Archives

HOME l GO BACK

2005 Pre-Season Articles - Page 7

2005 Pre-Season Articles P 1 - P 2 - P 3 - P 4 - P 5 - P 6 - P 7 - P 8
Wizard Pre-season Games - R 1 - R 2 - R 3 - R 4 - Recent Articles Archived 2005 - 2004

Hamill feeling fresh
St Kilda hard-hitter Aaron Hamill says he has enjoyed a pre-season without mishap, and with his body in good health is looking forward to launching himself into the upcoming season. The 27-year-old missed the Saints' 2004 finals campaign due to a knee injury, but says he is presently in full training. And while Hamill is wary of over-exerting himself before the season proper, the former club captain is eager to have at least a couple of warm-up matches ahead of round one. "I'm doing a lot of cross-training at the moment, I'm riding and swimming and boxing and doing all the skills sessions."
The Article - Samantha Lane/Sportal - saints.com.au - 24Jan05

Saint in awe of Molik
St Kilda full-forward Fraser Gehrig thought the AFL was professional until he witnessed close-up the dedication of Alicia Molik. Gehrig, who watched Molik's five singles matches from her courtside box, ended his Open adventure in awe of her attention to detail. "They're an individual sport and we're a bit different as a team, but it does make you realise the level they're on compared to us . . . they're a lot more professional," Gehrig said. Despite his admiration for her, Gehrig denied it was a case of love-all with Molik. "Don't be stupid . . . we're just friends," he said. Gehrig and Molik met two years ago . . .
The Article - Mark Stevens - HeraldSun - 28Jan05

The Saints head to East Gippsland
With less than a week to go before their annual AFL Community Camp, St Kilda Football Club is putting the final touches to an itinerary which will see the players and coaching staff in East Gippsland for 3 days, 1-3 February 2005. The AFL Community Camp is part of a national program that will see all 16 AFL Clubs in regional and remote communities across Australia, giving locals an opportunity to get close to football at the highest level. St Kilda's camp will involve activities such as AFL Auskick clinics, community visits and a Community Footy Forum for local sports club administrators, coaches, umpires, players and medical trainers.
Full Story - saints.com.au - 28Jan05

Steven Baker Chat Transcript
mad-saint-guy: Hi Bakes. What do you prefer, playing in defence, or doing a tagging job in the midfield? And out of those which do you think you will do most this season?
Steven Baker: I'd rather play in the back line, because I don't have to run as much.
mad-saint-guy: What nicknames have the boys given the new recruits?
Steven Baker: James Gwilt is called 'wazza' after a character from CSI, Andrew McQualter is called 'mini' because he is so small, Eddie McDonnel is called 'boofhead' for obvious reasons, Aaron Fiora is 'donkey' for obvious reasons, Mark Mcgough is 'stumpy'.
The Transcript - Noddy - saints.com.au - 25Jan05

Saints still seething
The Saints' narrow preliminary final loss to Port Adelaide last year will act as a stinging driver for the improving club in 2005. According to coach Grant Thomas, the players are angry and already impatient to advance. And with the benefit of four months reflection, he predicts the six-point September defeat by eventual premiers Port, will help his team in the long run. "The players have a real purpose, a real focus, which is quite evident and easy to see. Angry is probably a word (to describe it), which isn't a bad thing."
The Article - Samantha Lane/Sportal - Saints.com.au - 21Jan05

Large crowd expected at coaches conference
Melbourne coach Neale Daniher, a key driver behind the formation of the AFL Coaches Association will be the opening speaker on Friday night, followed by Dave Alred, the kicking coach for the World-Cup winning England rugby union team . . . former Carlton premiership coach Robert Walls will deliver a keynote address on game plans and tactics, followed by Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy. Sunday's main speaker will be Phil Jauncey, a leading sports psychologist who has worked with the Brisbane Lions, the NRL's Brisbane Broncos and both the Australian cricket and Olympic squads.
The Article - Ashley Browne/Sportal - saints.com.au - 27Jan05

St Kilda - Behind the name
In the 1850s, forty-two islanders emigrated to Australia. Many of the emigrants died en-route, but a few settled in Melbourne, and to this day a suburb of the city is called St Kilda - named after the schooner The Lady of St Kilda which was anchored off the shore at around this time. There is also a St Kilda in New Zealand . . . St Kilda has one of the most extensive groups of vernacular building remains in Britain. The layout of the 19th-century village remains to this day, and over 1,400 stone-built cleitean for storing food and fuel are scattered all over the islands, and even on the sea stacs
St Kilda - The place - Nat. trust of Scotland
St Kilda - The place (2) - The Interactive Guide to Scotland
Source: saintbrat/Saintsational - see Thread
St Kilda - Origins of name - This site

Goddard builds respect
A heavier and taller Brendon Goddard is stirring the imagination of his St Kilda teammates as they try to fit him with a new nickname. The Hulk and Massive seem to sit best after he put on 7kg in eight weeks. Goddard, 19, tips the scales at 98kg, completing a remarkable transformation from the day two years ago he walked into Moorabbin weighing a slender 82kg. He has also grown 2cm to stand at 191cm (that is 6ft 3in in the old measure). That makes him a tantalising key-position prospect, but Goddard's efforts have been geared towards a midfield role.
The Article - Jackie Epstein - HeraldSun - 16Jan05

Cain Ackland Chat Transcript
Steve the Saint: Are you a member of the Burkes or the Barkers?
Cain Ackland: I haven't come across that yet, but probably a Burke.
lenny_rox: Apart from BJ, which of the other players have bulked up over the break?
Cain Ackland: I'm not sure where everyone was at before, but I think Allan Murray and Nick Dal Santo are definitely looking bigger.
Saintbrat: How are the guys with minor niggles coming along?
Cain Ackland: We've had most of the boys out on the track. There's no-one that won't be available for the start of the year.
The Transcript - Noddy - Saints.com.au - 18Jan05

leadership group take charge
Player empowerment went to a new level at Moorabbin this week as the players conducted their own unsupervised training sessions. With St Kilda's administration and coaching staff at a management seminar at Mt Eliza, the players oversaw training on Wednesday and Thursday. "The leadership group took charge. Fraser Gehrig had the whistle and all went well," assistant coach Nathan Burke said yesterday. "They did such a good job, they did it (took training) again today." The Saints play their first intra-club practice match at Moorabbin on February 11 from 6pm.
All Vic Clubs update - Jordon Chong/Rebecca Williams - HeraldSun - 22Jan05

Melbourne mourns tragic loss
The Melbourne football club is mourning the tragic death of young defender, Troy Broadbridge, after his body has been found in the midst of the tsunamis disaster . . . (David Neitz:) "We've been hoping and praying that 'Broadie' would be found and be OK, but the miracle hasn't happened and it cuts really, really deep. It's tough to train and play alongside someone, get to know him, go to his wedding and send him off on a Christmas honeymoon and then have to accept that he's not coming back. It's very tough on the players and partners and this will be a very emotional time for us. But as difficult as it is we will support each other and get through this. That's what Troy would have done and we want to support Trisha."
The Article - Sportal - saints.com.au - 03Jan05
Missing footballer's body 'found' - TheAge RealFooty - 03Jan05
Melbourne Football Club honours its fallen son - Martin Blake - TheAge RealFooty - 21Jan05

Riewoldt looms likely
Nick Riewoldt is just a step away from assuming the St Kilda captaincy in 2005, after the brilliant young forward was named in the club's seven-man leadership group, from which this year's skipper will eventually be selected. The naming of Luke Ball, 2003 captain Aaron Hamill, 2004 skipper Lenny Hayes, Max Hudghton, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Powell and raging favourite Riewoldt, officially reduces the field of candidates for the job to six. Hayes is ineligible after leading last season. While the club's unorthodox rotational captaincy policy allows for Hamill to be reappointed this year, it is highly unlikely to be the case.
The Article - Samantha Lane/Sportal - saints.com.au - 13Jan05

Riewoldt Captain 2004 ???
. . . "It's something at some stage I'd definitely love to do, but . . . I guess it's just a matter of whether it's the right time." His manager Ricky Nixon shares the concern. "I emphasise this is a personal view, but I question whether he's quite ready just yet," Nixon said. "I think he's got some reservations, but that's not to say he wouldn't want the job."
Nick the quick pick - Mike Sheahan - HeraldSun - 18Dec04
Is Riewoldt ready? - Saintsational Fan Forum