Team v St Kilda

[Young Blood]

I'm really annoyed that Richards is yet to miss a game this season.

IMO he's in our best 22, but not as a KP player. He's really been played out of position all year, to cover for LRT. I just hope that he's got enough confidence left to contribute for the last 2 months.

[Jewels]

IMO he's in our best 22, but not as a KP player. He's really been played out of position all year, to cover for LRT. I just hope that he's got enough confidence left to contribute for the last 2 months.

Yep, reckon your right. I think (hope) we'll see a very different Super Ted now that Louies back in town.

[Ludwig]

IMO he's in our best 22, but not as a KP player. He's really been played out of position all year, to cover for LRT. I just hope that he's got enough confidence left to contribute for the last 2 months.

Always felt he had the tools to be a good player, but is not a key defender. I think his best position is the one that ROK has been playing the last few years. If you think about the last GF, he was terrific running around the midfield. Caused a huge amount of havoc and was very disruptive to the Eagles getting the ball out of their defensive half.

Would like to see him match up on Sam Fisher in this game and keep him from playing the loose man in defence. Also would allow ROK to play closer to goal where he has been damaging in recent weeks.

If LRT plays up to last year's standard it could allow Richards to move forward or play a loose man in defence where he seems to do much better.

[Plugger46]

"And the man who started it all......the schniederman.....kicks his third for the quarter...and they are into the grand final"

Still sends shivers down the spine that one.

[reigning premier]

I/C: Peter Everitt, Nic Fosdike, Ted Richards, Lewis Roberts-Thomson

That... Is one very tall bench.....

Will it have the legs come Q4??

I wouldn't mind seeing Schmidt on there (or somwhere), to give us a bit more leg speed....

[NMWBloods]

I agree - we look too top-heavy. Richards should be out for a midfielder (preferably Schmidt).

[Xie Shan]

I'm really annoyed that Richards is yet to miss a game this season.

I was thinking about that. Maybe he's built up some 'credits' (as much as I hate that word) for his performance in the 2nd half of the GF. Like premiership credits, only earned in a losing side. He could have used a week or two in the ressies to get his confidence back, it worked really well for Buchanan and Schneider.

[stellation]

Would Schmidt give us more leg speed than Richards? Who is quicker? Stupid question, just popped into my head

[shaun..]

I was thinking about that. Maybe he's built up some 'credits' (as much as I hate that word) for his performance in the 2nd half of the GF. Like premiership credits, only earned in a losing side. He could have used a week or two in the ressies to get his confidence back, it worked really well for Buchanan and Schneider.

If we had a fit and running LRT on the paddock, Teddy would've been in the reserves for a couple of weeks for his poor form. But since we lacked height down back he remained in the side.

[ugg]

With LRT back in the side, Teddy can be pushed forward or play as the 'floater' across halfback. I think these are better positions for him than as a key backman.

[Ludwig]

Leo in Doubt

Just read that Leo is in doubt for the game:

Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos says co-captain Leo Barry is still in doubt for Saturday night's crucial AFL match with St Kilda at Telstra Stadium.

The Swans fullback, who has missed the past fortnight with a hamstring injury, has been named to make his return against the Saints.

But following an unsatisfactory training performance on Thursday night, Roos conceded Barry was no certainty.

"We've still got some doubt on Leo, he couldn't do as much as we would have liked last night," Roos said.

"We'll wait until tomorrow because he's a quality player and give him every chance to play."

[top40]

One of my favourite games of all time.

Certainly for me that 2005 Preliminary Final represented a massive celebration compared with the Geelong- Semi Final and Eagles-Grand Final of that year. In those latter games I had with members of my young family with me, (eg my then 6 year son for the Grand Final). For the Saints game I went to Melbourne from Sydney all by myself. What a night! Started with club fans at the LexisCentre across the road. The game, especially that last quarter was a classic. (Only spoil was some very bad tempered St Kilda fans nearby). Then, once that final siren went, (with Darren Jolly holding the ball), it was party time...until 4 in the morning.

[shaun..]

Personally, i'm not to thrilled on a back 6 that would include LRT, Teddy and Grundy in their current form and status, if Leo is unable to play. But I reckon Bolton will have a blinder on Riewoldt. When they last played, iirc, Bolton had some injury problems from the previous week (corked thigh?) which gave Riewoldt a huge advantage. Can LRT/Teddy contain Gehrig/Kosi? It wouldn't matter so much if our midfielders turn up!

[liz]

Can LRT/Teddy contain Gehrig/Kosi?

Gehrig is the problem. For Kosi there is always the option of Spida and Jolly - either by using them as defenders in rotation or, more ideally, sending one of them forward to force Kosi to go and play on them at our end of the ground. Clarke's out of the team so I think the only ruck other than Kosi in the Saints team is Rix. That suggests Kosi is going to have to play on the ball for at least part of the game.