Cats and Saints in 2011

[Dry Rot]

How will the Cats and Saints go in 2011?

Do the Saints have much improvement left in their list? They don't seem to much young quality coming through, and their handful of stars won't get any better. Over the last 2 seasons, they have also been blessed with few injuries (Riewoldt aside). Did Gardiner retire? Their ruck stocks don't look too flash either.

The Cats are an interesting one. Obviously there's the loss of Ablett but there's also the perception that many on their list are getting on. Ottens and Chapman are often injured, Hawkins is a spud, Pods exposed against the best teams and Mooney fading. Ditto Scarlett. Will be interesting to see what the new coach can do. Midfield is still very strong, ruck division poor.

Both sides have been in a fixture in the Top 4 recently, but can they repeat that in 2011?

[Remi Moses]

Re: Cats and Saints in 2011

When someone contemplates retirement they're effectively retired.
Stkilda would need another astronomical performance from their top liners to make it back.
Their big hope was that first GF when the pies had all their key players down and they didn't get the job done,a pragmatic saints fan at work reckons they've got little coming through and it's now and possibly the next12 months or bust.
Stkilda are going to pay a massive price for their recycling and in particular last season.
Nothing would give this poster more satisfaction than the smarmy boring cliched windbag coach with his shit boring gameplan fall down the table

As for the catters I think they'll still finish top 6 but it will be a gradual fall.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Cats and Saints in 2011

Nothing would give this poster more satisfaction than the smarmy boring cliched windbag coach with his shit boring gameplan fall down the table.

Amen!

[LostDoggy]

Re: Cats and Saints in 2011

Bottom of the 8 for both.

I just hope we don't join them but I see us top 4 next year.

[chef]

Re: Cats and Saints in 2011

Unless either get hit hard by injury I can't see them slipping to far down the ladder.

The Saints will be up near the top again as they still have a very good side(a lot will come down to hunger).

The Cats on the over hand will drop a little but still finish from 4th-7th.

[GVGjr]

Re: Cats and Saints in 2011

Saints to finish top and the Cats about 5th.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Cats and Saints in 2011

Blimey if Gardiner retires Ben Mcevoy's the number one ruck!
Bit of potential but number one banana,I'm not sure.

[mjp]

Re: Cats and Saints in 2011

The Cats on the over hand will drop a little but still finish from 4th-7th.

If Ottens misses games, if Mooney is as 'gone' as he looked in 2010, if Scarlett keeps slowing down, if Ling and Corey really are finished...

Geelong could be in trouble next year. Even with Ablett it would have been tough...their midfield has lost its pace though (do Bartell and Selwood scare anyone?) and it isn't as if they have great forwards up front to bail them out.

Saints should be fine and that hated game-plan sure is effective.

[chef]

Re: Cats and Saints in 2011

If Ottens misses games, if Mooney is as 'gone' as he looked in 2010, if Scarlett keeps slowing down, if Ling and Corey really are finished...

Geelong could be in trouble next year. Even with Ablett it would have been tough...their midfield has lost its pace though (do Bartell and Selwood scare anyone?) and it isn't as if they have great forwards up front to bail them out.

Saints should be fine and that hated game-plan sure is effective.

I still think they have plenty of talent which will ensure that they don't drop to far to quickly, but a lot will come down to their run with injuries.

Bartel was in very good form this year before he hurt his elbow against the Saints and had to play out the season with an injury that needed surgery, IMO he would scare 16 other clubs.

[mjp]

Re: Cats and Saints in 2011

Bartel was in very good form this year before he hurt his elbow against the Saints and had to play out the season with an injury that needed surgery, IMO he would scare 16 other clubs.

Yeah, but he is a distributor. I don't deny he is a ripper player, but he wont beat you. I feel about Bartel the way supporters of every other club felt about Scooter.

[Mantis]

Re: Cats and Saints in 2011

If Ottens misses games, if Mooney is as 'gone' as he looked in 2010, if Scarlett keeps slowing down, if Ling and Corey really are finished...

Geelong could be in trouble next year. Even with Ablett it would have been tough...their midfield has lost its pace though (do Bartell and Selwood scare anyone?) and it isn't as if they have great forwards up front to bail them out.

Saints should be fine and that hated game-plan sure is effective.

He looked like Usain Bolt against us when they flogged us in rd 20, but no he isn't all that quick.

I also agree with your thoughts that Geelong will fall away... but will be interested to see what Scott does to try and keep them up with the pack.

St.Kilda will be an interesting one... Will Lyon re-jig things a little in the hope that they can close the gap or will they wipe off GF2 as a bad day and stick fat with his tried & tested formula.

[Mofra]

Re: Cats and Saints in 2011

I think Geelong will fall. Besides losing Ablett, Ling limped to the end of the year, and considering Johhno was well past his best in 2010 after having a great year in 2009 (high in B&F count, near the top in AFL assists etc) I expect Ling to be carried during the season.
Scarlett & Mooney will reduce in output, and their tall forward cupboard looks bare unless Mitch Brown comes on (J Pod wont be the difference and I don't rate Hawkins).
Taylor is quality and Lonergan gives them tall back cover so their defence should still stand tall, but they are now firmly back in the pack.

We should overtake the Saints in 2011 - their core group is getting older and possibly more injury prone. Lose one of Montagna, Hayes or Goddard and they are back with the pack - their ruck stocks depend on McEvoy (who I rate) and Kosi (who I don't) being able to back up an aging Gardiner.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Cats and Saints in 2011

Cats 2nd
St Kilda 4th

I think they will decline but I dont see who will improve enough to go past them. We will fumble our way into third, if thats something you can fumble...

[ledge]

Re: Cats and Saints in 2011

I think next season will be a very open year as far as a premiership is concerned, could be a pinched one like Hawthorns and The Crows a few years back.
Lets hope its us!

[LostDoggy]

Re: Cats and Saints in 2011

Cats 2nd
St Kilda 4th

I think they will decline but I dont see who will improve enough to go past them. We will fumble our way into third, if thats something you can fumble...

If Cats finish 2nd Marcov, i'll buy you a slab.