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Image source: The Border Mail cropped

Hamill relieved after exploratory knee surgery shows all clear
St Kilda forward Aaron Hamill may return to training, albeit on a moderated program, within a month after having exploratory surgery on his right knee last Friday. According to the Saints, the fear that a career-threatening, chronic problem would be discovered was dispelled by the surgery, which was ordered after the former captain returned to training almost a fortnight ago and reported swelling and soreness in the knee. "He had a repeat arthroscopy and has begun a rehabilitation program. It's anticipated he'll have a gradual return to full training, which is a positive result for Aaron," St Kilda football manager Ken Sheldon said. "He'll rest and rehab his knee and certainly, at this stage, he won't require any further surgery."
The Article including PRE-SEASON DRAFT INFO - Stephen Rielly/TheAgeRealFooty/28Nov06
Hamill begins rehabilitation saints.com.au/28Nov06

Marking contest rule changes
. . . From next season, a player who applies his hands to the back of an opponent, even if only to hold his ground, will be penalised. AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said last night: "As soon as a player puts his hands in the back of an opponent in a marking contest, the umpire shall award a free kick." It is a major change, one that will impact heavily on the style of many players including elite defenders James Clement and Darren Glass, and Sydney's star forwards, Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin. Clement was genuinely shocked when told yesterday.
The Article Mike Sheahan/Redland news/01Dec06
Rule change riles Malthouse Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/01Dec06

Fisher beaten by White
. . . Sam Fisher is no longer the best golfer in the AFL. The St Kilda defender and former Kooyonga pennant player yesterday lost two down to Melbourne ruckman Jeff White in the match play final of the AFL Challenge played in conjunction with the Masters. The pair, who each play off a handicap of three, hit off before the Masters field and waged a tight battle before Fisher, going for broke on the last, hit his ball into the grandstand and eventually conceded the hole and the match.
The Article AdelaideAdvertiser/27Nov06

Image source: saints.com.au cropped +

New Saints development coach
St Kilda has a new development coach in former Northern Knights coach Danny Sexton. "I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to develop and nurture the younger players at the St Kilda Football Club and also work with the Casey Scorpions, our aligned VFL club," Sexton said. Sexton enjoyed seven seasons as a player with Port Melbourne in the VFL before coaching for three years at senior level in the Diamond Valley League. He was part of the Calder Cannons Under-16 and Under-18 development programs before being appointed to coach the Northern Knights in 2006. Sexton has also had 11 years of teaching experience with the last three years as VCE coordinator at Essendon Keilor College.
The Article Sportal/saints.com.au/28Nov06
Sexton to join the Saints saints.com.au/28Nov06
Sexton Lands AFL Job TACCUP/24Nov06
Danny Sexton appointed as Development Coach 'snippa' et al saintsational.com

Saints quiet on Clarke
Media reports linking former Adelaide ruckman Matthew Clarke with St Kilda have prompted the Saints to put up the shutters on the issue. Clarke, who retired at the end of last season after playing 248 games with the Crows and Brisbane Lions, is understood to be planning to nominate for the pre-season draft in the expectation of being picked up with one of St Kilda's three pre-season selections . . . In a prepared statement on Thursday, the Saints said: "The St Kilda Football Club has received numerous media enquiries in relation to the pre season draft. The club is considering all its options and will be making no further comment on the pre season draft until the draft's conclusion on the 12th December" . . . Jayden Attard, who was delisted by the Brisbane Lions at the end of last season, and former Tiger Tom Roach are among 10 players training with the Saints in the hope of winning a spot on the club's 2007 list either through the pre-season or rookie drafts.
The Article Sportal/30Nov06
Pre Season Draft Statement St Kilda FC/saints.com.au/30Nov06

Surgery for Hamill
St Kilda has confirmed that star forward Aaron Hamill has undergone arthroscopic knee surgery. The 29-year old experienced soreness in his right knee last week as the Saints commenced pre-season training and after seeking medical advice, opted for the procedure. Hamill was restricted to just nine games for St. Kilda this year including the club's 18-point loss to Melbourne in the first week of the finals. His 2006 season was punctuated by an arthroscopy which saw him miss 13 games after rupturing his posterior cruciate ligament against Geelong in round seven.
The Article Alistair Hogg/Sportal/saints.com.au/25Nov06

2007 St Kilda clash guernsey:
Tell us your thoughts
The Saints are currently in the process of undertaking a review of its clash guernsey, with the Club required to create an alternative guernsey when playing against teams the AFL deem St Kilda clashes with. In all other games including away matches, the Saints will play in their traditional strip, which will allow the Club to wear the traditional guernsey more often. The guernsey has been redesigned in order to fully represent the Club's brand.
The Article Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/22Nov06
alternative strip 'StCarla' et al saintsational.com

AFL rules out high bump
The AFL has moved to provide greater protection for players with their heads over the ball with the AFL Commission approving a change to the laws of the game to take effect from next season. Under the new rule (rule 15.4.5) "a free kick will apply wherever a player bumps or makes forceful contact from front on when that player has his head down over the ball." AFL football operations general manager Adrian Anderson said the new rule was aimed at minimising the chances of players suffering serious spinal injuries. "We are committed to protecting the head, neck and spine of players," Anderson said on Friday. "The rationale for the change is that a player with his head down over the ball is in a vulnerable position and needs to be protected. We want to reduce any possibility of serious spinal and head injuries".
The Article Jason Phelan/AFL/saints.com.au/24Nov06
New rules tough on head bumps Michael Gleeson/TheAge/25Nov06
Rules changes to protect players Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/25Nov06

Free-to-air or share
There are only two possible answers to the AFL football television rights issue. Either all games will be shown on free-to-air or they will be shared with Foxtel . . . Foxtel, ABC, SBS and even community station Channel 31 have all been touted as potential suitors. However, the ABC yesterday ruled itself out, pointing to the lack of funds. SBS has one national signal, therefore it cannot show two different games at the same time into different areas. It looks to be out of the game. Money is also an issue. The one with least finance is Channel 31 and it has limited audience reach. For that reason the community stations in Sydney and Brisbane have been frowned upon by the AFL, which reserves the right to sanction the stations offered a sub-licence to show football. Foxtel has put $45 million on the table, the same offer it made to Nine when that channel had the rights.
The Article Chris Bassani/CourierMail/29Nov06
Foxtel must have AFL to survive: V8 boss AAP/ninemsn.com.au/26Nov06

Nick at the Strathaird School Source: StarNewsGroup Image cropped

Smart tips in the nick of time
Champion St Kilda midfielder Nick Dal Santo visited Strathaird Primary School in Narre Warren South on Monday to express the importance of being sun smart. The 21yearold AFL player spoke to students about the need to wear sunglasses as a way of reducing the risk of eye disease later in life. The initiative formed part of a sun smart program sponsored by Streamline sunglasses. Dal Santo also encouraged young students to try their best, be active and strive to achieve their goals. Grade one and two teacher Vicki May organised the visit. Dal Santo presented students with numerous certificates at a special assembly in recognition of their hard work and good behaviour in the playground.
The Article StarNewsGroup/17Nov06

Players back IR series
The International Rules Series will continue if the Australian and Irish players have their way. Both the AFL Players' Association and its counterpart, the Gaelic Players' Association, have supported the series which is under threat. But they agreed the standard of umpiring must improve and effective disciplinary measures introduced. The AFL and Gaelic Athletic Association will soon meet to discuss the future of the series. The GAA is pushing to end the series after a violent final Test at Croke Park in Ireland last month. GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell said yesterday players supported the series, but it needed appropriate disciplinary framework.
The Article Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/25Nov06

• Do we need a Full Back? 'Milan Faletic' et al saintsational.com
• Saints Training Report Wednesday 22nd 'Sxc_Sainter' et al saintsational.com

The Saints to join with Skins
St Kilda Football Club has welcomed Skins™ as its on-field apparel sponsor in a deal which continues their involvement with the therapeutic and compression wear company. Skins™, an Australian company, is the market leader in compression performance equipment and has set the world standard with their BioAcceleration Technology™. The Skins™ logo will now be a feature on the team playing jumpers, shorts and socks. The logo will also feature on training uniforms, polo shirts and jackets, as well as on coaches' apparel.
The Article saints.com.au/23Nov06

2007 Footy on TV Thread
. . . It means you don't have to pay to watch what should be free. If you want match replays then tape the game. Only the poor saps with long Poxtel contacts would be upset, but for the rest of us who never had it, and resented having to find a pub that had it just to watch our Saints, it is great news.
'killa_gram' saintsational.com
. . . It is great news for those of us that live in Melbourne and have been brought up expecting our footy to be on free to air . . . BUT for our country and interstate fans this is a disaster. The Networks, particularly in NSW and Qld treat AFL with distain. So the games either will not be shown or set your videos for 2am ! AND in terms of promoting our code to be the truly NATIONAL code then it is a major step backwards. This should be Dimwit's priority, not pleading ignorance and claiming it is an issue for the TV execs to sort out !!!!!!!!
'Enrico_Misso' saintsational.com
Great News 'killa_gram' et al saintsational.com

Injury curse strikes again at Moorabbin
Ross Lyon took over at St Kilda requiring a dramatic change of luck from his predecessor Grant Thomas, who rarely got to see his best team on the field in his five-and-a-half seasons. But it has taken just one training session for the new coach to be touched by the same curse, with the immediate playing future of Aaron Hamill back in the hands of an orthopaedic surgeon. Hamill hurt his right knee last Thursday in his first full hit-out of the pre-season. While his exact prognosis is unknown, the club was concerned enough by what precautionary scans revealed to refer the forward to leading surgeon Peter Wilson. Worryingly for Hamill and the Saints, it is the same knee which kept him sidelined for 13 weeks last season and cruelled his third successive finals campaign . . . When Hamill met his manager David Allison this month in Queensland, he claimed to be physically fresh and motivated. Given his age and injury history, Hamill had planned to take a cautious approach to pre-Christmas training.
The Article Chip Le Grand /TheAustralian/21Nov06
Knee injury threatens St Kilda's Hamill AAP/TheAge/20Nov06
Hamill faces more surgery Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/21Nov06
More problems for Hamill Jennifer Witham/Sportal/saints.com.au/20Nov06

Fears grow for injured Hamill's future
Nagging doubts about Aaron Hamill's playing future have become significant fears, with the ill-fated St Kilda forward failing to survive the first week of pre-season training. And the ramifications of the bloody international rules series continue to be felt, as it emerged yesterday that Hawthorn's Campbell Brown fractured a hip in a clash during the bruising second Test and will miss at least three weeks of training. Hamill, who is contracted for two more seasons, was troubled by soreness in his right knee during the first training sessions of the new campaign last week. He is waiting for the results of a scan that will determine what, if anything, can be done to allow him to make the fully fit return he has been denied for almost two years. Hamill, 29, most recently damaged the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Geelong in mid-May and missed 14 weeks - a spell that clearly told when he returned for the last three matches of St Kilda's year but could not make an impact. The knee, even after a nine-week post-season break, remained stiff and Hamill was seen only weeks ago walking with a limp that raised questions about his future.
The Article Stephen Rielly & Michael Gleeson/TheAge/21Nov06

St Kilda 'Brands' saints.com.au

AFL picks up award for multiculturalism
The AFL's efforts to boost multicultural participation in the football code has been rewarded at a gala dinner in Sydney. Aussie rules' governing body took out top prize at the National Multicultural Marketing Awards, hosted by NSW Premier Morris Iemma. It is the 17th year the NSW Community Relations Commission has given out the awards as a way of highlighting innovations in the way public and private sector organisations deal with cultural diversity. The AFL won the award for taking a program to boost multicultural participation in the sport to 42 schools with a high percentage of immigrant or refugee children.
The Article AAP/TheAge/21Nov06

AFL plan to 'crack' Sydney
The AFL is planning an aggressive campaign to recruit some of Sydney's outstanding junior athletes as it attempts to win what chief executive Andrew Demetriou describes as "a war with other codes" for the best available talent. Demetriou yesterday told a national conference attended by more than 300 AFL development staff in Melbourne that the AFL would compete strongly to get "first-choice" athletes ahead of soccer, rugby union, rugby league and other sports and use its $208 million development budget over the next five years to maintain its place as the nation's pre-eminent code.
The Article Richard Hinds/SydneyMorningHerald/30Nov06
AFL GF the most-watched sporting event in 2006 Philip Derriman/SydneyMorningHerald/02Dec06

Sons of the Coast are ready to rise again with capital idea
. . . The AFL's slow move on to the Gold Coast is because of a reluctance of Victorian teams to relocate. "We have made no secret that the AFL wants to play more games on the Gold Coast," AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said. "We know there is an appetite for football and that the interest is growing." Two problems remain for the AFL. The first is the venue: Carrara is not an easy place to get to and was a failure with the Bears (since the Lions relocated to the Gabba they have brought in an extra 14,000 people per match); and second, the Kangaroos are not a heavily supported team. With an average of 23,850 from 11 home matches in 2006 -- down 7000 from the previous season -- they attracted the smallest crowds of any AFL club. They also have the lowest membership of the AFL with 24,625. The race is on for each code to succeed on the Gold Coast, but who will be standing in 10 years remains to be seen.
The Article Louis White/TheAustralian/02Dec06
Roos revamp vetoed Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/01Dec06

Extras currently training with Saints squad

- 'Davo027' saintsational.com
Luke VanRheenan, 18 year old - 201cm. From Scoresby where he was Captain of the u18's in 2006. Also played 3 senior games where he was in the votes in two of those. Played a lot of Rep footy up to u16 level then just wanted to play footy with his mates. I'm told the fire in the belly has rekindled. Just finished 1st year science at uni. The conection would be the Senior Coach at Scoresby Kristen Bardsley and/or the previous Coach Dean Greig. Has been invited to do the pre-season (with St Kilda) to see how he goes. All AFL Clubs would now know about him because he would need AFL permission to train with us. I would suggest a project player that would be rookie list at best !! - 'Eastern' saintsational.com
• The MYSTERY guy at training !! saintsational.com

John Barker Image: saints.com.au cropped + reduced

Barker settles into new role
After retiring from the Hawks last season, newly appointed Assistant Coach John Barker is settling in at St Kilda. "It has been really good. We are planning for the pre-season and I am getting know what my role is and what the Club's expectations are" Barker said . . . Working as the attacking coach for the Saints, Barker is looking forward to spending time with the St Kilda forwards. "I'm looking forward to working with the likes of Nick Riewoldt and Fraser Gehrig and implementing systems and structures" Barker said.
The Article Vanessa Gigliotti/saints.com.au/16Nov06

Channel 31 backs its capabilities
TVS chief executive Laurie Patton believes his Sydney-based community television channel (31) is more than capable of broadcasting AFL matches to more than two million Sydney-siders should rights holders Seven and Ten opt not to screen all matches themselves from next year onwards . . . TVS is the first new permanent free-to-air channel in the city of Sydney for more than 20 years and is licensed to broadcast on UHF channel 31. The channel has its transmitter located at the Broadcast Australia facility at Gore Hill and boasts a state-of-the-art computerised operations centre at Werrington South at the University of Western Sydney. TVS is permitted to run up to seven minutes per hour of "sponsorship announcements" and sell up to eight hours of program airtime per day. Channel Nine chief executive Eddie McGuire last week indicated AFL coverage in Sydney would be reduced should the league allow Seven and Ten to use TVS to fill their quota of weekly games and said it would "go back (in time) 30 years" in terms of broadcasting should the proposal be fulfilled.
Channel 31 backs its capabilities Sportal/20Nov06

White to play Fisher in Footy Challenge final
. . . (Jeff) White, who plays off a three handicap, represented the Demons in the Masters Footy Challenge around Huntingdale yesterday in a field that included St Kilda's Sam Fisher, Carlton's Nick Stevens, Essendon's Jason Johnson and Docker Matthew Pavlich. Fisher won with a seven-over 79. White tied for second with Hawk Ben Dixon and eventually won a sudden-death playoff for the right to play Fisher in a matchplay contest at the head of the Masters field in Sunday's final round.
The ArticleBruce Matthews/HeraldSun/21Nov06

Rohan Welsh

New Development Coach
Rohan Welsh - Was on the Essendon list for two years in 1989 and '90, but did not register a senior match. Spent a year with Dandenong before he was picked up by the Blues. Played as a forward with Carlton from 1992 until 1997. Retired from AFL footy and ended with 42 games and 59 goals next to his name, with his career blighted by persistent knee injuries. Welsh continued to play with Frankston until 2000. He spent twelve months as an assistant coach at Frankston and then served as an assistant at the Calder Cannons between 2002 and 2004. In 2005 Welsh was appointed senior coach of the Oakleigh Chargers, and led them to the TAC premiership this year after just twelve month at the helm. He has coached recent draftees Beau Dowler and Marc Murphy. - '2007'
• Development Coach - Rohan Welsh 'Mooksy' saintsational.com

Image: The Age RealFooty Photo: Sebastian Costanzo cropped + reduced

Saints coach facing a tall order
. . . The club will now renew its interest in, among others, former Brisbane Lions ruckman Clark Keating, to try to secure a player through the national or pre-season draft. "It's not a perfect scenario. That's why we have created room with the delisting of Troy Schwarze to leave flexibility for the pre-season draft and national draft," Lyon said yesterday. "Clearly, I would like to get a ruckman, but there are not too many floating around. (Keating) has got a really strong reputation. I think Collingwood have screened him and we had some interest in him, (but) once Gardiner came through the door and I thought we would retain Ackland (the interest dissipated)" . . . Koschitzke remains determined to ruck, even if the coach is yet to be convinced, believing that ideally he would like to play him at centre half-back. "I have never seen him ruck, bar the Melbourne final, and he got hit. Justin evokes a lot of press and there's a lot of opinion and clearly he is an early pick and he has put together some good quarters of football. But the reality for Justin is he needs to get a good pre-season under his belt, rebuild his confidence. I have no expectation of him coming in (and) making an impact," Lyon said.
The Article Michael Gleeson/TheAge RealFooty/16Nov06

Kosi to roll in old role
New St Kilda coach Ross Lyon plans to return Justin Koschitzke to the role that won him the AFL's 2001 Rising Star title. While injury-plagued Koschitzke is seen broadly as the premier ruckman in the club, Lyon is taking a conservative approach to the versatile youngster. "Kosi really wants to ruck, but whether we let him, I don't know yet," the coach said at St Kilda's start to pre-season training yesterday. "I'd like to think that if he comes through, and his form is adequate, he could play centre half-back to replace (the injured) Matty Maguire" . . . Gehrig looked in good nick after an extended holiday in Scandinavia. Koschitzke is excited by the thought of working with Silvagni, full-back of the AFL's team of the first 100 years.
The Article Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/16Nov06

Game development focus
For the first time, the AFL is hosting a gathering of 300 football development staff from all over Australia to explain to them the AFL's ambitions for the game and to hear feedback from those at the coalface. Chief executive Andrew Demetriou addressed the 2006 AFL National Development Conference at the first session of the two-day event and explained in detail AFL strategy for the next five years. Administrators from grass roots level up to state level from all over Australia were in attendance. "They've come from Broome to the southern part of Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, all over the country," Demetriou said. "We've brought them together for the next two days to discuss our future strategy, our vision, out investment in community football and game development in growing the game and we're just thrilled that we've been able to pull together 300 people."
The Article Naomi Levin/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/29Nov06
WA Country clubs demand bigger slice of draft pie Ross Lewis/WestAustralian/29Nov06

South footy push grows
Powerful Southern Tasmanian councils yesterday backed a campaign for AFL games at Bellerive. In a show of strength, Kingborough, Clarence and Brighton supported the Hobart City Council call for games to be shared between Hobart and Launceston. The Tasmanian Cricket Association, based at Bellerive, also backed AFL games for Hobart. It puts the councils on a collision course with the State Government which has said there will be no AFL games in the South.
The Article Chales Waterhouse/TheMercury/29Nov06
Bid for AFL games in Southern Tasmania Kathy Grube/TheMercury/28Nov06

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