Rnd 20 MDT. Sydney V Port Adelaide. SCG. 13.45pm.

[CureTheSane]

Towers was pretty good today

[liz]

Well the AFL took away the "go home factor allowance" at the behest of McGuire and have now created a monster for themselves, with so many of their young players going home in the 2 last few seasons. They have effectively stuffed the game in Queensland. I hope Gill and his dopey mates are squirming in their deck chairs.

Yep. And while the Suns aren't quite as much of a basket case as the Lions, you have the Melbourne clubs all circling the likes of Prestia and O'Meara like vultures. Swallow will probably be next (next season). These are the players that need to be encouraged to stay and make their mark in the new market.

[graemed]

Rnd 20 MDT. Sydney V Port Adelaide. SCG. 13.45pm.

Led by two players in Grundy and Rampe who are in career best form (in particular Rampe who is just playing superbly), aided by a clear superstar in the making in Mills, and aided by some older heads, it is a unit that is playing so very well and is able to deal with a lot of pressure. !

The current backline is playing the brand of footy that wins games and hopefully finals. There is no doubt that Grundy, Mills, Allir and Rampe are playing great perhaps career best footy but Smith for me is the player that sets the tone down there and his calm bravery is an understated but crucial ingredient in their success.

[Mountain Man]

I'm still liking X.

Competes really well, and making space. Scoring as well.

Probably goes when/if Tippett or Reid return, but great for structure at the moment.

[Primmy]

YOu would have missed this if watching on the teve, but the crowd went OFF after Rampe kicked the goal, and kept it up until well after he reached the bench for his manditory sit down. It was hilarious.

I do love AA. I really do.
Kudos to Luke and Mitch, they did a heap of work.
The ground was soggy. The goal square my end was mud. I'd call the track heavy.
I binocular watched the docs testing Gary and assessing there was no structural damage to his hip/bum. I think they assessed he would be better running off the corkie as how do you sit with ice on your backside?
Rampe is for me another Marty, but maybe better. Last minute stuff, never take anything for granted, see the fight through to the end.
I doubt Tom is going to do much head throwing in the future, they were laughing but ..... just as well we had my favourite ump on the ground, he is the coolest head ever (Bannister)
Kudos to our ruckmen. That's it. Salute from me. And
So entertaining to have another Richards out there. He is so damned thin it worries me but its all sinew etc, Called it before but he wlll be just fine. We have a keeper.
Oh Towers. When he is good he is terrific. But he takes stuff up to a whole new level, but then goes back into the fray and fixes it if he can, so seconds and thirds are to be acknowledged.
Heeney. Heee's baack!!!

I do approve of the way the coaches and staff are managing our mob. I really do

[aguy]

YOu would have missed this if watching on the teve, but the crowd went OFF after Rampe kicked the goal, and kept it up until well after he reached the bench for his manditory sit down. It was hilarious.

I do love AA. I really do.
Kudos to Luke and Mitch, they did a heap of work.
The ground was soggy. The goal square my end was mud. I'd call the track heavy.
I binocular watched the docs testing Gary and assessing there was no structural damage to his hip/bum. I think they assessed he would be better running off the corkie as how do you sit with ice on your backside?
Rampe is for me another Marty, but maybe better. Last minute stuff, never take anything for granted, see the fight through to the end.
I doubt Tom is going to do much head throwing in the future, they were laughing but ..... just as well we had my favourite ump on the ground, he is the coolest head ever (Bannister)
Kudos to our ruckmen. That's it. Salute from me. And
So entertaining to have another Richards out there. He is so damned thin it worries me but its all sinew etc, Called it before but he wlll be just fine. We have a keeper.
Oh Towers. When he is good he is terrific. But he takes stuff up to a whole new level, but then goes back into the fray and fixes it if he can, so seconds and thirds are to be acknowledged.
Heeney. Heee's baack!!!

I do approve of the way the coaches and staff are managing our mob. I really do

Well said. I love little Ted in the team. And apart from the win my favourite part of the game was he long rapturous applause for rampe's goal

[Maltopia]

What was also great about the win was the youth in the squad - 7 players with less than 30 games (Towers the most at 28) plus Heeney at 31 games. Then there is Jones (29 games) who is in our top 22 plus, BJ (27 games), Robinson (11 games), Rose (7 games) still in the wings.

[Mel_C]

YOu would have missed this if watching on the teve, but the crowd went OFF after Rampe kicked the goal, and kept it up until well after he reached the bench for his manditory sit down. It was hilarious.

You could hear the applause and cheering on the tv and the camera followed him all the way to the bench. Buddy and co who were on the bench at the time were going nuts!

[rojo]

What a great win! They played so well even in the last quarter, and even though there are still a few things to work on. As has been mentioned by others the merit lies in that it was achieved with so many inexperienced players on board.

Richards 5 games
Naismith 6
Aliir 7
Nankervis 10
Papley 13
Hewett 17
Mills 18
--------
Towers 28
Heeney 31

Even Mitchell 58, Lloyd 62, Harry 67 and Rohan 72 are closer to 50 games than 100.

So in that perspective it was quite amazing! Makes you realise that the 'experienced' players which includes Hanners, Parks and Rampe are playing out of their skins.

[i'm-uninformed2]

All of the above.

Plus, reckon X has been important structurally. We play three talks forward. Buddy's best roaming up, round and back. The resting ruck can plonk 20 out and make contests. X actually leads at the ball, though, whether from the square or to provide a link up the ground. He's been surprisingly impressive for me and playing that role straightens us up and gives us choices going forward rather than looking to Bud or bombing away blindly. It's why I've always preferred Rohan forward too as he tends to do the same.

- - - Updated - - -

PS: the Saints will be a tough, danger match next week.

[Meg]

- - - Updated - - -

PS: the Saints will be a tough, danger match next week.

Yes indeed. Can someone who has watched today's match tell me how good do the Saints look? Or did Carlton play terribly?

[longmile]

Saints have looked awesome on their home deck at Ethihad and they're still playing for a finals chance (though incrediby slight), theyre going to be tough to beat

[goswannies]

Saints have looked awesome on their home deck at Ethihad and they're still playing for a finals chance (though incrediby slight), theyre going to be tough to beat

Hopefully we'll have some insight into curbing Membrey

[giant]

Tremendous win, really playing with some great endeavour and not a little polish. Great to see the mids scoring goals, we look a much better team when that's happening. Seems to be a much better sense of belief in the youngsters than even 4-5 weeks ago. Fun to watch.

[111431]

Yes indeed. Can someone who has watched today's match tell me how good do the Saints look? Or did Carlton play terribly?

Went to the game today. saints very quick and move the ball quickly. They will be a difficult opponent. blues looked they were ready to go to Bali