2005 - AFL Home and Away Season
Round 22 - Pregame Articles
Round 22
St Kilda vs Brisbane Lions
Dome, Sat 27th August 2005, 7:10pm AEST
TEAMS & INTERACTIVE MATCH-UPS
Can the Saints be saved?
Amid the carnage of Subiaco last week, St Kilda lost big men Justin Koschitzke, Matt Maguire, Luke Penny and premiership favouritism. But does gloom necessarily spell doom? Age columnists Robert Walls, Tim Watson and Peter Schwab - each a former coach and premiership player - answer the questions that will determine whether the Saints can survive September.
Q1: CAN ST KILDA STILL WIN THE FLAG?
Q2: CAN THE ST KILDA BACK LINE STAND UP?
Q3: HOW SHOULD THE SAINTS APPROACH TONIGHT'S GAME AGAINST THE LIONS?
Q4: WILL THEY SURVIVE THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF THE FINALS?
Q5: CAN GRANT THOMAS DEFY THE DETRACTORS?
The Comments Robert Walls, Tim Watson and Peter Schwab/TheAge/27Aug05
St Kilda's long march of pain
I've never really understood that phrase "Cinderella club", used so frequently over the years in regard to the fortunes of St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs. For all her suffering at the hands of those ugly, privileged step-sisters, Cinderella still got to go to the grand ball and meet her prince. The Saints and Bulldogs have been through just as much. But where's their happy ending? Two clubs who between them have won two premierships from a combined 190 seasons of toil keep popping up with concerted attempts at righting the course of their history. But every time they do, the football gods are there to have their sport. And they've seldom been crueller than last weekend. Watching the Bulldogs surrender a 20-point lead late in the last quarter against Melbourne was like watching a virtual replay of that infamous 1997 preliminary final loss to Adelaide. St Kilda supporters would have watched that car crash with knowing looks. Because they've been through it even more frequently. As recently as the night before, when the Saints lost to Fremantle after the siren, and lost another clutch of important players to injury in the process.
The Article Rohan Connolly/TheAustralian/27Aug05
Fiora, Raph Clarke in
St Kilda has brought Aaron Fiora and Raphael Clarke into the side to face Brisbane at Telstra Dome on Saturday night. The two have been named as replacements for injured duo Justin Koschitzke (quad) and Luke Penny (knee). Key defender Matt Maguire suffered a hip-flexor strain against Fremantle last week and looked set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, but has been named to take his place in the side as the Saints try to leapfrog Sydney and move into third spot. The emergencies for the match are Jason Gwilt, Mark McGough and Matthew Ferguson. The Lions have made four changes as they strive to keep their season alive with Darryl White coming in for his final game after announcing his retirement on Thursday.
The Article saints.com.au/25Aug05
Lions - last fling at the finals saints.com.au/25Aug05
Gehrig and Maguire withdraw
St Kilda has lost two of its most important players - Fraser Gehrig and Matt Maguire - for Saturday night's clash against the Brisbane Lions at Telstra Dome, with the pair late withdrawals. Gehrig has been battling a groin injury, while Maguire is out with a hip flexor. The 'G-Train' won last year's Coleman Medal and is again likely to top this year's goalkicking table, unless Melbourne's Russell Robertson can boot 10 goals against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday. He is now Gehrig's nearest rival for the award.
The Article Matt Burgan/Sportal/saints.com.au/27Aug05
Fitness tests for Gehrig, Maguire
St Kilda last night named Matt Maguire and Fraser Gehrig to play against Brisbane on Saturday night, subject to fitness tests today. Maguire was initially expected to miss two to three weeks after injuring a hip last week, while Gehrig has been troubled by a groin injury incurred in the same match. Aaron Fiora, who has been out of favour for two months, has been recalled along with Raphael Clarke by the injury-ravaged Saints.
The Article Greg Denham/TheAustralian/26Aug05
Saints to risk Gehrig, Maguire Karen Lyon/TheAge/26Aug05
No shortage of desire: McLaren
Mobile big man Dylan McLaren says the hunger and desperation hasn't gone out of the AAPT Brisbane Lions' play and expects both to be at the fore in Saturday night's crunch meeting with St Kilda. The Lions travel to Docklands needing to beat St Kilda to have any hope of playing in the finals. And while successive losses to Sydney and Port Adelaide have been disappointing, McLaren said there has been no drop-off in effort or desire. "Everyone has gone in and given their bit - from the outside I guess people have tried to throw a few things at us, like that the desperation levels aren't there," McLaren said. "But from what I've seen everyone has had a crack and put their heads over the ball when they've had to. So hopefully we can go down to Melbourne and do the same thing and get a win."
The Article Lions site/via saints.com.au/25Aug05
A beating for everyone in sorry saga
Immediately checked the calendar. Looked and felt like December. AFL staff poured into the media room in numbers and with a determination only associated with free drink and a christmas office party. Drop a name, they were there. Andrew Demetriou, Tony Peek, Jill Lindsay, Colin McLeod, Jeff Gieschen, Rowan Sawers. Apologies to the others not mentioned. RSI set in early. Anyway, that was just the first wave. The turnout for the news conference into the investigation of alleged comments by umpires while boarding the red-eye out of Perth last Friday was impressive. Best, too, that it was held in the bowels of Telstra Dome. No chimney. So the man in the red suit had to tether his reindeer to a lamp post outside.
The Article Patrick Smith/TheAustralian/27Aug05
This time, umpires get victory Michael Horan/HeraldSun/27Aug05
Umps in clear, but reporter sticks to his guns Michael Gleeson and Karen Lyon/TheAge/27Aug05
AFL keeps hard line on critics Michael Gleeson and Karen Lyon/TheAge/27Aug05
Jones' version under growing pressure Caroline Wilson and Karen Lyon/TheAge/26Aug05
'Whispers in the sky' witness backs ump Damian Barrett/HeraldSun/26Aug05
Coaches a nuisance, says Malthouse Michael Horan/HeraldSun/26Aug05
Thomas contrite after he and club fined $20,000 Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/24Aug05
Thomas to foot $15,000 bill Michael Gleeson/TheAge/25Aug05
Saint confesses sins Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/25Aug05
Umpire controversy continues AAP/TheAge/25Aug05
Hopes rise for Maguire, Gehrig
Regardless of not being able to slip down the ladder as a result of this week's matches, St Kilda would not flirt with form by resting stars, coach Grant Thomas said last night. With its side - and in particular the defence - decimated by injury, the Saints remain hopeful that centre half-back Matt Maguire and full-forward Fraser Gehrig remain a chance of playing against the Brisbane Lions at the weekend. The pair trained yesterday at Moorabbin without touching the footballs and both appear likely to play."They got through the work, they didn't train at all, didn't kick a footy but they just did the work to progress themselves and take a step forward and it was a really positive outcome for both." Thomas said last night
The Article Michael Gleeson/TheAge/25Aug05
Leigh Montagna Chat Transcript
steph_7: Hi Leigh, would you rather travel to Adelaide or Perth for the first week of finals?
Leigh Montagna: Doesn't bother us, we are happy to play either teams, it won't alter our preparations.
RAPPER: Hey Leigh, Will Troy Schwarze come back in this week?
Leigh Montagna: He will be in consideration, he would be a likely inclusion to cover some talls down back.
The Transcript Noddy/via saints.com.au/24Aug05
Round 22
St Kilda vs Brisbane Lions
Dome, Sat 27th August 2005, 7:10pm AEST
Last time they met: Lions start 2005 in style(?)
. . . . The Saints went inside 50 nine times more than the Lions, and had two more scoring shots, but were not nearly as accurate as the home side. Matthews agreed the game changed when Riewoldt went off, but not necessarily because of that. "Every time there was a scrimmage around the middle of the ground, they took the ball forward in the third quarter. I didn't think our defence was the problem, it was the middle of the ground area - we just couldn't get the ball going our way. They just completely dominated us there for 15 minutes. We picked it up towards the end and stabilised a little bit. It's a bit like Jonathan Brown wasn't there for us. You have a great player and he's off the field, so it's going to lessen your chances. I guess we were fortunate in that regard that he wasn't able to finish out the game."
The Article Lions site/via saints.com.au/24Aug05
Michael: I don't regret bumping Riewoldt
Brisbane strongman Mal Michael has no regrets that he "tested" the fractured collarbone of St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt early in the season. He said he could not believe the public outrage over the Round 1 incident when he and brothers Chris and Brad Scott repeatedly bumped the obviously injured Saint skipper. "My biggest concern in the days after was how other players viewed the incident," Michael said last night. "I couldn't believe all the media coverage. I was worried my peers might believe I had crossed the line."
The Article Jim Wilson/HeraldSun/24Aug05
We'll prove coach wrong: Black
The Brisbane Lions players will be out to prove coach Leigh Matthews wrong when they try to keep their slim finals hopes alive against St Kilda on Saturday night, according to vice-captain Simon Black.
Even though St Kilda is safely entrenched in the top four and has similar injury concerns to the Lions, Black expects the Saints to come out strongly after their controversial narrow loss against Fremantle . . . "After losing last week, I think they would want to turn it around pretty quick," explained Black. "You would be very surprised if they took their foot off the pedal and thought they would cruise through."
The Article Andrew Browne/Lions site/via saints.com.au/22Aug05
Lions Injuries
. . . Matthews . . . officially ruled out osteitis pubis-stricken gun centre-half-forward Jonathan Brown for the remainder of 2005 - no matter how long the Lions' season lasts. "Jonathan is no value now - in his current condition, unfortunately, the poor bloke won't play again this year," Matthews said. "He won't play again this year no matter how long our year is. What Saturday proved is the injury, even with the couple of weeks off and only training on Wednesday, as soon as he got into match pressure, he was probably a couple of yards slow at the very beginning and then very quickly you get into this no strength, no power, no acceleration." "Really you're not in a fit physical condition to be out there. That has now been proven beyond all doubt and unfortunately if you're talking rest, you're talking a month probably, before there would be any kind of marked sign of improvement." Brad Scott (hamstring) is listed for a test, although Matthews rated him as an unlikely starter, while Joel Macdonald will have a test on his troublesome hamstring.
The Article Lions site/saints.com.au/22Aug05
Gehrig attends AFL House
St Kilda full-forward Fraser Gehrig is believed to have visited AFL House today to give his side of the religious vilification controversy arising from the Fremantle-Saints match on Friday night. Gehrig has been accused of making an offensive comment to Dockers defender Shane Parker - a devout Christian - calling him a "Bible-bashing c---". The league declined to comment, but Gehrig was seen entering Telstra Dome. The player is understood to have gone to AFL House for an interview lasting about 20 minutes.
The Article TheAustralian/23Aug05
Thomas fined as focus shifts to umpire saga part II
Grant Thomas was right after all. A week after offering an unflattering characterisation of umpires and joking it would leave him $15,000 poorer, the St Kilda coach was yesterday slugged that amount by the AFL for conduct unbecoming, with his club asked to pay a further $5000. With an investigation still ongoing into what was said on Qantas flight 648 from Perth last Friday night, the announcement of Thomas' fate brings to a close one half of the great umpiring saga. St Kilda described it as an appropriate penalty. Thomas offered an unreserved apology. "I am truly horrified if my comments have been interpreted as discouraging children from seeking umpiring careers," Thomas said in a statement released last night.
The Article Chip Le Grand/TheAustralian/25Aug05
Dome still not up to scratch
The Telstra Dome surface is under renewed fire, with the AFL's players delivering an overwhelming thumbs down. Of the 529 players questioned in a Herald Sun-AFL Players' Association survey, 80.9 per cent ranked the turf either "sometimes unsuitable" or "mostly unsuitable" for AFL football. Only 15.3 per cent gave the surface a tick for being generally suitable and 3.6 per cent dubbed it fantastic . . . AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has expressed surprise at the high negative percentage, but backed the surface. "We're on public record as saying the ground is absolutely safe for football," Demetriou said. "We stand by that. We wouldn't send anyone out into an unsafe workplace."
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/24Aug05
Tribunal-free Tuesday
There will be no AFL Tribunal hearing on Tuesday night with both St Kilda's Brendon Goddard and the Kangaroos' Corey Jones accepting the penalties handed down by the league's Match Review Panel. Goddard accepted a reprimand and 93.75 points towards his future record for striking Fremantle's Steven Dodd during the first quarter of Friday night's match at Subiaco.
The Article Sportal/saints.com.au/23Aug05
Umps bid to clear air over plane talk
. . . Channel Nine reporter Tony Jones reported that he had heard Head, one of the officiating umpires from Friday night's match, claiming victory after the Dockers' win over the Saints. "While boarding the midnight flight back to Melbourne, one of the umpires, within earshot of several passengers, said: 'Now I know what it feels like to have a victory'," Jones said on a Channel Nine news bulletin. "That umpire was Matthew Head and the passenger he was speaking to was me." Jones said Head's alleged comments were also heard by a Melbourne businessman, who wrote the words down on his boarding card.
The Article Emma Quayle/TheAge/23Aug05
McGuire: I heard 'victory' comment Greg Denham/TheAustralian/24Aug05
Thomas urged to take over the whistle Melissa Ryan/TheAge/24Aug05
Comment claims prompt inquiry Sportal/saints.com.au/24Aug05
Dear Grant, do you have any idea of the impact? Joan Eddy Sec,FitzrJnrFC/TheAge/24Aug05
Fire that AFL can't control TheAge/24Aug05
Red eyes all around but free speech must be restored Peter Lalor/TheAustralian/24Aug05
Best way to stem bleeding is to stop bashing umpires Patrick Smith/TheAustralian/24Aug05
Why man in white is so uptight TheAge/24Aug05
Spotlight burns on men in white Michael Gleeson/TheAge/24Aug05
Thomas urged to take over the whistle Melissa Ryan/TheAge/24Aug05
Accused should get right of reply Derek Humphery Smith/HeraldSun/23Aug05
Derek Humphery-Smith is a former AFL field umpire
Official line begs fairness question
Whatever took place on QF648 from Perth late on Friday night, it was never going to be the non-issue as described by AFL general manager of oops, Adrian Anderson. Either AFL umpire Matthew Head said, "now I know what a victory feels like" or the AFL umpires had been defamed by a Channel Nine news report. The decision by Anderson to dismiss the claim was made too quickly and too conveniently.
The Article Patrick Smith/TheAustralian/23Aug05
Umpires can't afford bias claim
Try as they might, umpires simply can't avoid public scrutiny. In normal circumstances, it is a natural extension of their part in a game that directs an extraordinary amount of attention towards those who implement rules. It is scrutiny of a different sort this time, a more sinister variety. A field umpire allegedly made a comment on a plane on the way back to Melbourne from Perth on Friday night that implied he and his colleagues derived an unhealthy pleasure from Freo's win over St Kilda.
The Article Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/23Aug05
Umpires Overboard saintsational.com
Eddies come out '20 and 4' saintsational.com
Gehrig faces investigation
St kilda full-forward Fraser Gehrig has become embroiled in accusations he breached the AFL's religious vilification code in Friday's match against Fremantle. Gehrig has been accused of making a derogatory religious taunt to opponent Shane Parker. Channel 7 claimed last night the Saint called Parker a "bible bashing c . . ." during the Subiaco game. A teammate of Parker's was understood to have told the field umpire, who lodged a notice of investigation with the AFL. Veteran Dockers defender Parker is deeply religious.
The Article HeraldSun/23Aug05
Whistle blown on umpire's call
The AFL has reopened an investigation into one of its senior whistleblowers after two passengers on Qantas flight 648 said they heard umpire Matthew Head declare "victory" in the wake of St Kilda's one-point loss to Fremantle in Perth on Friday night. In a potentially explosive sequel to Fremantle's post-siren win and St Kilda coach Grant Thomas's unflattering characterisation of umpires in the lead-up to the match, Channel Nine reporter Tony Jones and fellow business class passenger Mitch Rentessis yesterday offered independent and supporting versions of what Head said as he boarded the flight. According to Jones, as Head and fellow umpire Brett Allen were moving to their seats, Jones made a mischievous reference to a number of contentious free-kicks in the game and Thomas's anti-umpiring comments by asking Allen: "what about you blokes tonight?" While Allen declined to respond, Head replied: "Now I know what a victory feels like."
The Article Chip Le Grand/TheAustralian/23Aug05
League investigates whispers in sky Mark Stevens,Mark Robinson&Damian Barrett/HeraldSun/23Aug05
Umps bid to clear air over plane talk Emma Quayle/TheAge/23Aug05
Umpires are not aliens Emma Quayle/TheAge/23Aug05
Saints have pluck, no luck
You need a certain amount of luck to win an AFL premiership, goes the accepted football maxim. But it's not what goes right that ends up having a say in which club wins the premiership as how much goes wrong. And short of further calamities on the way to Perth or Adelaide for its qualifying final the weekend after next, there's not a lot more that could go wrong for St Kilda in 2005. When the Saints carried the heavy burden of flag favouritism into this season, coach Grant Thomas' main concern would have been that his team might get ahead of itself. But, really, it's a theory that has never been put to the test, because right from the moment, early in the third quarter of the first game of the season, when skipper Nick Riewoldt had his collarbone broken, the Saints have been playing catch-up. At no stage this season has St Kilda been able to field its best 22. Riewoldt would miss the next five games, and in that time the Saints also lost ruck pair Justin Koschitzke and Jason Blake.
The Article Rohan Connolly/TheAge/23Aug05
Saints look to boost back line
St Kilda will today discover the full extent of its latest run of injuries, as the club seeks to refashion its depleted back line ahead of the clash against the Brisbane Lions. But while the Saints' worries are considerable before the finals, they will at least be able to prepare this week without worrying about Lion Jonathan Brown, who has been ruled out of the match because of osteitis pubis. Hamstrung Lion star Jason Akermanis will continue to play even though not fully fit, while Brad Scott will also miss with a hamstring injury. With St Kilda having missed Max Hudghton (hamstring), Sam Fisher (foot stress fractures) and Xavier Clarke (hamstring) in recent weeks, the injuries to Luke Penny (knee), Matt Maguire (hip) and Justin Koschitzke (quad) were a dramatic blow to club's premiership aspirations. Forward Fraser Gehrig will also need to be monitored after straining his groin during the loss to Fremantle, after landing awkwardly in a marking contest with Docker Shane Parker.
The Article Melissa Ryan/TheAge/22Aug05
Save a prayer for the G-train
Devout Christian Shaun Hart is adamant Fremantle's Shane Parker would not have been offended by being called a "Bible-basher". In fact, the former Brisbane Lion reckons Parker would have saved a prayer for the alleged offender, St Kilda spearhead Fraser Gehrig. " The instant Fraser said what he said, Shane would've been forgiving him," Hart said yesterday. " I reckon Shane, being a true Christian, probably would've gone home and prayed for Fraser that night."
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/24Aug05
Time for umps to defend the honour of their calling
It is naive to believe that there would not be a reaction from the umpires to Grant Thomas' outburst about their behaviour. Thomas' comments belittled and demeaned them as a group. It was a silly response from Thomas no matter how much he may have been prompted by the media. Why would you want to turn the men in white against your side when you are just about to play in the most important month of the year? It's gamesmanship to turn the heat up on the opposition but what was there to be gained by getting the men with the whistles offside? On Friday night against the Dockers, St Kilda received little while Fremantle was more than lucky on one occasion. I didn't think it was coincidental but I'm sure Jeff Gieschen could justify every one of those decisions paid by his men. I think it is impossible for anyone to expect those umpires to have gone out on Friday night and not had Thomas' description of them ringing in their ears.
The Article Tim Watson/TheAge/24Aug05
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