2nd Semi Final Results & Post-Game Articles
St Kilda: 1.4 5.6 10.9 16.11 (107)
Sydney: 2.3 4.4 7.4 8.8 (56)
Goals: St Kilda: Gehrig 6, Milne 4, Baker, Ball, Dal Santo, Koschitzke, Peckett, Riewoldt
Sydney: Hall 2, Ball, J.Bolton, Buchanan, Nicks, O'Keefe, O'Loughlin
Best: St Kilda: Riewoldt, Gehrig, Jones, Harvey, Dal Santo, Thompson, Powell, Peckett, Ball, Blake, Hayes
Sydney: J.Bolton, Maxfield, Kirk, Buchanan, Ball, Crouch
Injuries: Sydney: Mathews (ankle), O'Loughlin (corked thigh), Williams (corked thigh)
Changes: St Kilda: Black replaced in selected side by Guerra
Umpires: Allan, McLaren, McInerney
Crowd: 50,671 at MCG
Saints show sorry Swans how to get kicks
. . . Given the growth in the trendy sport of Thomas bashing, people were queueing for a free hit at the St Kilda coach. Thomas, though, had a trick up his sleeve. The Saints gradually took control, overpowering Sydney from midway through the second quarter, winning by 51 points and assuring themselves of a top-four finish. Thomas was prepared to acknowledge, by his actions, mistakes of the previous week in Brisbane.
The Article - Mike Sheahan - HeraldSun - 13Sept04
Plenty of fight in St Kilda
. . . "We've got a very interesting two hours next week," Thomas said. "I think they (Port) have very definitely decided that this is the year they've got to win some respect in relation to finals performances. As a bare minimum, they would expect to play in a Grand Final. They need to overcome us first." Thomas said he was confident the Saints could have an impact deep in enemy territory if his players could match the intensity and attitude on display at a rain-soaked MCG. "If ever you want to find out about yourself it's always best to get down and get dirty," Thomas said. "Full credit to the players. They lifted. They're the ones out there putting their bodies on the line in very difficult situations. It shows me that this finals series isn't over yet. This means a lot to them and the club means a lot to them. They're serious about creating their own history" . . .
The Article - Mark Stevens - TheAustralian - 11Sept04
Swans sink at wet MCG - Bruce Matthews - TheAustralian - 11Sept04
Let the mind games begin
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas has wasted little time reminding Port Adelaide of its poor finals record - declaring all the pressure will be on the Power to win next Friday night's preliminary final at AAMI Stadium. Within minutes of his team's 51-point demolition of Sydney in Friday night's MCG semi-final, Thomas already had the minor premiers in his sights as he immediately began the mind games ahead of next week's eagerly-awaited showdown. St Kilda has not beaten Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium since 1997, has not beaten them anywhere since 2000 and has lost their past six games against Mark Williams' team but Thomas said his team would relish being underdogs next week. And despite Port appearing to bury its finals hoodoo by beating Geelong at AAMI Stadium in last week's qualifying final - Thomas declared that would count for nothing if Port failed to make the most of its home state advantage next week and reach its first grand final.
The Article - Paul Gough/Sportal - saints.com.au - 10Sept04
Pride, embarrassment help St Kilda deliver
(Thomas) . . . "The thing I'm most pleased about is that there was no magic potions, no magic pills, no magic motivations . . . What it was was pure, unadulterated determination to succeed for the team and for the club." . . . "I think our performance has always been underpinned by our effort and you always look at all of our good efforts these years and it usually ended up in a win, so the guys were embarrassed last week," he said. "We were terrible, they were terrible against Brisbane for two games over 12 days and we don't walk away from that and we were embarrassed by our performances as a club, a coaching staff and a playing group. We needed to respond tonight and full credit to the players, they lifted and I'm very proud of their performance." Although Thomas conceded that because his side won, he must have coached better than last week, he refused to take credit for the side's performance. "They're the ones that turned it around, they're the guys that actually responded, they're the ones out there putting their bodies on the line in very difficult situations. And it shows me that this finals series isn't over yet, that it means a lot to them and the club means a lot to them and they're serious about creating their own history, how they want to do it," he said.
The Article - Lyall Johnson, Melissa Ryan - TheAge - 11Sept04
Lavish praise for Harvey
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas paid special tribute to his veteran champion Robert Harvey saying the dual Brownlow Medalist symbolised the Saints' form revival, against Sydney in Friday night's semi-final at the MCG. A week after playing one of the worst games in his distinguished 299 game career during last week's 80 point loss to Brisbane in the qualifying final at the Gabba, the 33-year-old was best afield in the Saints' 16.11 (107) to 8.8 (56) victory. The victory not only keeps alive Harvey's dream of a first premiership medallion but means he will play his 300th game in next week's preliminary final against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. Thomas predicted in the week leading up the Swans clash that Harvey, who had just 10 touches against the Lions, would be back to his best and the 1997 and 1998 Brownlow winner repaid his coaches' faith with 26 disposals as he relished the wet conditions.
The Article - Paul Gough/Sportal - saints.com.au - 10Sept04
Plenty of fight in Thomas' troops
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas last night declared the club's finals tilt had plenty of legs left, relishing the chance to turn into the hunter against Port Adelaide. The Saints, revitalised as a hard-nosed outfit in a 51-point semi-final demolition of Sydney, confront Port at AAMI Stadium on Friday night for a Grand Final berth. "We've got a very interesting two hours next week," Thomas said. "I think they (Port) have very definitely decided that this is the year they've got to win some respect in relation to finals performances. As a bare minimum, they would expect to play in a Grand Final. They need to overcome us first."
The Article - Mark Stevens - HeraldSun - 11Sept04
Saints revel in rain - TheAustralian - 11Sept04
Saints too slick for Swans
. . . Yet the Saints stuck fast, their strong suit not so much the young, silky, skilled superstars who have grabbed most of the headlines during St Kilda's revival this season, but the stronger-bodied experienced hands, such as Andrew Thompson, Stephen Powell, Robert Harvey, and even Justin Peckett, playing potentially his last game of AFL football. For all the doubts, St Kilda trailed by only five points at quarter-time. Again, at the start of the second term, the Saints seemed to be in trouble, dominating the opening eight minutes of play - the ball almost exclusively in their forward line - yet with Sydney conjuring two goals in a couple of minutes to lead by 10 points. It seemed a classic case of wasted opportunities. But the Saints promptly struck back with three goals in five minutes to take an eight-point lead into half-time.
The Article - Rohan Connolly - TheAge - 11Sept04
Saints march into preliminary final
St Kilda has kept its premiership hopes alive with a 51-point win over Sydney in the AFL semi-final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Saints now move on to a preliminary final against Port Adelaide, while the Swans bow out for season 2004. St Kilda trailed by five points at the first change but kicked 15 goals to Sydney's six in the final three quarters to win 16.11 (107) to 8.8 (56). Fraser Gehrig and Nick Riewoldt starred for St Kilda - Gehrig kicking six goals while Nick Riewoldt notched up 15 kicks, six handballs, 21 touches and 12 marks. Stephen Milne, recalled for the match after an up and down season, impressed with four goals, while veterans Roberty Harvey (26 touches) and Andrew Thompson (20 touches) made their mark on the game.
The Article - Katie Franklin - ABC Sport - 11Sept04
Subi name sale to fund stand
The WA Football Commission will consider offering the naming and management rights for Subiaco Oval to private property developers to help underpin a major redevelopment proposal for the premier sporting venue . . . "The naming rights of Subiaco Oval could be incorporated into the funding package," the documents state. "At present, the WAFC manages Subiaco Oval. However, the WAFC may consider proposals which incorporate management rights as part of their funding package."
The Article - WestAustralian - 11Sept04
|
ARTICLE ARCHIVES: 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006
