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Elimination Final
St Kilda vs Melbourne
M.C.G. Friday 8th September 2006, 7:30pm AEST
Betting: (Winbet) St Kilda 1.60 Melbourne $2.25
Weather: Friday, Few Showers

2006 Finals Series Umpires
The AFL today announced the umpires who will officiate in the 2006 Finals Series. Umpires were selected on the basis of their performance over the course of the home and away matches with the top umpires going on to the finals. Also named were the field and goal emergency umpires for the first week. In weeks 2-4 emergency umpire duties will be undertaken by those on the finals panel . . . Brett Allen, Ray Chamberlain, Martin Ellis, Darren Goldspink, Scott Jeffery, Hayden Kennedy, Stephen McBurney, Shane McInerney, Brett Rosebury, Shaun Ryan, Justin Schmitt, Michael Vozzo.
The Article AFL Umpires Association/aflua.com.au/05Sept06
The three umpires in bold type are expected to be the umpires on Friday night
AFL: Hammond in caretaker role AAP/TheAustralian/05Sept06

Neitz ready and rarin'
. . . Neitz kicked eight goals on the Saints' veteran full-back Max Hudghton the last time these teams met in round ten this year as Melbourne won by 13 points, and his absence in the 2004 and 2005 elimination finals due to firstly a broken leg and then a knee injury was badly felt by the Demons as they lost to Essendon by five points and Geelong by 55 points. But Neitz could not be heading into this year's finals series in any better shape after kicking 61 goals during the home and away season.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/melbournefc.com.au/saints.com.au/05Sept06
Neitz leaves behind his finals demons Chloe Saltau/TheAge RealFooty/06Sept06

Saints Final - Function @ MCG
The Saints this week take on the Demons in the first AFL Elimination Final, at the MCG on Friday night. The Club is pleased to announce it will be holding a function in the Hasset Room, with match seating provided on Level 2 in the forward pocket. Support the Saints as they strive for September success. Limited spaces available. Please contact Mandy Denham at the Club on (03) 9559 6663.
The Article St Kilda Football Club/saints.com.au/05Sept06


Ball bounces back to best
. . . "I will go into Friday night's game feeling the best I have this year. It's nice for a change," Ball said. "It was pretty ordinary at the start of the year. Even going to uni and sitting down in class I would be thinking, 'I can't sit here for too long or else I'll take a step backwards'. I was always thinking about it." Then two weeks ago, before the Round 21 clash with the Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome, Ball started to feel freer. He now thinks he might have been physically ready even before that, but he had mentally become so used to the pain, he deliberately hadn't let go.
The Article Jon Anderson/HeraldSun/06Sept06

Saints skipper runs himself back into form
. . . . Ball insists his ailment is "not a bad case at all". But before the Bulldogs game, he became so frustrated that he chose to change his method. "Talking with 'Thommo' and a few of the guys over the last couple of weeks, I've tried to release the shackles a bit and just go," he said. "If something should happen, we want it to happen having a crack and going 100 per cent at it. It's funny, when you do that, you find you are right, you're not so bad in the first place. "It's that mental side of things. You tend to hold back a bit on kicking at full strength or taking off at full pace, things like that. The last couple of weeks, even at training, I've focused on having a crack. I've been able to get through training and taken it into the games."
The Article Martin Blake/TheAge RealFooty/06Sept06

Ball bounces back having a crack
. . . But with the advice of his captaincy predecessor Nick Riewoldt still ringing in his ears ("the year passes very quickly"), Ball hurt his stomach in the season opener against West Coast in Perth. During his fortnight on the sidelines, club officials were at pains to point out the setback was not related to the osteitis pubis that had plagued the midfielder. Ball confirmed yesterday the two ailments were indeed linked, and it had taken him until round 21 to purge himself of its physical and psychological symptoms.
The Article Andrew Ramsey/TheAustralian/06Sept06

No guarantee of a start for Brooks
. . . "He (Brooks) is 6'6" (198 centimetres), he can run and jump and take a catch," (Luke) Ball said. "He's got enormous talent. However, he's lacked the real intensity and competitiveness that you need, especially when you're a guy of that size, by his own admission as well. His career was probably - (and) probably still is - hanging on the edge a bit, but he was given an opportunity and he handled it very well."
The Article Martin Blake/TheAge RealFooty/06Sept06

All's well with Ball
Saints skipper Luke Ball has dismissed concerns he injured his knee last Saturday night against the Lions and instead says his body feels the best it has all season. Ball has endured a year marred by his chronic battle with osteitis pubis/groin strains before sending Saints supporters into heart palpitations last weekend when he appeared tweak his knee in a similar way to how teammate Lenny Hayes ended his own year back in round nine. Hayes managed to play out that game with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and it wasn't until scans later in the week that the season-ending injury was revealed.
The Article Jennifer Witham/Sportal/saints.com.au/05Sept06

Injury reprieve for Ball
St Kilda captain Luke Ball admits he thought his season might be over after landing awkwardly on his knee during Saturday night's win over Brisbane at the Gabba. Ball had the injury scanned yesterday and club doctors then gave him the all-clear to front up against Melbourne in Friday night's elimination final. "It's probably the best I've felt all year, which is not to say I'm 100 per cent . . . but it's as close as I've been for the year," he said. "I won't sit here and say that I've planned it this way but I'm sort of peaking at the right time."
The Article ABCSport/05Sept06

Fitter means better
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas believes his side is better placed that last year when entering its finals campaign due to the improving fitness of key players. With Justin Koschitzke, Aaron Hamill and the Clarke brothers all given the opportunity to get miles into their legs in the weeks leading up the to the finals, Thomas believes his side has an advantage it didn't possess last season when only Raphael Clarke managed to play both finals. Thomas also said he expected Friday night's elimination final against the Demons to be a hard-hitting encounter given the pressure placed on both Victorian teams to keep their finals campaigns alive. "The obvious is that last season is over and this season we're still a chance. But other than that there are some similarities (between both years)," Thomas said.
The Article Jennifer Witham/Sportal/saints.com.au/05Sept06

Hot Hot Heat at this year's Best & Fairest
This year's Trevor Barker Award on Tuesday October 3rd will be bigger and brighter than ever. Join us at Vodafone Arena where you will be entertained with live music and comedy in a festival-type atmosphere. All the players and coaching staff will be there, so come and experience how the Saints are leading the way in being the most progressive Club in the league. Huge stadium screens will replay key moments from this year's season with MCs Sandy Roberts and Peter Mitchell leading you through the countdown to the announcement of St Kilda's Fairest and Best player. Matt Hardy will be our boundary rider, interviewing player's during the evening.
The Article St Kilda Football Club/saints.com.au/05Sept06

Neitz ready and rarin'
It's fair to say few AFL players are as excited about the start of the finals this weekend as Melbourne skipper David Neitz. After all, it has been four years since the Demons' games and goals record-holder played in a final, having missed the club's elimination final defeats in the past two years to Essendon and Geelong because of injury. And the 31-year-old is hoping his presence in attack might just make the difference in preventing a third-straight first week finals exit for his beloved Demons when they take on St Kilda at the MCG on Friday night.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/05Sept06

Be part of finals fever this Friday
For the entire the season the Saints have fought for the chance to experience Premiership glory. It's now do or die this Friday in the Second Elimination Final at the MCG v Melbourne on Friday 8th September. Make sure you're part of red, white and black history in one of only two finals in Melbourne for the 2006 season. St Kilda Online Auctions is pleased to announce the chance for a few lucky people to experience behind the scenes action at the MCG this Friday. Bid for the chance for you or your child to be part of a historic game.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/05Sept06

Thomas toying with aerial do-or-die
Inside Grant Thomas's head, an argument is raging. As St Kilda prepares to play Melbourne on Friday night, one voice is telling the Saints coach to play it smart and stick with the percentages. Another is urging him to go for broke. The smart play, Thomas knows, is to downsize his forward line and reinforce his midfield. As much as Barry Brooks kicking three goals against Brisbane in his first game of the season was a terrific story, there is no guarantee of a happy sequel against Melbourne at the MCG. Five tall forwards allow you to rule the skies but leaves you wide open on the ground. Last weekend, no team rebounded from defence more often than the Lions. For every 195cm-plus giant resting on the bench, there is one less midfielder to go round. Caution dictates it is better to have an extra player such as Justin Peckett running through the interchange than a top-heavy forward line run off its feet.
The Article Chip Le Grand/TheAutralian/05Sept06

Dees return to give Saints hell
Melbourne appears set for the return of hard nuts Byron Pickett and Matthew Whelan for Friday night's elimination final against St Kilda. But Ben Holland remains in serious doubt. Pickett and Whelan, both recovering from hamstring strains, eased through running drills before training at the Junction Oval yesterday, then completed the main session without any concerns. Both were injured against Geelong in Round 21. Holland was consigned to walking and short bursts of jogging around the oval.
The Article Jon Pierik/HeraldSun/05Sept06
Bulldogs injury jinx strikes down Maitua AAP/TheAge/05Sept06
Everitt flees the Hawks' nest AAP/TheAge/05Sept06
Spida leaves Hawks AAP/HeraldSun/05Sept06

Cresswell returning to Victoria
. . . He was given much credit for revamping the Cats' midfield during his one-year tenure at Skilled Stadium and has firmed as a possible replacement for Thompson if the Cats board decides it is time for a change. "I have never made any secret of the fact that I have aspirations to hold a senior coaching position, and as part of my ongoing personal development, I feel the time is right to take another step forward in that direction," Cresswell said in a statement.
The Article AAP/TheAustralian/05Sept06
Thompson's tenure at Cattery remains in peril Caroline Wilson/TheAge RealFooty/06Sept06
No Pagan decision yet Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/05Sept06
Blues leave Pagan in limbo Jake Niall/TheAge RealFooty/06Sept06
Pagan's future at Blues remains in doubt AAP/TheAge/06Sept06
Geelong quashes report Greg Denham and Jenny McAsey/TheAustralian/06Sept06
Everitt's exit has Sydney circling Greg Denham and Jenny McAsey/TheAustralian/06Sept06
Melbourne club in bid for Everitt Stephen Rielly/TheAge RealFooty/06Sept06
Spida and Hawks: it's all about jumping the shark Michael Gleeson/TheAge RealFooty/06Sept06
Big Spida splits from the Hawks Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/06Sept06
Sheedy faces his biggest challenge Mark Robinson/HeraldSun/06Sept06

Medical Room
AARON HAMILL (KNEE): Looks well out of form and is struggling with his ongoing right knee problems.
STEPHEN POWELL (KNEE): Missed with ongoing knee soreness but will attempt to push for selection.
LUKE BALL (KNEE): Landed awkwardly on his left knee and sustained a mild stretch of the knee capsule. Able to complete match. Should play.
RAPHAEL CLARKE (CONCUSSION): Was heavily concussed on Saturday. Appeared to make a good recovery and if passed medically fit, should play.
MAX HUDGHTON (ANKLE/GROIN): A late withdrawal against the Lions having failed to recover fully from a left ankle and groin strain. Expected to play.
All Teams Dr Peter Larkins/HeraldSun/04Sept06

Hudghton faces race for fitness
. . . If he plays, Hudghton will be keen to redeem himself after one of his worst performances this season, against Neitz when the two clubs last met in round 10 at the MCG. Thomas will be mindful of the Saints' poor start last time the two clubs met. He said the Saints were reactive and failed to attack when they were jumped. "We were exposed early. They were far too hard, far too tough. They had numbers at the contest, out-bustled us, ran through tackles and did all the things we like to pride ourselves on." The Saints will be also able to call on the experience of Justin Peckett and Stephen Powell, who were not considered last weekend because of groin and knee problems. Raphael Clarke has also overcome a slight concussion, while Luke Ball pulled up well after a minor knee problem last weekend.
The Article Greg Denham/TheAutralian/05Sept06

Mark Ricciuto aims for prelim final
Adelaide skipper Mark Ricciuto has set his sights on a preliminary final return as his health continues to improve with the 2003 Brownlow Medalist hopeful of being given the all-clear to begin training next week. Ricciuto has been battling parvovirus B19 virus, a condition more common amongst children where it is known as Slap Cheek syndrome. The Crows' leading goalkicker has missed the past two matches and has been bed-ridden for most of that time, amidst fears he would miss the rest of the season.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/05Sept06

Last 10 matches this season Melb and Saints
Melbourne: . . . Their form isn't too bad if you ignore the unlucky draw to Geelong and the 'spaz attack' loss to Carlton. They didn't beat a top 8 team though, in their 5 wins.
St Kilda: . . . The Saints form looks good, but they scraped home in a few matches (good teams do though), and were soundly beaten by the two West Australian teams. They comfortably beat Collingwood and Western Bulldogs (top 8 teams) - but neither team is likely to feature prominantly in this finals series (one will progress past the first week by vitrue of playing the other).
The home and away season is over and now we play finals footy. All that has passed is irrelevant, except in the sense of carrying form.
The Post StKildonan/bigfooty.com

Finals tipped to rock city
. . . "There will be so much interest in football, make no mistake, the whole town will be abuzz with football mania and it will be for the whole of September," Demetriou said. "I can assure you this, Grand Final week will be the biggest and best we have ever seen. And we've got two huge games in Melbourne this weekend where we think we're going to exceed our forecast of crowds, we think we'll get 60,000 or 70,000 people at both games." Demetriou denied Melbourne's lack of involvement in the series would have a financial impact. "Contrary to expectation, it is not costing us anything. We have done our forecasts and our budgets this morning and we think we will exceed our forecasts, particularly given the two finals in Melbourne this week and the crowds," Demetriou said.
The Article Damian Barrett/HeraldSun/05Sept06
Team and match ups for Dees saintsRising et al/saintsational.com

The Lions practice game
The Lions match was used as a practice game to test things for the finals; * Most imortantly Brooks. Was given every opportunity to shine as a ruck forward and did very well. * We did play a huge number of talls, but I think this was more about wanting to test out brooks. We had 4 which is too many. GT does have a penchant for 3 though . . . and so I expect to see this . . . or to at least have team capable of doing it.
The Thread saintsRising et al/saintsational.com

Dees look forward to Saints
. . . On that still, grey Sunday afternoon at the MCG, where Melbourne has won 10 of its 11 matches this year and where it has beaten the Saints in five of six recent encounters, Neitz brought a fizz of colour to the mood of the day with a powerhouse display against a St Kilda back line that then included Matt Maguire. The captain, injured at this time last year and the year before, is again in wonderful form. Against Adelaide last Saturday, he kicked five goals. The Demons simply couldn't get the football to him enough. The week before, he kicked eight goals against Geelong.
The Article Stephen Rielly/TheAge RealFooty/05Sept06

AFL chief says Vics haven't earned finals
. . . "I am not disappointed at all because that's exactly the system we have set up, that the teams that play well earn the right to host finals and I think we do a great disservice to the clubs that play all year for 22 weeks to get the right to host a final that we bemoan the fact that the MCG will be vacant in weeks two and three," Demetriou said. "You do a great disservice and injustice to the four teams that earned the right. I dare say that Collingwood and St Kilda that only finished a game out of fourth or third spot could have won some games that they probably regret not winning. Everyone knows the rules and we are again grateful to the MCC . . . because this year . . . you would have seen it would have been a terrible injustice if we weren't allowing West Coast and Adelaide, who finished on top, first and second, to host finals."
The Article Michael Gleeson/TheAge RealFooty/05Sept06

Gibbs all set for draft camp
Bryce Gibbs is a certain starter at next month's AFL draft camp, scotching speculation he would skip it in an effort to deter Victorian clubs from drafting him . . . he AFL's recruiting managers have nominated 72 players to attend the three-day draft camp, which starts at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra on the Wednesday after the grand final. Victoria will send the most young prospects - 29 - although only 10 will come from Melbourne clubs, with the other 19 hailing from country regions. A record 13 Queenslanders have been invited to attend, while Western Australia will send 14 players.
The Article Emma Quayle/TheAge RealFooty/05Sept06

Jeans to present Jock McHale Medal
Four-time premiership coach Allan Jeans will present the Jock McHale Medal to the winning coach at this month's AFL grand final. Jeans was the coach of St Kilda's only premiership team in 1966. He also masterminded Hawthorn's grand final victories in 1983, 1986 and 1989.
Jeans to present Jock McHale Medal Sportal/04Sept06

Vic fans gear up to defend realm
Football fans have scrambled for limited finals tickets, pinning their hopes on the four remaining Victorian teams stemming an interstate invasion. Tens of thousands of St Kilda, Collingwood, Melbourne and Western Bulldogs members yesterday snared prized seats at the only two matches in Melbourne before the Grand Final - the second elimination final on Friday, and Sunday's first elimination match, both at the MCG . . . Their 11 MCG games this year have attracted 690,595 supporters, at an average of 62,781.
The Article Emily Power/HeraldSun/05Sept06

Get with the times Victoria
Allan Jeans, the four-time premiership coach of Hawthorn and St Kilda, will be given the honour of presenting the Jock McHale Medal to the coach of this year's winning AFL premiership team . . . And Jeans had a word of advice for the thousands of Victorians bemoaning the state's lack of success in the national competition in recent years - get with the times. "We have a new ball game now and basically you have to learn to adapt to the changing circumstances," he said on Monday . . . he said there was still a chance for the four Victorian sides - which filled positions five to eight - to thrive in September. "Home ground advantage is a big advantage but it's still a matter of having your players up and whether they are carrying injuries," he said.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/04Sept06
Buckley free to face Bulldogs ABCSport/04Sept06
Football codes clash over Sunday arvo (Gold Coast) Stuart Honeysett/TheAutralian/05Sept06
Pagan on Carlton's chopping block Jim Wilson and Trevor Grant/HeraldSun/05Sept06
Coach gives Eagleton and Harris the thumbs-up Rohan Connolly/TheAge RealFooty/05Sept06
Shootout not on: Eade Michael Stevens/HeraldSun/05Sept06
Swans looking forward to Goodes-Judd: the sequel Richard Hinds/SydneyMorningHerald/05Sept06

Gram grabs his chance
Last year Craig Bolton was able to erase the pain of missing out on premiership success with the Lions by winning the flag with the Swans. St Kilda defender Jason Gram hopes this year is his turn. Gram watched Brisbane win two premierships, but next weekend's eliminator against the Demons will be his first final. Even if the Saints' campaign ends there, the move south has already been a raging success. "Thommo (coach Grant Thomas) has given me a great opportunity," he said. "Its going to be great to start playing finals."
The Article Andrew Hamilton/CourierMail/04Sept06

Get with the times Victoria
Allan Jeans, the four-time premiership coach of Hawthorn and St Kilda, will be given the honour of presenting the Jock McHale Medal to the coach of this year's winning AFL premiership team . . . And Jeans had a word of advice for the thousands of Victorians bemoaning the state's lack of success in the national competition in recent years - get with the times. "We have a new ball game now and basically you have to learn to adapt to the changing circumstances," he said on Monday . . . he said there was still a chance for the four Victorian sides - which filled positions five to eight - to thrive in September. "Home ground advantage is a big advantage but it's still a matter of having your players up and whether they are carrying injuries," he said.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/04Sept06

Interstate teams justly rewarded
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou says those bemoaning the fact the MCG will be vacant for two weeks of the 2006 finals series are doing "a great disservice" to those non-Victorian teams that had earned the right to host finals this year . . . But Demetriou was adamant the grand final will never be moved from the MCG with the AFL contracted to stage its biggest game there for at least another 30 years. "The MCG is the home of football and now that it has been re-developed it is one of the most superb football stadiums in the world," he said. "It would be a brave person to think the MCG that holds 100,000 people wouldn't be hosting the grand final."
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/04Sept06
Akermanis trade no certainty: manager AAP/TheAge/04Sept06
Buckley and McLean clear to play AAP/TheAge RealFooty/04Sept06

Punters' paradise: Eagles ignite betting frenzy
. . . A TAB Sportsbet punter had $4000 on the Grand Final quinellas St Kilda-West Coast at $17 (to win $64,000) and St Kilda-Adelaide at $28 (to win $108,000) . . . When bookies put up $1.20 about Fremantle (R22), one punter decided it beat the heck out of bank interest and had $50,000 on the Dockers to win $10,000 with TAB Sportsbet. A Centrebet client felt the same way and had $30,000 on the Dockers at $1.20, winning $6000. There was also $25,000 for Collingwood at $1.22.
The Article Jon Anderson/HeraldSun/04Sept06

Saints play Melbourne on Friday Night
The two elimination finals will both be played at the MCG with sixth-placed St Kilda to face seventh-placed Melbourne on Friday night at 7.30pm in what will be the series ticket match while fifth-placed Collingwood will host the eighth-placed Western Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon at 2.30pm. While the AFL had the option of playing one of the two elimination finals at Telstra Dome, Demetriou said the MCG was the best place to play both games given the expected crowds for both matches. "We are playing both games at the MCG to maximise attendances, he said. With no finals to be played at the MCG in weeks two and three, the move also ensures the AFL does not fall too far behind in its contract with the Melbourne Cricket Club to play ten finals at the MCG in the first two weeks of the finals in any five year period.
MCG blockbuster kicks off finals Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/03Sept06

Harvey puts Saints in frame for finals
Veteran St Kilda star Robert Harvey has warned potential finals opponents his injury-hit side is approaching its best form and is still capable of ending the club's premiership drought . . . "The last two weeks have been good in different ways. We probably didn't play as well tonight, but we toughed it out against a pretty committed side. Next week is a whole new ball game, though. It's a new stage of the year and it is sudden death every week for us. It will be tough coming from outside the top four but it seems pretty open this year and I think we are in with a chance like anyone else. If we can put it together on game day, we are capable of beating anyone."
The Article Dan Koch/TheAustralian/04Sept06
Dan Koch - This Peanut called Grant Thomas - Graham Thomas in the article

Saints flex muscles
All the boxes and key indicators would have been ticked off by the Saints when they arrived back in Melbourne yesterday. They got the four points, returned with no fresh injury worries -- bar Raphael Clarke who suffered mild concussion -- and outclassed the opposition away from home to build up valuable momentum ahead of a do-or-die final. Saints coach Grant Thomas also proved you could go into a match with five ruckmen and make them all work well in tandem or through rotation. The other plus was Justin Koschitzke finding more touch and Aaron Hamill doing likewise in just his second game back from injury.
The Article Jackie Epstein/HeraldSun/04Sept06

The slippery slope of Dome politics
. . . Judd's regular column in The Sunday Age was withdrawn two days ago on the eve of publication. The reason for its withdrawal was that Judd had strongly criticised Telstra Dome's playing surface . . . Collins accused The Sunday Age of briefing Judd to write about Telstra Dome. This clearly shows a limited knowledge of Judd and the manner in which he creates his intriguing and unusual series of insights upon life and the game he loves . . . St Kilda too, whose administration has a good contract with Telstra Dome and loves the stadium's atmosphere, has no written stipulation in its deal, but concedes that every one of its players knows not to criticise the playing surface . . . And that perhaps the stadium would be well within its rights to enlist financial help from the AFL, which is the ground's major stakeholder and which will own it one day. Judd might or might not have suggested as much.
The Article Caroline Wilson/TheAge RealFooty/04Sept06

Saints need to travel well to stay in flag race
. . . "If we want to go as far as we can in the finals we need to win away from home," said (Nick) Dal Santo, a pivotal player in the 51-point win. "It was a little bit of a practice for us." If they beat Melbourne in the elimination final at the MCG on Friday, the Saints will need to travel in the two following weeks. They have a hard road ahead, having narrowly missed out on a top-four finish. "The competition's been even this year," Dal Santo said. "We think we're a chance. It's going to be a little bit more difficult, but we won a final away from home in Adelaide last year, so we know what to expect." Dal Santo said St Kilda had to improve on Saturday's effort. "We mucked around with the ball far too much. Against other teams in the finals with the increased pressure, we'd get caught out a bit. We've got to address that during the week."
The Article Martin Blake/TheAge RealFooty/04Sept06

Grant Thomas: We can win the flag
. . . "It looks like we'll have a knockout final next week in Melbourne, so we've just got to win," Thomas said. "I think we've had a reasonable season to date and it's all upside from here. If we're prepared to take on the challenge I think we can make a significant play in the finals. The statistics say it's very difficult (from outside the top four), but Adelaide did it twice and it's a great chance for our group to draw a line in the sand and make a decision and do something really special. No one says you can't do it and there's so many things that can happen. You look at the adversity that Adelaide have put up with over the last two or three weeks with their injuries and they rebounded really well today."
The Article Jackie Epstein/HeraldSun/03Sept06

Melbourne again on back-pedal
Melbourne may have a new-look defence in its elimination final against St Kilda on Friday night at the MCG after its 58-point loss to Adelaide on Saturday, which sent the Demons in a freefall out of the top four and down to seventh. The Demons, who now face being eliminated in the first week of the finals for the third year in succession, will welcome back Matthew Whelan and Byron Pickett from hamstring strains, as well as Ben Holland, who withdrew late against the Crows with a corked thigh.
The Article Greg Denham/TheAustralian/04Sept06

King Island may give Saints some cream
Many a splendid banquet has had the perfect finishing touch put to it by the cream and cheese of King Island. Suddenly, St Kilda fans are hoping the small island, with a population of 1800, might also have produced the mystery ingredient in the Saints' bid for the flag. They're wondering if Barry Brooks might be the cream on their cake. A bombshell selection last Thursday night, after being overlooked all year, Brooks must now be in Grant Thomas' mix. His strong-marking, three-goal game against Brisbane Lions at the Gabba at the weekend looks to have catapulted him into St Kilda's finals campaign. It's a stunning re-emergence.
The Article TheAge RealFooty/04Sept06

Magpies play the percentages
. . . "They had next to no chance against St Kilda," said former Saints captain Danny Frawley of the Bulldogs. "But they'll give themselves a good chance of beating Collingwood, because of the pace factor." The record suggests that Mick Malthouse, too, has greater reason for optimism about confronting the Bulldogs, whom the Pies out-gunned in a round-nine shoot-out, instead of Melbourne, which also happens to be the worst match-up, out of the Victorian finalists, for the Saints.
The Article Jake Niall/TheAge RealFooty/04Sept06

Uphill battle for Vic clubs
. . . Melbourne limps into a cut-throat elimination against St Kilda on Friday night at the MCG. Two weeks ago the Demons were sitting third and closing in on their best finish to the season since 2000, the year they made the Grand Final. But a costly late-season slide has left them no room for error. The Saints are counting the cost of their one-point "siren-gate" loss to Fremantle at Launceston -- a draw would have put them in the top four.
The Article Sam Edmund/HeraldSun/04Sept06

Swans get the toughest draw
. . . The toughest draw for week one of the finals has been handed to Sydney, which must travel to Perth and play the competition's top team with only a six-day break. St Kilda and Melbourne also have short weeks to prepare but neither has an advantage over the other. Collingwood lobbied for, and was given, a seven-day rest to play the Bulldogs, who have a luxurious nine days to plan their first finals match since 2000. For the past month, we have known who the finalists would be. Yet it was only in the last quarter of the last home-and-away game of the season that the September starting grid order was completed.
Eagles, Crows and Swans come to the four Chip Le Grand/TheAustralian/04Sept06

MCG key for Dees
Football manager Chris Fagan said before the match that it would be a wasted home-and-away season for the Demons if they didn't cement a top-four spot against Adelaide. The Demons won't be declaring the season over today, with a cut-throat final coming up this weekend, but there is no doubt a lot was at stake on Saturday . . . They have suffered three losses and a draw in five matches, after 12 wins from 14 mid-season.
The Article Jon Ralph/HeraldSun/04Sept06
Crowds in record books HeraldSun/04Sept06

Vics face drought
. . . St Kilda broke an 11-year drought at the Gabba to beat the Lions but will also need to improve to get beyond the second week of the finals. The Saints were left to rue the infamous siren-gate round 5 game against Fremantle when they finished the game on top but the Dockers were awarded the points after the umpire didn't hear the final siren.
The Article Andrew Hamilton/CourierMail/04Sept06

Bruce vows Demons can do some damage
. . . "We've beaten Sydney, we've beaten Fremantle this year, we've beaten Collingwood, we've beaten St Kilda and we've beaten the Western Bulldogs" . . . "It's shattering. It's been a super year for a player (Clint Bartram) who wasn't expected to play too many senior games," he said. St Kilda expects Luke Ball and Raphael Clarke to be ready to meet the Demons after injury scares in Saturday night's win over Brisbane. Ball hyper-extended his knee and Clarke clashed heavily with teammate Brett Voss. Defender Max Hudghton, who was rested with ankle and groin soreness, should return for the sudden-death final.
The Article Rebecca Williams/HeraldSun/04Sept06

Vic fans starved of action
. . . It is the first time ever that four non-Victorian teams have filled the top four positions at the end of the home and away season, capping off years of domination by the six non-Victorian clubs. That means the only finals action that Victorian footy fans will see before this year's grand final will be next weekend's two elimination finals featuring St Kilda, Collingwood, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/03Sept06
Finals draw clarified Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/29Aug06
Coaching axe looms for Denis Pagan Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/04Sept06
St Kilda 'haunted' by loss: Thomas AAP/TheAge/03Sept06
Saints, Demons to open finals series AAP/TheAge/03Sept06
Will Spida take bait? Scott Gullan/HeraldSun/04Sept06
Lions brace for change Andrew Hamilton/CourierMail/04Sept06

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