Do you
Believe or Burn?
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All members who received the Club's Early Bird Membership renewal would have seen St Kilda's new 2007 slogan, Believe or Burn. Belief is what is required for us to achieve the ultimate goal of premiership success, which we have not tasted for over 40 years. We are asking all supporters and members to embrace St Kilda and believe in yourselves and the team. For far too long, the Club has been recognised as a team who has been capable of valid success, yet has been unable to deliver. We are now placing ourselves in a position to challenge the success of interstate teams, and be the most powerful Victorian AFL Club.
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Western Saints News
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Alicia Gorey celebrates
her new role with
Western Saints president Lew Mutch.
• SEE WESTERN SAINTS NEWS
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Saint Nick chalks up three
Nick Riewoldt won his third Trevor Barker Award at an emotional ceremony last night . . . to wear from 2007 . . . Choking up, Riewoldt said Thomas had been a father figure to him. "It was a shame what happened," Riewoldt said. "But if we've learned anything from Grant Thomas, that is to push through adversity . . . and now is the time we've got to stick together and look to the future" . . . President Rod Butterss delivered a non-too subtle review of the club. He again praised Thomas, who had originally wanted to speak at the function but was not present last night, but stressed the club would continue to make "tough decisions" to ensure it becomes an AFL pacesetter.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/04Oct06
Riewoldt claims third Trevor Barker Award FootyGoss/03Oct06
Riewoldt wins Saints' best and fairest
While Riewoldt's win was unsurprising, the finish of Nick Dal Santo in equal-fifth place with Brendon Goddard was. Emerging defender Jason Gram and youngster Sam Fisher, both unexpected finds of the season, added to that surprise by finishing second and third . . . St Kilda president Rod Butterss told the crowd the board had to make a tough decision on Thomas because the club had fallen behind the leading AFL clubs and could not risk slipping further. "The indisputable empirical evidence suggests that we have slipped in recent times behind the leaders, but fortunately not by too much," he said.
The Article Michael Gleeson/TheAge RealFooty/03Oct06
Nick's Third Best and Fairest
Nick Riewoldt has ensured he will be remembered as one of St Kilda's all-time greatest players by winning his third club best and fairest award on Tuesday night. The 23-year-old key forward claimed his third Trevor Barker Medal with 145 votes with defenders Jason Gram and Sam Fisher finishing second and third respectively after career best seasons. For Riewoldt, the win places him in elite company at St Kilda. With three best and fairests to his name, Riewoldt is now just one behind the Saints' all-time record of four which is shared by his teammate Robert Harvey and 1920's star Bill Cubbins. The voting structure consisted of each of the Saints' five coaches agreeing on a score out of 10 for each of the 22 selected players in each round.
Nick's a Saint great Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/03Oct06
Luke Ball re-signs for a further 3 years 'Mick McOne' et al/saintsational.com
Praise for Thomas
St Kilda president Rod Butterss has praised former Saints coach Grant Thomas for his contribution to the club and reiterated his recent removal was not a decision taken lightly. Butterss said the business of football was not about popularity and was rather focused on maintaining a winning culture. He also said Thomas was a victim of the evolving nature of the game. "We are very respectful and very conscious of the contribution that Grant Thomas has made to the St Kilda football club in his formative years as a player, later as a director and then of course as senior coach," the president said at the club's best and fairest on Tuesday night.
The Article Jennifer Witham/Sportal/saints.com.au/04Oct06
Thomas, Butterss clash over speech
Bad blood between the St Kilda administration and its sacked coach Grant Thomas boiled over again yesterday when Saints president Rod Butterss told Thomas he could not make a speech at last night's best-and-fairest count. Thomas, who returned from overseas on grand final day preparing to attend the count and witness a tearful Nick Riewoldt win the Trevor Barker Award, pulled out of attending after being told he was gagged. A series of text messages between former friends Butterss and Thomas two days ago reportedly included a demand from the former coach that he be allowed to make the first speech at the Vodafone Arena function for a specified amount of time. Butterss told The Age last night: "There was no malice involved. The point was Thommo insisted on making a speech, he insisted on the certain block of time in the running sheet and he insisted he speak first. "For heaven's sake, this is not Dame Nellie Thommo. We have given him ample opportunity to say goodbye to the players, to sit along side us at the press conference announcement and to speak publicly on The Footy Show. This is about the future now."
The Article Caroline Wilson/TheAge RealFooty/04Oct06
My 5c worth on the B&F (A view from the cheap seats) - 'saint66au' & (the other seats) 'Sxc_Sainter' saintsational.com
Cassius From B&F Update - saintsational.com
Sydney - Spida deal closer
Sydney and Hawthorn have inched closer to a deal for veteran ruckman Peter Everitt, with Swans coach Paul Roos backing away from his previous assertion that the club's first and second-round draft picks were off the table. "We'll keep our first-round pick and we'd like to keep our second-round pick, but I think there's going to be other players too that are going to come up next week - there's a lot of names being bandied around," he said on Thursday from the NAB AFL Draft Camp in Canberra. "We definitely wouldn't give up our first-round pick because we think it's a good draft, (but) depending on who comes up next week and what happens, we may be in a position to do a second-round pick, but we still want to bring some good kids into the club."
The Article Jason Phelan/Sportal/saints.com.au/05Oct06
Spida deal closer (same article) Jason Phelan/Sportal/05Oct06
Swans confident of Everitt trade AAP/TheAge/05Oct06
McKenna tells of his flag dream
Senior coach candidate Guy McKenna talked up St Kilda's premiership prospects after a formal interview for the job yesterday. "Coaching St Kilda to a premiership as soon as I possibly can, well, that's ultimately my dream," McKenna said. The Collingwood assistant coach, Sydney assistant John Longmire and Western Bulldogs assistant Chris Bond made presentations to the Saints' review board in a marathon session at Moorabbin. Each of the short-listed candidates took nearly three hours to pitch to replace Grant Thomas, using video technology, as well as being grilled with tough questions on why they were the man for the job.
The Article Bruce Matthews/HeraldSun/05Oct06
McKenna dreaming of St Kilda premiership
Former West Coast premiership player Guy McKenna says seeing his former team win Saturday's grand final gives him even more motivation to become a senior coach. McKenna, assistant to Mick Malthouse at Collingwood, was yesterday interviewed for the vacant St Kilda coaching job along with fellow AFL assistant coaches John Longmire (Sydney) and Chris Bond (Western Bulldogs). McKenna retired in 2000 after a decorated career with the Eagles alongside the club's current coach John Worsfold. &When you finish playing football and as Whoosha (Worsfold) has just gone through, once you've stopped playing in premierships, the next thing you can do if you become a coach is coach them,& he said. &And so if that means coaching St Kilda to a premiership as soon as I possibly can, well that's ultimately my dream.&
The Article ABCSport/05Oct06
Longmire favoured for St Kilda coaching job
Swans assistant coach John Longmire has firmed as the man most likely to claim the vacant St Kilda coaching job after the first round of interviews began yesterday. Longmire, Collingwood's Guy McKenna and Western Bulldogs assistant Chris Bond were all interviewed by the club's three-person working group of the coaching sub-committee, comprising Ross Smith, Robert Walls and Ken Sheldon. Current club assistant Matt Rendell will be interviewed today, with the sub-committee expected to narrow its field of candidates to just two who will be asked back for a final interview, probably early next week. That interview will be with the remainder of the coaching sub-committee, president Rod Butterss, chief executive Archie Fraser and board members Mark Kellett and Glen Casey. Rendell, who stood in for Grant Thomas in delivering a short speech at the club's best and fairest award on Tuesday night, surprised some senior club figures with his strong praise and thanks for the sacked Thomas. It was admirably loyal but an unusual comment given the current poisonous relationship between the sacked coach and the board.
The Article Michael Gleeson/TheAge RealFooty/05Oct06
Longmire leads Saints coach race Mark Robinson/HeraldSun/05Oct06
Longmire firms for Saints
Red-hot favourite for St Kilda's vacant AFL coaching job John Longmire led a field of upwardly mobile assistant coaches pleading their case as formal interviews for the plum position kicked off yesterday . . . "It was very worth while - it's a good process and it's not a decision that's going to be made quickly," Bond said after his interview. But after other names to be linked with the Saints' top job ruled themselves out, including media personality Garry Lyon and former Adelaide assistant Don Pyke, Longmire has shortened as favourite.
The Article Guy Hand/CourierMail/05Oct06
Longmire in box seat AdelaideAdvertiser/05Oct06
Number 1 Guernsey: Nick Riewoldt said on radio yesterday that he had been offered the number 1 jumper but told the club that he wants to keep the number 12 for the time being. There had been some confusion following a Herald Sun report written by Mark Stevens in yesterday's paper that Nick had been presented the Number 1 jumper and it was advertised by the Saints website that the Number retired by Justin Peckett would be presented to another member of the squad at the Trevor Barker B&F, but this did not happen. Ed. HeraldSun correction
Saints start interviewing for coaching job
. . . Longmire said he was hopeful of securing a senior coaching role after serving an apprenticeship under Paul Roos at Sydney. "I mean Roosy has been terrific for the Sydney Footy Club and been very good with me," he said. "We are lucky we have got a good crew up there (in Sydney) so it's just good to get the opportunity to come and have a chat with St Kilda." The Saints are expected to name their coach within the next fortnight.
The Article ABCSport/05Oct06
Frawley ponders a return to football
. . . Frawley, who has been talking to the Hawks over the past month, will make a decision on whether to take up the Hawthorn position by the end of next week and in the event that he does not join Clarkson's beefed-up panel, the club might not appoint anyone, or appoint another coach to a different role. Melbourne's highly regarded assistant Chris Fagan and ex-Saints coach Ken Sheldon have already ruled themselves out of contention for the coach-mentor job, the former remaining with the Demons, while Sheldon has taken up a temporary position as a football department consultant at St Kilda.
The Article Jake Niall/TheAge RealFooty/05Oct06
Everitt's web of intrigue to unravel
The playing future of Peter Everitt could be known as early as today after Sydney's senior football department officials last night met to consider a range of possible trades proposed by Hawthorn in exchange for the 32-year-old ruckman. The two clubs yesterday opened negotiations over Everitt at the AFL draft camp in Canberra and the parties are expected to meet again today in a bid to reach in-principle agreement on one of the biggest deals of next week's trade period . . . Another option for Everitt next season is St Kilda, which is seeking to rebuild its ruck division following the departure of senior coach Grant Thomas.
The Article Chip Le Grand/TheAustralian/05Oct06
Silvagni eyes Blues as Tigers deal fizzles TheAge/WestAustralian/04Oct06
Rawlings a key appointment Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/04Oct06
Rawlings joins Richmond coaching staff AAP/TheAge/04Oct06
Surgery pending for Judd Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/04Oct06
Schwab slams door on Saints
Fremantle chief executive Cameron Schwab sent a blunt message to St Kilda yesterday as they intensified their search for a new coach - Chris Connolly will not be leaving the Dockers. Connolly has a year of his contract to run but that hasn't stopped the Saints from adding him to the lengthy hit list they have compiled to replace Grant Thomas. Connolly's stocks rose significantly this season after Fremantle overcame a poor start to the season to reach a preliminary final on the back of a nine-match winning streak. The Dockers have invested plenty of time and money in Connolly, extending his contract even when the club was underperforming and Schwab said there was no way he wouldn't be spearheading the club's 2007 premiership push. "A contract is a contract," Schwab said. "It's speculative and we're not going to let it affect our planning for 2007. "From the moment the final siren in the preliminary final was rung, we've got on with our planning for 2007 and we're not going to allow these things to distract us."
The Article Craig O'Donoghue/AAP/WestAustralian/05Oct06
Lyon quits St Kilda coaching race
. . . Roos told the Herald Sun recently: "I think the days of not doing the assistant's role are over," during a glowing endorsement of his own assistant John Longmire. Lyon said yesterday: "When you hear someone like Roosy, who is my vintage, say what he said, it's pretty powerful stuff. I reckon it's absolutely relevant and I think he's probably right." Lyon spoke with current coaches Leigh Matthews and Chris Connolly, and confidantes including former coach Danny Frawley, Fremantle chief executive Cameron Schwab and manager Kelly, a former Collingwood player . . . Lyon said he wasn't convinced the Saints could win a flag in the next year or two, describing the top end of the list as "great", the bottom end a "bit soft". He said his decision did not mean an end to his coaching aspirations.
The Article Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/04Oct06
Lyon resists Saints approach Mike Sheahan/TheAustralian/04Oct06
St Kilda puts Longmire under spotlight
Red-hot favourite for St Kilda's vacant AFL coaching job John Longmire led a field of upwardly mobile assistant coaches pleading their case as formal interviews for the plum position kicked off. Current Sydney assistant Longmire, the Western Bulldogs' Chris Bond and Collingwood's Guy McKenna all made two and a half hour presentations to the club's coaching sub-committee at its Moorabbin headquarters. All are likely to have to wait until at least the end of next week to find out who has won the job, with the club set to take as much time as it needs to get the appointment of sacked Grant Thomas' successor right. That would leave the Saints without a head coach going into next week's pre-draft trade period. While Longmire was giving little away, both Bond and McKenna signalled they were happy with how their interviews had gone and believed they were ready to step up to senior coaching roles . . . Meanwhile, ex-Richmond coach Danny Frawley is understood to have been offered a role at Hawthorn for next season
The Article AAP/TheAge/04Oct06
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"Their (St Kilda) players deserve to get the best person and the person most ready to do the job and I don't reckon that's me. I reckon it's a fantastic opportunity for someone. The thing that made me think about this job was the quality of the players, not the actual ability, but the quality." - Gary Lyon
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Lyon rules himself out of Saints job
Former Melbourne champion and current media star Garry Lyon today ruled himself out of the running for the vacant St Kilda coaching job. Saints president Rod Butterss said Lyon's management had contacted the club to inform them of his decision. "We heard from Garry's management today that he's very much about continuing a media career and that he has declined our invitation to come under consideration," Butterss told the Seven Network. Lyon co-hosts the Nine Network's Footy Show and is a special commentator on the network's AFL coverage, although Nine's right to broadcast matches ended in 2006, with the Seven and Ten networks owning the rights for the next five seasons. Lyon is also part of Melbourne radio station 3AW's football coverage.
The Article AAP/TheAge RealFooty/03Oct06
Spida bid hots up
The Swans are moving heaven and earth to get flamboyant ruckman Peter "Spida" Everitt to Sydney. Sydney officials last night began negotiations with Hawthorn after co-captains Barry Hall, Brett Kirk and Leo Barry rubber-stamped the move for coach Paul Roos. And Swans forward coach John Longmire has become the frontrunner to replace Grant Thomas at St Kilda. In an intriguing scenario, the club the Swans' assistant is auditioning to coach next season is the club that stands in the way of the Everitt deal. Everitt, who yesterday left for a holiday and could not be contacted, is expected to be offered a two-year Sydney deal worth about $400,000 a season plus bonuses.
The Article Nikki Tugwell/CourierMail/04Oct06
$1m to sign up Spida Nikki Tugwell/SundayTimes(WA)/04Oct06
New tests to find the happy campers
Draft prospects will be given a more rigorous job interview than ever at this week's annual camp, with a new sprint test and three new psychological evaluations to give clubs more information on their AFL potential. The repetitive sprint test will require players to run 30m six times, with a 20-second break each time. The first test of the psychological tests looks at the player's ability to manage pressure, make sense of confusing situations and respond to pressure while sticking to team rules, while the second looks for their "emotional intelligence" and gives an idea of their "personal, emotional and social competencies". The third profiles a player's personal strength, which might help tell clubs how a potential draftee will respond to criticism, manage negative emotions, handle making mistakes and fit in with his new teammates.
The Article TheAge/WestAustralian/04Oct06
Saints add Connolly to wish list
St Kilda's aggressive search for a replacement for coach Grant Thomas has identified Chris Connolly as a potential target. News of the club's interest in the Fremantle coach came after St Kilda confirmed yesterday it would interview Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley for the vacant position. The Saints' continued push to find the best possible candidate led the club to interview Dockers assistant Mark Harvey in Melbourne on Monday. Both Connolly, who has told Fremantle he wants to stay on in 2007, and Laidley, are contracted until the end of next season. "We owe it to ourselves, we've got to interview those people who have the credentials," St Kilda president Rod Butterss said.
The Article Greg Denham/TheAustralian/04Oct06
Saints fire up for 2007
Believe or burn. That's St Kilda's new slogan for 2007 as the club pushes an aggressive winning culture. "Let's stop doubting and starting to believe we are one of the top teams in the comp," St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser said yesterday. The club sought feedback for the slogan from supporters, corporate backers and even religious groups. "Believe or Burn" will be used in the Saints' membership marketing campaign. A futuristic fiery halo is the centrepiece of the promotion.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/04Oct06
Everitt's future in balance
Out-of-contract Hawthorn ruckman Peter Everitt's bid to play elsewhere next season could be determined by the pre-season draft in December, if the Hawks are not satisfied with a deal in next week's player-exchange period. Hawthorn list manager Chris Pelchen yesterday said Everitt would not be traded unless the Hawks got a national draft selection inside the first two rounds. "We are expecting a low first round or a high second-round pick," Pelchen said. "We certainly want better than a third-round selection, which has been speculated lately." Pelchen said Hawthorn had yet to hear from Sydney, but confirmed he had talks with St Kilda assistant coach Matt Rendell, who last week expressed an interest in Everitt rejoining the Saints.
The Article Greg Denham/TheAustralian/04Oct06
Saints' Maguire eyes 2007 comeback
St Kilda defender Matt Maguire remains optimistic that his badly broken leg will recover in time for the start of the 2007 AFL season. The 22-year old was injured in a game against West Coast early last month and spent three weeks in hospital due to complications after surgery. Maguire can now walk for short distances, lift weights and cycle for up to 40 minutes at a time. Doctors are unsure when he will return to football, but Maguire said round one of 2007 was not out of the question.
The Article ABCSport/29Sep06
TAC Cup: Chargers primed for Draft
The AFL draft door has been left ajar for three of Saturday's best players in Oakleigh's come-from-behind TAC Cup grand final win at the MCG. Chargers trio Nathan Batsanis, Dean Kelly and ruckman Todd Goldstein have been invited to a state screening next Saturday. All three, who starred in the 27-point win against Calder Cannons, were overlooked for the AFL's national draft camp to be held at the AIS in Canberra. Of those tested in state screenings last year, 10 went on to be drafted, including Melbourne tagger Clint Bartram, taken at No. 53, who played all 22 home-and-away games for the Demons. The AFL will test another 120 draft hopefuls around Australia in state screenings.
The Article David Hastie/HeraldSun/02Oct06
TAC Cup: Chargers triumph David Hastie/HeraldSun/01Oct06
Skipper's haul leads Oakleigh to first flag Emma Quayle/TheAge RealFooty/01Oct06
Ex-Saints coach warns of inexperience
Former St Kilda coach Tim Watson says the Saints would be taking a big risk if they appointed an AFL coach without previous experience, such as former Melbourne champion and current media star Garry Lyon. Watson noted that Lyon, believed to be high on the Saints' list of potential replacements for Grant Thomas, was "an extraordinary candidate" with an excellent understanding of the game, who might be able to defy convention . . . "I don't think they're any certainty to make the top four next year." But he said the Saints' hierarchy held a different view and whoever took over the coaching job would be under pressure to produce instant results. "They're not going through a rebuilding phase, they're going through a top-up process to win the flag," Watson said.
The Article AAP/TheAge/02Oct06
Swans behind in 'trade week' planning
Saints set to settle on new coach
The St Kilda Football Club is about to finalise interviews for its vacant coaching position. Sydney Swans assistant coach John Longmire is among the front-runners to replace Grant Thomas. Longmire can now be interviewed after completing his duties with the grand final runner-up. The Saints are unlikely to make a decision in the next week and will enter trade week on Monday without a senior coach. Negotiations on player trades will be held by recruiting manager John Beveridge, assistant coach Matt Rendell and former player and coach Ken Sheldon.
The Article ABCSport/02Oct06
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Roos also spoke about speculation that assistant coach John Longmire may be offered the vacant senior coaching position at St Kilda. "John is obviously keen, I believe, on doing the St Kilda job, so that's out of our hands," Roos said. - Michael Cowley (The Age RealFooty)
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Laidley in picture for St Kilda job
St Kilda will broaden its search for a new coach this week, and Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley is likely to be approached about his interest . . . While a number of senior coaches have held informal discussions with the Saints, Laidley could become a genuine target . . . Laidley remains the only contracted senior coach that could satisfy the Saints' requirements . . . Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams is understood to have responded favourably to overtures from the club last week, but St Kilda has since cooled on him. It is understood that Laidley is far from happy about a proposal from the Kangaroos board to cut its football department spending for next season.
The Article Greg Denham and Chip Le Grand/TheArticle/03Oct06
Unlucky Dawes hopes for a draft break
Exciting key position prospect Chris Dawes will limp into this week's draft camp burdened by the cruel reality he is out for the entire 2007 season. Dawes, once rated a possible first-round pick, had a knee reconstruction three weeks ago after a mishap in the last home-and-away game of the TAC Cup.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/03Oct06
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"We have worked out exactly what we want and we have just put a bit of finishing touches to it. It's the first time the entire group (Sub-committee) has got together and it was important everyone was across the steps we are taking. What we are going to do now is go underground and we are off the radar . . . We certainly won't be talking about any individuals that have been considered and now it's a case of head down and bum up. We just have to ensure that we get it right and all our emphasis now is making sure we do get it right." - Rod Butterss
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