2005 - AFL Home and Away Season
Round 8 - Pregame Articles
Training Report
X did not train at all, was walking laps.
It appears that the squad will be last weeks team minus Harvey, Kosi, Aussie and X Clarke.
The following players trained as well as the remainder of last weeks team. Gehrig, Gram, Powell, Blake, McQualter, Schwarze and Stone.
The Article Junior/saintsational.com.au/11May05
 Andrew Thompson Interview RadioSport 927AM
Nick Dal Santo vs Chris Judd Pro Stats
Williams v Gehrig
Fraser Gehrig, St Kilda's colossus of the goalsquare, stands 195cm and weighs 104kg. Mark Williams, who fills the same function at Hawthorn, measures 182cm and 83kg. Under the old scales, the differences are 5-6 inches and three stone-plus. Yet, seven rounds into the 2005 season, Williams heads the AFL goalkicking table with 24, one clear of Gehrig, the 2004 Coleman Medal winner. It's like a ruckman of 188cm leading the "effective hit outs" list, yet it's more.
The Article Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/14May05
McConnell in for Wirrpunda
In-form defender David Wirrpunda is out and youngster Daniel McConnell is to make his debut in the blockbuster clash between the West Coast Eagles and St Kilda at Subiaco on Saturday. Wirrpunda suffered a quad injury in the first half of the match against Hawthorn in Launceston last week and trained lightly for much this week before missing Friday's session altogether. But his omission opens the door for McConnell, who burned in the Wizard Cup and has been in good form in the WAFL for the last couple of months.
The Article Mic Cullen/Sportal/saints.com.au/13May05
Eagles lose Wirrpunda
Match Preview AAP/HeraldSun/14May05
Eagles face police
West Coast Eagles stars Ben Cousins and Michael Gardiner have come under renewed pressure to give police information about January's gang violence at Metro City nightclub after two Scorpion Boys members were charged with failing to answer questions before the Corruption and Crime Commission. Detectives investigating the clash, which left Coffin Cheater Troy Mercanti with life-threatening stab wounds and Scorpion Boy Nabil Dabag with bullet wounds, want to know what the Eagles duo were told when they spoke on the phone to Coffin Cheaters associate David Morris shortly before and immediately after the incident.
The Article Sean Cowan & Luke Morfesse/WestAustralian/14May05
Code of conduct pact a mystery to coaches
. . . (Grant) Thomas said Connolly had every right to blast Wallace if the Richmond coach had upset him. "The other 15 coaches are great until they get in your way," Thomas said. "I can't believe we can have a pact. You can be respectful and everything else, but it's war out there. They're all great guys and I love them to death, but we war against each other, so you can't just want to belt the crap out of each other on one Saturday and then turn up the following day and want to give each other a cuddle. It's very passionate and we defend our turf vehemently. Chris is one of the most dedicated and passionate coaches going around and that comes through in his coaching. Plough (Wallace) has been out for a few years and comes back. He has obviously upset Chris and Chris has fired him a broadside - that's all good."
The Article Craig O'Donoghue & Steve Butler/WestAge/14May05
McQualter to debut at Subi
First-gamer Andrew McQualter is one of four inclusions to the St Kilda line-up for the trip west to take on the Eagles at Subiaco on Saturday. Also into the Saints side is Fraser Gehrig, back from his one game suspension, Nick Stone and Jason Blake. They replace the injured quartet of Austinn Jones (calf), Robert Harvey (hamstring), Justin Koschitzke (hamstring) and Xavier Clarke (hamstring). McQualter, the Saints' top selection at last year's NAB AFL Draft, has been named in the starting 18 as an on-baller . . . The Eagles have made two changes, bringing in Michael Gardiner, who missed one match with a knee injury, and Sam Butler for the suspended Phil Matera and Adam Selwood, who's been dropped.
The Article saints.com.au/12May05
Teams: Saints hamstrung Michael Stevens/HeraldSun/13May05
Gehrig can't cover Saints' injury toll
St Kilda's attempt to wrest top spot from West Coast this week will feature less star power than the Saints might have liked, with one small defender, one key-position player and a couple of handy onballers to be left at home injured. While full-forward Fraser Gehrig will return from suspension for tomorrow's match at Subiaco, Aussie Jones has been ruled out with a calf injury, along with Robert Harvey, Justin Koschitzke and Xavier Clarke (hamstrings) and Aaron Hamill with a shin injury. Andrew McQualter, last year's Vic Country captain and the Saints' first choice at No. 17 in last year's national draft, will make his AFL debut, while Nick Stone and Jason Blake have been named on the bench as back-up talls.
The Article Emma Quayle/TheAge/13May05
The Article Caroline Wilson/TheAge/13May05
Fisher happy to be back in 2s
Young Saint Leigh Fisher is hoping to put a shocking run of injuries behind him when he resumes for Springvale this weekend. The promising defender looked to have cemented his place in the Saints' best 22 early last season, showing poise beyond his years across half-back, before being struck down with a serious hamstring injury. Fisher tore the muscle away from the tendon against the Eagles in round 10 and the horrendous injury marked the beginning of 12 months in the football wilderness. He underwent surgery to re-attach the muscle and was laid up for eight weeks while he recovered. However, once he was mobile again a second reconstruction was required on his troublesome right shoulder.
The Article Jason Phelan/saints.com.au/12May05
Injuries just 'bad luck': Thomas
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas believes the club's injury woes in recent weeks have simply fallen under the 'bad luck' category. Thomas said injuries fell into the controllable and uncontrollable category, yet he was adamant that St Kilda's recent injury spate came into the latter group. "We've had a lot of uncontrollable injuries and a lot of collision injuries where the players have been very courageous and hard at the footy and the man," Thomas before St Kilda training at Moorabbin on Wednesday. "When that's compounded by what we consider controllable injuries, where guys have reinjured - that puts a lot of pressure on. There's no ground-breaking news as to why we have injuries or there's no ground-breaking news as to how we're going to prevent them."
The Article Matt Burgan/Sportal/saints.com.au/11May05
Saints communication breakdown Chloe Saltau/TheAge/12May05
Saints admit injury blunder
St Kilda has conceded hamstring victim Robert Harvey should not have been risked against Geelong last week. Frustrated by what he described as a "plague" of soft-tissue injuries, Saints coach Grant Thomas said yesterday the club should have been more diligent and withdrawn the veteran. "If we had've probably been a little bit more diligent leading up to the game and more communicative, he probably wouldn't have played," Thomas said. "If we had've been a bit better with our assessment of him, he wouldn't have played. We need to get better in that area. Everyone has to make sure we have a high level of communication" . . . Andrew McQualter, the Saints' first pick in last year's draft, is set to make his debut. Nick Stone and Jason Blake are also in line for a recall.
The Article Mark Stevens/TheAustralian/12May05
Concerns over new tribunal Michael Gleeson & Chloe Saltau/TheAge/12May05
Peckett hungry for success
St Kilda might be home to the AFL's most exciting young group of players but amidst all the hype surrounding names like Riewoldt, Koschitze, Ball, Dal Santo and the Clarke brothers, an old-timer has been quietly playing some of his most consistent football for years. Justin Peckett, one of just 17 AFL players still on club lists that began their careers in 1992 or earlier, is making the most of a second coming as an AFL player following his shock recall for last year's semi-final win over Sydney. That was only Peckett's 10th senior game of last year as he struggled to hold his place with so much increased competition for spots at Moorabbin but he admits it encouraged him to go on in search of that elusive premiership in 2005. And he is certainly glad he did, having not dropped below 10 disposals in his past six games (in five of those games he has had 16 or more possessions) - something he has not done since 2002.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/09May05
Saints may take legal route
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas has indicated the club will consider using legal representation in future tribunal cases. In the wake of Coleman Medallist Fraser Gehrig receiving a one-match suspension for striking Collingwood's Jason Cloke which forced him to miss St Kilda's round seven loss against Geelong, Thomas suggested legal representation would help the club through a 'mire' of tribunal hearings. "We're looking very closely at our tribunal team," Thomas said before St Kilda training at Moorabbin on Wednesday.
The Article Matt Burgan/Sportal/saints.com.au/11May05
Tribunal still in the wars
Certain aspects of the revamped AFL Tribunal concern the AFL Players Association and will be raised officially in post-season analysis. AFLPA chief executive Brendon Gale said his group endorsed the new judiciary, but players and club officials had been regularly reporting perceived shortcomings. "In principle, it is going OK - we support it, fundamentally, and we can't be responding and reacting on a week-to-week basis," Gale said yesterday. "I am constantly having concerns put to me by clubs and players. I think the appropriate time is at the end of the year, to sit down and review what is working well, what is a little confusing, what can be tinkered with and fixed."
The Article Damian Barrett/HeraldSun/12May05
Legal Eagles exploit loophole to clear Hunter Peter Krupka/TheAustralian/11May05
Tribunal works well, says Worsfold Craig O'Donoghue/WestAustralian/12May05
AFL denies loophole Sportal/11May05
St Kilda coach calls for tribunal reform ABCSport/11May05
Hunter cleared for St Kilda showdown
West Coast defender Adam Hunter is free to play in Saturday's match of the season against St Kilda at Subiaco Oval after his one-week suspension was downgraded to a reprimand. The 23-year-old, a candidate to play on Saints sensation Nick Riewoldt, is available because the three-man tribunal jury of Stewart Loewe, Emmett Dunne and Barry Stoneham deemed that his blow to the groin of Hawthorn's Mark Williams last Sunday was reckless, not intentional . . . Asked later if he had meant to punch Williams in the groin, Hunter replied: "Definitely not. I am just looking forward to playing this week, it's a huge game against St Kilda."
The Article Mark Duffield/WestAustralian/10May05
Reprimand for Hunter Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/10May05
Injuries: Harvey out
It is the 33-year-old midfielder's second hamstring injury this season - he missed the club's Round 4 clash with Melbourne. "It's very disappointing, but that's football. I've had a few over the years, so let's get on with it," Harvey told Channel 7 yesterday. Scans will determine the seriousness of Justin Koschitzke's hamstring injury, while Austinn Jones' calf injury will be tested. The Saints will also test Aaron Hamill (corked shin) and Luke Penny (knee) before selecting their team to take on West Coast at Subiaco on Saturday.
The Article Jordon Chong/HeraldSun/10May05
Thomas keeps injuries in perspective
. . . "It is disappointing and something we have to sit down and see whether we are doing everything we can to minimise the chances of players re-injuring themselves," he said after the 18-point loss to the Cats. "It is usually the sides that got the least amount of injuries that are up there (the top of the ladder), the sides that are playing the least amount of players. If you can get away with playing only 28-30 players for the season you have had a good year and the guys get synergy from playing together each week and they get their confidence up." However Thomas refused to use the club's injury predicament for the loss to the Cats, who trailed by 13 points at the last change before steamrolling St Kilda in the final term as the Saints were reduced to just 19 fit players. "I can feel sorry for myself and think if we only had this or only we had that but that is all would ofs, could ofs and should ofs - you can only deal with what you have got."
The Article Paul Gough/saints.com.au/09May05
Gameplan against West Coast Saintsational Fan Forum
Spotlight on Sam
The sensational season experienced by St. Kilda last season produced some fantastic highlights and also produced some players for the future. One man who went under the guard was Sam Fisher. Not much has been written about the 22 year old from West Adelaide, but the fact is he registered seven games in 2004, predominantly in the best defensive side of the year. This is a testament to Fisher and his commitment to training and hard work. Slotting in such a great backline is far from easy. Up close, he is a perfect size for an AFL defender at 191cm and an 88kg frame and capable of guarding some of the league's premier forwards.
The Article Luca Giacobello/saints.com.au/09May05
West Coast: Dean Cox
. . . Despite being two wins clear on top of the ladder, Cox is aware that the side's fortunes could change and that Saturday's match against St Kilda will be another test. "St Kilda is a great side and they showed last year how far they've come on," he said. "It is a big game but every week now's a big game. We've just got to make sure we get all of our indicators up to where they should be and have a good game. I think it could decide how well we are going at the moment. You come up against quality sides and it's a benchmark to see where you're at, individually and as a team. All the boys will be looking forward to the challenge." The fitness of star defender David Wirrpunda, who injured a quad in Sunday's win, will be assessed this week, while big men Michael Gardiner (knee) and Mark Seaby (hamstring) will press for selection.
The Article Steven Lavell/saints.com.au/09May05
Two Eagles facing suspension
. . . . Hunter and Matera were cited for similar incidents to the one which cost St Kilda spearhead Fraser Gehrig - who will return for this week's clash against the Eagles - a one-week suspension last week. Matera was booked for striking Michael Osborne with the incident assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point), behind play (two points) and body contact (one point), which equates to 225 points or a level two offence but if he pleads guilty his points will be reduced to 168.75 or only a one-match ban.
The Article Paul Gough/saints.com.au/09May05
Eagles sweat on Matera, Hunter David Reed/West Australian/09May05
Two Eagles facing suspension Sportal/09May05
Eagles in battle to clear Hunter Craig O'Donoghue/WestAustralian/10May05
AFL wake up call
The AFL has described the practice of players taking high doses of caffeine as 'dangerous' and will test for the drug and even ban it if players take the drug without medical supervision. The AFL's medical commissioner Harry Unglick yesterday confirmed that the league was aware of studies that linked high doses of caffeine to serious health risks, such as heart problems and high blood pressure, and was concerned about unregulated, uncontrolled use of caffeine by players. Unglick confirmed that it would be dangerous for players to take the drug without medical supervision, given that they might have health issues, such as a heart problem or high blood pressure. Unglick was responding to the revelations that numerous players have taken pure caffeine tablets, such as No Doz, before and during games.
The Article Jake Niall/TheAge/10May05
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