2005 First Preliminary Final
Pre-game Articles - Page 3
Gehrig a piece in Saints puzzle
. . . Gehrig's ability to astound everyone with his precocious talent was not confined to a single sport. If it wasn't tennis, athletics or football, it would be basketball. His father again takes up the commentary, this time at the under-18 hoops in Wodonga. "He and his mates had a side here. They were playing in a knockout event one day," he recalled. "There are 14 seconds to go on the clock and they are five down. He's outside the three-point area. He lets fly and through she's gone. The other mob are still two up. They get the bloody thing and run it down the other end. One of Fraser's mates gets in the road, grabs it and throws it over to him. He is just over the centre line when he lets fly. The bloody thing goes through. There are three seconds to go. They hang on to win by one point." Gehrig grew up in a region where the playing of games is a serious business and his formative years would seem to be one endless tale of sporting success and excess.
The Article Trevor Grant/HeraldSun/15Sept05
Grant's the man, I just help out Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/16Sept05
Hope of the side
Of all the St Kilda heroes who did not win a flag, there are three in particular who, in their own different ways, have dedicated this September to Robert Harvey. Stewart Loewe was at his 20-year school reunion at Peninsula Grammar 13 days ago. He kept, he said, half an eye on the qualifying final at AAMI Stadium during the first half but was forced to grab a chair and summon all the will he could muster to survive the second half of the game against Adelaide. Immediately afterwards, he sent Harvey a text message, telling his friend he rated the performance "perhaps the best game you've ever played".
The Article Caroline Wilson/TheAge/16Sept05
Time for temporary captains to perform
That Sydney's Barry Hall and St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt will lead their teams out before an anticipated crowd of 75,000 at the MCG tonight is an acknowledgement of their talents, but also a matter of circumstance. Hall and Riewoldt happened to have been in the right place when the music stopped in their club's leadership rotations. Their most important game as captain could also be their last. Hall is only leading the club in the finals because his turn had come and Riewoldt's position as St Kilda skipper is strictly for one year only. However, if their time in office is brief, these two very different characters will have learnt some valuable lessons about leadership and the fickle nature of football fortunes. Tonight's performance, in some minds, will define how Hall can cope with one of leadership's most difficult tasks - trying to lift a team while improving your own performance . . . That is something Riewoldt has also learnt the hard way. Tall, blond, clean-cut and articulate, Riewoldt entered this season as the AFL's new golden boy.
The Article Richard Hinds/TheAge/16Sept05
Robert Grant (AAP) Robert Walls and Peter Schwab/TheAge/16Sept05
Betting: Swans can rain on Saints' parade Adam Hamilton/HeraldSun/16Sept05
Swans fit and fresh: Roos
Sydney has arrived in Melbourne for Friday night's preliminary final against St Kilda feeling it still has run in its legs after two tough finals, but concerned the Saints might be fresher following the advantage of the week off. The Swans' 26 man squad arrived on Thursday afternoon with Paul Roos' side set to name an unchanged side with veteran Paul Williams to play, having thrown off a thigh injury. While the Saints enjoyed last weekend off, following their memorable eight point win over Adelaide at AAMI Stadium in the qualifying final, the Swans have reached the last four the hard way.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/15Sept05
Davis earns respect, harrassment
Swans skipper Barry Hall suspects St Kilda's defenders will target Nick Davis and pay the semi-final hero greater respect near goal than Geelong gave him. Davis's 16 goals in the past four games, including last week's thrilling match-winner, should earn him a night of intense harrassment from notorious St Kilda scragger, Steven Baker. Yesterday coach Paul Roos indicated midfielder Paul Williams, the Swans' only injury concern, was a 70 per cent chance of starting in tomorrow night's preliminary final while Grant Thomas will make a final call on his injured Saints today. Intrigue will continue over Aaron Hamill (calf) and Justin Koschitzke (thigh), already ruled out by the club, when they join the 30 minutes of light ball work today. Baker is renowned for tactics that get under the skin of an opponent and which have prompted debate as to whether he plays in a fashion contrary to the spirit of the game.
The Article Nikki Tugwell/TheAustralian/15Sept05
Davis, a player apart with part to play Greg Baum/TheAge/15Sept05
St Kilda's finest go back to school for charity Dan Oakes/TheAge/15Sept05
Sydney well-prepared: Bolton
Sydney onballer Jude Bolton is happy to soak up the finals atmosphere as the Swans prepare to take on St Kilda on Friday, but says payback is on the agenda once the game gets underway. "Anytime you are playing in September is an exciting time. To head down to play at the MCG and have another crack at St Kilda is just a great opportunity," Bolton said on Thursday. "The opportunity is massive and it is a great thing to think that you are two wins away from the dream. We have all dreamt about that growing up as kids, but it still is just another game. We know our processes that we put in place to win games of footy. Two of our worst performances in the last twelve months have been against St Kilda. This year down at Telstra Dome was really disappointing as well as the loss last year (in the semi-final) - that is why we are just looking forward to having another crack at them."
The Article Jason Phelan/Sportal/saints.com.au/15Sept05
Leo's job to derail
Sydney is set to give full-back Leo Barry the match-up the All-Australian defender admits has troubled him more than any other this season - St Kilda full-forward Fraser Gehrig. The "G-Train" was instrumental in derailing the Swans' finals campaign last year by kicking six goals in the second semi-final. He kicked seven goals in this season's Round 10 win against the Swans and on both occasions was assisted by the quality supply of ball from the midfield. "He has certainly given me the most trouble this year," Barry said. "I've learnt a few things over the past couple of years. He is such a big, strong man, you just can't get involved with body contact with him."
The Article Nikki Tugwell/HeraldSun/15Sept05
First Preliminary Final
St Kilda vs Swans at the MCG
Friday night September 16 at 8.00pm
"I was groomed as a tagger to start with. I don't think I'd be in the team at all without that role. That's how I got in the team from the start, and that's what I'm good at, so that's what I'm happy to do." Steven Baker
Sharp session tops-off Saints
St Kilda completed its preparations for Friday night's preliminary final against Sydney with a light training session at Moorabbin on Thursday morning. The Saints hit the track a little before 10am and trained for just under an hour in front of about 250 fans. Injured pair Justin Koschitzke (quad) and Aaron Hamill (calf) took part in the hitout despite being ruled out of the match on Monday, although both spent some away from the main group. Most attention was focused on the number of injured players who needed to put in strong performances in order to be considered for selection. Matt Maguire (hip), Brendon Goddard (calf), Max Hudghton (hamstring), Fraser Gehrig (groin) and Cain Ackland (knee) all trained, but it remains to be seen whether all have done enough to assure selectors they are fit.
The Article Jason Phelan/Sportal/saints.com.au/15Sept05
Davis earns respect, harrassment
Swans skipper Barry Hall suspects St Kilda's defenders will target Nick Davis and pay the semi-final hero greater respect near goal than Geelong gave him. Davis's 16 goals in the past four games, including last week's thrilling match-winner, should earn him a night of intense harrassment from notorious St Kilda scragger, Steven Baker. Yesterday coach Paul Roos indicated midfielder Paul Williams, the Swans' only injury concern, was a 70 per cent chance of starting in tomorrow night's preliminary final while Grant Thomas will make a final call on his injured Saints today. Intrigue will continue over Aaron Hamill (calf) and Justin Koschitzke (thigh), already ruled out by the club, when they join the 30 minutes of light ball work today. Baker is renowned for tactics that get under the skin of an opponent and which have prompted debate as to whether he plays in a fashion contrary to the spirit of the game.
The Article Nikki Tugwell/TheAustralian/15Sept05
St Kilda's finest go back to school for charity Dan Oakes/TheAge/15Sept05
He's the toughest little hombre in town
Steven Baker likes the thought of playing Amon Buchanan tomorrow night in the preliminary final, for they are good mates with a Colac connection, they have a similar earthy approach to the game and they've gone head to head before. What's guaranteed is that if it happens, then Buchanan will know that he is in for a hell of a night. As will Nick Davis, last weekend's Sydney hero, should Baker trot over to pick him up at the first bounce with a nudge to the ribs and a gentle reminder that he might not be finding so much space tonight. Or indeed Brett Kirk, should St Kilda choose to send Baker into the midfield to counter his influence. That's because Steven Baker is about the toughest little hombre around. Grant Thomas, the St Kilda coach, thinks him to be the best of the genre of taggers and run-with players who are so valuable to all the best teams in the modern game.
The Article Martin Blake/TheAge/15Sept05
Key Saints fit to face next test Dan Oakes/TheAge/15Sept05
Butter boys playing hardball
St Kilda has undergone a dramatic transformation from "Butter Boys" to AFL hardmen, with the most telling statistic revealing the late-season Saints as the toughest team in the competition. The evidence is as simple as the coaching truism of legendary St Kilda and Hawthorn mentor Allan Jeans who said that in football you either have the ball, they have the ball or the ball is in dispute. When the ball is in dispute, St Kilda wins the greatest share of any team in the AFL . . . According to statistics provided by Champion Data, St Kilda on average has won 23 more contested possessions than its opponents since it beat the Bulldogs in round 13. Geelong, the second best team in the competition over the same period, has won eight more on average than opposition sides . . . Asked how he would contend with Sydney's midfield maul, Thomas said his team would seek to dictate terms.
The Article Chip Le Grand/TheAustralian/15Sept05
Roos stands up for Goodes, Hall
Paul Roos yesterday defended the finals credibility of All-Australian forward Barry Hall and Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes, rejecting suggestions his big-name players were September underachievers. In yesterday's Herald Sun, Garry Lyon urged Goodes to "get up off your backside", while Mike Sheahan wrote that Hall's "hard-won reputation is on the line" in Friday night's preliminary final against St Kilda. Roos defended his men, claiming his star pair had regularly been in the Swans' best in finals.
The Article Nikki Tugwell/HeraldSun/15Sept05
Hall shrugs off critics and keeps working towards the ultimate goal smh.com.au/HeraldSun/15Sept05
Hall must go hunting for leads
. . . Hall is obviously brooding about his recent form. It appears as though he is telling himself to be on his best behaviour to make it to grand final day without a misdemeanour. Barry has become a victim of his own legend. Should anyone ever decide to belt him on the chin or worse, he has the capacity to shrug it off and knock the offender out very quickly. Everyone knows that, so Barry keeps his outward aggression in very good check - just as most capable boxers do when they cross over into another sport. No one condones untoward violence, but Barry must once again use controlled aggression and the intimidation that stems from it. Even if the aggressive act is only implied.
The Article Dermott Brereton/TheAge/15Sept05
Spearhead Hall-bent on success Jenny McAsey/TheAustralian/15Sept05
Now big, bad bristling Michael Cowley/TheAge/15Sept05
Thomas undeterred by the doubters
Channel Seven alone had three reporters at St Kilda's training yesterday, and more media types turned out at the MCG than you would get at your average Steve Bracks press conference. That's Melbourne in September. But if Grant Thomas is feeling any pressure, he wasn't betraying it. Fresh from a breakout of honesty - the Saints actually admitted on Monday that two key players would not be fit for Friday's preliminary final - Thomas was asked how difficult it was to coach against Paul Roos, Sydney's mentor. "I think everyone's tough to coach against, especially when you're not a very good coach," he said, and the news conference wound up with a few smiles.
The Article Martin Blake/TheAge/14Sept05
Thomas raises injury doubt on ruckman Bruce Matthews/HeraldSun/14Sept05
Joffa's G-Train(ing) Report saintsational.com
Goose looked a million bucks . . . saintsational.com
Fraser straight man for Saints
At the end of a light training session at the MCG yesterday, St Kilda's players did what footballers of all ages love doing: they kicked for goal for bragging rights. One after another, 33 of them took a set shot at the city end goal from 30m, about 10m in from the boundary line, with a player on the mark. No pressure like peer group pressure . . . save for a packed MCG and a national television audience of roughly 2 million, which is what Friday night's preliminary final between St Kilda and Sydney will provide.
The Article Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/14Sept05
Draft Camp invitees announced
The AFL has released the names of 73 players from around Australia invited to attend this year's NAB AFL Draft Camp. The Draft Camp will be held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from 27-30 September. Now in its 12th year, the Draft Camp has become a pivotal part of the final assessment of players who are being considered for the NAB AFL Draft, which will be held this year on 26 November. Apart from the players attending this year's Draft Camp, a further 112 players will also be tested in early October at half-day screening camps being held in various capital cities.
The Article afl.com.au/14Sept05
I would not take too much note of what Waldon says . . . Since he was "shown the door" for being a naughty lad he keeps trying to justify things by trying to remain an expert on all things St Kilda in the media. saintsRrising saintsational.com
Is this the last stop for the G-Train?
St Kilda full-forward Fraser Gehrig will play his last AFL game in the preliminary final tomorrow night, or the Grand Final on Saturday week. That's the opinion of former Saints chief executive Brian Waldron. Gehrig's father Graham also says the Coleman medallist is unlikely to go on next year. "I would think his time is nearly up," Graham Gehrig said yesterday. Gehrig, 29, said last week he was a "50-50" proposition to play on, but, according to Waldron, he is ready to give it away.
The Article Trevor Grant/HeraldSun/14Sept05
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