Saints match thread

[NMWBloods]

Last night was different, and you could see players being switched around to create mismatches, drag opponents away from the action.

One of my favourite changes last night was putting Kennelly into the forward line onto the loose (and suspect) X Clarke.

The most pleasing aspect of the game for me was the way the Swans worked their way through their flooded forward line. Delivery forward still left a lot to be desired but it was a massive improvement on the games earlier in the season. Their switching around in their own half seemed to have more purpose and frequently they were able to find someone just past the centre with finally some space to run and deliver a purposeful kick forwards.

Except for the second quarter, I felt that we were in reasonable control of the game, which was a good sign.

And finally, the return of the Monty we all know and love was telling. For the past two seasons he's been the cleverest player we have in working just outside the 50 to create a quality scoring opportunity. And last night he delivered again against a quality, disciplined opposition. Could be the most important factor of all towards a charge to a top 4 spot - and beyond.

Isn't he fantastic in a crowd!!

[liz]

One of my favourite changes last night was putting Kennelly into the forward line onto the loose (and suspect) X Clarke.

That - plus the obvious one of starting Macca deep in the forward line. Was very surprising that Lyon kept Dal Santo on him for so long but was a double win for us.

[stellation]

At the risk of seeming overly Davocentric (I'm sure I don't come across as overly Davocentric usually ) I thought that it was very clever to have him play from FF for the first half and drag Fisher right out of the play, his move up the ground in the 3rd quarter brought some fresh legs in and apart from his own goal he also had 2 long kicks I50 that resulted in goals. Fisher went into the game as the Saints #1 high possie defender (averaging 21.3 per game and 5.1 r50 per game- to put that in perspective Malceski went in to the game averaging 21.3 and 4.9) and ended up with 10 disposals for the night (along with 8 marks so lord knows how many of his 10 came from chipping it around in the back half). On TV Davis would have been pretty much unsighted in the first half, but at the game you could see him busting a gut (as they say) doing a good job covering Fisher when the Saints had the ball, taking him deep to the line and leading him away from contests when we had the ball. Good coaching (I will admit it!) and good execution.

[Nico]

At the risk of seeming overly Davocentric (I'm sure I don't come across as overly Davocentric usually ) I thought that it was very clever to have him play from FF for the first half and drag Fisher right out of the play, his move up the ground in the 3rd quarter brought some fresh legs in and apart from his own goal he also had 2 long kicks I50 that resulted in goals. Fisher went into the game as the Saints #1 high possie defender (averaging 21.3 per game and 5.1 r50 per game- to put that in perspective Malceski went in to the game averaging 21.3 and 4.9) and ended up with 10 disposals for the night (along with 8 marks so lord knows how many of his 10 came from chipping it around in the back half). On TV Davis would have been pretty much unsighted in the first half, but at the game you could see him busting a gut (as they say) doing a good job covering Fisher when the Saints had the ball, taking him deep to the line and leading him away from contests when we had the ball. Good coaching (I will admit it!) and good execution.

Now that is one brilliant observation.

[Mr_Juicy]

Now that is one brilliant observation.

If it were true. Anyone else at the game notice this?

[NMWBloods]

I did notice on TV that Fisher was not involved at all and managed just 10 disposals, half his normal average.

[liz]

If it were true. Anyone else at the game notice this?

It is certainly true that

a) Sam Fisher had very little influence on the game
b) Davis was his opponent for much - if not all - the game.

And yes, Davis was doing a lot of running that wasn't rewarded by stats.

I think it was all round a good team effort in the sense that lots of players seemed willing to sacrifice their own games at various times for the sake of the team gelling.

[Mr_Juicy]

It is certainly true that

a) Sam Fisher had very little influence on the game
b) Davis was his opponent for much - if not all - the game.

And yes, Davis was doing a lot of running that wasn't rewarded by stats.

I think it was all round a good team effort in the sense that lots of players seemed willing to sacrifice their own games at various times for the sake of the team gelling.

Well I apologise profusely to you stella. Can never be sure of truth or fiction when you post about Davo.