Match Report: https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2022#match-report
The men played a match reunited at our spiritual home against the Hawks as under the lights Hill, Butler, King and co made their debuts in the red white and black!
Posted Feb 20, 2020, 11:03 AM UTC
Obviously can't read too much into it as I think defensive structures weren't really in place by either side but here's my take.
Hill looks like what we've been craving for years, outside run with elite delivery inside 50. Hill and Hunter are going to be our most dangerous weapons going inside 50 in 2020 for sure.
Really liked the forward pressure that Butler, Lonie and even King brought.
The Ryder/Marshall ruck combo is exciting even if Ryder wasn't amazing.
Our ball use out of half back was really poor, especially from Howard and Savage. I think after a few season as a key part of the backline, Savage could be on the outer with Geary, Jones and Roberton all to come in.
Lots to like though and the pace we moved the ball is very exciting. If we have a good run with injuries who knows what the season could hold
Everything seems to be working.
Even our goal kicking was superb!
Gresham in the middle is still a work in progress though. He turned the ball over with some no-look kicks a few too many times. Very Seb Ross-esque.
Seb himself was pretty sedate. Looked a little off tonight, and certainly wasn't the star of the show, despite being the reigning B&F.
Brad Hill looks a million dollars. What a star! Created opportunity after opportunity in the first half, then added some much needed polish when the game threatened to go the Hawks way and helped us hold on to the lead.
The Ryder/Marshall combo works really well. Ryder is a massive pain for defenders when he's forward, and Marshall took a couple of big grabs. Both were solid in the ruck.
Max King dropped a couple of mark opportunities, but more will come. He could be something very special with his height and speed.
Ben Long deserves a mention for his work down back. Super composed in the absence of Geary and Roberton. I love Gears, but he's needed someone to threaten his spot for a while, and I think Long could be that player.
Also Membrey and Steele look fit af. Both played all night and were huge.
I'm liking it, this 2020 Saints. I'm liking it a lot.
Even having not seen the game it's super hard not to get super excited about this season. So many unknowns about the Saints and so many new and fresh and quality faces to prove themselves. I don't wanna get ahead of myself but at least I think we can be pretty competitive this season and hopefully push for 12+ wins
I am 20+ year member who lives in London now, to wake up a 8am and to see brad hill hit targets inside 50 almost brought me to tears. The lid isn’t off yet but I’m up an about. Carn you sainters.
Loved it to bits, and am now too scared to infer this to the rest of the year. But I can’t help feeling stoked for the year ahead.
Anyone know what’s with the mops running about? Love the scraggy hair but curious!
How good was that? I wasn’t at the game but from what I was seeing the atmosphere looked incredible. Real pleasing signs from Clarke, I really liked the Ryder/Marshall combination and our contest work was good especially from Steele and Dunstan. I think Lonie, Butler and Kent all deserve spots, pretty lethal forward setup with Membrey and King. Ben Long looks settled down back also, really great to see.