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Goddard a Saint to '08
St Kilda has received a huge boost with the news that utility Brendon Goddard has committed to the club for another two years. The 21-year-old Saint has played 83 games since making his debut in round four against the Tigers in 2003 and will continue his career in the red, white and black until at least the end of 2008. He averaged over 20 possessions a game this season, kicked 10 goals and played every game bar one. He also put in his most consistent season at the club after being named as an emergency in round four. Goddard, who is currently overseas, was the number one AFL draft pick in 2002 and was recruited from Traralgon/Gippsland under 18s.
The Article Jen Witham/Sportal/saints.com.au/19Sep06
Goddard re-signs for two years ABCSport/19Sep06
St Kilda re-signs Brendon Goddard AAP/TheAge/19Sep06

Crackdown on head-high bumps
Accidental head-high contact resulting from a bump could become a reportable offence from next season. The AFL will consider recommendations for a zero tolerance policy for contact to the head when a player is effecting a bump when the league reviews its tribunal system later in the year. "That is a perfectly legitimate argument and it will be considered if it is raised in one of the submissions," AFL general manager of football operations Adrian Anderson said last night. Anderson said the AFL needed to challenge its thinking on issues like this.
The Article Greg Denham/TheAustralian/20Sep06

Saints talk to Chris Bond
Western Bulldogs assistant coach Chris Bond is on St Kilda's coaching hit-list. Bond will be interviewed, probably late this week, as the Saints set about finding a replacement for the sacked Grant Thomas. It is understood Bond will be interviewed by the Saints' selection sub-committee, chaired by former champion Ross Smith. Others, including Magpies' assistant Guy McKenna, have been approached by head-hunter Stride Management. Bond's stocks have been boosted by a public vote of confidence from former Australian coach and media commentator Garry Lyon. Also in Bond's favour is the fact Robert Walls, a member of the selection committee, is a strong fan of the Bulldogs' style.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/19Sep06

Ruck trade a Hille too far for Thomas
The St Kilda board was told in the weeks leading up to Grant Thomas' sacking that three years ago the coach rejected a deal that could have brought Essendon ruckman David Hille to Moorabbin. Although Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy last night denied that Hille was ever placed on the trade table, Hille's manager Ricky Nixon claimed that the Essendon acting skipper could have gone to St Kilda at the end of 2003 as part of a deal involving then disenchanted Saint Austinn Jones. Whether or not there is any truth in the claim, it appears to have been one of the final nails in Thomas' coaching coffin in the eyes of the board. The report also underlines the increasing lack of communication between St Kilda's football department and its board as Thomas' reign unfolded. Thomas will not be paid for 2007 - the final year of his coaching contract - due to a termination clause. Upon his sacking last Tuesday, the board handed him an agreement that he signed agreeing not to undermine the club in any way, and not to undo any of the progress the Saints had made. The agreement was said to involve Thomas' strong relationship with his players and included a significant financial sweetener should he stick to the deal. The former coach was questioned by the St Kilda board in the days that followed his sacking when they learned he had instigated, or been involved in, a meeting with senior players at the home of Saints patron Lindsay Fox.
The Article Caroline Wilson/TheAge RealFooty/19Sep06

Harvey's thoughts on sacking
. . . Asked how it felt to be confronted by a new coach at the age of 35, Harvey said: "It's always strange. It (the sacking) pretty much came from nowhere from a players' point of view," he said. "But . . . we've got a job to do and we've got to get on with it." The dual Brownlow medallist said he had a strong relationship with Thomas that wasn't weakened by recent comments from the former coach . . . "I've been leaning the way of playing on for a while because I've felt really good from a physical point of view," Harvey said. "I was probably going down that road. I'm really lucky I've been able to play for so long. I still enjoy it." Harvey has worked closely with club physio Andrew Weller, carefully managing his program.
Robert Harvey's 20th season Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/19Sep06

Sheldon revels in return
He's been in the job for only two days but former St Kilda coach and Carlton triple premiership player Ken Sheldon is relishing his return to football. Sheldon has returned to Moorabbin as a consultant to assist St Kilda with its list management and to help find a replacement for senior coach Grant Thomas. "I will also help with things like player liaison to make sure everything is understood and communicated with the events and what's happening," he said. "Also I'm working here with the crew to improve the football department towards a best practice. It's only my second day but all is good." Sheldon had been approached by several AFL clubs in recent months and also fielded an offer to become a player agent.
The Article Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/19Sep06

New software eases AFL scheduling headaches
The AFL says a new software package has made completing the 2007 home-and-away roster easier. The program was developed in Canada and is used in the NFL and Major League baseball in the United States. The AFL's manager of major projects, Simon Gorr, said the old system worked out which teams would play each other but not the times and days for matches. Mr Gorr said the new software produced a complete roster based on all the AFL's constraints and preferred scenarios.
The Article ABCSport/19Sep06
Gardiner's hopes sink Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/20Sep06
Cats want home-ground finals Trevor Grant/HeraldSun/20Sep06
Michael in Lions standoff Jim Wilson/HeraldSun/20Sep06
Thornton, Fisher at odds with Blues Jim Wilson/TheAge RealFooty/20Sep06
MCG rejects 'romantic' VFL decider Caroline Wilson/TheAge RealFooty/20Sep06

AFL puts its energy into greener goals
The Australian Football League wants to become the first carbon-neutral sport by buying offsets to negate the greenhouse gas emissions produced by its games and business and administrative activities. Origin Energy will run the program, which it says will be the equivalent of removing 25,000 cars from the road or planting half a million trees over the next three years. Marc Vanbeek, the national manager of Origin's new business development unit, believes the project is a world first. "We wanted to work with a sporting code that has a high profile - and the AFL is that - and to do something that is credible and can make a real difference," Mr Vanbeek said.
The Article Stephanie Peatling/SydneyMorningHerald/19Sep06
Forest needed to offset greenhouse from footy Matthew Warren and Andrew Ramsey/TheAustralian/20Sep06
AFL wants to reduce greenhouse emissions AAP/TheAge/19Sep06
All clubs to have same facilities: AFL AAP/TheAge/19Sep06
It's not the end of the world: Demetriou ABCSport/19Sep06
Demetriou: Footy's flying Sportal/19Sep06

Coach: Interviwing Soon
. . . St Kilda's coaching sub-committee will meet on Thursday and will start interviewing prospective coaches in earnest as early as the weekend. Ross Smith, St Kilda's 1967 Brownlow medallist, former Saints coach Ken Sheldon and media commentator Robert Walls have been engaged by the club to assist with the interview process before a recommendation is made to replace Grant Thomas.
Cook to dish out Geelong's new menu Greg Denham/TheAustralian/19Sep06

Saints Announce Sub Committee
St Kilda Football Club announced on Thursday that Brownlow Medallist and Premiership player Ross Smith had been appointed to Chair a Sub Committee to assist the Club with the appointment of the new Senior Coach. The Sub Committee will report senior coach recommendations to the Board of Directors of St Kilda Football Club. The Committee will also include President Rod Butterss, St Kilda Directors Glen Casey and Mark Kellett, Premiership players Ken Sheldon, Robert Walls and St Kilda Chief Executive Officer Archie Fraser. Archie Fraser said of this announcement, "The first stage of the process has now been completed by Stride Management. The next stage will be for this Sub Committee, chaired by Ross, to undertake extensive interviews to provide a senior coach short list and recommendations for final interviews and selection by the Board."
The Article St Kilda Football Club/saints.com.au/18Sep06

Kennett's relocation barb riles clubs
. . . Kennett told 3AW that if clubs were still receiving financial aid off the AFL in three years, relocation should be a consideration. He named Carlton, the Kangaroos and this year's best-performing Victorian teams - Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs - as clubs in the gun. "If at the end of the next three-year period clubs are still seeking huge financial assistance, then . . . you've got to question whether a business should be indefinitely subsidised," Kennett said.
The Article Mark Robinson/HeraldSun/19Sep06
AFL aware Vics doing it tough Damian Barrett/HeraldSun/19Sep06
AFL fans vote Judd MVP Sam Edmund/PerthNow/SundayTimes/19Sep06

Vic kids up with the best
Victorian football still gets a "big tick" for its ability to produce the game's top players, according to the AFL's talent guru. Victorian football was again under the microscope yesterday after the state was left without a team in the final four for the first time. The result prompted AFL legend Ron Barassi to call for a summit to investigate what has gone wrong in Victoria. But AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan said the strength of Victorian football was evident in the number of Victorian players throughout the national competition.
The Article Rebecca Williams/HeraldSun/18Sep06
The real draft rookies Damian Barrett/HeraldSun/18Sep06
Vics' finals absence fails to move AFL Michael Gleeson/TheAge RealFooty/18Sep06
Interstate trendsetters tap into old-fashioned values Tim Lane/TheAge RealFooty/18Sep06
Four Victorian clubs have to be axed Liam Houlihan and Jacqueline Freegard/HeraldSun/18Sep06
Bracks defends Victorian football AdelaideAdvertiser/17Sep06
Football spreads its boundaries Greg Baum/TheAge RealFooty/18Sep06

Cresswell's assault complaint withdrawn
A sexual assault complaint levelled against former AFL footballer Daryn Cresswell has been withdrawn . . . It was alleged Mr Cresswell met the woman at the Story Bridge Hotel at Kangaroo Point before going with her to the Carlton Crest Hotel in Brisbane where the alleged sexual assault was said to have occurred . . . Mr Cresswell recently departed as assistant coach of AFL club the Brisbane Lions and has been considered a contender to fill the coaching vacancy at St Kilda. The former Swans midfielder flew to Melbourne recently to speak with St Kilda, which sacked coach Grant Thomas after the Saints bowed out of the AFL finals.
The Article AAP/TheAge/18Sep06
Creswell sex assault complaint dropped TheAustralian/18Sep06
Thompson speculation a misunderstanding: Parkin ABCSport/18Sep06
Cats deny reports Thompson is gone Michael Gleeson/TheAge RealFooty/19Sep06
Pagan digs in for the long haul at Carlton Craig Hutchinson/TheAge RealFooty/19Sep06
Dogs set to sign up Eade till end of 2010 Caroline Wilson/TheAge RealFooty/19Sep06

2006 report card: St Kilda
. . . St Kilda made its third consecutive finals series this season, which was only the second time in the club's history that it had achieved this feat. The previous time it occurred was when St Kilda played in four finals series in 1970-71-72-73 under legendary coach Allan Jeans. During the season, Grant Thomas also became St Kilda's second longest serving coach, leading the club in 122 matches from 2001-06. A five-match winning streak in the second half of the season, from rounds 13 to 17 was the club's best effort. Club icon Robert Harvey became the most capped Saint in 2006 when he broke Nathan Burke's record of 323 matches. Harvey, 35, played all 23 matches this season and had yet another outstanding season.
The Article Matt Burgan/Sportal/afl.com.au/18Sep06

Footballing heaven
. . . Saints have under-achieved? Like many, I tipped them to win the 2006 flag but they were the first side to exit the finals. So regardless of injuries to Lenny Hayes, Justin Koschitzke and Matty Maguire, you have to say the Saints have fallen short of expectations. The top of St Kilda's list is as talented and well-balanced as any in the AFL, so fans and officials had every right to expect more. Clubs go through cycles and when they are "up", they have to strike. Insiders at Moorabbin decided Thomas was not capable of winning them a flag, so they've made a change while they still have the nucleus of a classy list. It says plenty about Thomas that the senior players seem genuinely disappointed he's gone.
The Article SundayMail/17Sep06

Thomas axing a surprise for Baldock - Interview Transcript
Darrel Baldock, captain of the Saints' only premiership-winning side in 1966, spoke to Adam Smith about the (Board's) decision and the Saints' chase for that illusive flag.
Adam Smith: Would you have sacked Grant Thomas?
Darrel Baldock: I wouldn't have thought so, I'm as surprised as any, and I think most of their supporters would be too. They made up their minds quickly though.
Adam Smith: Do you think there is someone right for the job?
Darrel Baldock: I'm sure there is, whether it be an experienced coach or someone who is an assistant from another club. It would be a great prize for any young bloke to gain a list like St Kilda have at moment.
Adam Smith: Was Grant Thomas the right man for the job?
Darrel Baldock: That's not a decision I had to make, but he certainly had a good list of players coming through. They can still make the grade now with a new coach. They will have a walk-up start, very good recruits over the years with draft concessions.
The Interview Adam Smith/TheAdvocate/14Sept06

Rendell considering Saints job
St Kilda assistant coach Matt Rendell, a deputy to Grant Thomas since 2002, is considering throwing his hat into the ring for the Saints' top job. Rendell, who is well liked by the Saints players and has extensive assistant coaching experience with Port Adelaide, Richmond and Melbourne, was last week weighing up whether it would be prudent to apply for the job or whether the stated criteria of the St Kilda board - that it would be seeking a coach with premiership experience - would preclude him from contention. Rendell was initially coy late last week when asked by The Sunday Age if he was looking at applying for the senior coaching job, but in the end said: "I prefer not to comment on that stuff at the moment." However, some of Rendell's thoughts were revealed by veteran player Andrew Thompson yesterday. Speaking on FOX Footy's Saturday Central, Thompson admitted Rendell had told him he was considering applying for the job. "I think Matty Rendell's got all the qualifications to go to the next level as a senior coach. I actually asked him during the week whether he was going to apply for the job, and he's considering it," Thompson said.
The Article Lyall Johnson/TheAge RealFooty/17Sep06

Head-hunters have spoken to McKenna
. . . Butterss said the club had been profiling all key positions at the club over the past six months. "That was no secret, by the way - that was a board determination six months ago that was communicated to all executives including Thommo. A lot of work and effort over the past six months has gone into what key characteristics of a senior coach are required next year." One potential candidate is Collingwood assistant coach Guy McKenna. Collingwood chief executive Greg Swann confirmed St Kilda head-hunters had spoken to McKenna this week. "He has spoken to the head hunters - and obviously we've been through this with Dean Laidley before. We think it's a good thing that our assistants are being interviewed and put up as prospective senior coaches," Swann said.
Thomas' position shaky for years Renee Switzer/TheAge RealFooty/16Sep06

NEW ARTICLE
Robert Harvey will go again
. . . Saint legend Robert Harvey will play on for a 20th season, placing him alongside Whitten and Tuck as the most durable among VFL/AFL legends. Unlike other seasoned competitors, Harvey is yet to play in a premiership and says had the Saints won the flag either in 2005 or this year, he would have gladly retired with a premiership medal around his neck. He may be the AFL's oldest player at 35 but he didn't miss a game in 2006 and is likely to again finish among his club's top five in the Trevor Barker Award count. Along with the sidelined Lenny Hayes, he remains his club's finest midfielder. Importantly, Harvey's family, including wife Danielle and parents Jeff and Marilyn, are totally supportive of him continuing into 2007. The club has suggested another modified pre-season which allows Harvey more time away from Moorabbin to spend with his young family at their new home in Mt Eliza.
The Article Ken Piesse/HeraldSun/17Sep06

Peers praise Longmire's saintly conduct
Sydney assistant coach John Longmire's AFL Canberra counterparts have given him the thumbs up to take on the vacant St Kilda coaching job next year. Longmire is at the top of a list of candidates looking to take on the senior coaching role at the Saints following the controversial sacking of Grant Thomas on Tuesday. Longmire has been at the helm for most of the undefeated Swans reserves' games in the AFL Canberra competition this year. His team will meet the winner of tomorrow's preliminary final between Belconnen and Eastlake in next week's grand final. Tuggeranong coach Kieran Johnson said Longmire had moulded a group of highly-talented youngsters into a well-disciplined outfit. "I haven't had a lot to do with him personally but just from coaching against the Swans [I can tell] they pretty much tow the party line," Johnson said. "If you watch the Swans reserves play and then watch the Swans seniors play, they pretty much mirror what they do in the seniors."
The Article David Jean/TheCanberraTimes/16Sep06

Saints need to be Lyon-hearted
When St Kilda president Rod Butterss uses catchphrases such as "striving for greatness", many in the football community roll their eyes. Butterss is what some would call a different cat, but no one has doubted his dedication to the best interests of the St Kilda Football Club. If it is taking on City Hall or ruthlessly sacking Grant Thomas, Butterss will never hesitate to make the hard decisions in St Kilda's best interests. Now the chance has presented itself for Butterss and the St Kilda board to find out whether they want to strive for that truly "great" coach, or just another very good one. The time is right for Garry Lyon to coach and for St Kilda to take the chance on someone of his calibre.
The Article Jon Ralph/HeraldSun/17Sep06

Grant Thomas at legal firm
St Kilda president Rod Butterss has denied speculation that the club could face legal action over the sacking of coach Grant Thomas. Thomas was seen at a city law firm on Thursday, not long after meeting trucking magnate Lindsay Fox. Thomas declined to comment and said he was still considering future work prospects. Butterss said, despite Thomas having a year of his contract to run, he was confident the club was legally safe. "The contract, from the day it was signed, had a standard termination clause," Butterss said yesterday. "It has been honoured. He might have had a discussion with regard to an aspect of it. I haven't heard that, but that would be prudent for him to do that so that he fully understands it. I've spoken to Grant every day and any talk of any legal action would not be on the radar as far as I'm concerned."
The Article Jackie Epstein/HeraldSun/17Sep06

Denis Pagan ruled out
St Kilda can scratch Denis Pagan from its coaching hit list as it was revealed yesterday John Blakey had been interviewed for the vacant role. Pagan, who has two years remaining on his contract at Carlton, has been bandied about as a potential replacement for axed Saints coach Grant Thomas. It is understood St Kilda's preferred option is for an experienced coach, but Pagan's manager, Ron Joseph, ruled out a move across town by his client. "Certainly not. He can't enter that. He has got a contract with Carlton," Joseph said yesterday . . . Sydney's John Longmire is regarded as the leading assistant coach for the position, but Blakey, an assistant to Leigh Matthews at the Brisbane Lions, and Guy McKenna are also contenders. Garry Lyon said yesterday if he was approached he would speak with the St Kilda headhunters.
The Article Jon Pierik/HeraldSun/17Sep06

Pressure yet to ease on Pagan
Eleven days have passed since the Carlton board changed its mind about sacking Denis Pagan and nothing that has happened since would indicate that the beleaguered Blues coach should feel any safer now than he did a fortnight ago . . . Still, at least his contract ensures a pay-out. There is no Thomas-style termination clause and it is unlikely he would be forced to sign the confidentiality agreement forced upon the sacked St Kilda coach at his final board meeting also. It has been said that Thomas was poorly treated but, given his record and his history of falling out with pretty much everyone in authority he has worked with, he can at least take stock in the fact he was given five years and unprecedented power at the football club he loves.
The Article Caroline Wilson/TheAge RealFooty/17Sep06

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