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Round 2 PreGame Articles
Round 1 Articles - St Kilda vs Geelong
Saints Stats Round 1 - Ladder - 2004 scores
Round 1 Images - Getty Images - saints.com.au
Wizard Images - Various Photographers - HeraldSun
Round 2 Essendon vs St Kilda - 7.10pm Sat - Dome
Television: Fox Footy Perth 5.00pm (WA Time) - Live
As-you-were for Saints
The Saints have named an unchanged line-up for Saturday night's round two clash against Essendon at Telstra Dome. The selectors kept faith with the 22 who did a job on the Cats in the opening round last Saturday. Brett Moyle, Josh Houlihan and Troy Schwarze are the three emergencies.
The Article - Sportal - saints.com.au - 01Apr04
All Teams Round 2 - Sportal - afl.com.au - 01Apr04
Interactive Match-Ups - Try your own - This site - 01Apr04
Xavier Clarke Chat Transcript - saints.com.au - 01Apr04
Johnson to miss Saints clash - Angus Morgan/Sportal - saints.com.au - 02Apr04
A whisper about Membership - Saintsational Fan Forum
Reward for Saintly recruiting patience
A massive clean-out and a canny investment in youth is starting to pay off for St Kilda, reports Robert Walls. The AFL rewards down-and-out clubs by giving them early draft picks and this has been the salvation of the Saints. But it goes beyond just getting the early picks. The best decision of the Saints hierarchy has been its firm resolve in not trading its very early selections for quality but ageing players from other clubs. The temptations would have been there to trade for some instant success. But to their eternal credit they did not. The policy has been to select the best young talent available and then to nurture it. It's a policy that St Kilda fans have accepted and appreciated, as they now believe that their patience will be rewarded.
The Article - Robert Walls - TheAge - 03Apr04
Game caught in ebbs and flows of financial tide - Patrick Smith - TheAustralian - 03Apr04
Sheedy expects a packed house
. . . "Both sides are quite balanced in terms of experience and youth. Probably at the moment you'd have to say St Kilda's younger players are perhaps better than ours," he said. "But their experienced players are playing right up to their best - they have been very, very good. I'm talking about Thompson coming off the bench and Powell. Robert Harvey in the grand final of the Wizard Cup was sensational. Aussie Jones and Gehrig - they're playing very well."
The Article - essendonfc.com.au - 02Mar03
Dons' coach turns on Hamill
Aaron Hamill's rugged style of play has again been highlighted - this time by Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy ahead of Saturday night's clash with St Kilda. A controversial figure before the Wizard Cup final when he was criticised by Geelong coach Mark Thompson and acting captain Brenton Sanderson, Hamill yesterday drew Sheedy's scrutiny. Admitting he was unconcerned over Hamill's physical style, Sheedy recalled the Saint forward's collision with Justin Murphy in a Wizard Cup semi-final.
The Article - Leo Schlink - HeraldSun - 01Apr04
Teams: Dons, Crows react savagely - Michael Stevens - HeraldSun - 02Apr04
Bombers, Magpies ring in changes - Melissa Ryan - TheAge - 02Apr04
Riewoldt pulls punches
In a brief but spectacular AFL career, Nick Riewoldt has challenged several football orthodoxies. One is that footballers built to hold down key positions are not meant to run as fast or as far as Riewoldt does. A second is that footballers of any size are not supposed to win club championships in their first senior season, as Riewoldt did at age 19. But anyone interested in departing from another orthodoxy - the culture that demands footballers protect one another whenever they appear before the tribunal - would be disappointed in Riewoldt's evidence against Matthew Scarlett two nights ago.
The Article - Chip Le Grand - TheAustralian - 01Apr04
Saints poised if White, Melbourne part ways
The marriage between Jeff White and the Melbourne Football Club isn't working and, for the welfare of both parties, a divorce should be considered . . . But there is one great White hope for a resurrection: St Kilda. The Saints are surging up the ladder, have a frightening young list and could arrive in premiership contention ahead of schedule - maybe even this year . . . Yet, they have no ready-made ruckman. Battling Trent Knobel should be a back-up, rather than a frontline follower. Barry Brooks is a kid nursing a reconstructed knee. Their rucking depth is so dire that 190-centimetre Matt Maguire and the accident-prone Justin Koschitzke have become part-time Polyfillas.
The Article - Jake Niall - TheAge - 01Apr04
Interesting article in the age - Saintsational Fan Forum
Sheedy: time to restore some pride
Essendon is coming off one of its worst defeats in the past decade, but Kevin Sheedy is confident his team can change its fortune this weekend and restore some pride. "It's not impossible for us to win this week. The boys played St. Kilda, three to four weeks ago. We know where they are at and exactly what their performances are and we will probably make a few changes that will freshen the team up," Sheedy said.
The Article - essendonfc.com.au - 31Mar03
How much evidence do you need, Brian?
What is beyond dispute is that video evidence shows Scarlett making unprovoked contact to Riewoldt in the neck/throat region behind the play, with Riewoldt then going to ground and off the field. When evidence reveals he spent 15 minutes and maybe longer on the sidelines as a result of the contact, something serious has happened. Even Geelong's relieved coach Mark Thompson was prepared to say yesterday: "Matthew's got to learn from this." The incident has prompted suggestions Riewoldt is a target of opposition teams.
The Article - HeraldSun - 01Apr04
For the Sheahan Haters . . . - Saintsational Fan Forum
Sheedy warns of Saints' strengths
The in-form St. Kilda poses a massive threat to the Bombers this Saturday night. With a potent forward structure including Fraser Gehrig, Aaron Hamill and Nick Reiwoldt, Essendon will have its work cut out. Kevin Sheedy was quick to highlight his opponents' strengths, while pointing out there is plenty of room for improvement in his side - a crucial factor if the Dons are to be successful in Round 2. "They (St. Kilda) have been strong. Every club in the competition know that they have been strong. That's going to be the framework and the structure of the St. Kilda footy club for years to come," he said.
The Article - essendonfc.com.au - 31Mar03
STUFF IT . . . I'M TAKING IT OFF
Halleluiah brothers . . . I've just removed 'that lid' - for too long the weight of 'that lid' hanging over our shoulders has become too heavy to carry . . . to think I was happy to wait until 2006 to take out the biggie. With the lid removed I can't see any point in waiting another 2 yrs. The flag is ours this year . . . stocking up the esky as I speak.
1/ The flag
2/ 30,000 members
3/ Million buck profit
Roger has 'come out' - Saintsational Fan Forum Thread
Riewoldt doesn't strike the Saints as a victim
Nick Riewoldt will not be put off his game by opponents who target him, according to St Kilda football manager Matt Rendell. The comments came after Riewoldt this week made his fifth tribunal appearance as a "victim" in 28 matches . . . "Even though he can probably drive to the tribunal in his sleep, he is not unfairly targeted - he is just in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said.
The Article - Peter Ker - TheAge - 01Apr04
Saint Nick on the hit list - Damian Barrett - HeraldSun - 01Apr04
Sheedy vows to drop Bombers
Kevin Sheedy yesterday flagged a host of changes at Windy Hill as Essendon attempts to rebound against pace-setting St Kilda. Thrashed by 96 points by Port Adelaide with a performance described by its captain James Hird as "infuriatingly embarrassing", Essendon will ring the changes at the selection table tonight. "We could probably make between three and five (changes)," Sheedy said yesterday, warning his charges complacency at training would lead to automatic demotion. And they'd be changes with experienced players, really".
The Article - Leo Schlink - HeraldSun - 01Apr04
Sheedy to wield axe- Len Johnson - TheAge - 01Apr04
Saints ignoring history
Saints football manager Matt Rendell has described the club's recent poor record against Essendon as 'pretty irrelevant' heading in to the round two clash, citing St.Kilda's inability to run out with its best side as the primary reason. "We haven't had very good teams when we've played them. That often reflects some of the thrashings you get in games. If you're missing those key players, you can get flogged. An under-strength Bombers outfit suffered a 96-point thrashing at the hands of Port Adelaide in round one, but Rendell is expecting a tough contest against them this weekend. Essendon are never vulnerable. They'll bounce back. (They are a) good team with a lot of pride and a great record."
The Article
Jordan Chong/Sportal - saints.com.au - 31Mar04
Essendon and Richmond games are fully ticketed!
Please note that this weekend's game Essendon v St Kilda is a fully ticketed away game. This means that all people entering the stadium must have a Ticketmaster ticket this includes 16 game memberships. Tickets are available from any Ticketmaster7 outlet or at the box office on the day if not all sold out! The St Kilda v Richmond match (Easter Monday 12th April) has been declared a fully ticketed game. Although this is a Home game - all members must have a Ticketmaster7 ticket with the exception of Reserved Seat Holders. Reserved Seat Members may scan through the turnstiles as normal.
Saints Noticeboard - saints.com.au
AFL fans scramble for seats - Shaun Phillips - HeraldSun - 01Apr04
Hird: A lesson learned, time to move on
To say we have made an ordinary start to our 2004 season is an under-statement. We played some very poor football against Port Adelaide yesterday. And I agree with the coach, what we produced was inexcusable. I can assure our fans the players are every bit as disappointed as they undoubtedly are. But you have to move on and we will work very hard to right the ship against St Kilda this Saturday night. Statistically, we just didn't win enough of the football. Port Adelaide had 90 more possessions than we did and you aren't going to win many games of football with that discrepancy. And it also highlighted the fact that we fell away badly after quarter time. We started okay and had two less kicks than Port at the first break yet finished 43 behind them at the finish of the game.
The Article - James Hird - essendonfc.com.au - 01Apr04
Jumper for Bombers clash
Karnaby: 'If the AFL is going to be proactive about jumper clashes I'm really looking forward to see what they are "going to put" Essendon in for the return match when it's our home game'.
Forum Thread - Saintsational Fan Forum
Road-weary Dons put on easy street
Kevin Sheedy has ordered a light week on the track, fearful a pre-season spent racking up frequent-flyer points played a role in Sunday's embarrassing blowout.The Essendon coach said last night his players deserved a break after again being forced to travel to confront Port Adelaide in Round 1. "We have been away a hell of a lot over the last six weeks and it probably topped it off having a first game away against Port," Sheedy said. "In fairness to the players, we'll have a very quiet week this week."
The Article - Mark Stevens - HeraldSun - 30Mar04
Bombers Matchups & other fabulous fortunes - Bigred - Saintsational Fan Forum
Thomas lauds Saints' composure
A proud St.Kilda coach Grant Thomas praised the way his players showed tremendous camaraderie and spirit during Saturday night's thumping win over Geelong . . . Despite the best endeavours of all concerned down at Moorabbin, Thomas went into the game uncertain about how his team would perform, considering the off-field dramas that have afflicted the club in recent weeks.
The Article - Jordan Chong/sportal - saints.com.au - 29Mar04
Saints march on - ABC Sport - abc.net.au - 28Mar04
Daniher moves in at Saints, and Cats cop Terry towelling
For most of the pre-season, Essendon's dual premiership captain Terry Daniher was clubless and out of work . . . Sacked by Collingwood to make room for Guy McKenna, eventually he was tossed an assistant coaching lifeline by St Kilda in one of the last appointments for the season. Daniher is in charge of the Saints' attack which continued from its Wizard Cup triumph with a breathtaking 61-point win over Geelong at Telstra Dome on Saturday night. Tall targets Fraser Gehrig and Nick Riewoldt, strong-leading Aaron Hamill and hungry retriever Stephen Milne shared 15 of St Kilda's 19 goals as the Saints doubled the Cats' tally.
The Article - Bruce Matthews - HeraldSun - 29Mar04
AFL erred in jumper clash
The AFL has conceded it made a mistake in allowing a jumper clash between the Western Bulldogs and West Coast to occur in the match at Telstra Dome on Sunday. AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson said the league should have ordered West Coast to avoid wearing a uniform dominated by royal blue. "We're going to put St Kilda in their heritage guernsey with white shorts," Anderson said.
The Article - Peter Ker - TheAge - 30Mar04
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