Are the Saints better without Riewoldt? | Thebigtip

The hoodoo is broken, vengeance was theirs. Ross Lyon's Hardcore Heroes are back in business, but what does it mean to be finally victorious over their perceived current nemesis?

What is most likely seen by the Saints as a major victory in round 13, not only of the team that vanquished them in last years Grand Final, but a victory over their own long standing stigma since losing that final game in September. Their win over the Cats may create a belief as well as lifting a weight that this year's premiership is very much back in their sights.

In rain drenched conditions under a not so moonlit night, the MCG crowd of 58,000 witnessed good old Melbourne weather football. With the rain came the pain. A hard slog felt all night by both teams especially Geelong, trying to keep up and out of the way of the Saints Marching on through the night.

Wet weather football is the great equaliser as seen with the Tiger's first win of the year against Port, which has now catapulted them and the belief in their game having won 3 games in a row. Will this do the same for the Saints with their wet weather win? Not so much the belief in their game as they have a strong sense of this but in the belief that perhaps the Rock Steady Crew of Bomber Thompson can at times not be so 'Rock Steady'.

Time will tell whether the Saints can relax into their game more now and play the football they know they are capable of playing no matter who their opponents may be. Next week will be another big test. Collingwood are back online with their game after a lil snooze and will be readying themselves for a match made to win. The last time the two teams met the Magpies really had the better of them for 3 quarters until The Saints steadied in the last to make the few plays that mattered to win the game. 

This poses another question... Are the Saints better off without Riewoldt? Players young and old have seemed to finally come together as a team and have all stepped up to the plate. This week's game against Brisbane will be an interesting one so far as the way the Saints do or don't conform now that Saint Nick is back! Schneider and Milne have been having a grand ole time in the forward line while the runners such as Hayes, Montanga, Goddard, Gilbert and Dal Santo have been controlling the ball and clearances with ease. Not to mention the younger players in Stanley, Gwilt, Geary, McEvoy and Stevens who have also come to the foray.

The game against the Woods did come at a high price with injuries to key players as well as the following week's losses and close games. The Saints seemed a little worse for wear following this clash, but a victory over Collingwood next week in round 16, who is currently knocking on the top spot also, will see them truly marching towards a definite Grand Final birth and that long awaited second premiership for the club.