2005 - AFL Home and Away Season
Round 12 - Pregame Articles
Blue Ribbon Cup
Queens Birthday Weekend
Hawthorn vs St Kilda
M.C.G. Sat 11 June 2005, 2:10pm AEST
TV: Foxtel Live - All States
Radio: ABC Radio - All States
St Kilda:
IN: Goddard, Koschitzke, Fiora, Murray, R.Clarke
OUT: X.Clarke (inj), Gram, Brooks, McGough, Peckett
Hawthorn:
IN: Bateman, Barker, Taylor
OUT: Ries, Holland, Greene
Betting:
TAB Sportsbet: Hawthorn $3 St Kilda $1.33
Centrebet: Hawthorn $3 St Kilda $1.40
Koschitzke, Fiora, Goddard, R Clarke & Murray in
St Kilda has made five changes - but regained several big names - for Saturday's must-win clash against Hawthorn at the MCG. Headlining the returnees is Justin Koschitzke, who has missed four matches after tearing a hamstring in the final quarter against Geelong on Saturday. Also back are Brendon Goddard ('flu), Aaron Fiora (hamstring), Raph Clarke and Allan Murray. Goddard was a late withdrawal against Port last Sunday, while Fiora has missed the last two with a hamstring strain. The only compulsory omission for the Saints is Xavier Clarke, who has suffering from back-related hamstring soreness, and with the bye looming next week for the Saints, no chances are being taken.
Article & Teams Ashley Browne/saints.com.au/09June05
Saints' tall order
St Kilda has a "big" problem. Twelve months ago, the Saints were hot. They had won 14 games in a row, including the Wizard Cup, and were the most talked-about team in town. Nick Riewoldt was on his way to his second club best and fairest and Fraser Gehrig was to kick the ton to win the Coleman Medal. Today, things are not so rosy for the Saints. In the past year, they have won only 12 of 26 games. Riewoldt, who is now captain, is struggling to find the form that catapulted him to the best player in the land. Gehrig has been good, without being great, and at times appears a split-second away from erupting. The Saints' coach, Grant Thomas, says his team is down on confidence, and he is right. Last year was a big one for the Saints and it was no coincidence their big players played particularly well. When the big fellas fire, others follow suit. A big man performing well has an aura, a presence about him that lifts. Think Jonathan Brown and Wayne Carey at their best and you get the picture.
The Article Robert Walls/TheAge/11June05
McGuire has hijacked the AFL Patrick Smith/TheAustralian/10June05
Drug stance may cost AFL Jim Wilson/HeraldSun/11June05
MCG: One millionth spectator in '05 Sam Edmund/HeraldSun/11June05
Monday night footy no certainty: Demetriou Sportal/11June05
Blue Ribbon Cup
. . . The Hawks and Saints vie for the Blue Ribbon Cup this Saturday at the MCG. Named in memory of murdered police officers Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller, who were gunned down in Moorabbin in 1998, the clubs are playing for the cup for the seventh season . . . Hawthorn and St Kilda players and officials will wear reflective blue and white chequered armbands on Saturday to pay tribute to the Blue Ribbon Foundation . . . Following the match seven-year-old James Miller, son of Rodney Miller, will present the Blue Ribbon Cup to the winning captain and the best player from each side will be awarded the Silk-Miller Memorial Medal as voted by the Fox Footy commentary team of Jason Bennett, Kevin Bartlett and Alastair Lynch . . . The Blue Ribbon Foundation perpetuates the memory of members of the Victoria Police killed in the line of duty. Sgt Silk was a passionate Hawthorn supporter, while Sen-Con Miller followed St Kilda.
Barker, Bateman back for Hawks hawthornfc.com.au/saints.com.au/09June05
First Monday, now Sunday night bid Caroline Wilson/TheAge/09June05
AFL hopeful on MCG impasse Karen Lyon/TheAge/10June05
Riewoldt sets injury record straight
St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt has dismissed concerns a hip injury has impeded his kicking for goal this year . . . As St Kilda tries to hit back from last week's loss to Port Adelaide against Hawthorn at the MCG tomorrow, Riewoldt said his and the Saints' scoring was not a concern. "The hip's fine, it's not (impeding) me at all," Riewoldt said. "We've probably been taking a few more shots from the boundary line, that's the only thing that's really changed. I'm sure we can rectify that this weekend. I'm just enjoying playing up there with Fraser, we've been working a lot more closely the last few weeks, I've been enjoying that so hopefully we can put the result on the board" . . . Saints midfielder Nick Dal Santo, meanwhile, said there had been no more progress with his contract negotiations. "I don't think there's a great deal going on, obviously we're in discussions, but that's about as far as it's gone," Dal Santo said.
The Article Rebecca Williams/HeraldSun/10June05
Nick defends form Rebecca Williams/TheAustralian/10June05
McQualter a bright spark
St Kilda's 23-point loss against Port Adelaide at Aurora Stadium in Launceston on Sunday was a frustrating and disappointing result for all associated with the red, white and black. The Saints started sluggishly, trailing by 40 points at half-time, before they unleashed a spirited comeback. History now suggests they were unable to gain the four points and with two more scoring shots than the Power, it was quite clearly a missed opportunity. Few positives came out of the match, save the 30 touches notched up by former skipper Lenny Hayes, while 2005 captain Nick Riewoldt battled hard. The other bright note from the match was the performance of third-gamer Andrew McQualter.
The Article Matt Burgan/saints.com.au/09June05
Just a mo' for McQualter Matt Burgan/saints.com.au/09June05
Training Reports Saintsational Fan Forum
Kick in pants for Hawks
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has issued another warning to his young players about their wayward kicking ahead of Saturday's clash against St Kilda. Clarkson yesterday described last week's loss to the Western Bulldogs as the team's worst performance since its Round 1 thumping by Sydney. The Hawks' poor kicking was a telling factor against the Bulldogs, with the players hitting their targets by foot just 72 per cent of the time, the worst ranking in the AFL. Hawthorn is ranked 15th overall in the league for kicking efficiency this season. The worst culprits are Nick Ries and Rick Ladson, who have less than 65 per cent kicking efficiency. Harry Miller, Trent Croad, Tim Clarke and Lance Franklin are also well under the league's average for kicking efficiency of 79 per cent.
The Article Rebecca Williams/HeraldSun/09June05
Saints facing vital month
A quick glance at the draw must give St Kilda hope that in a month it should be firmly in the black and ensconced in the eight. Widely regarded as the most under-performing team in the competition after its preliminary final finish last year with a young and explosive list, St Kilda is hanging on to eighth place by a few percentage points with only five wins from 11 matches. However, the Saints now play four of the competition's struggling sides, beginning with second-from-bottom Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday. They then have an early bye during the split round to help their improving injury situation. Following the break, St Kilda returns to its erstwhile fortress, Telstra Dome, to meet a deflated Essendon, 14th, the 10th-placed and injury-depleted Western Bulldogs and then bottom side Carlton.
The Article Malcolm Conn/FoxSports/09June05
Blue Ribbon Cup
The St Kilda and Hawthorn Football Clubs will once again go head to head for the annual Blue Ribbon Cup. The Round 12 AFL Clash at the MCG will have both teams vying for the Cup when they meet on Saturday, 11th June, 2.10pm. The Blue Ribbon Cup was commissioned in 1999 in memory of murdered Victoria Police officers Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller. Sergeant Silk and Senior Constable Miller died after being shot at Moorabbin on 16th August 1998. The Saints are the reigning Cup holders after beating Hawthorn by 66 points in 2004.
The Article saints.com.au/09June05
Saints face a month to make or break them
A quick glance at the draw must give St Kilda hope that in a month it should be firmly in the black and ensconced in the eight. Widely regarded as the most under-performed team in the competition after its preliminary final finish last year with a young and explosive list, St Kilda is currently hanging onto eighth place by a few percentage points with only five wins from 11 matches. However, the Saints now play four of the competition's struggling sides, beginning with second-from-bottom Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday. They then have an early bye during the split round to help their improving injury situation. Following the break, St Kilda returns to its erstwhile fortress, Telstra Dome, to meet a deflated Essendon, 14th, the 10th-placed and injury-depleted Western Bulldogs and then bottom side Carlton.
The Article Malcolm Conn/TheAustralian/09June05
Saints defence causes concern
. . . St Kilda's big man stocks could be boosted for Saturday's clash against Hawthorn at the MCG by the return of Justin Koschitzke who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury. The Saints are also hoping to regain Aaron Fiora, another hamstring victim. Penny, who has played just three games this year because of knee problems, and former captain Aaron Hamill, with his troublesome ankle, will be unavailable. Despite the Saints' up-and-down form, the players remain positive . . . In more positive news, Saint Brent Guerra is available for a senior recall after being cleared by the VFL tribunal last night.
The Article Rebecca Williams/HeraldSun/09June05
Confidence the key: Thomas
The struggling Saints must trust in their ability and build up confidence in the second half of the season if the team is to make the 'huge impact' widely expected of them this year, St Kilda coach Grant Thomas said yesterday. Asked yesterday what the one thing was that the Saints had to overcome against Hawthorn on Saturday, Thomas pointed the finger firmly at his own club. "Ourselves," he said. "Hawthorn will come to play, we can tick that box . . . we need to make sure that we can tick off every one of our boxes and if it's good enough to win, well and good, and if it's not, as long as we give 100 per cent effort that's all we're here for.You don't lose talent and ability, and they're still extremely confident that they can make a huge impact this year, but getting the rubber to actually meet the road and grip and go forward hasn't happened as yet to the standard we'd like."
The Article Melissa Ryan/TheAge/09June05
Mid Season Report
We are now halfway through the 2005 home and away season and it has been a mixed bag for the St Kilda Football Club. Entering this season, much was expected from the young Saints on the back of their stellar performance in 2004, a year where they came so close to playing off in the Grand Final . . . With a 5-6 record half way through the season, the Saints appear in some disarray. Granted they have sustained more injuries than most sides and lost key players in Heath Black and Trent Knobel, the fact is the Saints need to regain the hunger they possessed last year if they want to recapture their 2004 form. The upcoming weeks will make or break the season. Playing 10 of the remaining 11 games in Melbourne, including 5 at the Telstra Dome, will be a psychological advantage for St Kilda. If they can have their full strength line up, they could beat anyone on their day.
The Article Luca Giacobello/saints.com.au/07June05
Defence needs a bolster: Thomas
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas has no doubt the Saints' defensive instability is to blame for their surprisingly poor first half of the season as the pre-season premiership favourites struggle to maintain their place in the top eight . . . While the club has copped plenty of criticism over a season in which they have been labelled one of the disappointments of the competition, Thomas says his team's inability to consistently field its best defence was a major contributing factor to its poor first half of the season . . . As a result, the Saints are ranked 15th of the 16 teams this season in terms of repelling opposition attacks, with the Saints conceding a goal for every three inside 50 entries by the opposition compared to just one in four by top four sides West Coast, Melbourne and Adelaide. However the Saints are hoping Koschitzke will return from a hamstring injury this week but Penny, who has played just three games in 2005 because of two separate knee injuries, will not return until after the mid-season break.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/08June05
Players bring good cheer
Today St Kilda players, Nick Riewoldt, Stephen Milne, Aussie Jones and Nick Dal Santo attended a clinic and spoke to the kids at Dandenong West Primary School. Dandenong West Primary School is where the unlicensed drunk driver ploughed his car through the playground some weeks ago, and a young boy lost his foot as a consequence. The players went out to cheer the kids up.
The Article saints.com.au/09June05
Robert Harvey Chat
saints_r_rockin: Hey Harves, do you know if we are getting back any players this week?
Robert Harvey: We'll get Fiora and Kosi back this week.
Launcestonsaint: Hi Robert, what do you think we need to do to get back into our winning form?
Robert Harvey: We need to take more risks when we play and use the ball more directly.
The Transcript Spelly/saints.com.au/08June05
Betting dries up in hard season
The sustained sequence of AFL upsets is beginning to have an impact on bookmakers, with gun-shy punters too scared to bet their way out of trouble. While already registering record AFL profits just 11 weeks into a 22-round season, bookies said big punters were disappearing. Depending on the respective markets framed by betting outlets, the favoured football team has been successful between 48 and 53 times from the season's 88 matches. The 55-60 per cent winning strike rate of favourites contrasts with the 2004 record of about 75 per cent. Sportingbet chief executive Michael Sullivan said his organisation had won on all 11 rounds. TAB Sportsbet's Gary Davies said while turnover had increased 7 per cent, profits had risen 22 per cent.
The Article Damian Barrett/HeraldSun/08June05
Shattock out for two matches
Port Adelaide's decision to contest the three-match ban offered to Aaron Shattock for charging St Kilda's Luke Ball has been rewarded with the utility suspended for two games. The Power chose to take the case to the AFL Tribunal after the AFL's Match Review Panel ruled Shattock's conduct to be intentional, rather than reckless or negligent. Ball staggered from the ground with blood coming from his nose after the bone-jarring collision, which came after Shattock collected him with a textbook hip and shoulder bump inside the centre square during the first quarter in Launceston last Sunday.
The Article Scott Spits/SportalPAFC/saints.com.au/07June05
Shattock gets charge downgraded
Port Adelaide utility Aaron Shattock will miss two matches after pleading guilty at the AFL tribunal to charging St Kilda's Luke Ball during the Power's 23-point win on Sunday in Launceston. Shattock had been offered a three-week ban by the AFL match review panel, but successfully argued that the conduct was reckless rather than intentional. Ball was forced to leave the field with concussion as a result of the incident, but later returned to kick a goal in the fourth quarter.
The Article ABCSport/07June05
Power launch Aaron tribunal appeal
Port Adelaide is staggered by Aaron Shattock's three-match suspension offer and will vigorously argue he tried to shepherd St Kilda's Luke Ball. Port will contest the charge, asking how if West Coast's Tyson Stenglein can receive one match for charging last week, how could Shattock receive an offer of three? "Absolutely, without any question," Port coach Mark Williams said yesterday when asked if the club would challenge the verdict.
The Article Mark Robinson and Bruce Matthews/HeraldSun/07June05
Shattock offered three-match ban
Port Adelaide utility Aaron Shattock faces a three-match suspension after being charged by the AFL match review panel for an incident involving St Kilda's Luke Ball in Sunday's round 11 match in Launceston. Shattock was cited for charging Ball during the first quarter of the Power's 23-point win and has been offered the three-week ban if he enters an early guilty plea. The match review panel took into account Shattock's previous good record. Ball was forced to leave the field with concussion as a result of the incident, but later returned to kick a goal in the fourth quarter. Shattock's team-mate Gavin Wanganeen was also cited but has been offered a reprimand for tripping St Kilda veteran Robert Harvey.
The Article ABCSport/06June05
Tribunal: Ban offered AAP/HeraldSun/06June05
Thomas lauds Ball's brave style
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas said yesterday that courageous midfielder Luke Ball would continue to go "where angels fear to tread" rather than tone down the brave style of football that left him dazed and bloodied again on the weekend . . . Thomas said yesterday that, despite media reports to the contrary, he was not unhappy with the way the Saints reacted to Ball being ironed out, emphasising that neither he nor the other players had seen the incident. But he did say that protecting each other meant his players had to get on the front foot early and show they would not be intimidated by the opposition. "There's only two things that happen in footy and you fit in one of the categories: one you initiate, the other you hesitate," Thomas said. "Top sides initiate, successful sides initiate, so if you want to be a top side" . . . "you better get used to initiating. If you don't, just keep hesitating."
The Article Dan Oakes/TheAge/07June05
Lethal calls for charge ban
Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews has called for the 'shoulder charge' as distinct from the bump to be outlawed. "If you charge someone and crush your shoulder into them when they are not looking (then) that's a charge," commented Matthews when discussing the bump issue at his regular Monday media conference. "You only bump someone if you are deliberately trying to hurt them and the bump we are talking about is the shoulder charge." Matthews added it had nothing to do with when players were only a small distance away and bump into each other, he is more concerned about when a player is not looking and is met with the full force of the side of another players' body. "Forget about the hip and shoulder, it has nothing to do with the hip," he said.
The Article Sportal/06June05
Luke Ball bump
The man who wanted to ban the bump was backpeddling a little last night, and little wonder. Mark Williams reckons he never wanted the bump outlawed anyway; only certain types of bumps. And the one delivered by Williams' hard-running midfielder, Aaron Shattock, possibly had turned a game in Port Adelaide's favour. Shattock's front-on charge on Luke Ball 17 minutes in the first quarter of yesterday's game against St Kilda at Aurora Stadium left the hard-as-nails Ball prostrate on the ground for some time. More to the point, it ushered in a period when Port dominated the centre-bounce clearances and booted a string of goals that set up a 25-point victory. Ball returned in the second half, winning plaudits for his resilience from his coach. St Kilda rallied, but it was too late. The match review panel headed by Peter Schwab will determine whether Shattock's act was within the rules of the game. Williams was unapologetic. "I would be very happy to play clash/bash, attacking, hard football against every player on their side," he said. "I'd love to think I try and send that message out every week. Luke was in the wrong place in the wrong time, that's about all."
Saints bumped by higher power Martin Blake/TheAge/06June05
Lawmakers have the option of making it brand new ball game Patrick Smith/TheAustralian/06June05
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