2005 - AFL Home and Away Season
Round 5 - Pregame Articles
Round 5 - Anzac Day
St Kilda vs. Richmond
Telstra Dome
Sun 24Apr05, 5:10PM AEST
The golden Goose
AS he resolved to do a few years ago, Matt Maguire has secured St Kilda's centre half-back position. Pushing his claim: Matt Maguire has cemented his position as the team's centre half-back after battling injury last season. Given he is dating the captain's sister, it is probably lucky he has become such a vital cog in the machine. "I am seeing Luke Ball's younger sister Sophie," Maguire said. "At first I was a bit apprehensive with the whole Luke thing, but it's not like I'm committing a mortal sin. Now he's the skipper so I'm in big trouble . . . but he's a great bloke, Luke, so it's working well."
The Article Jackie Epstein/HeraldSun/24Apr05
Two changes for Tigers clash
St Kilda has made two changes for Sunday's match against Richmond at Telstra Dome with Robert Harvey and Justin Koschitzke returning from injury in place of Jason Blake and Troy Schwarze, both of whom have been omitted. St Kilda formally notified the AFL on Friday of an alteration to the starting 18 that was submitted on Thursday with Sam Fisher in the starting 18 in place of Schwarze. The Tigers have named the same line-up that accounted comfortably for Fremantle at the MCG last Sunday. Danny Meyer, Tom Roach and Shane Morrison are the emergencies
The Article Sportal/saints.com.au/22Apr05
Pre-game Jason Phelan/saints.com.au/21Apr05
R5 Previews & Teams TheAge/22Apr05
R5 Previews AAP/HeraldSun/22Apr05
R5 Teams - all games HeraldSun/22Apr05
Saints regain stars Jon Pierik/TheAustralian/22Apr05
Richo v Gehrig showdown
Matthew Richardson and Fraser Gehrig go head-to-head tomorrow evening. Rebecca Williams asks four former defenders how they'd play them and . . . Not as fit as Richo: Mick Martyn says Fraser Gehrig has good height and strength, but that he doesn't travel as far as Matthew Richardson does and doesn't have the fitness with the injuries that he's had.
ON RICHARDSON:
"One of his real strengths is his athleticism. He also has an inch or two on defenders so he's pretty tough to match up. There was a time when people believed he got a lot of his ball up on the wing and that he'd lead very long. Some teams let him have that space and let him get his ball up the ground. I always felt that you needed to stay with him, to try and suffocate him in a sense because he's the type of player who, if he gets early touches, his confidence does grow. I think he's a better kick from about 50-55m out than he probably is closer in" . . . More
ON GEHRIG:
"I've got no doubt he's a much improved player over the last three to four years. He had really good seasons over in Western Australia, but he just has a presence up forward now. He's so strong and he's maintained his speed. There wouldn't be too many defenders, physically, who could really outbody him. Given the fact that he missed a bit of the pre-season with a bit of an injury, you might look at his endurance. Try and run him up the ground and take him out of the full-forward post and try and wear him out" . . . More
The Article Rebecca Williams/HeraldSun/23Apr05
Terry's Tigers told to go for broke
Other than the game, Richmond coach Terry Wallace believes his side has nothing to lose when it plays St Kilda in tomorrow night's Round 5 game at Telstra Dome. The Tigers have won their past three games but after victories over Hawthorn, the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle, face the tough task of beating St Kilda at the Saints' favourite venue. "They're tough to play at the Dome at any stage, they're a fantastic side," Wallace said yesterday.
The Article Rebecca Williams/AAP/HeraldSun/23Apr05
Terry's Triangle
Not since many moons ago, when I would burn the midnight oil trying to grapple with the challenges of trigonometry, have I been so interested in the qualities of a triangle. But last Sunday I stumbled on 'Terry's Triangle' and, not only was it relatively easy to decipher, but it provided some answers to the Tigers' long-standing troubles. Just as 'Pagan's Paddock' was a cornerstone of the Kangaroos' dynasty of the 1990s, Terry's Triangle has emerged as the foundation on which the coach will build the new Richmond. Where some saw Matthew Richardson as a problem, Terry Wallace saw him as part of the solution, one that involved three tall, powerful marking players operating in the same forward line. The strategy appears to be based on a basic basketball formation that moves three big men around the basketball key or, in football terms, the forward 50.
The Article Gerard Healy/HeraldSun/23Apr05
Harvey floor-banger: don't try this at home
Robert Harvey's rather drastic action to "cure" his plantar fascia problem, described so graphically on Thursday's Footy Show, was not so crazy as it sounded. The plantar fascia is a band of ligaments that runs along the bottom of the foot. It can be injured in two ways. The most common is plantar fasciitis or inflammation of the fascia. This occurs as a result of overuse and leads to pain and tenderness at the attachment of the plantar fascia to the heel bone. This can sometimes lead to the formation of a heel spur. The less common injury to the plantar fascia is a part tear, an acute injury that is associated with sudden onset of pain, bruising and swelling.
The Article Peter Brukner/HeraldSun/23Apr05
You maniac, Banger! Grimfang/Saintsational Fan Forum
Riewoldt learning plenty
Having been rotated into the position as Saints skipper for this season, the 22-year-old would undoubtedly prefer to be leading from the field on match day rather than sitting in the coaches box with Grant Thomas. But the injury he sustained in the dramatic season opener in Brisbane has forced Riewoldt to understand captaincy in other forms. "You obviously view the game a lot differently and players a lot differently from the coaches box than you do when you're out there with them. So that's been a good experience. And I suppose it's taken all the focus and attention that I put off myself and into my teammates, so that's been a blessing," Riewoldt said at Moorabbin on Thursday. It's given me an opportunity to gain the respect of my teammates in another way. Just by being upbeat and positive around the club and I think I've done that, and Luke (Ball)'s done a tremendous job filling the void."
The Article Samantha Lane/Sportal/saints.com.au/21Apr05
Riewoldt is ready, but Thomas wary
Nick Riewoldt appears certain to make his return in Round 7 against Geelong - even if he has a strong urge to stage his comeback a week earlier. The St Kilda skipper will have X-rays on his broken collarbone next week and hopes to convince medical staff he is fit for a Round 6 comeback against Collingwood. But the Saints are in no mood to gamble. Even if Riewoldt proves he has recovered by surviving competitive work, coach Grant Thomas will be pushing the "when it's right, take one more week" line.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/22Apr05
Riewoldt raring to return
He says he'll do the same next week, although realistically the fact he has done no contested work on the training track means he must be a couple of weeks away from playing, most likely round seven against Geelong. "The next couple of weeks I'll start some contesting work," he said. "That'll be the real indicator of whether I'm right to go."
The Article Martin Blake/TheAge/22Apr05
Ball's just rolling along
St Kilda's acting captain Luke Ball is trying to keep things low key while warming the seat for Nick Riewoldt's return. Armed with advice from Riewoldt and former captains Lenny Hayes and Aaron Hamill, Ball described the role as a "really good experience". "A couple of weeks ago, when I first got the job, I guess I had a bit of a chat to Lenny and Aaron and Nick himself but since then it's just been business as usual," Ball said. "At this stage I'm two (wins) and one (loss) with it so you can look at that and say I'm going OK." Like other talented youngsters at Moorabbin, Ball said leadership was something he was keen to pursue.
The Article Jordan Chong/HeraldSun/23Apr05
Ball considers captaincy
Acting St Kilda skipper Luke Ball has hinted he wants to captain the Saints in 2006, which could be a genuine possibility under the club's rotational policy. Ball, who is leading the club in the absence of injured 2005 captain Nick Riewoldt, spoke about his future aspirations at an AFL media conference on Thursday. "It's a fair way off, but certainly in the future I think all of the young guys there should aspire to it," Ball said when asked if he wants to lead the club next year. Ball said he had spoken to previous St Kilda captains Aaron Hamill and Lenny Hayes, along with Riewoldt, about handling the role, which he is doing with aplomb at the moment. "Maybe in the future, if I look at getting the job permanently, I might have a look at chat to other people but not at this stage," Ball said.
The Article Matt Burgan/Sportal/saints.com.au/21Apr05
Training report 21/04/2005 Bigred/Saintsational Fan Forum
A salute to Knobel deeds Chris Riches/richmondfc/saints.com.au/21Apr05
Fraser Gehrig Chat Transcript Noddy/saints.com.au/20Apr05
Famous author visits Saints
Eminent author and relationships expert Doctor John Gray had the entire St Kilda playing list contemplating the subtleties of the sexes at a unique seminar on Wednesday night. The acclaimed author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus presented an in-depth analysis of some of the quirks of male-female relations at the lecture held at Sandringham Yacht Club. Dr Gray took the Saints, and many of the club's staff members, through some of the quirks of men (Martians) and women (Venusians), and by the conclusion of the evening had several players beating their chests on stage. Drawing from his top-selling book, Dr Gray explained the varied 'points systems' of the two sexes, which included discussion on the pros and cons of presenting women with a single flower as opposed to an entire bunch.
The Article Samantha Lane/Sportal/saints.com.au/21Apr05
Blockbuster membership for Saints
. . . "The AFL have clearly stated that maximising attendances and maximising participation in the game are their goals," Butterss said. "If we continue to be above average in the industry in that regard, we can help them in their goals. The easy thing is to be impatient, the easy thing is to expect all those benefits to come overnight . . . In one way or another, that will come, and it may not come from a club losing the right to a blockbuster." Given that membership accounts for about a fifth of total revenue, the increased support augurs well for another improvement in St Kilda's profit, bettering last year's earnings before interest and tax of $1.03 million. "Our target for this year is to be on a similar level with a little bit of an increase," chief executive Jim Watts said. "Certainly we think we can match it, if not beat it."
The Article AAP/TheAge/20Apr05
Tough as nails
When Aaron Hamill puts on his gear and crosses the white line, it is like a great Roman gladiator putting on his battle gear and entering an arena. Many would agree that Hamill is the muscle, the intimidator of the St Kilda side. This has been proven time after time, most recently in Round 1 when Mal Michael and Chris Scott continued to bump Nick Riewoldt's injured shoulder. The skipper was wounded and it was Hamill, closest to the action, who remonstrated with the Lions defenders, not backing down an inch to defend the young champion.
The Article Luca Giacobello/saints.com.au/20Apr05
Record membership for Saints
St Kilda has recorded its second victory for the week, announcing that its membership figure has reached a record number. The Saints have passed last year's total of 30,553, with 31,048 supporters now paid up and passionate supporters. The Saints chief executive officer Jim Watts said that the rise in membership indicates the exciting times ahead for the club, and reinforced that St Kilda is still on its way to being a force within the AFL. In a statement released by the club, Watts said that the Saints are still falling short of their target of 35,000 members, and has urged un-signed members from 2004 to recommit.
The Article Jennifer Witham/Sportal/saints.com.au/19Apr05
Membership details This site
Mooses' Video Page via Saintsational Fan Forum
Dr Dans Match Review Saintsational
Saints claim a membership record
St Kilda's status as an early-season favourite for the AFL premiership is reflected in its record club membership. The club announced it had reached 31,048 members this morning, passing last year's previous high of 30,553. Chief executive Jim Watts was confident the club could reach 35,000 this season, saying about 3500 members from last year had not re-signed. "After a 30 per cent increase in membership last year, the challenge to our supporters was to exceed that number in 2005 and put St Kilda into the top echelon of AFL clubs," Watts said.
The Article HeraldSun/19Apr05
Saints break record AAP/HeraldSun/19Apr05
Quick fix for Saints
In just half an hour on Sunday, the Saints restored the faith of their fans and put their season back on the exciting track of last year. At the final change against undefeated league leader Melbourne the signs were there, but the job remained to be done. A week earlier the Saints had led the Kangaroos by two goals at three-quarter time, and by 17 points at the 20-minute mark of the last quarter, and were run down. This time they had a 14-point buffer at the final break against the undefeated Demons.
The Article Michael Horan/HeraldSun/19Apr05
Star trio set to bolster in-form Saints
St Kilda could welcome back big man Justin Koschitzke as well as veteran Robert Harvey and midfielder Stephen Powell for Sunday's game against a resurgent Richmond at Telstra Dome, Saints defender Aussie Jones said yesterday. St Kilda got over the top of then-premiership favourite Melbourne last Sunday despite missing a big chunk of its first-choice side in Harvey, Powell, Koschitzke, captain Nick Riewoldt and defender Luke Penny. But the casualty list at Moorabbin is slowly being pared down. Harvey (hamstring) and Powell (back) are expected to return against the Tigers, while Koschitzke could come back from a hamstring strain earlier than expected. "Certainly, it's exciting to have a great win yesterday over Melbourne, and to have those players coming back is great for us and obviously the supporters out there who have stuck with us. It's only been a slow start. We're 2-2 now and ready to go," Jones said.
The Article Dan Oakes/TheAge/19Apr05
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