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News 2023 St Kilda Media Thread

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Check out the Brian Waldron interview I posted in here the other day - fascinating look into the club during the Watson and GT years.

Found it interesting how he talks about how Watson basically fell apart after the Hawthorn game in '99, where we led at half time by 11 goals and ended up losing. Funny to look back now and think gee I was a 9 year old kid completely oblivious in understanding how that result effected people internally. Would then end up having factured the club for the next 5 years.

The stuff about Gehrig, Hamill, Judd, Sandilands and Brad Scott were good too.
 
George said:
Check out the Brian Waldron interview I posted in here the other day - fascinating look into the club during the Watson and GT years.

Found it interesting how he talks about how Watson basically fell apart after the Hawthorn game in '99, where we led at half time by 11 goals and ended up losing. Funny to look back now and think gee I was a 9 year old kid completely oblivious in understanding how that result effected people internally. Would then end up having factured the club for the next 5 years.

The stuff about Gehrig, Hamill, Judd, Sandilands and Brad Scott were good too.
Click to expand...
the players and supporters found it very difficult after that Hawthorn game. Every game we were in front, everyone thought we would lose. itthere was alot of scarring after that match i thought.
 
sammm said:
the players and supporters found it very difficult after that Hawthorn game. Every game we were in front, everyone thought we would lose. itthere was alot of scarring after that match i thought.
Click to expand...

I've been like that forever.

As we get closer to the end of a game we're winning i'm mentally calculating.....
They can still get this if they kick a goal every 2 minutes.
Because it's StKilda i always believe that its possible for our opponents to kick 10 goals in 10 minutes.
 

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SaintsSeptember said:
I've been like that forever.

As we get closer to the end of a game we're winning i'm mentally calculating.....
They can still get this if they kick a goal every 2 minutes.
Because it's StKilda i always believe that its possible for our opponents to kick 10 goals in 10 minutes.
Click to expand...
I am the same, but take comfort from something Leigh Matthews once said: that once the margin became greater than one goal for each minute remaining, he relaxed.
 
Mid-season report card from The Age (dunno how to embed) was pretty fair I think.

My only quibble would be that while our lack of scoring capacity is rightly identified as a concern and something that needs to lift; I don't often see it coupled with the rider that we were missing King for the bulk of the year to date and he has kicked four goals in each of his two comeback games.

If we can get an extended run of all of King, Hammer and Membrey in the forward line (which hasn't actually happened yet) with Members as a true third tall and Higgins continuing his form then I think the scoring issue should sort itself out.
 
TheNewEnsign said:
Mid-season report card from The Age (dunno how to embed) was pretty fair I think.

My only quibble would be that while our lack of scoring capacity is rightly identified as a concern and something that needs to lift; I don't often see it coupled with the rider that we were missing King for the bulk of the year to date and he has kicked four goals in each of his two comeback games.

If we can get an extended run of all of King, Hammer and Membrey in the forward line (which hasn't actually happened yet) with Members as a true third tall and Higgins continuing his form then I think the scoring issue should sort itself out.
Click to expand...
It certainly should on the proviso that we kick the ball to leading forwards, that is, forwards who come towards the ball, even as decoys, rather than all stand near each other trying to mark a long high kick while there are multiple tall backs punching it forward to a place where we don't seem to have many (any?) crumbers. We've all seen this fail for many years so why keep hoping it will work when there are other ways for forwards to mark the ball within 30-40 metres?

We play our best and most exciting footy on the rebound from defence when our forward line is open and we've only got a few forwards up there. When the opposition has had time to set up and the forward line is crowded we can still initiate multiple leads to draw some defenders out of position to open up some holes for someone to slip into. This should only require a neat 20-30 metre kick, it keeps defences guessing, which means they have to work that much harder for the whole game.
 

ARTICLE PASTED BELOW

By John Ralph

St Kilda are in a period of transition under coach Ross Lyon, who is learning about his list on the fly. But how are they going to create up to $1.5m in cap space to land Tom De Koning and co?

Ross Lyon already knew Max King was a “special” talent to build a flag tilt around before he ran himself so hard he threw up at three quarter time in the loss to Hawthorn.

But in a first season at St Kilda he describes as a “year of exploration” he will have already learnt so much about his list in just 11 AFL games.

Last weekend as he drew breath to consider the club’s progress at the mid-season break this much was true in the world according to Ross.

St Kilda has vastly more young talent than the club had hoped even 18 months ago, with Matthaes Phillipou capable of anything, Mitch Owens a gloriously unique talent and the re-signed Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera humming along nicely.

And it has much more depth than it could have believed as Jack Billings and Tim Membrey played VFL while last year’s breakout midfielder Marcus Windhager worked on his deficiencies again for Sandringham.

Now comes the really interesting part for a team that has thrived under Lyon.

St Kilda has delayed a heap of contracts while Lyon and list boss Steve Silvagni assess what they have along with head of talent and acquisition Graeme Allen.

Those out of contract include Zac Jones, Jade Gresham, Nick Coffield, Jimmy Webster, Jack Bytel, Jack Higgins, Oscar Adams, Ryan Byrnes, Tom Highmore and Dan McKenzie.

For player managers patiently awaiting progress on talks for those players and more, it is getting closer to crunch time.

And yet the likelihood will be that St Kilda will play hard ball to create up to $1.5 million of cap space to go after A-grade talent that will actually take it closer to a premiership.

Rather than roll over deals for middle-tier players who have already been handsomely rewarded.

St Kilda has finally shed itself of the Dan Hannebery deal, has Hunter Clark and Nick Coffield on expiring deals of over $500,000, is in the final year of a Zac Jones deal paying him around $600,000.

Jack Billings has two more years and just over $1 million left on his deal but according to Lyon is now clearly a small forward after years of experimentation on the wing.

Lyon commented with an air of bemusement as he entered Moorabbin over summer that the Saints paid the same salaries as Geelong.

As in: Who are we over-paying given their brilliant output compared to ours?

Coffield is still 6-8 weeks away with recurring calf issues but the backline is well-balanced: Cal Wilkie, Dougal Howard, Josh Battle as the talls and Jack Sinclair, Liam Stocker and Wanganeen-Milera the smalls.

If Coffield does fit into the defence it will come with a significant cost saving on his next deal.

Lyon explained on Saturday that St Kilda’s small forwards were simply outperforming Billings after a limited prep off a broken leg, but with Jack Higgins, Dan Butler and Brad Hill in excellent form it’s hard to see how that changes.

If a rival believed it could get the best out of Billings it would clear $1 million of cap space chase quality talent, even if the Saints didn’t get an early pick back in return.

Quite clearly Jones will take a pay cut if he stays next year, while Jade Gresham is due for pay talks this fortnight but hasn’t shown he deserves a pay rise on a deal that is above $600,000 a season.

By targeted savings _ even with Max King’s new deal kicking in while re-signing Jack Higgins and Mason Wood _ it is easy to see how much cap space St Kilda has to play with.

The clear list gaps are an explosive mid-forward who wins clearances and kicks goals in a midfield where Seb Ross, Jack Steele and Brad Crouch are so honest yet similar players.

If only Jordan De Goey had not blinked that prayer would have been answered, although Jack Sinclair is just 28 and emerging as a full-fledged star.

St Kilda is likely to be a bidder for Tom De Koning and is interested in Port Adelaide’s Miles Bergman.

De Koning clearly looks the best of those options given St Kilda’s list needs but Bergman is a halfback who could easily roll up to the opposite wing to Wood or release Jack Sinclair to play permanent midfield.

Rowan Marshall has had a heck of a season playing pure ruck with some help from Zaine Cordy (13 ruck contests a game up until round 7), then Mitch Owens (28 in round 8) before Caminiti helped out in the past fortnight due to Owens’ concussion.

St Kilda could pitch to De Koning the role as King’s clear back-up who also releases Marshall forward, given he has kicked only one goal with his heavy ruck work load compared to 13 in 2020.

Just as Fremantle was able to shed millions in cap space and go after the game-changer it wanted in Luke Jackson, St Kilda’s improvement means it is ready to launch.

Those decisions ahead on contracts will be tough _ and likely involve some bruised egos.

But while Lyon has done the early-season heavy lifting now we get to see what Silvagni and Allan have in store.

On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app
 
TheNewEnsign said:
Mid-season report card from The Age (dunno how to embed) was pretty fair I think.

My only quibble would be that while our lack of scoring capacity is rightly identified as a concern and something that needs to lift; I don't often see it coupled with the rider that we were missing King for the bulk of the year to date and he has kicked four goals in each of his two comeback games.

If we can get an extended run of all of King, Hammer and Membrey in the forward line (which hasn't actually happened yet) with Members as a true third tall and Higgins continuing his form then I think the scoring issue should sort itself out.
Click to expand...

Mid-season report: The three players behind St Kilda’s resurrection

It’s been a remarkable start in the second coming of coach Ross Lyon at the Saints after a tumultuous end to the previous year. He restumped, rewired and replumbed over summer to teach a defensive structure that makes St Kilda hard to play against.
www.theage.com.au
 
Mid-season report: ‘Ross the Boss’ returns to lead St Kilda’s resurrection

By Peter Ryan
June 5, 2023 — 11.32am

In Numbers

7/10 - SCORE
7 - WINS
4 - LOSSES
5th - LADDER POSITION

It’s been a remarkable start in the second coming of coach Ross Lyon at the Saints after a tumultuous end to the previous year.

He restumped, rewired and replumbed over summer to teach a defensive structure that makes St Kilda hard to play against.

Only Collingwood have restricted the opposition to fewer points but the Saints remain a work in progress on offence, in the lower half of the scoring table (even allowing for the fact they’ve now played one less game than most). That’s no surprise under Lyon, but to keep winning has been a good effort given the injuries the team experienced in the first half of the season.

The wheels have become a bit wobbly lately with the Saints’ win-loss-win-loss-win-loss over the past six games, and they are in a fight to keep levitating for long enough to make finals. Their draw, however, is relatively kind and they have fewer injuries, so should be able to reach that destination from this position. But, as every Saints fan knows, the same prediction would have been made this time last season.

Who’s hot

After a brilliant 2022 where he was named All-Australian, Jack Sinclair has built on his reputation in the first half of the season. His ball use out of defence and clean gathering of ground balls in the back 50 has made him one of the game’s best rebounding defenders. What has made him even more impressive this season has been his impact when thrown into the midfield during tight games. He has shifted momentum and given St Kilda a spark. One of the elite defenders in the game.

Callum Wilkie’s intercept marking has been sublime at times with his performance in the first quarter against Essendon in round four one of the best of the season. He has sound hands and good judgement, able to nudge his opponents under a high ball to stop opposition attacks and then use his left foot to launch a rebound. He has been skipper whenever Jack Steele has been injured and his leadership has become a real asset as he pushed his influence beyond the back six.

Mitch Owens is a rare talent. The 19-year-old exploded out of the blocks with eye-catching performances against the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast just when the Saints needed someone to enliven their undermanned attack. He has pace, balance and the confidence to shake opposition defences. His impact has only just outshone Mason Wood who has been a revelation on the wing, using his endurance and courage to take important marks and support the defence.


Jade Gresham was considered the great hope for the Saints, but he has not yet fired under Ross Lyon. Out of contract, the free agent might be weighed down by uncertainty, but his flair is missing, and he is not having the impact on games the Saints would like. To be fair, he seems to be battling to find a suitable role in the Saints’ system.

Key defender Dougal Howard is having a reasonable year as a solid lock down defender, but he has dropped off slightly in the past five weeks as the Saints have battled for consistency. He can suffer from the impression his laconic style gives, particularly if he sprays the odd kick out of defence or is outmarked. A good leader he can go to another level.

The midfield has looked flat for several weeks now except for Rowan Marshall and Brad Crouch. The mainstays in Jack Steele and Seb Ross need to find a spot within the system that allows others to provide the drive St Kilda sometimes lacks from the centre of the ground. Both are senior players – and even allowing for the fact that Steele has returned quickly from a major injury – they lack the ability to hurt the opposition that midfielders from other teams possess.

Ross Lyon showed an impressive ability to shift the game style to one that is hard to play against over just one summer and obviously has buy-in from the players.

He helped the team overcome a shocking run of injuries in the early part of the season but now their lack of elite talent, combined with some tiredness creeping into a group being asked for the first time to play an exacting game style is making them more susceptible.

He has also carried a slightly more relaxed external demeanour as promised. Lyon will be hoping the bye will freshen up the team to go again with their performances much more reliable in 2023.

If it doesn’t kick-start the team he can spend the back quarter of the season working out who remains on the bus in 2024.

The road ahead

Round 13 v Sydney Swans at the SCG
Round 14 v Richmond at the MCG
Round 15 v Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium
Round 16 v West Coast Optus Stadium
Round 17 v Melbourne at Marvel Stadium
Round 18 v Gold Coast at Heritage Bank Stadium
Round 19 v North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium
Round 20 v Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium
Round 21 v Carlton at Marvel Stadium
Round 22 v Richmond at Marvel Stadium
Round 23 v Geelong at Marvel Stadium)
Round 24 v Brisbane Lions at the Gabba
 
sunny3193 said:
I am the same, but take comfort from something Leigh Matthews once said: that once the margin became greater than one goal for each minute remaining, he relaxed.
Click to expand...

Unless the margin is one goal , with one minute, then i'm sure it'll be a bloody draw.
 
SaintsSeptember said:
Unless the margin is one goal , with one minute, then i'm sure it'll be a bloody draw.
Click to expand...
6-6-6 means 1 goal can be 40 odd seconds as 2 kicks, one burst minimum if it's someone like the Pou who can kick 60 easy. If there's 1 min in a match left, I want to be 3 goals up minimum to be comfortable.

As Dees v Brissie earlier this year showed, 7 goal lead into break period, break happened, here's almost 1 goal per I50 from the Dees and SFA from Brissie despite the midfield ascendancy and 11pt margin instead of 40+ in 10mins of play. Very easy to do if you get a sniff as we know with '09 and Chappies hammies that should have been banned.

so 1 min = 3 goal as 2 to bleed and 1 to breathe.
 

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StFly said:
6-6-6 means 1 goal can be 40 odd seconds as 2 kicks, one burst minimum if it's someone like the Pou who can kick 60 easy. If there's 1 min in a match left, I want to be 3 goals up minimum to be comfortable.

As Dees v Brissie earlier this year showed, 7 goal lead into break period, break happened, here's almost 1 goal per I50 from the Dees and SFA from Brissie despite the midfield ascendancy and 11pt margin instead of 40+ in 10mins of play. Very easy to do if you get a sniff as we know with '09 and Chappies hammies that should have been banned.

so 1 min = 3 goal as 2 to bleed and 1 to breathe.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure it's an exact science, chief
 
StFly said:
6-6-6 means 1 goal can be 40 odd seconds as 2 kicks, one burst minimum if it's someone like the Pou who can kick 60 easy. If there's 1 min in a match left, I want to be 3 goals up minimum to be comfortable.

As Dees v Brissie earlier this year showed, 7 goal lead into break period, break happened, here's almost 1 goal per I50 from the Dees and SFA from Brissie despite the midfield ascendancy and 11pt margin instead of 40+ in 10mins of play. Very easy to do if you get a sniff as we know with '09 and Chappies hammies that should have been banned.

so 1 min = 3 goal as 2 to bleed and 1 to breathe.
Click to expand...

If you're 6 or 7 down, i still think its best to go the torp.
If you get a behind , you have a chance to lock it in and get the goal.
 
George said:
Check out the Brian Waldron interview I posted in here the other day - fascinating look into the club during the Watson and GT years.

Found it interesting how he talks about how Watson basically fell apart after the Hawthorn game in '99, where we led at half time by 11 goals and ended up losing. Funny to look back now and think gee I was a 9 year old kid completely oblivious in understanding how that result effected people internally. Would then end up having factured the club for the next 5 years.

The stuff about Gehrig, Hamill, Judd, Sandilands and Brad Scott were good too.
Click to expand...
I remember the mentality of saints players and fans before and after that match: night and day. Talk about the bubble of confidence being well and truly burst. Took us literally years to get it back again, especially against the Hawks.
 

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saintmike65 said:
As limited as Cordy is, I was hoping he would’ve replaced Howard this week!
Click to expand...
i don't think Lyon is into making those types of changes. at least from history.
 
George said:
Check out the Brian Waldron interview I posted in here the other day - fascinating look into the club during the Watson and GT years.

Found it interesting how he talks about how Watson basically fell apart after the Hawthorn game in '99, where we led at half time by 11 goals and ended up losing. Funny to look back now and think gee I was a 9 year old kid completely oblivious in understanding how that result effected people internally. Would then end up having factured the club for the next 5 years.

The stuff about Gehrig, Hamill, Judd, Sandilands and Brad Scott were good too.
Click to expand...
I was at that match where we lost after an 11 goal lead. Quite a few of our bigger name players clearly put the cue in the rack at half time and thought they had the job done, and came out after half time and watched while the Hawks gather the ball too easy. Not sure what Timmy said to the players at half time though, but geez it knocked the stuffing out of the club.
 
Rowan Marshall on SEN Breakfast

 
gringo2011 said:
There is much less one on one defending these days and even while you are defending your man you are keeping a hole filled in the zone. It's much more complex than in the old days. He could probably have improved part of his game but until we stop the ball coming in as quickly and as cleanly we will be exposing our backs.
Click to expand...
Max Hudghton’s still with us..great defender in his day!
 
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