2004 Post-Season Articles
Ambition stretches to captaincy
St kilda's talent-laden midfielder Luke Ball said yesterday he was eyeing the opportunity of one day becoming the Saints' captain. Club champion Nick Riewoldt is the favourite to step into the Saints' rotating captaincy next season, but it is a role Ball has designs on. Ball, who captained the Xavier College side in year 12 in 2001, has been identified as leadership material but with only 41 AFL games under his belt, he said he was not obsessed with ambition. "I'm only 20 and haven't played that many games yet, so I think it's probably a long way off for me. But definitely one day, I'd like to be in the leadership group and have the chance of being captain down the track," he said. "It's probably a goal, but it's not something that I'm sitting down and stewing over at night . . . if the opportunity comes, it comes, but until then, you've just got to go about doing your business and that will just be an extra bonus."
The Article - Stathi Paxinos - TheAge - 19Dec04
New system tougher on serial pests
Proposed AFL Tribunal formulas will deal severely with the usual suspects, reports Stephen Rielly. Brisbane Lions centre half-forward Jonathan Brown can draw some small comfort from the five-match suspension he received for striking Port Adelaide midfielder Josh Carr in the grand final - the same blow struck in 2005 would almost certainly cost him at least 12 and as many as 16 matches. According to the proposed system of graded offences and set penalties the AFL will introduce next year as a part of its reform of the tribunal system, repeat offenders and offences committed in grand finals stand to be punished severely. While a first-time offender can now be rewarded for an otherwise clean record with a 25 per cent reduction in penalty and have a further 20 per cent deducted for a guilty plea - avoiding the need for a hearing - players who frequent the tribunal will have sentences increased by as much as 30 per cent. Penalties for offences in grand finals will be doubled.
The Article - TheAge - 23Dec04
All I want for Christmas ...
It's not hard to work out what new St Kilda ruckman Cain Ackland wants for Christmas this year - a change of luck. The 22-year-old, who was the first experienced player chosen at the National Bank's AFL Draft (at pick 33), has not played a senior game for three years and is hoping the move to Moorabbin will kick-start his stalled career. But while there is little doubt he will get more opportunity at a St Kilda side short on for ruckmen compared to his former club Port Adelaide - where at various times he was behind Matthew Primus, Brendon Lade, Barnaby French and Dean Brogan in the pecking order - first he has to overcome his injury curse. Ackland looked a star in the making in 2001, playing in Port's pre-season premiership side and then playing 12 games before disappearing off the AFL radar . . .
The Article - Paul Gough/Sportal - saints.com.au - 21Dec04
Entire Cairns AFL team banned for all-in brawl
AFL North Queensland officials have banned an entire team for a total of more than 400 matches for its part in an all-in brawl involving players, fans and officials in Cairns last September. The punch-up at the North Queensland AFL grand final between the North Cairns Tigers and the Port Douglas Crocs sparked the lengthiest investigation in the history of the code. The fight started when Tigers' players charged at their opponents after the pre-match national anthem ended, and continued after the kick-off when spectators and coaching staff became involved. All the players suspended were from the Tigers.
The Article - ABC Sport - 23Dec04
Keep your notebooks
Umpires will still be encouraged to report players under the AFL's revamped tribunal system, newly appointed match review panel chairman Peter Schwab said yesterday. "We obviously want umpires to report -- it's an integral part of the whole process," Schwab said. " You don't want to send umpires out there and tell them to ignore things that are reportable. We expect umpires will make the same reports they've always made." AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said umpires would have a role in liaising with the new panel about their reports. " But it will be left up to the match review panel to decide if the report proceeds," Anderson said.
The Article - Michael Stevens - HeraldSun - 11Dec04
Schwab head AFL panel - Samantha Lane/Sportal - saints.com.au
Demetriou - big new issues - Rohan Connolly - TheAge - 11Dec04
Players close to drugs accord - Caroline Wilson - TheAge - 10Dec04
Hayes happy with his spin at the top
Not surprisingly, Lenny Hayes would love to captain St Kilda in 2005, but next week he becomes the second skipper to be replaced under his side's rotating captaincy system. Hayes is one of 12 Saints to have nominated themselves for the club's leadership group, which will be voted down to seven by the players next week. Each of the nominees must make a presentation to the playing group in the club's lecture theatre, from which the players will make their judgement. As the Saints' 2004 club champion, Nick Riewoldt is considered favourite to get the nod.
The Article - Lyall Johnson - TheAge - 09Dec04
Elliott fights to avoid bankruptcy
Former high-flying businessman John Elliott is to make an offer to his creditors in his fight to avoid bankruptcy. Mr Elliott was prepared to divide up his assets which included property, the Federal Magistrates' Court was told today . . . At his peak, he was reputedly worth $80 million . . . But it began to turn sour in 1990 when the National Crime Authority (NCA) began investigating a management buy-out of Elders.
The Article - HeraldSun - 13Dec04
Cartoon 1 - Cartoon 2 - nicholsoncartoons.com.au
Highs and lows of John Elliott - smh.com.au - 02Jul03
Butterss pad sold for $8m
A Brighton bayside mansion owned by St Kilda Football Club president Rod Butterss has sold for $8 million. But Mr Butterss's bigger $20 million beachfront mansion, which is also for sale, has yet to be snapped up. A modern blend of many architectural styles, including Edwardian, inter-war and Georgian revival, it is described as a castle on the water with uninterrupted views. It has three big balconied terraces, four vast bedrooms - each equal in size to a small home - a study, guest wing, big formal and informal entertaining areas, a home theatre, lift, gymnasium, steam room and attic terrace.
The Article - Jane Howard - HeraldSun - 12Dec04
The Butterss Mansions Complex - Image
Saints set to name leaders
St Kilda will name its 2005 leadership group by the end of next week, though the naming of the club's new captain is not expected until February next year. Up to 12 Saints have already nominated themselves to be part of the leadership group - at least two more than volunteered last year - and seven are likely to be chosen. "Last year we only had eight (nominate), maybe we'll get a couple more, there might be 13 or 14 and that's really healthy. They'll all get up in a room and present (themselves) to the rest of the playing group. The players will vote their men in and that will be the end of it."
The Article - Samantha Lane/Sportal - saints.com.au - 09Dec04
Saints delay skipper call - Sportal - 09Dec04
Thomas hails bigger, stronger Saints
St Kilda has returned from its three-week training camp in South Africa, and coach Grant Thomas is talking up the benefits. There are those that are evident to the naked eye, such as his team of noticeably bulkier players, and those that are not, such as the camaraderie that is formed by such a trip. One physical difference that Thomas failed to mention before the Saints had their home-coming training session, was the remarkable change to the travelling party's skin colour. But while that will eventually wash away - and the rain at Moorabbin on Wednesday afternoon went some way to achieving that - it's hoped the other transformations in the team will last into the winter months of 2005 and beyond. "Physically it's quite obvious - just the growth in some of the guys, some of the younger players over the three weeks and their development," said Thomas, who was perhaps sporting the deepest suntan of them all.
The Article - Samantha Lane/Sportal - saints.com.au - 08Dec04
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Nick Dal Santo: international jet-setter
Young Saint Nick Dal Santo has travelled far and wide this pre-season, zooming to Thailand and Ireland in October before voyaging to South Africa with his teammates for the club's three-week training camp. The visit to Thailand was a relaxing holiday, but the International Rules trip and the South African training camp have kept 20-year-old Dal Santo on a regime away from home for all but two weeks since the Saints' year ended. And though he missed some things in Melbourne - he nominates his bed, pillows and family - Dal Santo is quite content with the jetsetter life he's been leading of late.
The Article - Samantha Lane/Sportal - saints.com.au - 08Dec04
Re-jig for Round 20 fixture
Next year's Showdown clash between Port Adelaide and Adelaide will now be played at night after a restructure of the schedule for round 20 by the AFL. The changes were forced on the league after Telstra Stadium was double-booked for the night of 13 August by the AFL for a Swans-Lions clash and by the Australian Rugby Union for an Australia-New Zealand Bledisloe Cup match. The AFL agreed to switch the Swans-Lions match to the Sunday, but because of TV commitments, had to move one of the scheduled Sunday matches to the Saturday afternoon, but with the MCG and Telstra Dome committed on both days, was only left with the Geelong-Melbourne clash at Skilled Stadium, which will now be played 24 hours earlier.
The Article - Sportal - saints.com.au - 08Dec04
Clash forces AFL to shift gamesThe Article - Mark Fuller - TheAge - 09Dec04
Saints name new CEO
St Kilda has named Jim Watts, a club board member and former vice-president, as its new chief executive officer. It concludes a prolonged appointment process for the Saints, who were reportedly on the verge of securing former Melbourne Commonwealth Games chief executive Leighton Wood in November, after Brian Waldron made an unexpected departure from the club in August. Waldron is now the chief executive officer of National Rugby League side Melbourne Storm.
The Article - Samantha Lane/Sportal - saints.com.au - 06Dec04
Watts is new Saints' CEO - Jake Niall - TheAge - 07Dec04
Saints appoint new chief - HeraldSun - 07Dec04
Saints Twilight Night - saints.com.au - 07Dec04
Jim Watts Profile
Jim lives in Hampton with his wife Kay. He has three children, Ellie 13, Jack 17, and Fergus 19. He was born and educated in the UK and has an Honours Degree in Economics and post graduate qualifications in Mathematics and Physical Education. Following an early career playing first grade rugby union and teaching, Jim moved to California to coach rugby. He was employed in the leisure industry where he ran the sales teams in a chain of five Health Clubs (Gyms and Racquetball Centres). A return to London saw him appointed as the Sales Manager for a UK based telecommunication company. In this highly competitive office communications industry, he grew his sales team from 4 to over 60 in a phenomenally successful three years.
The Article - Saintsational Fan Forum - 07Dec04
Sex education plan
A sexual code of conduct will be written into player contracts and footballers will face compulsory sex-assault education as part of recommendations to be considered by the AFL. The AFL yesterday received the final report from a Victoria Police-led committee set up to tackle sex assaults following a storm of allegations against AFL and rugby league players at the start of the 2004 season . . . He said the AFL would consider a number of rule changes for players and employees and the potential inclusion of specific sex assault clauses in player contracts as part of the process.
The Article - Mark Dunn - TheAustralian - 07Dec04
Betting bonanza looms - Mike Sheahan - TheAustralian - 07Dec04
Saints learn another championship quality
. . . "There's no doubt that people keep talking about how many players we've got because St Kilda has always had a lot of good players. And St Kilda historically has focused very heavily on individuals, back when I was playing and even back in the halcyon days of the sixties. It was always the individuals, the Baldocks, the Stewarts. Each decade has had one or two great players. If we're not careful that same thing will happen and they'll talk about individuals. But what we want to be recognised as is a great team. And if we're going to be successful we need to be known as a great team, not a great side."
The Article - Samantha Lane/Sportal - saints.com.au - 05Dec04
Saints drug test
St Kilda this week discovered the seriousness of the AFL's anti-drugs stance when a team of Australian Sports Drug Agency officials made a random visit to the club's South African training camp. Five Saints were tested after completing a skills session at Potchefstroom University's hockey field. St Kilda coach Grant Thomas said from South Africa last night that he wasn't surprised at the visit. "I thought something might happen. Just because you're overseas doesn't mean you should be exempt," he said.
The Article - Mark Stevens - HeraldSun - 04Dec04
Brooks ready for leap of faith
. . . "When you represent the club you have a red-hot crack. We've told him that his efforts have been unacceptable." They were strong words, but Thomas would not have bothered if Brooks wasn't so important to the Saints' future. St Kilda has made a significant investment in Brooks, trading draft picks six and 31 to Port Adelaide in 2002 to lure him to Moorabbin . . . He returned in Round 1 last season, but clearly wasn't right. At times, he struggled to get a kick in the Springvale reserves. "It was just the confidence in landing on it and getting tackled again that was probably the biggest worry," Brooks said . . .
The Article - Mark Stevens - HeraldSun - 03Dec04
GT report from Pitch - Saintsational Fan Forum - 03Dec04
GT and Burkie on Saintsational
GT: . . . We are developing a tool named "Lost Possession" which highlights the importance of possession and giving the footy away unneccesarily which in most cases ends up as an opposition score. The stats highlight dramatically the importance of not turning the footy over without pressure. A recent example was the Prelim final against Port whereby 8 goals 2 behinds came directly from our mistakes with disposal without physical pressure . . .
Fan Forum Thread - Saintsational Fan Forum
Gehrig rules out captaincy role
Fraser Gehrig, despite coming off a career-best season, has declared he is not the right man to captain St Kilda. A key member of the leadership group last season, Gehrig is poised to step aside in favour of younger candidates. "Being captain has never been something I've specifically wanted to do," Gehrig said. "I don't think I'm necessarily the right person for it. There's plenty of people who could offer more than I can. I've probably had too many ups and downs over my career" . . .
The Article - Mark Stevens - HeraldSun - 03Dec04
Matt Maguire Chat Transcript
bsk2002: Nick Dal Santo was looking pretty buff in a photo. Who else is bulking up?
Matt Maguire: The main 'bulker-upperer' is Brendan Goddard. He's topped the scales at 98.5kg
The Transcript - saints.com.au
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