A funny thing happened a couple of seasons ago.
To open the year, the Saints had a rash of injuries that had some experts declaring them a bottom-four list. They lost player after player, and ended up with a skeleton crew of experienced players, and a bunch of kids by the time the first round rolled around.
Do you remember what occurred ove rthe ensuing month?
They started winning.
Backing their system and their kids, the young Saints ended up confounding many and playing finals that year, which is probably what made 2024 so disappointing. We saw what they were capable of when their backs were to the wall and we expected it again. Sadly, it didn’t start happening until the season was in its last third.
And where are we in 2025?
The Saints look like entering the home and away season with a new raft of injuries again. Their supporters are rolling their eyes, wondering what will happen next. And yet, in their match sim against the Blues, the Saints pulled together, fought back against an early Carlton onslaught, and simply outworked their more fancied opponent.
It’s the Ross Lyon blueprint, and we saw it in full effect in this game.
Let’s jump into The Mongrel’s Talking Points from the Saints’ match sim win over Carlton.
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