The only thing as dismal as the Saints record against Port Adelaide was their record at Adelaide Oval. Their most recent outing being a mauling at the hands of the Crows in round one. But to everyone’s surprise, except the most ardent of Saints fans, they have rebounded from that defeat with two very good wins.
Port Adelaide’s only win so far came against Richmond, and that means stuff-all this season. A pair of very disappointing losses either side of that game have given rise to some quick reassessments of the Powers prospects in 2025.
So, a team travelling on the road and spending a week in Adelaide (although apparently not happy about it) against a team that can barely get into a canter.
Should be fun to watch!
Desire is Everything
The tale of this game is best summed up by a quote from Homer Simpson.
“You’ve gotta hand it to those Dolphins, they just wanted it more”.
So, as I sit here, thinking about Ken Hinkley floating out in the Great Australian Bite next to David Koch lamenting this loss, I get the feeling he is quoting this exact line.
I’m a big advocate for more goals is better football, but the inverse can also be true. This match had one patch of 10 minutes in the second quarter where it was just pure will and desire. Players from both sides working desperately hard to make the play and stop the opposition. Working themselves into the ground. Sure, it’s not one-on-one and the style of footy old fuddy-duddies cry out for. But no one can watch that and tell me that football is not at an incredible level. Both tactically and in work rate.
The deadlock was eventually broken by an Ollie Lord goal following Mitch Georgiades running down Liam Stocker.
Then the Saints went bang, bang, bang and killed the momentum the Power had built by breaking the deadlock, as the Lord goal only drove their desire into overdrive.
This happened repeatedly, where the Power would make a big and then the Saints would respond. And not just the big names that will be mentioned later, but players like Windhager, Garcia, Caminiti, Stocker, and Collard. The Power went with them in bursts, led by their best players, but the Saints were ruthless.
The Horny One
Jason Horne-Francis did everything he could to keep the Power in the contest. Despite the loss, you would expect to see his name to be featuring for multiple votes on Brownlow night. This was the Horne-Francis most have been waiting to appear in 2025. Going forward and kicking goals. His manic attack on the ball was elite, and his work around stoppage and through traffic was heroic. He just needed more teammates to come with him.
Big Boss’ Men
There were a few moments in the last quarter where it looked like the Saints were shaky. There was a brilliant rundown tackle by Sam Powell-Pepper on Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. The latter had completed a brilliant running play but went on just too long. In previous seasons, that moment may have triggered a bit of panic and a possible collapse by the Saints.
But not this team.
Not this year.
Coach Ross Lyon has this team well-drilled and confident in their ability to execute when the things get hot in the kitchen.
Three Kings
There should be three names on the GWS Giants whiteboard this week. Jack Macrae, Jack Sinclair, and Nasiah Wangeneen-Milera. If St Kilda are moving the ball with any sort of purpose, it is through one of those three men.
Macrae has come in and become the Saints’ best midfielder by an absolute mile, even though he has a tendency to throw the ball (I guess you can’t take the bulldog out of the player). It’s been said too many times to count, but this guy really couldn’t get a crack in the Bulldogs midfield? Like, at all??? He is the leading contender for the All-Australian Rover position after four rounds.
Macrae has brought a level of class to the Saint stoppage game they did not previously possess. They always had the grunt. Any team featuring Jack Steele will have that in spades. But Macrae has just had the ability to break out the front of stoppages and then make teams pay for it. He has to be made accountable. Not tagged, but you have to have a player who stand next to him, go with him, and then win the footy off him if needed.
Sinclair has just kept on keeping on. The Saints’ biggest weapon for the last three years must be loving life with a bit of support. It’s always nice when you recruit a gun, and another one develops, while your existing weapon is still just as potent. Genuinely unlucky not to be coming off three straight AA guernseys, it’s hard to fathom teams still just let Sinclair run around and do as he likes without much attention.
Wangeneen-Milera has just had the perfect person to mentor him and develop alongside in Sinclair. Quick, skilful, daring halfbacks are what Ross Lyon loves to have in his team. We saw it when he first coached St Kilda, we saw it when he coached Fremantle, and he’s still using it now. Wangeneen-Milera has become the player Lyon has been craving. The Batman to Sinclair’s Superman (because neither of these guys are Robin).
GWS has to send someone to one of these guys and try to ensure the other remains accountable, otherwise they guarantee that they’ll be running amok along the narrow confines of Norwood oval. Toby Bedford… you’re up.
How do you solve a problem like Ratugolea?
For all the size, bulk and good aerial contests “Sav” brings to the team, sheesh he can really make some silly mistakes. There was only one horrendous one today, which didn’t cost a goal, but there are plenty of small ones. They probably stand out due to my familiarity with him at Geelong, but if he just finds a way to get them out of his game, and make the right decision more often, he could quickly rise into the group of elite defenders in the competition.
You Can’t Gather with Us!
Darcy Byrne-Jones won’t feature in Gather Round. It’s something Ken Hinkley just doesn’t need right now, but Byrne Jones very poorly elected to bump and collected Ryan Byrnes straight in the head.
Some basic facts.
He went beyond the line of the ball.
He got him in the head.
He needs to get at least a week.
It does not matter that Byrnes played on. If the AFL is serious about stamping this out and are suspending players for pushing others into contests, then you have to suspend this action.
Where to now?
Things are starting to look ugly at Port Adelaide. 1-3 with two very tough fixtures to come. The Hawks next Sunday night to finish off Gather Round and then a trip to the SCG to play the Swans. Does Ken survive 1-5?
In four weeks’ time, we’ll know exactly where the Saints sit in the scheme of 2025 football. It’s a good start to their season so far, after that hiccup in Round One. A tasty match-up against GWS next Sunday at Norwood Oval, followed by a Sunday night special at Marvel Stadium against the Bulldogs. They host the reigning premiers in Round Seven and then Fremantle in Round Eight.
Four rounds.
Two teams we know will play finals, and two teams who also believe they are in the hunt for finals. Win two, three or hell even four of those matches, and the AFL world will be put on notice that the Saints are on the march…
