Pre-Match: MAGPIES v Saints - All comments here...

[Lazza]

rosspies, I wouldn't ever worry about the team's starting 18 and the positions selected on Thursday night. Nearly 100% of the time, the starting 18 and their positions are quite different when the game starts.

[3rd degree]

saints by 69 - i don't think we have the form of Richmond [/quote]

No wonder I don't want to play in your side Cam your bush bashing faithless outlook is horrendous

[Culprit]

I reckon we can hold the Saints to 14 goals, trouble is we may struggle to kick 5.

[KYPREO]

Just watched Last Time They Met. We were in a similar position last year and lost by 40 something points, but we were competitive. This is while St Kilda were at full strength and at their absolute peak. We played them at Telstra Dome when they were undefeated and no side had managed to kick 100 points against them. Each of their forwards kicked at least four goals and they were simply too tall up forward as we were without presti and also wakelin in patches.

The main similarities and differences between our team then and now as I see it:

THEN:
No Fraser
No Burns
No Buckley
No Presti
Team in very poor form
Wakelin played half the game coming off injury
Richards played his 2nd or 3rd game - or was it his 1st?
Tex played one of his first games matched up on Riewoldt.
Mullins, Nixon, Lokan and Swan played - Lokan got knocked out but recovered well.

NOW:
No Buckley
No Rocca
No Leon Davis
No Richards
No Fraser/Fraser might come in, but underdone
Backline in fantastic form
Rest of the team, particularly experienced players in pretty poor form
Lacking support for Taz
Young players stepping up: Shaw, Rowe, Maxwell, C3 all great against Essendon
We're not playing at Telstra Dome - Saints record at the 'G is substantially worse than at TD.

On Balance, I think we will probably still lose, but with our backline being less stretched than our last meeting, I think it will be a lot closer than a lot of people are tipping.

We can play well in patches but we can't put it together for 4 quarters which we must do to have any chance of winning.

Make no mistake, we CAN win this. Saints have some question marks over Lenny Hayes and Macguire. Riewoldt is still out. It is not beyond us, but if we lose by a small margin, are competitive and the young players impress, I will still be somewhat happy. I would love to see Didak play a blinder in the middle in the next few weeks to restore some hope for the future. I think Johnno should spend more time in the middle - his toughness will be needed against the hard saints midfielders. Last time he was the catalyst of our fightback.

A Rising Star for C3, Rowe or Yakka will make my week.

The only other thing I can hope for is getting through with NO INJURIES and NO REPORTS.

Go PIES!

[Culprit]

Can Rowe still be nominated for the rising star?

[YouthPolicy]

The only thing better than blooding new potential stars is watching them go on to win a premiership one day

[KYPREO]

Can Rowe still be nominated for the rising star?

Yep, because he is under the required age and played less than 10 games last year. I think C2 is still eligible also.

Also forgot that Williams played last time and spoiled two marks: one off Tarrant and one off Rocca - they would have otherwise been easy marks. See that a couple of times this year too. So perhaps we can add one more contested mark to Taz this game.

[scoobydoo]

Can Rowe still be nominated for the rising star?

Yeh if he gets as much game time as everyone else i'm sure he can prove himself.

[melissa]

Has Maxy ever got a Rising Star Nomination?

[Sultan of spin]

Glad Williams has gone but agree with early comments that Lockyer has been even worse than Woewodin.

Doubt Josh or Swan will play so that leaves final spot between Yakka and H Shaw, I'd go for Yakka even though he has only played 1 senior game for Willi. I'm a bit surprised that Rusling wasn't named aswell.

I think J. Cloke has played well on Hamill in the past and this maybe one of the reasons for his selection. Johnno normally plays on Milne but I think the way our midfield is going he will be required further up the ground.

I think Presti's form means that he will get 1st crack at Gehrig, with Clemmo the back up plan. I think inclusion of C1 means we are going to play a loose man in defence and that will either be C1 (as in 2002) or Wakes. This is a danderous ploy though cos it means they will have someone loose in front of Taz which really pisses me (& i'm sure him) off.

Obviously we are massive underdogs but with a couple of out of form guys gone I think we will be competitive but whether we can win in other question, lets just hope the kids continue so show a bit.

[KYPREO]

Has Maxy ever got a Rising Star Nomination?

Nope.

In 2004, only Stretch got a nod against Adelaide in Round 9.

[Joel]

melissa, I think he is too old now.

[KYPREO]

melissa, I think he is too old now.

Yep thats right..you have to be under 21 at the start of the year. He turns 22 soon.

[brisbanepie]

i was quite annoyed at the way the guys played last week, so much so that I registered here just to give them a blast. I now hang my head in shame at the lack of support I showed them in these tough times. I still agree they need to show more courage and spirit, and get in and be super tough at the ball. But I'm back on the optimistic wagon and hopeful of a better showing on sunday. I was bracing myself a few weeks back for what I thought could be a dreaded big loss to the Blues, but look what they did then. Granted Rocca played, but regardless of the injuries they can still do it.

Saints may still win, but I wouldn't write our guys off just yet.....C'arn the Pies!!!

[uuuuu..... The LoneSTAR]

Is it true that the Saints have lost 11 of their last 14 games at the MCG???
Something to think about