View attachment 2274818

It ended here.

How good is the Web. He’s been in great form this year. Fabulous last week.

 

[austinnn]

Having Ricciuto commentate on 2 of our first 4 games is a war crime against our club. The guy is a complete tool and doesn't even TRY and hide his biased opinion.

I don't mind it, at least he's honest about it, unlike some that pretend to be impartial

 

[Southeastsainter]

Very worried about Hogan next week, if Caminiti plays like he did today.. Hogan will kick 8.

King & Henry in / Keeler & Jones out

What a win! After round 1 I thought we were in for a very long year. GWS are right up there, will be a good test to see how good we really are. Hope King gets up as Taylor & Co would destroy Keeler.