2005 Post-Season Articles
Page 5
Moorabbin Oval Resurface
The ground resurface at St Kilda's Moorabbin Oval is well under way. The original grass surface has been stripped, new sand has been spread over the ground, and the irrigation system pipes have been inserted. The new variety of grass that has been laid is called 'conquest', which is a type of grass that requires less water. The resurfaced ground is much more firmer and harder than the original, and aims to be a beneficial training facility for the Club.
Article and Images St Kilda Football Club/saints.com.au/15Nov05
Craig Starcevich Chat Transcript
saintbrat: How are the renovations to the club training area coming along?
Craig Starcevich: Really well, the carpet is down, painting is done and the new gym equipment will be delivered next week
Dal_Santos_Gal: Good Afternoon Craig, thanks for coming, how is the new surface coming along at Moorabbin, how much better will it be, and when can the boys begin to train on it?
Craig Starcevich: The grass has just been laid, we hope it will be fairly hard and durable all year round, they should be okay to train on it in January, early Feb at the latest.
mad-saint-guy: What do you think was the reason behind Xavier's repetitive hamstring injuries?
Craig Starcevich: Probably his body was a little immature for what he was putting it through - which is true for a lot of the younger players, but we hope with a good pre-season, making his back, stomach and hips strong, it will help his hamstring this year.
The Transcript Noddy/saints.com.au/16Nov05
Priority pick rules tightened
One poor season no longer will be sufficient for a double dip at the best talent in the country under a radical revamp of the eligibility criteria for AFL priority picks. The extravagant reward for failure currently conferred on clubs enduring one poor year has been all but abolished under the changes announced by the AFL yesterday. Clubs winning no more than four games in a season from next year will be eligible for a priority pick taken after the completion of the first round of the national draft. If the club has successive poor years of no more than 16 points in each of those seasons - not averaged over the course of those seasons - the priority pick will be taken, as it is now, before the national draft.
The Article Michael Gleeson and Stephen Rielly/TheAge/18Nov05
Football stars tee off Bruce Matthews/HeraldSun/17Nov05
AFL must confront rousing giant Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/18Nov05
AFL changes priorities Damian Barrett/HeraldSun/18Nov05
Big league beckons Beetham again Michael Gleeson/TheAge/23Nov05
Frawley handed Demons post TheAustralian/23Nov05
Starcevich's tough assignment
There's no denying St Kilda's 2005 season was severely hampered by a raft of soft-tissue injuries to key players - Harvey, Hamill, Koschitzke, Hudghton. The list goes on. Throw in the Saints' disappointing fade-out from a winning position in their preliminary final against the Sydney Swans and the whispers about the much-maligned Training Services Department at Moorabbin became a deafening roar. A complete review of the department was ordered at the end of the season and culminated in the installation of former Brisbane Lions fitness guru Craig Starcevich as the new training services manager, overseeing all aspects of the club's strength, conditioning, fitness and medical activities.
The Article Jason Phelan/saints.com.au/05Nov05
St Kilda 2006 Community Camp
Albury-Wodonga will host the St Kilda Football Clubs' 2006 AFL Community Camp. The Saints will spend four days in February meeting football fans of all ages during school visits, open training sessions, development activities and footy forums. AFL General Manager Game Development David Matthews said the 2006 AFL Community Camps will be conducted over three weeks to coincide with exhibition matches and the NAB Cup opening round. Mr Matthews encouraged those in camp locations to join the players in their pre-season preparation in what is a highlight in the AFL calendar. "This is an ideal time for grassroots participants including players, umpires, coaches and administrators to learn from the game's best . . . Over a three-week period we hope to see a record number of people meet players and coaches in schools, hospitals, clubs and aged care facilities. With five new locations there is great opportunity for football fans of all ages to see AFL players up close," Mr Matthews said.
The Article St Kilda Football Club/saints.com.au/15Nov05
AFL, networks still talking
The AFL and a combined team of Channel Seven and Channel 10 executives will continue in their attempt to thrash out the new broadcast rights deal, with the parties set to meet later this week in Sydney in a bid to agree to terms. With the Seven and Ten offer - a six-year free-to-air deal worth an estimated $420 million in cash and including significantly improved coverage into NSW and Queensland - now one week old, it is understood yesterday's 5pm deadline (as set by the networks) passed with an undertaking by both parties to continue talks over the coming days. It is also believed that Channel Nine owner Kerry Packer called a meeting last Friday of his senior executives during which Nine's strategy regarding the next round of AFL rights, which begins in 2007, was discussed. However, Nine sport chief Gary Fenton would not confirm last night whether his network planned to better the Seven and Ten offer, despite recent pledges by network bosses James Packer and Sam Chisholm that the AFL rights were a priority for the network.
The Article Caroline Wilson/TheAge/16Nov05
Football TV offer nears $700m Caroline Wilson/TheAge/15Nov05
AFL stands to reap record sum in TV rights Caroline Wilson/TheAge/18Nov05
Wait and see for Saints
St Kilda recruiting manager John Beveridge has indicated it will be a wait-and-see approach for the club, when it gets its opportunity in this year's NAB AFL Draft. The Saints will have their first selection at No.33, as it received former Crow Fergus Watts in exchange for No.17 - originally St Kilda's first selection in the meeting - during last month's trade period. Beveridge was cautious not to have his heart set on one particular player at this stage, as he would wait and see who slipped through at No.33. "You've got to be careful you don't get too hung up on the type of player. Our first pick, because we're traded pick 17 for Fergus Watts, is at 33 and it looks a pretty even draft," Beveridge told afl.com.au.
The Article Matt Burgan/saints.com.au/09Nov05
AFL to alter priority pick order Caroline Wilson/TheAge/11Nov05
AFL's tough stand on sex assault Caroline Wilson/TheAge/09Nov05
John Beveridge Chat Transcript
GorgessSainter08: Hey John...Thanks for coming...are we looking to try to draft a Ruckman?
John Beveridge: Good question. We always look to find players with ability to play AFL football. If there is a ruckman available we will certainly pick him....they are young kids at this stage and will take time to develop though, if we have a run of good fortune with injuries with Kosi and Ackland fit then we shouldn't have trouble in that department.
saintbrat: Hello John, Is this a busy time of the year for you?
John Beveridge: Yes, definitely. There are no more games to see, but we are doing plenty of video watching. Our first pick is 33, the draft is not considered all that strong.
The Transcript Noddy/saints.com.au/26Oct05
Dylan Pfitzner Delisted Saintsational Fan Forum
St Kilda Saints Player reviews 2005: 'A-Z'
Cain Ackland
Games: 22 (including 2 finals), Goals: 12 (0 in finals)
Season summary: Crying out for an established genuine ruckman at the end of last season, the club took a punt selecting 196 centimetre Ackland with its second pick in the 2004 AFL Draft, after he managed just 12 matches in four injury-plagued seasons with Port Adelaide. The 23-year-old exceeded all expectations and proved one of the competition's revelations in 2005. He played 22 matches, including both finals, and finished equal eighth in the best-and-fairest. Led the club and was a respectable 11th in the league in total hitouts (289), and was in the top 15 at the club in goals with 12 (ninth), handpasses (13th), and total disposals (15th). Averaged 10.8 possessions and 3.4 marks per game. Still developing and further improvement will be expected, but overall an excellent first up season with the Saints.
Standout performance: Round 15 v Carlton. Statistically not Ackland's biggest game for the season with seven kicks, eight handpasses and 15 hitouts, but his strong marking when moved forward that resulted in him booting three goals showed that he has the ability to be an invaluable commodity in this league - a versatile big man.
A - B Reviews Nick Hulett/saints.com.au/25Oct05
C - D Reviews Nick Hulett/saints.com.au/27Oct05
F Reviews Nick Hulett/saints.com.au/02Nov05
G Reviews Nick Hulett/saints.com.au/03Nov05
H Reviews Nick Hulett/saints.com.au/11Nov05
J - K Reviews Nick Hulett/saints.com.au/08Nov05
M Reviews Nick Hulett/saints.com.au/16Nov05
Saints stay nutritionally sound with Musashi
The St Kilda Football Club have re-signed a vital member of their Training Services Department, Musashi, for a period of two years. Musashi, the leader in sports supplementation products and sports nutrition, was recently purchased by food giant Nestle as part of their growth strategy. The Saints' players and administration are buoyed with the signing as Musashi, whom will be providing product for the players as well as making a significant financial contribution to the Club. The sponsorship will also boost Musashi's presence at Moorabbin Oval, the Saints training ground, with increased signage.
The Article saints.com.au/11Nov05
Saints make another million-dollar profit
St Kilda's once basket-case identity is a distant memory after revelations yesterday the club will post back-to-back million-dollar profits. The Saints will announce a surplus of between $1.3 million and $1.5 million for the year ending October 31. The stunning result, a fillip for president Rod Butterss, his board and coach Grant Thomas, follows a $1.03 million profit in 2004. In 2002, the Saints reported a $2.2 million loss . . . "Typically, if you can make one to one and a half you will direct most of your profit to debt and you might allocate 20 or 30 per cent to other projects," Butterss said. Already money has been spent in the weights room as well as on an overhaul of the Moorabbin ground surface.
The Article Mark Robinson/HeraldSun/09Nov05
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