2005 - AFL Home and Away Season
Round 4 - Pregame Articles
Saints vs Demons
Sunday, 17th April - Dome
2:10 PM AEST
FTA TV: Melb: 4pm, Perth: 12noon, Adel: 1.30pm
Radio Vic: ABC 774 12pm, MMM 12pm
Centrebet: Saints $2.75, D's $1.44
TAB Sportsbet: Saints $2.55, D's $1.45
Membership Tally 30,169 Members
Clarke, Guerra in for Sunday
The Saints have finalized their line-up for Sunday's match against Melbourne at Telstra Dome with the selectors opting to make three changes. Xavier Clarke, Brent Guerra and Jason Blake come in for injured duo Robert Harvey (hamstring), Luke Penny (knee) and Barry Brooks who's been omitted. Andrew McQualter, Mark McGough and Nick Stone are the Saints emergencies. Into the 22 for Melbourne are Chris Heffernan, Simon Godfrey and Alistair Nicholson for Matthew Whelan (hamstring), Brent Moloney (suspended) and Ryan Ferguson who's been dropped.
Final Selections Sportal/saints.com.au/14Apr05
Clubs count cost as injury takes its toll
. . . Thomas is wary of citing St Kilda's lengthy injury list as an excuse for its poor start to the season, but knows that it is the principal reason his Saints are one win from three games. St Kilda will tomorrow line up against Melbourne without its captain, centre half-forward and best player Riewoldt, most experienced midfielder Robert Harvey, regular full-back Luke Penny and most versatile tall player, Justin Koschitzke. "We have never had our personnel together this year," Thomas said this week. "All the sides that are up, like Melbourne, the Kangaroos and Adelaide, basically have their full lists. It is just a critical factor in footy these days. Every game you need your best players to play."
The Article Chip Le Grand/TheAustralian/16Apr05
No wonder Milne is hungry and confused
. . . In an exchange on On the Couch this week Robert Walls said he believed most small forwards were insecure and Milne's actions were probably caused by him thinking he had to kick three goals a week to keep his spot. His inference was Milne was wrong on this count, too. Yet Mike Sheahan countered that for small forwards (and, indeed, full-forwards) goals kicked would be precisely how Milne would be assessed . . . Milne needs to reassess what's important on the footy field for a forward, but it will be made far easier for him if we in the media do so first.
The Article Gerrard Healy/HeralSun/16Apr05
KB's disciples Emma Quayle/TheAge/15Apr05
McQualter in the 25 mix
St Kilda's top pick at last year's NAB AFL Draft, Andrew McQualter, is in line to make his senior debut against Melbourne at Telstra Dome on Sunday. The 18 year-old midfielder, picked up with selection 17, has been named on an extended seven-man interchange bench. Also coming in to the Saints' 25-man squad are Xavier Clarke, Nick Stone, Mark McGough, Brent Guerra and Jason Blake. Out of the Saints line-up are the injured Robert Harvey (hamstring) and Luke Penny while Barry Brooks has been omitted . . . the squad will be trimmed to 22 on Friday.
The Article saints.com.au/14Apr05
Penny out in big blow for Saints
The injury-stricken St Kilda side will look even shorter against Melbourne on Sunday, after yesterday losing defender Luke Penny to a knee injury. The Saints, already without Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke, must survive at least the next two weeks without their full-back, who had a stop-start pre-season, and arthroscopic surgery on his left knee yesterday. Into the side searching for its second win came Xavier Clarke, for his first match for the season. The tall Nick Stone and Jason Blake have been named on the extended interchange bench alongside the shorter Brent Guerra, Mark McGough and potential first-gamer Andrew McQualter. The top-of-the ladder Melbourne, meanwhile, included former Kangaroo premiership player Shannon Motlop on its own expanded bench, less than a month after he was chosen to replace Troy Broadbridge on the Demons' list.
The Article Emma Quayle/TheAge/15Apr05
Saints and D's Preview
. . . Not time to panic at Moorabbin, but maybe a collective 'hmmm' as the flag-fancy Saints open the season at 1-2. They will want to bring their best stuff this Sunday as Melbourne is flying. It belted Geelong through the midfield and had several goalkicking options, while Jeff White is dominating in the ruck. New midfielder Brent Moloney (suspension) will be missed, but the Saints will be without veteran onballer Robert Harvey (hamstring) and defender Luke Penny (knee). This is a big early-season test for the Riewoldt-less Saints. Key: Cameron Bruce racked up 30 touches, kicked three goals and made the B.O.G. verdict a no-brainer last Friday night. He will demand some close attention from St Kilda's midfield.
All Round 4 previews AAP/HeralSun/14Apr05
Too early to compare: Daniher
But Daniher said the current team had a long way to go before it could even dream of emulating the feats of that team. "The 2000 team got to the grand final and grand finals are hard to get to," he said. "But we are confident in what we are capable of doing, confident of going into the future but the future for us is only as far as Sunday (against St Kilda) and that is another test for us."
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/13Apr05
Saints Chat Transcripts
Sam Fisher Noddy/saints.com.au/13Ap05
Aaron Fiora Noddy/saints.com.au/11Apr05
Leigh Fisher Noddy/saints.com.au/06Apr05
AFL to rethink priority picks
. . . Possible changes include widening the qualification period from one to up to three years and pushing priority picks back to between the first and second rounds in the draft. The league has no issue with changing the rule even though the season has started. It considers the priority pick qualification irrelevant given every club is going into battle to win anyway. There are concerns about the perception lowly clubs have no incentive to win late-season matches if they are in danger of losing a prized early pick. Clubs are also concerned about rewards coming too quickly; Melbourne, a finalist in 2002 and 2004, received a huge bonus for a shock fall from grace in 2003.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeralSun/14Apr05
AFL silent on TV rights bid Caroline Wilson/TheAge/13Apr05
Home sweet Dome Jake Niall/TheAge/14Apr05
AFL - clubs to put-in to TV rights FootyGoss/1Apr05
Too early to compare: Daniher
But Daniher said the current team had a long way to go before it could even dream of emulating the feats of that team. "The 2000 team got to the grand final and grand finals are hard to get to," he said. "But we are confident in what we are capable of doing, confident of going into the future but the future for us is only as far as Sunday (against St Kilda) and that is another test for us."
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/13Apr05
Saints Chat Transcripts
Sam Fisher Noddy/saints.com.au/13Ap05
Aaron Fiora Noddy/saints.com.au/11Apr05
Leigh Fisher Noddy/saints.com.au/06Apr05
Saints getting close: Hayes
Despite winning only one game for the home-and-away season, Hayes is positive that once the team returns to full-strength, the Saints will resume their hugely competitive form from last year. "I think we've still got a few guys who are a bit underdone, right throughout the pre-season we haven't been playing great football, but I don't think we're far away," he said. "Last year at the start of the year, we were all up and going, we'd had the four games in the Wizard Cup and played very well in all of those, and we hit the ground running,"
The Article Jennifer Witham/Sportal/saints.com.au/13Apr05
Hayes looks beyond injuries Sportal/13Apr05
What to do with Goddard? sainters.com
AFL silent on TV rights bid
The AFL remains locked in a dispute with Channels Seven and Ten and has not yet recognised the right of the two parties to become partners in a bid for the next round of football broadcast rights. With only 48 hours remaining for league bosses Andrew Demetriou and Ben Buckley to accept or reject the Seven-Ten alliance, the AFL has questioned the capability of the two networks to televise the game beyond 2007 in a dispute that could end up in court. Seven and Ten have both demanded in writing that the league accept their partnership, with another piece of correspondence from Seven expected to arrive at AFL headquarters today. The Age believes that should the AFL - as it has threatened - refuse to accept the new partnership's right to collectively put forward both the first and last bids for the 2007-2011 broadcast rights, the two networks could legally challenge the league. Seven's chief executive, David Leckie, officially reported 28 days ago to AFL chief executive Demetriou that Seven had joined forces with Ten in holding the first and last bidding rights for free-to-air football. Leckie requested a response from Demetriou by April 15.
The Article Caroline Wilson/TheAge/13Apr05
For the Love of the Jumper - No 1
This is a chronicle of Saints players who have worn the Number 1 jumper during their career. This is not a definitive list but it is reasonably comprehensive. Many listed here have worn other numbers at different stages, but as long as they have worn the number 1 at some stage of their career they qualify for mention. I have selected a Saints team comprising only those who have worn the number 1, and then I have named my top 3 players who have carried the number 1 for the Red, White and Black . . .
The Article Allan Grant/saints.com.au/12Apr05
Saints getting close: Hayes
Despite winning only one game for the home-and-away season, Hayes is positive that once the team returns to full-strength, the Saints will resume their hugely competitive form from last year. "I think we've still got a few guys who are a bit underdone, right throughout the pre-season we haven't been playing great football, but I don't think we're far away," he said. "Last year at the start of the year, we were all up and going, we'd had the four games in the Wizard Cup and played very well in all of those, and we hit the ground running,"
The Article Jennifer Witham/Sportal/saints.com.au/13Apr05
Hayes looks beyond injuries Sportal/13Apr05
What to do with Goddard? sainters.com
AFL to rethink priority picks
. . . Possible changes include widening the qualification period from one to up to three years and pushing priority picks back to between the first and second rounds in the draft. The league has no issue with changing the rule even though the season has started. It considers the priority pick qualification irrelevant given every club is going into battle to win anyway. There are concerns about the perception lowly clubs have no incentive to win late-season matches if they are in danger of losing a prized early pick. Clubs are also concerned about rewards coming too quickly; Melbourne, a finalist in 2002 and 2004, received a huge bonus for a shock fall from grace in 2003.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/14Apr05
AFL silent on TV rights bid Caroline Wilson/TheAge/13Apr05
Home sweet Dome Jake Niall/TheAge/14Apr05
AFL - clubs to put-in to TV rights FootyGoss/1Apr05
Harvey's hopes grow by the day
. . . With injuries to captain Nick Riewoldt (broken collarbone), Justin Koschitzke (hamstring) and onballer Stephen Powell (back soreness), the Saints can ill afford to lose another prime mover after losing two of their first three games. "We've just got to see how he pulls up over the next couple of days. We're pretty lucky we've got that extra day this week," former skipper Lenny Hayes said before training yesterday. "We don't play until Sunday so we'll give him right up until the last minute." Harvey only did light ball work yesterday at Moorabbin.
The Article Michael Horan/HeraldSun/13Apr05
Harvey gives Saints hope
The infirmary that is St Kilda's Moorabbin training base these days received some rare welcome news when scans revealed Robert Harvey was some chance of playing in Sunday's vital match against a rampaging Melbourne at Telstra Dome. The highly decorated veteran damaged his hamstring in Saturday's dreadful fade-out against the Kangaroos at the same venue and was expected to miss at least a fortnight. However, an ultrasound and MRI scan showed minimal damage to the 33-year-old's well-worn legs. On an injury list that has climbed to seven, with captain and star forward Nick Riewoldt set to miss another month with a broken collarbone, the loss of Harvey would be a crippling blow.
The Article Malcolm Conn/TheAustralian/13Apr05
Harvey a chance
Champion St Kilda midfielder Robert Harvey may yet play in Sunday's big clash against Melbourne at Telstra Dome. It was thought that the hamstring injury the dual Brownlow medallist suffered against the Kangaroos on the weekend might keep him out of the side for up to three weeks, however an ultrasound, followed by an MRI indicated he only suffered a slight strain, rather than a tear. A St Kilda spokesperson said Harvey would undergo a fitness test later this week and may be passed fit to play against the unbeaten Demons. If not, he will definitely play against Richmond, also at Telstra Dome, the following Sunday.
The Article Jennifer Witham/Sportal/saints.com.au/12Apr05
Hopes for Harvey Jordan Chong and Jon Pierik/HeraldSun/11Apr05
Flooders doomed: Blight Jake Niall/TheAge/12Apr05
Dal Santo: Cut above the rest
Since his debut, Dal Santo has proved he is capable of becoming a superstar, coming to the club via a draft pick from the Barry Hall deal. In 2004, Dal Santo made a quantum leap in his game. He showed he deserved to be in the seniors with his relentless chasing of the ball and his outstanding tackling. In Round 8, he tore up the Magpie midfield with his pace and smart football, a lethal mix for any opposition club to stop. His fine form continued and he contributed well in the finals in a year which saw the side finish Top 4. With St. Kilda flag favourites this season, the pressure was no doubt on the players from fans and the media to deliver, but according to Dal Santo, "We didn't feel any more pressure than usual. Our training, our game preparation and our beliefs are the same they were twelve months ago." No doubt the St. Kilda side is hurting with the loss of Riewoldt in the opening round and also no Koschitzke, "It's disappointing to lose our leader and it's hard to fill his spot. The spotlight on him following the injury, I guess that's just football. Losing Justin is another unexpected setback, but it gave a chance for Barry Brooks to come in and fill his spot."
The Article Luca Giacobello/saints.com.au/11Apr05
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