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St Kilda vs. Hawthorn
Dome Saturday 1st July, 2:10pm
Odds: St Kilda $1.44 Hawthorn $2.88 (28Jun06)
Field umpires: Margetts, Donlon, Ryan

Official Line-ups

A Grade game required
With St Kilda perched on six wins, six losses and inside the eight by percentage only, coach Grant Thomas is wary of his club's predicament. During the mid-season break the Saints' went away to Bonnie Doon and while there, everyone made and signed off on a team commitment to give the second half of the season a real serious shake. "We were able to get a lot of things out of the way and talk a fair bit about where we're at and more importantly where we want to be," Thomas said before training on Friday. "We had a bit of spirit and camaraderie building and we also trained pretty hard three times a day. The players have agreed on a few things there, so we got a fair bit out of it."
The Article Mark Rasmussen/saints.com.au/30Jun06

Thomas pins faith in B-grade big men
With shades of his coaching predecessor condemning his ruckman as the most pathetic he had seen, Grant Thomas yesterday damned his ruckmen with faint praise by conceding that today's match would be a battle of the B-grade big men. Unlike Malcolm Blight's post-match observation about former Adelaide ruckman David Pittman, Thomas' pre-match prediction is quite fair. None of Robert Campbell, Simon Taylor, Cain Ackland or Michael Rix would claim to be in the competition's A-grade.
The Article Michael Gleeson/TheAge/01Jul06
Game notes, round 13 TheAge/01Jul06

Saints unchanged
The Saints will field an unchanged line-up as they look to consolidate their place in the eight with a win against Hawthorn at Telstra Dome on Saturday. St Kilda is one of four teams sitting on six wins and is in seventh spot on the ladder by virtue of a superior percentage. Veteran onballer Robert Harvey retains his spot in the side despite appearing to sustain a serious hamstring injury during the 63-point loss to Adelaide before the break. Sam Gilbert, Allan Murray and Mark McGough are the emergencies.
The Article saints.com.au/29Jun06

Saints to take on Hawks
he break came at an ideal time for the Saints, in that the team went away to Bonnie Doon and did a fair bit of soul searching. This was the perfect opportunity to see where we are at individually and collectively, which is something we certainly addressed during the break. The boys have since come back and really focused on what they want to achieve in the last 10 weeks of footy, which has given them a chance to focus on a specific objective. This week we take on Hawthorn at Telstra Dome, which the players are looking forward to. The Hawks are a very fit running team and they rely heavily on getting first access to the ball, which they are very good at. They also have some good players available to come back into the mix such as Vandenberg, Croad and Guerra.
The Article Mick McGuane/saints.com.au/29Jun06
Vandenberg back after five weeks Lyall Johnson/TheAge/30Jun06

Rex Hunt: St Kilda Hawtorn Match
One thing about the Saints, most of the time they'll take care of teams beneath them in ability and that's without Sammy Hamill, Banger Harvey, Harry Hayes, Joe Blake, Kosi and Mini Thompson. They've still got Cuddles' Boy Luke Ball, GEE-RIG, Riewoldt, the Candlestick Maker and Goose Maguire. And that will be enough to take care of the Hawks, even with Hank Crawford, Yellow Brick Croad, Spida and the Human Road Kill (Guerra) back. To me the Hawks are all about next year and beyond, whereas the Saints still have sniff. But if they lose, all hell will break out at Moorabbin.
Round 13 Previews Rex Hunt/HeraldSun/30Jun06

Saint's feet up
St Kilda's Luke Ball went bush to rest a nagging strained abdominal muscle ... Hawthorn's Richie Vandenberg was denied permission to play in the VFL to re-condition his body to the crash and bash rigours. Contrasting captains was the apt description as the Saints and Hawks utilised the split-round break to prepare for tomorrow's clash at Telstra Dome. Ball took the opportunity to reflect with St Kilda teammates at Bonnie Doon, while Vandenberg completed an intense training program with a couple of teammates to be primed for his return after a four-match ban.
The Article Bruce Matthews/TheAge/30Jun06

Ball has ab strain, not OP
St Kilda captain Luke Ball says his battle with injury in 2006 is in fact due to an abdominal strain and not osteitis pubis as he suggested on radio after his side's 63-point loss to Adelaide at Telstra Dome in round 12. Ball told 3AW after the defeat that he had osteitis pubis. But on Thursday, in the lead-up to Saturday's clash against Hawthorn at Docklands, Ball said the injury he has been carrying is an abdominal strain. "It's funny, every time that word comes out (osteitis pubis), it seems to just send fear through everyone who hears it, but I made a bit of a blue after the last game on Friday night and I let the dreaded words slip out,"
The Article Matt Burgan/Sportal/saints.com.au/30Jun06
New strike warning Matt Burgan/Sportal/saints.com.au/30Jun06
Blue Ribbon Cup: Saints v Hawks St Kilda FC/saints.com.au/30Jun06

Round 13 Previews
St Kilda vs Hawthorn . . . We know what St Kilda is capable of, and most think it's closer to the performance it produced against Sydney rather than the group who meekly folded against the Crows. If the Saints are to be taken seriously, this is one game they cannot drop. Tip: St Kilda by 11 points.
The Article TheAge/29Jun06
AFL teams for Round 13 TheAge/29Jun06

"That's a pretty strong action to take (Players strike). So while I'd say that I wouldn't want to go that far, if it's what's best for the players as a body then that's what it might have to come to." Luke Ball, delegate to the AFL Players' Association

St Kilda skipper warns player strike threat real
St Kilda captain Luke Ball says many AFL players are considering strike action if a resolution cannot be reached with the league over the latest player payment negotiations. The AFL and the Players' Association are in talks over player wages from next season, with agreement likely to be at least a month away. Any pay rise would be funded by revenue from the broadcast rights with some money also being invested in a future fund for the game.
The Article ABCSport/29Jun06
Talks to be held over AFL player payments ABCSport/29Jun06
Time is right for Saints to launch operation payback
. . . Thankfully, the club that Thomas coaches is much stronger than the ramshackle outfit he played with. The Saints expect to post their third consecutive profit of in excess of $1 million this year, having made $1.5 million last year. They intend to be debt-free by the end of this year. Having seen the dawning of the new Solvent Saints, president Rod Butterss should see to it that former players and coach who gave St Kilda the gift of life are given something back. It would be a wonderful gesture to repay Jeans et al the money they were owed, with or without interest.
The Article Jake Niall/HeraldSun/29Jun06
Site for gay footy fans riles players Kate Hagan/TheAge/29Jun06
Sydney's flag lifts TV ratings Tim Morrissey /TheAustralian/29Jun06
Ogilvy indulges other passion Judith Coen/www.noticias.info

"This week, I want to go to the footy like a punter. My wife (Juli) has never been. I want to go to the footy, have a pie, yell at the umpire and do what I used to." Geoff Ogilvy US Open winner and Saints supporter

Saints meet golfing champion
Saints stars Brendon Goddard and Sam Fisher were in for a treat yesterday, meeting US Open golf champion Geoff Ogilvy. Keen golfers Goddard and Fisher, were at the MCG to meet the mad Saints supporter, Ogilvy and exchange golfing tips. Ogilvy, who won his first major title just over a week ago, practiced hitting shots through the goal posts at the MCG with the two Saints players.
The Article Vanessa Gigliotti/saints.com.au/28Jun06
Ogilvy's mind turns to footy Michael Martin Blake/TheAge/28Jun06

AFL Match Review
. . . THE VERDICT: St Kilda has a great record at Telstra Dome under Grant Thomas, but there have been some worrying signs recently. A spate of serious injuries have not given Thomas the luxury of a settled line-up, with too much being left to Nick Riewoldt, Dal Santo and Ball, who is struggling with injury. Hawthorn overpowered a lethargic Richmond last round and should be boosted by the return of experienced stars Everitt, Crawford and Croad, as well as skipper Vandenberg. Hawthorn is 1-3 at the Dome this year and has not beaten St Kilda since Round 13, 2002, but this is the Hawks' best opportunity for a while to knock over the injury-ravaged Saints. Hawthorn by 13 points
The Article AFL/27Jun06

Five of the best available for Hawks
Hawthorn has an enviable selection dilemma on its hands, with up to five of its most senior players potentially available to return for Saturday's clash with St Kilda at Telstra Dome. The Hawks, only one game outside the eight after their season-reviving win over Richmond before the mid-season break, could regain injured trio Shane Crawford, Peter Everitt and Trent Croad, while captain Richie Vandenberg and Brent Guerra have completed their respective four- and three-game tribunal suspensions. All were part of yesterday's training session, the Hawks' first since last Wednesday, and coach Alastair Clarkson said last night all would be seriously considered, despite their lack of match fitness. Crawford has been out with a shin injury since the round-nine clash against Sydney, Croad has missed the last two games with a wrist problem, and ruckman Everitt, due to play his 250th game, missed the win over the Tigers with an ankle sprain.
The Article Michael Gleeson/TheAge/27Jun06
AFL concedes soccer's popularity will rise Jake Niall and Michael Lynch, Kaiserslautern/TheAge/27Jun06
AFL pleased with new split-round configuration Karen Lyon and Jake Niall/TheAge/27Jun06
Players may push for free agent deal Michael Gleeson/TheAge/26Jun06
AFL round-up TheAge/28Jun06
Wall of fame for football legends Mary O'Brien/TheAge/28Jun06

Hawks welcome back their big names
. . . The Saints, apparently refreshed after a bye camp at Bonnie Doon, will effectively have an unchanged team from the one that lost to Adelaide by 10 goals. Robert Harvey (hamstring), Justin Koschitzke (head), Aaron Hamill (knee), Lenny Hayes (knee _ season), Jason Blake (hamstring), Andrew Thompson (back) and Raphael Clarke (quad) will miss again. Worse, midfielder Xavier Clarke will have a fitness test late this week. There's speculation Clarke, who played his first game of the year against the Crows, may have aggravated his long-time hip injury.
The Article Mark Robinson and Jon Pierik/HeraldSun/27Jun06
All Club injury lists AAP/HeraldSun/27Jun06
AFL nothing to fear from soccer Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/28Jun06

Ballarat can bask in Plugger's Hall of Fame success
There is nothing better as a community than to celebrate the success of one of our own. And over the years Ballarat has had plenty to celebrate. Last week, home-grown legend Tony Lockett was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame, taking his place alongside some of the greatest names in the game. Known as Plugger a nickname he took from his father, Lockett joined St Kilda from North Ballarat in 1988 and went on to become one of the best full forwards the sport has ever seen.
The Article thecourier.com.au/25Jun06



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