Pre-match: PIES v St Kilda discussion...all comments here...

[sq3]

Harry needs to go back to the VFL and learn not to give away stupid free kicks.

BJ or Rhyce on Milne.

Result is questionable as the Pies have not turned up to play in games they should have this year - no ticker.

[Adz]

Lose this week and top 4 is officially out the question.

[John Wren]

top four is not out of the question until it is mathematically unfeasible.

[melliot]

Harry on Milne? Can I have some of what you guys are smoking please? If Harry starts on Milne, the very first thing Milne will do is run to the wing or the centre, where Harry is hopelessly out of his depth. AFL coaches ain't stupid: that move is a no-brainer - and it wouldn't be the first time Milne has played in the midfield. I also question whether Harry is quick enough and agile enough for the job. Probably not.

Heater should play an aracking role off the HB line - that's his best role and he should stick to it.

Tarks is a possibility, but as melliot correctly points out, fast, agile forwards can and do beat Tarks. Tarks should, like Heater, be played where he is at jis best: in the middle, on a wing, or even up forward.

There are two much better matchups for Milne:

(1) Racer. He's quick enough, he can defend grimly with the best of them when he is actually given a true defensive role; the only real question is if he is agile enough.

(2) BJ. Johnno is battling to maintain his place in the side. He doesn't really have the skills for the modern midfield game anymore - the game has got faster and accurate delivery has got more important and BJ has lost the edge he had in previous years - so why not give him a role he can fulfill, as a pure defender tasked (first) with stopping Milne and (second) with making him accountable by providing run out of the backline.

Racer may well have another job to do as a midfield tagger, so for mine it's BJ on Milne.

Harry the new Clement? Sorry, amongst other virtues, James Clement was always reliable. Harry can be fantastic on his day but he can be badly beaten. Perhaps he will learn to be consistent on day - he is still very young - but he has a long, long way to go.

The reference on Clement and Harry is that they could play small or tall. Wasn't infering that he was equal standard to Clement (not yet anyway, but we can hope). Harry has successfully played on Famer (Freo) and Deledio (tiges). Both very quick Smalls. Farmer, very much like Milne IMO. If Milne moves to the middle then good! He won't kick goals from there. And is not much chop as a midfielder IMO. Makes too many silly errors, which are not as damaging when their deep forward, but will cost goals if made in the middle. Is most damaging in F50. If he moves into the middle, harry can drop back to someone else or play defensive sweeper. So happy for him to be forced up the ground. Not saying Harry is the absolute best option. He could get exposed for agility. But it releases Heater to be far more damaging off HB instead of deep back.

BJ struggling? Is getting a bit of it and using it pretty well including kicking goals. Provides good strong running as well. I've got him in my supercoach team and is scoring pretty well too. Close to 100 point/game. Not that supercoach scores are the only indication of how well a player is going, but it is one unbiased measure. And is far better than any other inclusion you would suggest (Wellingham, Cox, Cook) if you are suggesting to drop him. As for playing him on Milne, he is an option, but I assure you, you will be taking away good midfield drive. BJ does provide damaging corridor drive too IMO.

Racer, again has provided good midfield run and drive (although as usual disposal is average at best). Would not like to see him pushed any further back than HB. He just seems panicky when that deep. And we lose drive and run in the middle.

Just remeber that we rely on midfield rotatons to win the battle in the middle. Not class. So our midfield generally won't rack big possesion counts. Mid/low 20s (possesions) across the board from our mids would be about what we should expect. Both Racer and BJ are above that mark (I'd think).

IMO let our backs play on the forwards. If their not good enough, then we need to make a change there. Dragging mids down there should be used as a pinch hitting back up plan. Not Plan A.

[Adz]

top four is not out of the question until it is mathematically unfeasible.

Well if the top 3 teams keep winning then it will only be another week until it's "mathematically impossible."

[1eyedpie]

Harry on Milne? Can I have some of what you guys are smoking please? If Harry starts on Milne, the very first thing Milne will do is run to the wing or the centre, where Harry is hopelessly out of his depth. AFL coaches ain't stupid: that move is a no-brainer - and it wouldn't be the first time Milne has played in the midfield. I also question whether Harry is quick enough and agile enough for the job. Probably not.

Heater should play an aracking role off the HB line - that's his best role and he should stick to it.

Tarks is a possibility, but as melliot correctly points out, fast, agile forwards can and do beat Tarks. Tarks should, like Heater, be played where he is at jis best: in the middle, on a wing, or even up forward.

There are two much better matchups for Milne:

(1) Racer. He's quick enough, he can defend grimly with the best of them when he is actually given a true defensive role; the only real question is if he is agile enough.

(2) BJ. Johnno is battling to maintain his place in the side. He doesn't really have the skills for the modern midfield game anymore - the game has got faster and accurate delivery has got more important and BJ has lost the edge he had in previous years - so why not give him a role he can fulfill, as a pure defender tasked (first) with stopping Milne and (second) with making him accountable by providing run out of the backline.

Racer may well have another job to do as a midfield tagger, so for mine it's BJ on Milne.

Harry the new Clement? Sorry, amongst other virtues, James Clement was always reliable. Harry can be fantastic on his day but he can be badly beaten. Perhaps he will learn to be consistent on day - he is still very young - but he has a long, long way to go.

I can remember Johnno playing on Milne a few years back at the dome (2003) I think, when the Aints were playing that full on flood type game plan and left Milne one out in the forward line. BJ done an excellent job on him from recollection that night!

Yep I think BJ is the man to stand Milne!

[Captain_MyCaptain]

Well I'd like to see Heater get the job. He's in great form and could really towel him up!

[Dave The Man]

[Fire Up]

[Dave The Man]

Bryan as Number 1 Ruck - Well I guess that is Very sad that we have no one else.

Great to see Wellingham

[Fire Up]

dave already got it up

[Dave The Man]

dave already got it up

We Both did it about the Same Time

[Dave The Man]

Aints Side:

ST KILDA
B: Leigh Fisher, Max Hudghton, Sean Dempster
HB: Jason Gram, Sam Fisher, Brendon Goddard
C: Nick Dal Santo, Luke Ball, Leigh Montagna
HF: Adam Schneider, Charlie Gardiner, David Armitage
F: Fraser Gehrig, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne
Foll: Steven King, Lenny Hayes, Robert Harvey
Int: Michael Gardiner, Jason Blake, Shane Birss, Raphael Clarke
Emg: Matthew Ferguson, Jarryn Geary, Andrew McQualter

In: Jason Blake, Leigh Fisher, Steven King, Max Hudghton
Out: Nick Riewoldt, Xavier Clarke, Matt Maguire, Steven Baker (all injured)

The O'Dea wannabe is not playing

[Steve86]

[Dave The Man]