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Proposed Facility Moorabbin (cropped) Source: saints.com.au

MOORABBIN RESERVE TO GET $16.5 MILLION UPGRADE
St Kilda's home ground, Moorabbin Reserve will receive a $16.5M facelift thanks to a new program to improve suburban football grounds and increase opportunities for Melbournians to get involved with their local club. AFL CEO, Andrew Demetriou, and the Premier of Victoria, Steve Bracks, today announced the upgrade as part of the $55 million Victorian AFL Club Facilities Funding Program. St Kilda Football Club President, Rod Butterss, said the funding was a huge boost and would provide improved facilities for the Club's training, administration and social activities.
The Article St Kilda FC/saints.com.au/07Jun06
Saints hail Moorabbin redevelopment St Kilda FC/saints.com.au/07Jun06
Bracks comes to clubs' aid Caroline Wilson/TheAge/07Jun06
$55m boost for grounds Michael Stevens and Jon Pierik/HeraldSun/08Jun06
AFL cashes in on new media rights Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/08Jun06

Battles that will win the war
. . . Adam Goodes v Jason Blake: For those who claim the Swans are even better this year, Goodes is the most compelling piece of evidence. Running through the midfield, or pinch-hitting at either end of the ground, he seems to be attracting even more of the ball than he did at his Brownlow Medal-winning best. The Saints have added rookie ruckman Michael Rix, who will share the load with Cain Ackland. That will free Blake for the difficult task on Goodes - a job for which he has the size, but perhaps not the stamina. Another option for the Saints is Brendan Goddard, the former No.1 draft pick who has also been in good touch and is more likely to make Goodes accountable.
The Article Richard Hinds/smh.com.au/10Jun06
Missing pieces in Saints' puzzle Richard Hinds/smh.com.au/9Jun06

Luke Ball: Not so random thoughts
Everyone seems to have an opinion on all the big issues in football, so here are some of my thoughts on what's been dominating the headlines, radio talkback and online message boards.
St Kilda's premiership window has closed: I laugh every time I read or hear that if we don't win the flag this year, then our opportunity has passed. We would love to win the flag this year and we still think we can, but with the exception of Robert Harvey and Andrew Thompson, a great percentage of our group are younger than 26-27, the age when footballers are supposed to reach their peak. My message to St Kilda supporters is not to worry about what other people think or say. Our premiership window will remain firmly open next year and into the future.
The Article Luke Ball/AFL/saints.com.au/09Jun06
Own a signed 324 Guernsey
Kirk at the helm Rohan Connolly/The Age/10Jun06

"I can remember half-time and then waking up in the ambulance. That feeling you get, I wasn't sure what had happened, and I remember pulling the blanket off and seeing my footy socks and thinking 'That would be bloody right. I'm in an ambulance'." Justin Koschitzke

Kosi smiling despite hard luck story
Justin Koschitzke has lost half an hour of memory, hearing in his right ear and perhaps the rest of this football season. But if nothing else, the most injury prone footballer in the competition has kept his sense of humour. As Koschitzke jogged out on to Moorabbin Oval for the first time since his skull was fractured by a high-speed clash of heads with Western Bulldogs rival Daniel Giansiracusa in round six, he strapped a bicycle helmet on as a laugh. For the rest of the Saints - most of whom were too young to remember the days when Phil Narkle wore one for real on the same ground - it was a welcome piece of vaudeville. Earlier, Koschitzke did his best to recall his clash with Giansiracusa. "I wasn't sure what had happened," he said.
The Article Chip Le Grand/The Australian/09Jun06
Koschitzke not in Saints' plans Stephen Rielly/The Age/09Jun06

Rix gets his chance
St Kilda and Sydney have both made just one change to their teams ahead of their Saturday-night clash at the SCG. St Kilda recruit Michael Rix will make his AFL debut against the Swans after being close to senior selection for a number of weeks. The 25-year-old ruckman came to the club at pick 49 of last year's NAB AFL National Draft and his good luck is Andrew Thompson's misfortune with the veteran midfielder out for the next month with a back injury. Andrew McQualter, Allan Murray and Justin Sweeney make up the emergency list.
The Article saints.com.au/08Jun06
Rix on debut as St Kilda goes tall Rohan Connolly/The Age/09Jun06
Rix: Age no barrier Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/09Jun06

Koschitzke on the mend
Justin Koschitzke is taking his first tentative steps on the road to recovery after the sickening collision with Bulldog Daniel Giansiracusa that left the big Saint with a fractured skull. The injury-cursed ruckman spoke of the round six incident for the first time from Moorabbin on Thursday, and his outlook was resoundingly positive. "I'm getting better by the day, obviously there was a little bit of memory loss and a lot of headaches for a few weeks, but I'm very much on the improve and I'm at the stage now where I can start doing a little bit," Koschitzke said. "I'll try and do the warm-up today with the boys, get a bit active and get the old bones ticking over again."
The Article AFL/saints.com.au/08Jun06
St Kilda Injury List l Injuries - all teams AAP/HeraldSun/05Jun06

Koschitzke returns to training
St Kilda fans were talking up Superman Returns last night - and it had nothing to do with the latest blockbuster about to hit movie screens. Justin Koschitzke donned a daggy bicycle helmet and left the cape in the rooms, but there was no denying the superhero impact of his appearance at Moorabbin Oval. After a few laughs, Koschitzke ditched the hard-hat and managed to complete a 30-minute warm-up session with his teammates.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/09Jun06

Next month pivotal: Thomas
Delicately poised at five wins and five losses, St Kilda's fortunes this season will become clearer over the next month when the Saints come up against some quality opposition. At the risk of stating the bleeding obvious, Grant Thomas addressed a question about the importance of the coming month for the Saints at an open media conference at Moorabbin on Thursday. "It's a difficult question to answer because it's (such) an obvious answer. We've got three of the top four sides in the next four weeks, is it important? You bet your arse it's important, very important, of course it is," he replied. "We're not here to make up the numbers, we've still got the same vision we've always had and I think it's a fantastic challenge we've got in front of us. We expect to win every week - that's why you play competitive sport - to win. You don't play it for any other reason, so we expect to win every game we play."
The Article Jason Phelan/saints.com.au/08Jun06

Next challenge is the Swans
While the Saints clearly had a disappointing first half against the Demons and the way we started was poor, our ability to come out fighting in the second half was encouraging. Melbourne began the game harder and tougher, which is something we naturally pride ourselves on. Collectively our ball use and skill level was also poor. There are still areas the Club needs to improve in, particularly the way we start games and our ball use inside the forward 50. Individually, we thought Nick Dal Santo was excellent throughout the match, while Aaron Fiora's efforts on Brad Green, and Leigh Montagna's role on Travis Johnstone were a highlight. Jason Gram, who has been amongst one of the most consistent players this season, did a super job on Aaron Davey. Gram wanted the challenge of playing on Davey and we thought he passed with flying colours.
The Article Jason Cripps/saints.com.au/06Jun06

"I think like a lot of teams they are playing some good footy in patches but didn't get over the line (St Kilda vs Melbourne). Their problem is not their form, just the consistency over the four quarters which was a bit like our problem on the weekend, but I suppose we were able to get the four points with a not-so-good performance". Paul Roos

That losing feeling is a winner for Roos
The weekend results and AFL ladder may tell a different story, but Sydney coach Paul Roos is hoping his players regard Sunday's narrow escape against the Kangaroos in Canberra as a loss rather than the win it was. The Swans turned a 32-point deficit into a seven-point win at Manuka Oval, their sixth successive victory. And while Roos admits it can be difficult to keep players "up" during a winning streak, he hopes the near loss will help act as the jolt required to get the team back to its best form for Saturday's clash with St Kilda at the SCG.
The Article Richard Hinds/smh/06Jun06

Dollars for Moorabbin Facilities
Victorian-based AFL clubs will soon boast modern and up-to-date facilities to match those of non-Victorian clubs, and they will be made available to community groups and the general public, as part of a $55 million funding project announced by the AFL and the Victorian government on Wednesday . . . St Kilda will get an entirely new facility at Moorabbin with a new training complex to be built where the grandstands currently sit, while a new social club and merchandising outlet will be nearby facing the busy South Road.
$55m boost for venues Ashley Browne/Sportal/saints.com.au/05Jun06

Last meeting with Sydney: The Saints believed Maguire was in a no-win situation. If he adhered to the unofficial code of silence whereby players appearing as witnesses describe anything short of an iron bar across the temple as "slight contact" and Hall was still suspended, Maguire would be forever vilified as the man who cost Hall a place in the grand final. Had he helped Hall get off, he would still be unfairly cast as a stager.

Saints can't match the hype
Events of the past six weeks suggest St Kilda and Melbourne are travelling in opposite directions. The sad reality for St Kilda supporters is that the perception is built on fact . . . St Kilda has used 31 players this year, Sydney 24. The Saints are expected to stretch the number to 32 this week with the inclusion of untried ruckman Michael Rix. Rix, 25, is big and willing, and needs to be tested sometime soon. When the Saints announced themselves in 2004, 14 players played 20 or more games. Koschitzke, Hamill and Clarke all played 17-19 games.
The Article Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/07Jun06

Now, Thompson to miss a month
St Kilda's injury woes have deepened, with veteran Andrew Thompson set to miss the next month with a fractured vertebrae in his back. Thompson was crunched in the opening minute of Sunday's match against Melbourne at the MCG and took no further part in the match. Initially the Saints believed the midfielder's back was bruised, but scans on Monday have revealed a fracture near the base of his back. Thompson will miss matches against Sydney (SCG), Adelaide (Telstra Dome), Hawthorn (Telstra Dome) and Collingwood (Telstra Dome) as the Saints (5-5) sit precariously in eighth spot, ahead on percentage of ninth-placed Richmond.
The Article Howard Kotton/Sportal/saints.com.au/05Jun06
Brendon Goddard report thrown out Bruce Matthews/HeraldSun/06Jun06

Hall takes another swipe at Saints' Maguire
Should St Kilda defender Matt Maguire jog down to the goal square at the SCG on Saturday night to renew acquaintances with Swan Barry Hall, expect more than the usual amount of pressure to be applied during the pre-match handshake. The consequences of their most recent meeting during last season's preliminary final have become football folklore. Hall was suspended for punching Maguire in the stomach, then reprieved just four days before the grand final by the tribunal after the Swans counsel exploited a loophole in the reporting rules - still not closed - that allowed an incident that happened at least 30 metres from the ball to be declared 'in play'.
The Article Richard Hinds/TheAge/06Jun06
Once more with ill-feeling as Hall ensures Saints maintain the rage Richard Hinds/smh/06Jun06
Close shave a wake-up call: Hall Michael Cowley/smh/0Jun06
Poor Bazza saintsational.com

Saints analogy: Cats' mental hurdle
Former St Kilda coach Tim Watson last night warned of the mental scarring Geelong players were likely to have suffered in Saturday's loss to West Coast . . . And ex-Saint Tony Brown, who conceded last night that his career went into a nose-dive after the Hawthorn loss, predicted the Cats could go through the season without winning another game. "It certainly zapped a hell of a lot of confidence from our group," Brown said of the Hawthorn loss.
The Article Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/06Jun06

Bad draw in 2007? Computer will be to blame
The AFL draw, that complex 22-round schedule that makes and breaks clubs, has become so complicated that the logistics of the next one will be arranged almost completely by computer. Until now, the AFL has used a computer software program only to work out which teams play each other and has had to manage the rest of the draw manually - a difficult and time-consuming task. But the AFL has discovered a software system - introduced to it by America's National Football League - that will be able to complete the entire schedule, including the venues and times. The upshot is that when conspiratorial fans complain about their team's draw, accusing fingers can be pointed only at the Optimal Planning software system that, fed with requests and requirements, will produce a 2007 schedule.
The Article Jake Niall/TheAge/07Jun06



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