Red, White And Black

That wasn’t exactly the AAMI Stadium send off we were hoping for.

The Saints started brightly but faded out of the contest very quickly. Tom Lynch didn’t kick 10 (phew!), Newnes played a really good game and Jack Steven got tagged for the first time in his career.

Yada, yada, yada the match report will be online on Monday night 9pmish EST.

Enjoy your Monday.

One of the things that sticks in the gut about Ross the ex-Boss’s departure was the apparent gap he left in the list.

It’s something that’s been widely discussed and acknowledged, and was addressed in a couple of ways over the weekend, both positively and negatively as far as the Saints are concerned.

The trainwreck quinella that was Mother’s Day football on Sunday featured ex-Saint and ex-Saints supporter Tom Lynch kicking 10 for the Crows against GWS. The Saints hadn’t won their game yet so some thought things were looking bleaker, but on Monday night an entertaining win with solid contributions from a number of younger guys had us all feeling better about things.

Lynch has finally got his chance after being further down the queue behind Tex and the Porpoise, and Kurt Tippett as well in 2012. Easy to take away something from his bag on Sunday because it was “only” GWS; that idea certainly has currency, but you have to acknowledge at the same time that no-one had done that before against either expansion side.

He’ll get a chop-out from Jenkins, and Jacobs and McKernan will probably float down forward. With Maister back and both Big Ben and Big Tom Hickey selected it means the BIG RHYS BANDWAGON will be parked defence again, probably next to the tallest forward, with perhaps Gwilt or Fisher on Lynch. Gwilt isn’t a natural full-back, however, and really struggled to contain Henderson in the Blues’ manic last quarter on Monday.

As the for things in St Kilda’s corner, we get to see guys like Ross, Newnes, Hickey, Webster and co. run around and have a chance to back up strong performances. It’s a shame Nathan Wright misses but he does the chance to freshen up after a string of games christened his career. It also gives Webster the chance to have a crack at a full game, and for him and Newnes to have a little more responsibility to bring things forward from half-back.

The game also gives a chance for Jack Steven and Big Ben to make their mark further on the club. Both are coming off arguably career-best games (Jack certainly) and for them to back it up in foreign territory would be huge for both them and the team. It would certainly bring my dream of Big Ben as 2017 (or ’18 or ’19) Premiership Captain a step closer to reality.

Not sure where My Favourite Player Arryn Siposs ends up. With Big Beau back in the side it might certainly take some attention away from My Favourite Hair in the AFL, but might loosen up Lamb a little too much where he’s playing perhaps too vague a role between the arcs. I only say that as a bad thing because it seemed he didn’t quite have a defined focus when he was playing loosely off the backline earlier in the season.

Hard to pick how the Saints overall will go in this one just because of the heavy presence of youngsters. They might again be competitive – as they have particularly been in the last three weeks – but we’re still a while away from that translating into strong scoreboard performances. Even a depleted Carlton side nearly ran over the top of them.

Weaker opposition or not, Adelaide will have taken a lot of confidence out of Sunday’s win. Led by Dangerfield, their top line is operating very well but the whole side isn’t operating at the 2012 levels that took us all by surprise. Lynch isn’t going to kick 10 and is still second choice behind Walker. Hard to see them having only won one game at home by the end of Round 8, but there’s plenty to look forward to on Sunday either way for the Saints.

Being in Vietnam for Round 4, I missed the first Saints’ home game at Etihad. So Monday night – in Round 7 – was my first home game at our “home” ground this year.

We’ve made the move from Aisle 29 on Level 2 around to Aisle 31, but being at the ground still felt like a welcome return to “home”.

The problem is, our Saints play just four home games at Docklands in the first 16 matches of the season. Whilst there are three other home games in that time elsewhere, it doesn’t quite feel right. Even after 13 years, it doesn’t feel like “ours”.

The club stated publicly at end of 2011 they wanted to play more home games at the MCG, and they get two this year, both within those first 16 rounds. I’m all for moving to the MCG on a full-time basis (in a perfect world we’d be wearing the 140 Years jumper on a full-time basis). I think it would probably take a permanent move for Saints fans to actually start turning up at the ‘G, because for as long as we’re only playing the odd game there the fans simply won’t turn up in the same numbers, whether the game be home or away. There’s just not a roof, you see.

The Wellington deal certainly provides some financial benefit to the club. The gate revenue issue with Etihad might be heading towards some sort of agreeable outcome (or at least plan for that outcome) sooner than 2025, so that issue might be alleviated to an extent also.

But that Wellington deal takes away two games from here; add to that the club’s push for more MCG home games is neither here nor there and that leaves us with probably only seven home games at Docklands a year over the next couple of years.

Add to that the unnecessary calamity that has been the move to Seaford and it feels like the club is a little scattered at the moment. I can see the theory behind Nathan Burke’s framing of the situation a few years ago – the Saints becoming the Bayside club with home games at Docklands, a presence at Sandringham with the VFL alliance and then further down the bay to the headquarters at Seaford. But I’m not sure if those are in either the players’ or fans’ interests.

Personally, I’m not a fan of Etihad in that it’s a rather corporatised and sterile place, certainly compared to the MCG. Whilst the MCG lost some of its magic with the visually monotonous redevelopment, it still really does feel like the home of footy. The club also hasn’t made the effort that the Bombers were making several years ago on match day to make the place feel like their home ground; even the Bulldogs have been throwing up a few banners for a few years now too.

The Sandringham alliance may not be best for the players, with compromised selection and motivations for the players on game day, and home games are on the too-small (but soon to be altered) Trevor Barker Oval. Even that relationship remains up in the air for the moment.

As for Seaford, I don’t think anyone is really a fan. To make the decision to move from Moorabbin was irrational at best, and truly awful at worst. The players felt at home at Moorabbin, and the fans felt at home there. It was a central site. A suitable redevelopment – and I’m sure if Archie Fraser and co. tried hard enough they could have come up with an agreement with Kingston City Council – would really have made it a great capital of St Kilda’s heartland. The fact that the club still has a lease there for a number of years yet, that the club shop is still there and that the club is still entertaining the idea of using it on a part-time basis seems a cop-out and shows little regard to the club’s heritage. The lonely G.G. Huggins Stand seems to embody the situation.

The club is entering somewhat of a development phase at the moment. Monday night had us feeling great about the young guys and the direction of the club in general, but that’s not going to be the case every week just yet. We won’t have the iconic players in My Favourite Hair in the AFL, Lenny, and the Tip Rat to build the club around for a while, and there might not be on-field success to ride on the back of, too.

I pay a premium for my Social Club membership. I’m lucky to have such great seats at every game, but I envy those that experienced Moorabbin – not for the win/loss record – rather, for the fact that it was another home to them, both to watch a game of footy and socially, too. It’s probably an antiquated idea now (both socially and logistically, – i.e. not all footy is played on a Saturday afternoon now), but I don’t quite think there is a modern-day equivalent.

I couldn’t help but feel jealous of Gold Coast and their fans when at Carrara for the Round 1 game – particularly knowing the stadium would be further expanded for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. This isn’t necessarily about money, but creating the idea of a space for this club we can really feel at home at. Something that both fans and players can revel in.

For now, things feel a little fractured and the club will need to make some firm decisions in the short-term future, rather than making half-commitments. In the words of Louis CK, “Pick a thing”.

Round 7, 2013
St Kilda 3.5, 7.7, 10.8, 11.11 (77)
Carlton 2.4, 3.6, 4.11, 9.14 (68)
Crowd: 34,054 at Etihad Stadium, Monday, May 13th at 7.40pm

My two favourite things happened last night. St Kilda wore an awesome, different jumper, and St Kilda won. But mostly, St Kilda wore an awesome, different jumper.

Like last year’s Round 7, Monday night sojourn, I headed to Corporate Stadium in the cold (albeit via very warm Number 8 tram) expecting to see the Blues mop the floor with the Saints. And like last year, we all got a really entertaining and encouraging performance that yielded four points. Again, I was very happy to be wrong.

Mother’s Day weekend and the unfortunate effect of almighty television (and by extension, money) have made these clubs willing participants in what’s becoming a traditional fixture. I don’t know that any supporters of the teams playing genuinely like the concept but I know that if it was someone else playing, I’d be watching it on TV.

The AFL can justify it further because they know there’s enough supporters that will turn up to the actual thing no matter what time it’s played – there were more than 34,000 of us there last night and we didn’t get home until around 11pm at least – and they’ll take any and all advantage of that. I don’t know why they can’t just play this game on the Friday or Saturday instead, but I guess you’d need to bump another game to the Sunday then and after the shambles that were on display in both of the Mother’s Day games this year any club would be excused from wanting to avoid it in future.

Last night marked my debut at Aisle 31 on Level 2, after six years in line with the goal posts in Aisle 29. Having been in Vietnam for the Round 4 match against the Bombers, it was strange going to my first home game at Etihad so late in the season. Incredibly, the Saints only play four home games at Etihad in the first 16 rounds, so it will be a while yet before I settle in there anyway. It was just me and several empty seats on either side of me on this occasion – my brother had broken his wrist in all sorts of ways playing for the De La Salle Thirds over the weekend and was sporting a new industrial-size cast, dear cousin Evan was weighed under by Year 12 obligations and Dad wisely preferred the comfort of the couch on a chilly Monday night.

I’d been pumping up the 140 Years jumper on Twitter and this page through the week, and I felt more than justified in yapping about it when the team ran out. I thought it looked really fantastic, and yes, as I’ve said on this several times before, I’d take the design as the full-time home jumper in a heartbeat. It’s bold, it’s simple and it looks a little mean, too, much like the 2005 Heritage Round red, yellow and black jumpers.

Considering the recent history of the club both in recent years and recent weeks, the atmosphere amongst the St Kilda crowd certainly felt different. The urgency and expectation were diminished a little. To celebrate 140 Years (not just last night, but this year) perhaps feels a little hollow after recent Grand Final failures, and it’s been made clear that this developing side won’t be making any impact on September for this year at least. However, after watching Geelong with envy on Friday night, I must say I was feeling better about things by the end of last night.

It was a patchy opening by both teams, with the Saints keen to get started on missing gettable goals. Milera, Geary, Joey, Farren, and My Favourite Player Arryn Siposs were all guilty; Milera would kick three behinds before his first goal and Geary missed another shot in the second quarter. The half-time score of 7.7 should have been something more like 10.4, but it feels like we’ve become used to wasted opportunities over the past year or so.

Particularly early on I thought the Blues would prove to be simply too solid, and it felt like it wouldn’t take much for things to go their way. They were awarded possibly the first 50-metre penalty given for a push in the back BEFORE a mark was taken, were gifted a goal in the square for an off-the-ball incident and then Milne’s clanger set up Walker to run around for a while and then kick a goal. As for the Saints, for every time Jack Newnes took on his opponent and bullet-passed to My Favourite Hair in the AFL, or Jack Steven doing the same which ended in a great running goal to Roberton, there were soft efforts early from Dempster, Siposs and Steven.

But as things sorted themselves out, it proved to be the Saints who really turned up to work hard. Roo’s double effort early, moving up the ground, and then back deep before leading to mark and kick his first goal, set the tone for his night. It set the tone for everyone else’s night, too. He’s a man whose premiership window has closed, but he continues to play as arguably the club’s greatest captain.

For all the hard work out there, this team will still be prone to inconsistency not just within games but within quarters. On top of the wayward kicking for goal there were also a few aimless entries going into attack in the first, juxtaposed with the passage of play that led to Roberton’s goal, or Wright’s setting up of an isolated Roo in the second.

It certainly helped that Ellard and Yarran came off with hammies early, much like Waite’s suspension and Carrazzo’s late withdrawal. It set the rest of the game up to be played in effectively two waves. The young Saints would go full throttle for the second and third quarters, harassing and working and dashing their way to a 33-point lead over a depleted Carlton by the final change. However, they’d used up all their juice by then and en masse were more ragged than the Blues. Once Mick got their forward structure straightened up with Henderson thrown into attack, Carlton knew they’d be a chance against a side that had largely not been challenged like this before. They’re only human, indeed.

Until that final twist there were some really great signs across the board. The senior players did their thing, with Roo the obvious standout, and took it upon himself to bring the Tip Rat into the game after #44 had had a slow start (also they both looked awesome in the jumper); if Dal didn’t quite fully awake from his slumber then he’s certainly stumbling through the hallway towards the bathroom, and Fisher was a general in defence. Milne ended up kicking two goals and having a hand in a couple of others; there were a few clangers on his part but watch his reaction when Siposs kicks the goal in the third – that’s something really valuable to have around the club.

But it was the contribution by guys on the rungs below that has us all feeling good about the future (for this week at least). Obviously there’s Jack Steven, but Big Boy WOWEE BOY OH BOY McEvoy played one of his best games. Having Big Tom Hickey in the side meant he could drift around the ground and into defence without taking too much artillery away from the stoppages. His presence down back was pivotal on several occasions, particularly late in the game. He’s again at the front of the pack to be the 2017 Premiership Captain, but I’ve been thinking of revising that to 2018 or even 2019 Premiership Captain (stay tuned for that one).

Jimmy Gwilt’s return was great timing in the absence of Sam Gilbert, and The Official 140 Years Jumper Model, like McEvoy brought some real stability to the backline. He really struggled with Henderson in the final term, but most defenders would with the ball coming down that often and with that much space available in the Blues’ forward 50. There was also Geary, who did a very nice checking job on Marc Murphy.

The younger guys particularly have given something to really look forward to. Roberton played another solid game off half-back (including his nice running goal); Jimmy Webster had his family home burn down 10 days prior but ran out with his brother and led the team off after getting nine touches in a quarter and a bit of footy. As Swat said, has showed “almost too much composure”. Then there was the sensational Hard-arse Triumvirate: Newnes took the game and his opponents on to go with some nice disposal, likewise Nathan Wright who worked commendably hard, and Seb Ross collected 21 touches in his best game thus far.

The Only Ross at St Kilda seems pretty unassuming for a first-round draft pick. He certainly doesn’t have a huge profile or a flash haircut like My Favourite Hair (which looked awesome with the jumper) or Armo, but Jobe’s cousin has taken obvious steps forward in his outings this season. He’s not the quickest guy but he’s really composed and knows how to use the ball – his quick give off to Newnes at half-back set up the passage for Armo’s third-quarter goal.

Perhaps it’s he and Newnes behind Big Boy McEvoy in the 2017 Premiership Captain stakes currently. Newnes’ confidence clearly grew over the off-season and as his body strengthens and he gains experience he’ll be more and more involved in the play off half-back and through the midfield.

Wright is probably in a similar situation, but you’d actually want him across half-back right now the way he was playing before being crudely hit by Eddie Betts. I hope he doesn’t miss too much footy, although the break might freshen him up for when he comes back to the side.

It’s easy to gush after wins like this. A whole lot of young guys showed really good signs and, for this week at least, they could become anything. Simply, it’s great to see these young guys really taking things on. Especially in such an awesome jumper.

If I said the BIG RHYS BANDWAGON had never looked better, I’d be referring first and foremost to the fact that Big Rhys was wearing one of my favourite St Kilda jumpers of all time. He did some nice things and really wore Hampson all night, but he’s still yet to stamp himself as a natural defender. No matter what end of the ground he’s at right now he’d look a bit unsteady I think, and at worst he’s gotten another full game into him.

Siposs looked more at home up forward again (he too looked good in that jumper), so perhaps he’ll be seeing a little less of the defensive 50. His disposal makes him worth having further up the ground, but he showed some good smarts close to goal both in the air and at ground level. He followed up his 2.3 against Collingwood with 1.2, so hopefully he can get his radar going again soon.

Milera and Saad reprised their better moments of 2012 and played much more meaningful roles, although they drifted in and out of the game. Milera still is a little wasteful in front of goal and could be a really damaging player if he rectifies that. Saad was busy, laying five tackles and kicking a couple of goals, including the most important of the night. It was punctuated by him celebrating first with Seb Ross – moments like those get you excited about the future.

The feel-good vibe fell away at some point during three-quarter time – maybe it was the boos for the giveaway winner on the big screen? – and it felt like watching the bad old Saints in the final quarter. The second and third tier guys were out on their feet, senior guys were making mistakes, forward 50 entries looked nervous, and “Some Guy” had been thrown up forward at the other end and was dominating for the first time in his career.

It certainly wasn’t for a lack effort. Newnes was demanding the footy from a kick-in in the last quarter, a really positive sign that he was keen to take responsibility at a key moment in the game, but guys like him will need to do this a few more times before this club makes a serious trek up the ladder. There will be “up” weeks and “down” weeks in this development period. The Saints managed to hold on, so this is an “up” week, where we feel really good about the recruiting and Scott Watters. We should really enjoy it – the players certainly did, and so they should have. This guy did, too – can someone PLEASE gif this? [EDIT: HERE IT IS!]

It felt like a win for a win’s sake. The supporters who turned up enjoyed watching kids put up a really good fight and be rewarded for their efforts. The possession was wayward at times and the pressure dropped off late, but the intent alone was enough to get them over the line.

Of course, there’s a wider context to it – not for season 2013 but for the years ahead, in that it’s wins like these that younger players build careers on. What I really loved was the reaction of the young guys on the siren, particularly Ross and Newnes. These are the kinds of wins that not only gets us as supporters attached to the players, but those players really attached to the club.

Also the jumper looked awesome.

…and just hangs on. Match will report will be up at some point today. Until then:

This Monday night we go back 140 years, to 1873. A time when the Saints were introducing a raft of new names to the league, in the hopes of over the coming years filling up a barely-touched trophy cabinet…uh…

It’s been a storied 140 years for almost entirely the wrong reasons, but at least we get to wear an awesome jumper at the end of it. On Monday night I’ll be in a stupor as the Saints run around in one of my favourite St Kilda jumpers of all time. I’d take the design (sans names of course) as a full-time jumper in a heartbeat, although I don’t think I’d have many agreeing with me quite so enthusiastically on that one.

Amongst the sea of 140 Years jumpers there’ll be some guys playing a game of footy. The Saints are every chance of finishing this game with a 1-6 record and a trip to Adelaide to come, but there’s the bigger picture to look at with a whole lots of younger guys playing.

Among them is Jimmy THE NECK Webster, who makes his debut 10 days after his family home burnt down, ffs. That’s a bananas week or so, and let’s hope it finishes well. We’ve all seen him combining with Spencer White in the VFL the other week, and his great left-foot disposal off half-back is just the kind of thing needed by this team over the coming years.

Big Tom Hickey comes back into the team, and he and Big Ben will have their work cut out for them with Kreuzer returning and Warnock and Hampson to deal with also. Having the two ruckmen in means Big Rhys will spend most of his game down back on Hampson or Kreuzer. Waite’s suspension might take away one problem, but then there’s Garlett, Yarran and Betts to think about too.

Carlton’s small forwards certainly seem more imposing than the Saints’. Saad is lucky to get another game and Milne v.2013 barely compares to any previous form of Tip Rat. Milera comes in after only injury prevented him from getting a game last week. They all turned it on in last year’s Round 7 Monday night game, which was one of the most enjoyable wins of the year. But it’s a different team this year and with Webster, Wright, Newnes, Ross and Hickey all playing the focus lies elsewhere.

Siposs might again spend a bit more time up forward, particularly with a more stable backline given the return of Gwilt, form of Roberton and Big Rhys set to be anchored close down there with the other big guys in. My Favourite Hair in the AFL has been having a sensational year and will need to turn it on again if the Saints are any chance. At the very least, he is a wonderful example to the younger guys coming through.

Gwilt’s inclusion adds some stability to the backline, particularly with the loss of Gilbert, but this is most likely to be moot. Mick’s Blues took a few weeks but they’re really up and running and, given their draw, are every chance of being 7-3 after Round 10. The midfield battle looks even more lopsided with the absence of Hayes; Joey’s having a great year but Dal seems a little down. Armo and Steven have stepped up again but it’s hard to go past Murphy, Judd, Robinson, Gibbs, McLean and so on.

We’ll have an awesome jumper to look at all night, anyway.

So quickly has the focus of a St Kilda supporter changed. Certainly mine, anyway.

Since Friday night’s loss, the fact the Saints didn’t walk away with the four points has barely genuinely bothered me. I was far, far more interested in how competitive Murdoch, Saunders, Ross, Wright, Roberton, Siposs, Stanley, Newnes and so on were, as opposed to the scoreboard.

It really wasn’t that long ago that we were riding every minute of every week because it might have been key to being not just in the right spot come September, but in the right spot come the end of September. Under Ross the ex-Boss, I think many of us had taken winning for granted by the end of his reign. It’s a comfortable thing to get used to. To the chagrin of some in 2010, the team never as menacing or tyrannical as it did the year before, but rather played only to keep the opposition for enough away to ensure four points; we had the luxury of caring how we won.

Even as recently as late last year, we were hoping to shake inconsistency for a couple of weeks because it meant some of the younger guys could get a taste of finals footy, and – who knows? – maybe pinch a win on the way in what was seen as the most even of seasons.

But we sit here going into Round 7 of 2013 with a 1-5 record, and unless something really weird happens on Monday night (yes, Monday night) then we’ll be sitting here in a week’s time at 1-6. What that most probably means is the next few Septembers aren’t going to be the club’s focal point.

For now, the most genuine excitement I get is from seeing Nathan Wright breaking through traffic, Jimmy Webster and Spencer White combining in the VFL, Arryn Siposs taking himself really seriously, or Rhys Stanley doing anything.

Of course, in time the scoreboard will come to mean everything again. Once these guys all near the 50 game mark both their and our expectations will change. Not long after that, we hope to be well on the way on the next journey. As I’ve said before, there will be good and bad weeks on that journey. This first phase will be those weeks like that following the Essendon game – when you feel like the club isn’t going anywhere fast. We’ve all felt a lot better after the past two gallant efforts, but such is the nature of playing kids that next bad week shouldn’t be too far away.

The Saints will be wearing the fantastic 140 Years heritage jumper on Monday, as it was the Blues that St Kilda played their very first game against in 1873. Perhaps it’s appropriate the Saints find themselves acknowledging their 140-year history this week. That milestone is something to celebrate, but the achievements – or lack of – not so. Lenny, Kosi and Gilbert are all forced changes this week, and it’s guys like Webster and Tom Ledger that might be coming in. There’s going to be more kids out there in red and black hoops with white cuffs than we can remember supporting at the one time, but when we’re celebrating 150 these might be the guys that gave us something really worth savouring.

In round three of 2010, the Saints lost their champion captain suddenly to a horrific hamstring injury on the big stage of Friday Night Footy against the Pies at the Dome.

On that occasion, they still willed themselves over the line for a famous win – one that set the tone for the season. Last night, with the Pies profligacy again keeping St Kilda in the game, the side lost another champion (this time prior to the opening bounce) but couldn’t go the distance against their much-fancied opponents.

Further, the way the side setup in the first half clearly resembled the structures employed by Ross Lyon. The bus was parked across the Collingwood half-forward line; the Pies played some kick to kick for long periods of the first term.

This 2013 model of St Kilda just doesn’t quite have the resilience, experience or poise to carry out the task in that fashion for 120 minutes.

In the key indicators the team really hit the mark: Clearances, contested possessions, hitouts, and inside 50s were all even or thereabouts.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the team failed to convert chances at critical junctures, unforced skill errors and naïve defending gave the opposition some freebies, and the midfield couldn’t go the distance over the full four quarters.

Those are telling factors we’ve seen previously in 2013 – but I’m not dissing the coaching staff, rather it crystallizes where this side is at right now.

There are deficiencies, personnel and otherwise, and yet there is no white knight or fix-all cure on hand. Stephen Dank is also not available. The growth has to come from within more or less. Rhys Stanley was clearly overmatched by Travis Cloke (for the most part anyway), but he’s the best the team has right now.

Though I may have taken in the game from the confines of my chilly house in the inner city, the side’s fate, in terms of the ladder, was pretty crystal clear even on television.

I thought the game was further proof that Scott Watters has some real coaching nous and acumen. Since becoming head coach he has by and large looked to shape the side as a more free-flowing, expansive side. But with the team so undermanned, and injected with so much youth in recent weeks, what does he do? He adjusts the team’s structure and approach accordingly. The players clearly got on board with the new game plan too. Prior to last night we hadn’t really seen any forward pressure, but that changed and the likes of Heath Shaw, Dale Thomas, Paul Seedsman and Harry O all had the shakes at different stages due to the inferred – and real – pressure.

Arryn Siposs was shifted back to a forward role and he definitely gave the side something different in the forward 50. His missed set shot in the first half was a big blown opportunity, every Saints missed set shot is, but otherwise his workrate was the best I’ve seen for a while and he duly was rewarded with 2 goals. There were a couple of times, particularly in the last term, where he could’ve backed himself a little more but with time I think that would come. Lamb generally isn’t short on confidence.

For the best of three quarters the Saints really gave it to the Pies. Sure, they conceded a lot of possession, and territory, with their defensive setup in the first half, but their pressure and commitment to the contested footy was really good.

Like round two, the side was really undone by some naïve bits of play, a few cruel decisions against them and some wasted opportunities at crucial moments of the game. Though we finished with a respectable 11 goals 11, right now the side can’t afford to waste any half-chances in front of goal but again they did so at critical junctures. McEvoy, Milne and Kosi butchered opportunities in the third term that could’ve stifled the Pies momentum.

St Kilda’s structures right now feel like it’s held together by bubblegum and masking tape at times though; you always feel like they are a 5 minute burst from the opposition away from getting blown away. Fisher was freed up as the spare man in defence early, but to no avail, he still doesn’t seem himself. Between he and Rhys, we really let the Pies in for some easy opportunities.

The heat may have been put on Nick Dal Santo during the week, but it was Leigh Montagna that was the old-timer that really stood up in the engine room. Jack Steven had his best game for the season, his kicking for the most part was actually effective too. Jack was at the heart of a number of slingshot attacks, particularly in the second quarter when the side got control of the game.

As it stands, the team just has too many individuals that don’t give you enough over the four quarters. And as Watters pointed out, a few of those are the younguns’ – Murdoch, Newnes and Saunders all didn’t register a touch in the last term or so. They’re excusable, they have only about 15 games between them. But there are also players like Milne, Saad, and Kosi who are just witches hats for the most part. Dempster too – like his fellow defender Fisher – hasn’t found his feet fully after a turbulent start to the year.

When you have those passengers in your side week to week, on top of the amount of green youngsters, on top of the obvious structural glitches caused by developing players as well as injuries, then you really start out behind the eight ball.

A ticky touchwood free of the highest order to Pendlebury early in the third got the Pies the first of the all-important third term. A Kosi reply shortly after helped settled the nerves. Again, there was a pivotal set shot to be had shortly after that one: it was to Milne, and he pushed it wide. It’s been a trend that has been in play for most of this year and it’s got to change if we want to defeat any half-decent sides this year. Against the Dons and Swans, Riewoldt was the main culprit. This time it was Milne. It’s really indicative of Yapper’s output right now: his biggest supporters have always pointed to his goal scoring record whenever a sniff of criticism has circled, but at the minute I don’t think that defence holds up anyway. To this point he has 7 goals for the year from 5 games, but 3 of those goals came against GWS. To put that in further perspective, Armitage also has 7 majors to this point; Milne kicked 9 alone against the expansion teams last year. The goal tally for me isn’t so much the point as is the lack of any other sort of contribution. To date he has 4 tackles for the year; Sebastian Ross amassed four just in last night’s game.

Milne is really struggling, and I think Watters missed a big opportunity to set the tone and give him another week off after his suspension. Yapper isn’t performing and not even the raucous Collingwood faithful could light a fire under him last night.

Nick Riewoldt on the other hand is in stellar form. Last night, his set shot kicking was on song too. He put the team on his back momentarily in the last term, but he couldn’t quite crawl them over the line. With another set shot to bring the side within a kick, shortly after kicking his fourth, he missed and within a minute Cloke was bamboozling Rhys up the other end and it was curtains for the Saints.

Look, we at Red, White and Black, have been big proponents of the switch of Rhys Stanley to defence. There were bound to be hurdles and speed humps, and tonight was one of them, under the bright lights of Friday Night Footy. Many talented youngsters come into the AFL having gone through their youth maximizing their strengths and playing attacking footy. So far in his short period as a defender, he has mainly been able to assert himself by running and jumping at the ball. And he looks fairly comfortable doing so. But once the Pies were able to isolate Cloke and the one-on-ones became more akin to wrestling matches, Rhys looked like a fish out of water. It was the perfect exercise in outlining where a player’s deficiencies lie. The coaching staff’s ability to develop Rhys in this area is going to be key.

Elsewhere in the defence, both Dylan Roberton and Nathan Wright were real standouts. After his terrific debut, I pretty much expected that Wright may run out of steam fairly quickly in the following weeks, and although he did come back to earth against the Bombers, he played well last week and then last night helped Roberton springboard the side from defence into attack. He also delivered assist of the night (brought to you by Magnum Ego): Wright gathered cleanly, accelerated and then lowered the eyes and hit Nick Riewoldt lace-out early in the fourth term.

My best for the night (sponsored by Old El Paso): Riewoldt, Roberton, Armitage, Steven, Montagna, Geary.

Our glaring structural deficiencies have been well documented since round one and unfortunately we won’t be able to unsee them for some time yet. What has really thrown fuel on the fire now is the injury toll: Hayes, Gilbert and Kosi – on top of Maister – are all looking at lengthy stints on the side lines. Fisher and Dempster still look like they are playing somewhat injured right now too.

Oi, Rich – that’s good as Kosi is useless and now we have to bring Tom Hickey in!

Not entirely true. It may force the hand of the selection committee regarding Hickey but I don’t think Hickey’s inclusion right now is necessarily a great thing. From what I’ve seen Hickey is a way off being a real contributor for this side. How you would balance he and McEvoy’s time between ruck and forward duties I don’t know.

What about Simpkin?

I’m a fan of Simpkin, but I’m just not sure where he fits in the puzzle. If Dempster moved up the field into the midfield I could see Simpkin helping the backline. But otherwise…?

I’m really looking forward to getting back to Corporate Stadium next week to see some of the team’s fresh talent in the flesh. It can be especially frustrating when you hear media dudes like Cometti and Bruce lathering faint praise on guys like Nathan Wright to the point of being patronising.

Do I like the team’s chances next week? Like wouldn’t be the right word. I think they have a glimmer of hope. The Blues haven’t found their way quite yet, though they did give their best performance for the year last week. Also, guys like Sam Rowe and Shaun Hampson aren’t going to give the Saints undermanned defence the same level of problems that the Bombers, Pies et al did.

From day one Watters has preached competitiveness. And his charges have embodied that to the enth degree the last couple of weeks. With a bit more polish and savvy perhaps eight points could have been snared from the last two games, but it’s something that we just don’t possess enough of right now.

There is such a worrying tendency for this side to keep shooting itself in the foot by not putting on scoreboard pressure when it has the opportunity. What’s even more maddening is some of the side’s older heads making matters worse with mindless acts of irresponsibility.