2005 - AFL Home and Away Season
Round 1 - Pregame Articles
St Kilda ready to seize the moment
Where not so long ago the chance to start an AFL season against Brisbane at the 'Gabbatoir' would have been met with quiet dread, St Kilda coach Grant Thomas last night declared tonight's assignment held no fears for this year's early premiership favourites. While St Kilda has won just once in 11 trips to Brisbane, including their most recent humiliation in last September's qualifying final, Thomas said his players were more overawed by the occasion than by the Lions . . . "Intimidation is something you impose on yourself," Thomas said last night. "I think the players probably were intimidated last time in the final, but not so much by Brisbane."
The Article Chip Le Grand/The Australian/24Mar05
Lions vs Saints Review & Stats TheAge/24Mar05
Dal Santo: the next marked man
Look past the razzle-dazzle of St Kilda superstar captain Nick Riewoldt, the power of Fraser Gehrig, the unassuming brilliance of Robert Harvey and Lenny Hayes, the crash-bang persistence of Aaron Hamill, and lurking behind them is a young teammate fast forging a reputation every bit as exciting as theirs. Nick Dal Santo has great expectations for what he can do for his club, and great expectations are already being heaped on him.
The Article Melissa Ryan/TheAge/24Mar05
Saints seek respect from old nemesis Jim Wilson/HeraldSun/24Mar05
Rookie Selwood debuts for Brisbane Darren Cartwright/CourierMail/24Mar05
Stand by for harder Saints
St Kilda hardman Aaron Hamill believes the Saints' players are no longer in awe of Brisbane, vowing a much harder approach from his team in Thursday night's AFL season opener at the Gabba. The last trip to Brisbane by the Saints ended in humiliation with an 80- point hiding in last year's qualifying final. It was a result that also effectively ended the Saints' premiership chances - condemning the club to an interstate preliminary final against Port which they lost by six points in Adelaide. Even St Kilda coach Grant Thomas admitted after that qualifying final loss that his players had looked intimidated by a Brisbane line-up that went on to reach its fourth successive grand final.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/23Mar05
Gehrig named
Fraser Gehrig has been named at full-forward for the Saints for the opening match of the 2005 season against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Thursday night. Gehrig, the 2004 Coleman Medallist whose pre-season was interrupted by a lower back injury, trained strongly at Moorabbin during the week and has been declared fit to lead the Saints attack. Also named is veteran midfielder Robert Harvey, who had been in doubt with a calf strain. Former Tiger Aaron Fiora, selected on a half-forward flank, will make his senior debut for the Saints along with former Port Adelaide ruckman, Cain Ackland. Nick Riewoldt, who will lead the Saints into battle for the first time as club captain, has been named at centre half-forward.
The Article Angus Morgan/saints.com.au/23Mar05
Harvey injury scare
The G-Train is all steamed up and ready to go but veteran Robert Harvey could be a doubtful starter. That was the mixed news for Saints fans from Moorabbin on Monday as St Kilda gets ready for Thursday night's season opener against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba. While all eyes were on spearhead Fraser Gehrig, who has not played at all during the pre-season due to a back injury, it was Harvey who sent a major scare through the Saints camp during the session when he limped off the track clearly favoring his left leg after only a few minutes.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/21Mar05
Saints Injury List West of Moorabbin
Injury List - all teams AAP/heraldSun/22Mar05
Lappin to miss change of guard Chip Le Grand/The Australian/22Mar05
Hamill's smarter training approach Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/21Mar05
Lethal's tunnel vision Andrew Browne/Sportal/saints.acom.au/21Mar05
Voss feeling great Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/23Mar05
Eager White excited about 2005 Lions site via saints.com.au/22Mar05
Rift ends after Fox steps in
St Kilda's No. 1 ticket-holder Lindsay Fox has brokered peace talks between coach Grant Thomas and president Rod Butterss, summoning the pair to his Toorak home two days ago to sort out their potentially damaging rift . . . "There was no need for apologies," Butterss said late yesterday. "We had a full and frank discussion and it was a very fruitful exercise, a very, very positive meeting. We do meet him (Fox) from time to time and he had seen the article in The Age last week and he wanted to ensure there was no cause for concern, that there was no problem" . . . Hamill . . . responded to Robert Walls' column in yesterday's Age, which indicated there were areas of concern for the premiership favorite. "I think a lot of that . . . it's a lot of hearsay," said Hamill. "Crap is starting to appear and a ball hasn't even been bounced."
The Article Caroline Wilson/TheAge/23Mar05
Roberts says don't meddle with medal
Neil Roberts will hand his Brownlow Medal back if the AFL strips the fairest element from the game's most coveted individual prize. Enraged by a fresh push to make the medal simply for the "champion" player, Roberts said the change would be a mortal blow to the Brownlow. "I'll give it back if they take the fairest bit out of the citation, and I'll give it back quickly," Roberts said yesterday. "It's the end of it if they go ahead and do it. What sort of image does it set for the juniors and the mothers that a suspended player can win?"
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/23Mar05
AFL not ready to deal with SevenCaroline Wilson/TheAge/22Mar05
Gehrig to play, Harvey in doubt
Fraser Gehrig will play, Robert Harvey may not, but be assured St Kilda will hit the Brisbane Lions with everything it can muster when it kicks off its 2005 campaign on Thursday night. Gehrig and his teammates endured a rugged training session last night, the Coleman medallist allaying concern about his injured back. Defensive big men Matt Maguire and Luke Penny also survived the gruelling hitout and will line up against the Lions in the season-opener at the Gabba. Fear, however, surrounds Robert Harvey who twice left the track with what appeared to be calf soreness but the Saints said was an ankle complaint.
The Article Mark Robinson/HeraldSun/22Mar05
The Animal Enclosure
The animal enclosure was at its loudest in round seven, 1991, when Tony Lockett went on a rampage against Adelaide on his return from a knee injury. Lockett had eight goals midway through the second quarter when he marked on the grandstand flank. Adelaide coach Graham Cornes was so incensed that he ordered full-back Danny Hughes to be dragged while Hughes was standing on the mark. "It was the ultimate humiliation," said Holmesby. "I almost felt sorry for him." Hughes endured a barrage of insults as he jogged in front of the animal enclosure. By the time he had slumped on to the bench, Saints fans were delirious. Plugger went on kick 12 goals and the Saints won by 131 points, a club record.
The Article Paul Duffey/Thege/20Mar05
Saints fire up
St Kilda forward Fraser Gehrig yesterday put his body on the line during the Saints' fiery training session in his bid to play in the blockbuster season-opener against the Brisbane Lions, while dual Brownlow medallist Robert Harvey sent a scare through the ranks with an ankle complaint. Troy Schwarze was the victim of Gehrig's intensity - left with a bloodied nose after the burly Coleman medallist steamrolled him with a hefty hip-and-shoulder. Steven Baker also needed to have his finger popped back into place after dislocating it during a torrid session with its emphasis on heavy tackling, the players wearing sumo-like padded suits. The thrashing in the finals last year has been raised already, and coach Grant Thomas said the key to overcoming the "awe" that overwhelmed some of his players then was a change in attitude.
The ArticleMelissa Ryan & Peter Blucher/TheAge/22Mar05
St Kilda 2005
It's pretty clear that, whatever the bookmakers think, the Saints are the critics' choice for premiership favourite in 2005. The logic is compelling. They're a team on the rise, whose gun youngsters are entering the fruitful middle third of their careers, while the veterans still have some shots in the holster. In 2005, Nick Riewoldt, Luke Ball, Nick Dal Santo and Justin Koschitzke have the experience to take on St Kilda's seasoned premiership rivals, while Fraser Gehrig, Robert Harvey, Austinn Jones and Aaron Hamill haven't yet fallen off the perch. Premiership teams are made of such an intersection of generations. The flipside, of course, is that St Kilda's window of opportunity for a premiership might never be so ajar, with the older group bound to decline in 2006. The other factor in St Kilda's favour is its competition: Brisbane Lions, still owning the most outstanding collection of players, are past their peak and battle-weary, while Port, too, has been up for four years - an eternity in today's volatile environment. The rising Cats and Eagles don't possess the forward firepower of the Saints, or as many seasoned bodies with finals pedigree.
The Article Jake Niall/TheAge/20Mar05
Hope, faith and timing
. . . St Kilda: Given last year's amazing season, what more do the Saints have to do to set themselves up for a flag? Sixteen home-and-away wins yet still the Saints couldn't secure a home final, which consigned them a final at the Gabba, then a heartbreaking loss to Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. Few would back the Saints into a better home-and-away season than last year, which underlines how the cards need to fall your way in September. Can Nick Riewoldt, Fraser Gehrig, Luke Ball and Nick Dal Santo improve? Can Robert Harvey, Justin Peckett, Stephen Powell and Andrew Thompson resist the urgings of Father Time? We aren't silly enough to say no, but nothing will come easy for last year's wildcards this year.
The Article Jon Ralph/HeraldSun/20Mar05
Penny aiming higher in 2005
St Kilda defender Luke Penny says the Saints expect to better the lofty heights of last season when the club was knocked out in a preliminary final. Penny said the Saints have set strong goals for the season ahead and suggested that anything less than a grand final berth was unacceptable. "We put high expectations on ourselves as players, which is a good thing," Penny said. "We definitely expect to get to where we were last year and improve, but you don't want to talk about things like that now and it's a long time away (from) grand finals and premierships."
The Article Matt Burgan/Sportal/saints.com.au/18Mar05
Seven's no to night Grand Final
Channel 7 has thrown cold water on the prospect of an AFL Grand Final at night. A source at Seven said: "We are quite happy for the Grand Final to remain in the daytime. We are not interested in a night game." The announcement came after Seven's decision last week to unite with Channel 10 to push Channel 9 out of the footy rights bidding war. The source said: "We like the history and tradition. It would be like trying to run the Melbourne Cup at night. What is the point?" The AFL last week said it might look at staging an evening Grand Final starting about 5.30pm -- but only if a network requested a night slot and was able to offer the AFL a host of concessions in its next broadcast deal.
The Article Michael Gleeson/HeraldSun/20Mar05
Saints so near, yet...
As much as football outcomes are measurable in straight lines, the Saints are the team to beat for the 2005 flag. When the past season ended, in hostile territory on the penultimate weekend, they were within a kick of the ultimate premier. Grant Thomas' boys are young, hungry, and still improving. All their co-ordinates have them on the pathway to success. The mathematics of football, though, is more about complex curves than it is about straight lines . . .
The Article Tim Lane/TheAge/19Mar05
Tim Lane (Comments on above story) Saintsational Fan Forum
Skippers back Riewoldt for Brownlow
Nick Riewoldt to win the Brownlow Medal, Brisbane, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, Geelong and West Coast to lead the premiership charge while Richmond draftees Richard Tambling and Brett Deledio are the newcomers to watch. That was the view of the 16 AFL club captains on Thursday as they were asked to give their confidential answers to five key questions ahead of the start of the home-and-away season next week.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/17Mar05
AFL gets official drug policy right: Riewoldt
New St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt yesterday praised the AFL for its stance on drug testing AFL officials, saying the league had taken an egalitarian approach to an issue that had been a source of discontent to players. Riewoldt last year spoke out strongly on the issue of players being tested for recreational drugs, saying all league officials also should be tested for drugs that weren't performance-enhancing, not just the players. "I think that's wonderful, I think it puts everyone on an equal playing field, which is really what everyone's after. So I applaud the AFL for doing that," Riewoldt said. "If it's not performance-enhancing, you know, if it's recreational, then (the policy) should apply to everyone. So I think they have adopted the right policy there."
The Article Lyall Johnson and Mark Fuller/TheAge/18Mar05
Skippers rate Saints as Victoria's only hope
. . . there was also little support for a finals finish for the Magpies, Essendon and Carlton, the Wizard Cup premier. Fifteen captains believe the Brisbane Lions, Geelong, West Coast and premier Port Adelaide will make the eight again, 14 consider St Kilda a September certainty - meaning one captain, other than Nick Riewoldt, believes the Saints will miss the finals - with Fremantle and Sydney on the next line of favouritism. Of the teams each captain was asked to nominate as his own side's grand final opponent, Port and St Kilda won five nominations, with West Coast garnering support from three, Brisbane two and the Swans one vote.
The Article Stephen Rielly/TheAge/18Mar05
Primus blowtorch on Saints, Cats Jon Pierik/HeraldSun/18Mar05
Skippers tip Saints, Port TheAustralian/17Mar05
Lions will be ready: Johnson
Experienced Brisbane Lions defender Chris Johnson says that despite indifferent form and injury setbacks, the Lions will be ready for round one and it won't matter that they would have only one training session at the Gabba to prepare. "There will obviously be handful of inexperienced guys playing next Thursday night, but they will adapt," Johnson said on Wednesday. "With practice matches you take it seriously, but not overly serious - things are not exactly the same as a home and away season - and they will rise to the occasion."
The Article Andrew Browne/AFL/saints.com.au/17Mar05
Saints start the excitement Lions Home/saints.com.au/17Mar05
Senior leaders help out Hadley Lions Home/saints.com.au/15Mar05
Injury list down as Brisbane game looms
The Saints will go into their season opener against Brisbane with a gradually decreasing injury list. The main concern for the Saints has been the injury of Fraser Gehrig with a back complaint. Gehrig is back in training with the St Kilda injury list looking like this:
Montagna, hamstring, 2-3 weeks
Gram, left shoulder surgery, 1 week.
Clarke X, quadriceps, 2-3 weeks.
Penny, knee, 1-2 weeks
Fisher L, still rehab from shoulder surgery, hamstring surgery, training.
Gehrig, back, training.
The Article FootyGoss/13Mar05
G-Train's still on the platform waiting
St Kilda is undecided if it will risk star full-forward Fraser Gehrig for the season-opener against Brisbane. Although the Saints are confident Gehrig can return against the Lions, they may be cautious and warehouse the Coleman Medallist. The long-awaited comeback may be delayed until Round 2 - or even Round 3. Gehrig has not played a match since last year's preliminary final - and will not play for the Saints' VFL affiliate Springvale this weekend. It means he won't have played for 188 days by the season opener on March 24. Complicating matters is the fact the Saints make two interstate trips in the first fortnight of the season - to play Brisbane at the Gabba and Fremantle in Launceston. Given Gehrig is recovering from a "stress reaction" in his back, any travel is not ideal. Gehrig will have a solid session on Monday before the Saints' match committee decides on his immediate future.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/17Mar05
AFL set to reap $650m in TV war
Channel 7's shock bid to regain live football could push the AFL's TV rights to a staggering $130 million a year, $30 million more than the current deal. In a bold move, Channel 10 yesterday announced it had dumped Kerry Packer's Channel 9 as its broadcast partner and paired with Kerry Stokes' Seven to bid for the next rights. The AFL hopes the new five-year deal for the 2007-2011 seasons will reap at least $130 million annually, and possibly $150 million, providing the bidding war is spirited. The Seven-Ten alliance gives them the early lead in the rights battle. Nine was angered by the controversial announcement, but in recent weeks had become concerned with Ten's movements. It is understood a key Nine official, worried that Ten was in negotiation with another partner, recently met AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou to seek clarity on the rights issues.
The Article Damian Barrett/HeraldSun/17Mar05
Football TV rights ambush Caroline Wilson/TheAge/17Mar05
Rights bid could endanger clubs: McGuire Caroline Wilson/TheAge/18Mar05
Seven, Ten 'to ruin AFL' Chip Le Grand/FoxSports/18Mar05
Saints unite in quest for greatness
St Kilda yesterday declared it was up to the challenge of keeping its best players together in an era that appears capable of producing premiership success.After yesterday's re-signings of captain Nick Riewoldt, Matt Maguire, Austinn Jones, Steven Baker and Luke Penny, chief executive Jim Watts said he was confident the Saints would not fall into the same trap that cost Essendon several premiership players because of salary-cap restraints after the Bombers' flag win in 2000. While the signing of star centre half-forward Riewoldt to a new three-year deal, which will keep him a Saint until at least the end of 2007, took centre stage, the club has more work to do over the next six months if it is to retain its current group. Heading a number of integral players coming out of contract at the end of the season are Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo, Fraser Gehrig and Justin Koschitzke.
The Article Greg Denham/FoxSports/11Mar05
Key Saints sign to deliver
Nick Riewoldt believes the re-signing of five Saints proves the players are in it to win it. The re-signing of five key St Kilda players to long-term contracts yesterday is an indication of the players' commitment to the success of the club, according to Saints captain Nick Riewoldt. Yesterday, St Kilda officially announced new deals for their skipper, as well as veteran Aussie Jones, Steven Baker, Matt Maguire and Luke Penny. Riewoldt, the club's reigning best and fairest, said the group-signing sent a message that the Saints were committed and determined to achieve success. "I just think it sends a message that we are all in it together," Riewoldt said. "Everyone is committed to enjoying the success that we are after and it is going to require all the players we have got here currently to do that. Sticking together is our No. 1 priority."
The Article Karen Lyon/TheAge/11Mar05
AFL scheme to lift talent pool Peter Blucher/TheAge/11Mar05
Riewoldt heads five re-signings
St Kilda has re-signed five key players to new deals, headed by new skipper Nick Riewoldt. Riewoldt has signed through until 2007 along with defenders Steven Baker and Matt Maguire. Half-back Austinn Jones has committed to the club until the end of 2006, while Luke Penny has signed through until the end of 2008. Club chief executive Jim Watts said the re-signings represented an important strategic step for the club. "It sends the message from the playing group in relation to the concept of 'team thinking'. We are entering a critical phase where we must ensure that this list stays together to realise its vision of creating their own history."
The Article Sportal/saints.com.au/10Mar05
2005 Player Sponsorship saints.com.au/08Mar05
Saint Nick joins elite earners
St Kilda superstar Nick Riewoldt has become football's youngest millionaire. The new Saints captain has signed an upgraded, three-year deal believed to be worth more than $600,000 a season and, when topped up by endorsements and bonuses, his annual salary appears certain to hit seven figures. At 22, Riewoldt has joined the game's greats - the retired Wayne Carey, James Hird, Anthony Koutoufides and Nathan Buckley - as the only players to command those sort of dollars. While his playing contract, which ties him to the Saints until the end of 2007, may not be as lucrative as Carey, Hird, Koutoufides or Buckley, he could have matched their salaries had he left the club. But any shortfall in his contract has been made up by endorsements.
The Article Jon Pierik/HeraldSun/10Mar05
Gehrig on Mission Possible II Walk for Charity
Saints footballer Fraser Gehrig and local comedian Matthew Hardy will join the Honourable Michael Danby MHR and the Honourable John Thwaites MP to celebrate St Kilda in support of the Mission Possible II charity walk on Sunday, March 20 starting at 9.30am from the Catani Gardens. A strong team of walkers from the Cabrini Hospital will also be returning for the 5km/10km walk through the streets of St Kilda.
The Article saints.com.au/11Mar05
Relief for Maguire
Young Saints defender Matt Maguire carried a groin injury for most of last year, but it wasn't until he stopped - after playing 17 matches, including the club's three finals - that he realised just how debilitating his ailment was. Maguire played the first 12 matches of the 2004 premiership series before being rested for a fortnight, with what was then listed as a groin injury. He returned in round 15, but only to sit out a further five matches after being diagnosed with osteitis pubis. Then, after a match in the VFL, he returned for round 22 and the qualifying, semi and preliminary finals.
The ArticleSamantha Lane/Sportal/saints.com.au/08Mar05
OP has Maguire back in action
He is built like Adonis, plays with the uncompromising attitude of a tank and has quickly become one of St Kilda's key men. Little wonder Matt Maguire, and the Saints, are happy the hulking defender is on target to play his first full match of 2005 in Round 1 against Brisbane. He was forced to miss eight games last season because of modern football's dreaded scourge, osteitis pubis, and was still in pain when he returned. An operation over Christmas finally has Maguire healthy.
The Article Jon Pierik/HeraldSun/08Mar05
Malcolm Blight says he'd coach again Neil Kearney/HeraldSun/09Mar05
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ARTICLE ARCHIVES: 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006
