Sizzling Saints Keep Marching Post by: James Brayshaw 10 August, 2009 - 1:08 PM

(AFL/Slattery Images)

What a performance from St Kilda on the weekend ... it goes down as one of the most awesome displays of a team carrying out a plan I have ever seen.

Seven of their best ten players out of the side and they still beat a really good opponent comfortably. On the way to doing that they laid 115 tackles, an AFL/VFL record and none of those resulted in a free kick against ... it's unbelievable when you stop and think about it.

They just gave the Hawks players no-where to go. Their structure through the ground was never broken down, if a Hawthorn defender did manage to get himself clear he looked upfield, there was nothing available. The numbers were always with the Saints and when they won the football back they used it, in difficult conditions, amazingly well.I was blown away by how seven brand new players could come into a side that has hardly changed in four months and execute a plan so brilliantly, it was incredible.

After that display I am convinced they will win the premiership this year. They have an X Factor, a sizzle, I don't know what the hell it is but they have it. The Hawks had it last year, the Cats the year before ... it's like they have an extra couple of players on the field! They play for each other, they believe completely in the plan Ross Lyon has put together and they look like they know they can't be beaten.

Put Riewoldt, Montagna, Hayes, Dal Santo, Fisher, Gilbert etc back into that team and I just can't see them dropping a game! The other frightening thing for opposition clubs is, if any of their front liners miss for any reason, they have one of those seven to bring back in!

Do they need to drop a game? Maybe they do and maybe they will but I don't reckon it matters now, they have been severely tested by Geelong and Sydney, they have managed to get through and I have always thought that winning those close ones strengthens a teams belief even more!

It was just great watching St Kilda on the weekend and in recognition of the most complete defensive performance I have ever seen ... they ... as a team ... win my MVP for round 19!!!

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• Gobber Zing says

  Bring on September. I have to agree with JB, The Saints were pretty goody back in 2003, but nothing like this team. Their attack at the ball is second to none. That's why they're on top.

  Posted Monday 10 August, 2009 1:12 PM