ESSENDON: 4.5, 6.8, 8.10, 10.11 (71)
ST KILDA: 2.4, 4.6, 7.7, 11.8 (74)
GOALS - Essendon: Lovett 3, Lucas 2, Reynolds 2, J. Johnson, Watson, Peverill
St Kilda: Milne 3, Gehrig 3, Riewoldt 2, Voss, Gram, Ackland
BEST - Essendon: J. Johnson, Peverill, Lovett, Stanton, Camporeale, Lucas
St Kilda: Riewoldt, Harvey, Milne, Goddard, S. Fisher, Gram
INJURIES - Essendon: Nil
St Kilda: Nil
CHANGES - Essendon: Ryder (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Lonergan
St Kilda: Baker replaced in selected side by Thompson
REPORTS - McPhee (Essendon) reported for striking Harvey (St Kilda) by umpire Nicholls in the first term
UMPIRES - Kennedy, Nicholls, Hendrie
CROWD - 33,082 at the MCG
FREES: For St Kilda - 9, Against St Kilda 13
HITOUTS: St Kilda 37, Essendon 26
50m PENALTIES: St Kilda 0, Essendon 1
GOALS: St Kilda - Free 2; Play 4; Mark 5, Essendon - Free 2; Play 6; Mark 2
DISTANCE OF GOALS: St Kilda - 0-15m 3; 15-30m 2; 30-40m 2; 40+m 4, Essendon - 0-15m 0; 15-30m 4; 30-40m 3; 40+m 3
Thomas hails 'Clayton's loss'
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas believes his team will gain enormous benefit out of its lucky escape against bottom-placed Essendon at the MCG with the Saints' boss almost treating the victory as a "Clayton's loss" . . . Thomas admitted he drove home to his players after the game what the consequences would have been for the club had they lost to an Essendon side that has now equalled the worst losing run in its history - 14 successive defeats.
The Article Paul Gough/saints.com.au/15Jul06
Thomas lauds close call Jon Ralph/HeraldSun/16Jul06
We should have won: Sheedy Jennifer Witham/AFL/saints.com.au/15Jul06
Another knock for Koschitzke, one match out
The return of St Kilda's Justin Koschitzke could be further delayed after the VFL Tribunal handed him a one-match suspension last night for crashing into an umpire . . . Krull told the three-man tribunal he was dazed for "two or three minutes" after Koschitzke slammed into him but was able to continue umpiring the remaining three quarters. Unlike the AFL, where umpires move towards the boundary line after a ball-up, Krull said he was "backing back towards the centre of the ground" after throwing the ball up, when Koschitzke ran into him.
The Article Martin Boulton/ThwAge/19Jul06
Koschitzke suspended
St Kilda ruckman Jsutin Koschitzke's AFL comeback has been further delayed as he was suspended tonight for one game for making contact with a VFL umpire. The VFL tribunal ruled it has a duty of care to protect umpires from injury and deemed Koschitzke's contact with field umpire Josh Krull to be quite severe. Koschitzke pleaded guilty to running into the back of Krull during the first quarter of last Saturday's VFL reserves game between the Casey Scorpions and Williamstown. Video evidence clearly showed he cannoned into the back of Krull as the umpire backed out of a ball-up and the player ran in to contest a ruck duel.
The Article AAP/HeraldSun/18Jul06
AFL playing down complaint about umpires ABCSports/18Jul06
Umpire decision puts Kosi out again Greg Denham/TheAustralian/19Jul06
The eyes have it for Saint
A Brisbane optometrist, who has worked extensively with players in all codes of football, in netball and in cricket, said yesterday that Justin Koschitzke should not be suspended for making contact with a VFL umpire because his sole focus was on the ball. Admitting that he was not familiar with the AFL's rules, which place the duty of care in such instances solely with the player, Patrick Gerry said that news footage he had seen of the incident showed that Koschitzke had his eyes on the ball at all times. "The science is really easy," Gerry said. "Physiologically, if someone is concentrating, their peripheral vision is reduced. It's shrunk down."
The Article Len Johnson/TheAge/18Jul06
More bad news at tribunal for Kosi
. . . When asked if the Saints would play Koschitzke against Port Adelaide in Launceston on Sunday, should he escape suspension, St Kilda coach Grant Thomas yesterday said: "No" . . . Since 2002, six players have been reported for making contact with an umpire in the VFL, with five found guilty and one cleared. Koschitzke's St Kilda team-mates, ruckmen Michael Rix (2004) and Barry Brooks (2005) were found guilty of similar offences, but were both fined and reprimanded. Last year Koschitzke was fined $2400 by the match review panel for making negligent contact on two field umpires in the same round-19 match against Geelong.
The Article Greg Denham/TheAustralian/18Jul06
Umpires able to tell push from show
Like Billy Crystal's character in When Harry Met Sally, Jeff Gieschen believes umpires can tell real from fake. As far as the AFL's director of umpiring is concerned, staging for free-kicks is more an occasional nuisance than a blight on the game. "It is something we monitor and keep an eye on but at this stage, I don't think it is a major issue," Gieschen told The Australian yesterday. He described any penalties against staging as "another layer of complexity that at this stage, we don't really need."
The Article Chip Le Grand/TheAustralian/18Jul06
Fremantle on the nose in Tasmania Andrew Probyn and Steve Butler/TheAge/18Jul06
Erin, a football wife extraordinaire Robert Walls/TheAge/18Jul06
"When they are getting paid a small fortune to tap a piece of leather out of the air to one of their own players who is covered by an opposition player, as well as concentrate on what the opposition ruckman is going to try and do to them, as well as try and dodge a person who is a foot shorter than them who is bent over and running blindly backwards, all within a small circle. I am surprised that more of the umpires dont get squashed each week". timclark27/saintsational.com
Kosi cited for umpire clash
His case will be heard Tuesday night
The unluckiest man in AFL football in season 2006, Justin Koschitzke, has suffered another blow after being cited by the VFL tribunal for making contact with an umpire. Koschitzke crashed into the back of umpire Josh Krull while playing for the Casey Scorpions reserve side on Saturday, and sustained a chipped tooth and a swollen lip which has made him the victim of ribbing by teammates at Moorabin for his resultant affected speech. Michael Rix (Box Hill Hawks 2004) and Barry Brooks (Casey Scorpions 2005) were given severe reprimands and fined, while Sandringham's Paul Kennedy was found not guilty of the offence last year.
The Article Ben Wise/Sportal/saints.com.au/17Jul06
Koschitzke to undergo tests ABCNewsOnline/17Jul06
Tribunal: Kosi booked AAP/HeraldSun/17Jul06
Koschitzke cited over umpire clash Scott Spits/TheAge/17Jul06
Kosi's focus only problem
Justin Koschitzke's latest run-in with an umpire may have been caused by his total focus on the football rather than any medical condition or residual effect from being knocked out earlier this season . . . But Koschitzke's manager, Liam Pickering, and leading sports medico Dr Peter Larkins both put the incident down to the player's focus on the ball rather than any medical problem.
The Article Grantley Bernard/HeraldSun/18Jul06
Review: "every1 has played every1" Rexy/saintsational.com
Kosi faces another blow at tribunal
. . . Koschitzke was charged with intentionally, recklessly or negligently making contact with the umpire. He has a previous fine from the AFL for umpire contact in round 19 last year. The Saints had not decided whether to contest tonight's charge. Unlike the AFL system there is no early plea, but a player can plead guilty as charged.
The Article Len Johnson/TheAge/18Jul06
Justin 'just unlucky' Len Johnson/AdelaideAdvertiser/18Jul06
Ex-AFL star humbled by grandstand naming
Former AFL star Gilbert McAdam offered a warning to federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough during the official opening of a new $3 million grandstand in Alice Springs on Saturday night. The Traeger Park grandstand was named the McAdam-Bowden Stand after Mr McAdam's family and another prominent Alice Springs family, the Bowdens. McAdam played for St Kilda and Brisbane in the AFL. His brothers Greg and Adrian played for St Kilda and the Kangaroos respectively. During the stand's opening ceremony, McAdam paid tribute to his late father Charlie and his mother Valerie.
The Article ABCNewsOnline/17Jul06
Gilbert McAdam (No21) played 10 games for St Kilda in 1985
More bad news at tribunal for Kosi
When asked if the Saints would play Koschitzke against Port Adelaide in Launceston on Sunday, should he escape suspension, St Kilda coach Grant Thomas yesterday said: "No" . . . Since 2002, six players have been reported for making contact with an umpire in the VFL, with five found guilty and one cleared. Koschitzke's St Kilda team-mates, ruckmen Michael Rix (2004) and Barry Brooks (2005) were found guilty of similar offences, but were both fined and reprimanded. Last year Koschitzke was fined $2400 by the match review panel for making negligent contact on two field umpires in the same round-19 match against Geelong.
The Article Greg Denham/TheAustralian/18Jul06
Kosi needs game time
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas has conceded that Justin Koschitzke's latest injury setback could delay his much-anticipated AFL return. The Saints had earmarked Koschitzke to return to the senior line-up for the round 17 clash against Richmond at the MCG in just under a fortnight's time but that was before he copped another heavy knock to the face while playing for the Casey Scorpions reserves side on Saturday. It was just Koschitzke's second match since fracturing his skull against the Western Bulldogs in round six and once again it was his lack of awareness of what was going on around him that seemed to be the cause of the problem. Just as Koschitzke didn't see Bulldog Daniel Giansiracusa when he flattened him with a legitimate shepherd in round six, this time the 2001 Rising Star winner ran straight into a field umpire while contesting a ball-up.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/16Jul06
Coach of the week: Grant Thomas
Koschitzke sweats on clash
St Kilda ruckman Justin Koschitzke will know today whether he'll be booked for crashing into an umpire during a ball-up in a VFL reserve game on Saturday . . . VFL general manager Martin Stillman said last night his league's state umpire director Kevin Mitchell would review film of the incident which left Krull bruised and sore. Stillman said Mitchell had the power to refer incidents to the VFL's match review panel.
The Article Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/17Jul06
McPhee's record a plus Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/17Jul06
Coach of the week: Grant Thomas
Round 15 ponderings
He still has his critics but the Saints boss just continues to get the job done, despite the absence of key players such as Aaron Hamill, Justin Koschitzke and Lenny Hayes that could have derailed the campaigns of lesser teams and lesser coaches. Thomas became the Saints' equal second longest serving coach this weekend - along with Stan Alves - on 115 games, and by next week will only trail the club's one and only premiership coach - the legendary Allan Jeans - as the club's longest-serving coach. And while many people believe the Saints should have already won a premiership during Thomas' time in charge - such is the perceived quality of their playing list - the former defender's reign has still been a roaring success by St Kilda standards. The Saints increasingly look as though they will make the finals for the third successive year this season for only the second time in their history - the only other time being under Jeans way back in 1973.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/16Jul06
 Matt Rendell on win over Essendon PTS Team/sport927.com.au/16Jul06 (Sound file)
Picture Gallery - Round 15 Herald Sun
We should have won: Sheedy Jennifer Witham/Sportal/EssendonFC/saints.com.au/16Jul06
Sheedy injured essendonfc.com.au
 R15 G Train Goal WinTV/Ch10/Trueman (Video file)
R15 Milney Goal WinTV/Ch10/Trueman (Video file)
More of Trueman's Video Links at saintsational.com
Sheedy's defence as poor as Essendon's on field
. . . This round St Kilda beat Essendon by just three points and it was Sheedy's side's best performance for some weeks. Essendon was desperate in the wet conditions and certainly worked more players to the contest. St Kilda coach Grant Thomas was happy to get away with a win and, after the game, he noted Essendon's tenacity. Carlton, for three quarters, matched the running precision of the Bulldogs but gave up six goals to one in the last. Essendon and Sheedy have been stung by the growing criticism of their recent past. With Saturday's loss the Bombers have now just 14 games from their past 50 matches. That is an equation shrieking either incompetence or complacency. Possibly both.
The Article Patrick Smith/TheAustralian/17Jul06
Sheeds knows best: Hird Ben Wise and Jason Phelan/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/16Jul06
Saints salvage pride
. . . Nick Riewoldt's second goal for the quarter put the Saints in front by two points. Once in front it seemed the Saints would coast away with the game and perhaps score a two or three-goal victory. That theory was threatened when the lively Andrew Lovett replied two minutes after Riewoldt's goal with a magnificent one from a set shot on the boundary line.
The Article Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/17Jul06
Sheedy's defence as poor as Essendon's on field
. . . This round St Kilda beat Essendon by just three points and it was Sheedy's side's best performance for some weeks. Essendon was desperate in the wet conditions and certainly worked more players to the contest. St Kilda coach Grant Thomas was happy to get away with a win and, after the game, he noted Essendon's tenacity. Carlton, for three quarters, matched the running precision of the Bulldogs but gave up six goals to one in the last. Essendon and Sheedy have been stung by the growing criticism of their recent past. With Saturday's loss the Bombers have now just 14 games from their past 50 matches. That is an equation shrieking either incompetence or complacency. Possibly both.
The Article Patrick Smith/TheAustralian/17Jul06
Sheeds knows best: Hird Ben Wise and Jason Phelan/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/16Jul06
Gay slur by Riewoldt
Nick Riewoldt should make amends for a gay slur by starting a campaign to stamp out homophobia in the AFL, Victoria's gay lobby says. The St Kilda superstar provoked outrage after making a comment vilifying gays on radio.
The Article Kelvin Healey/HeraldSun/16Jul06
McPhee in danger
Essendon defender Adam McPhee has picked the wrong week to test the leniency of the tribunal after he was yesterday reported for a crude coathanger on St Kilda's Robert Harvey. Harvey's nose was broken and his face black and blue last night after McPhee's forceful swinging arm collected him as he marked 15 minutes into the first quarter.
The Article Jon Ralph/HeraldSun/16Jul06
Kosi OK after new knock
(Article With image of the event)
St Kilda is breathing a huge sigh of relief after learning that injury-plagued big man Justin Koschitzke has escaped serious injury after copping yet another heavy blow to the head while playing in the VFL on Saturday. Koschitzke was playing just his second match at VFL reserves level in his much-anticipated comeback since fracturing his skull during the Saints' round six clash against the Bulldogs.
The Article Paul Gough/saints.com.au/15Jul06
Kosi runs into trouble again Lyall Johnson and Samantha Lane/TheAge/15Jul06
Koschitzke collision a cruel blow Howard Leigh and Jon Ralph/HeraldSun/16Jul06
Close win has major significance for Saints coach
. . . "In some ways it was good for our club to go through that because if we had perhaps been a little bit better through parts of the game and maybe won by four or five goals or whatever, maybe there would have been a little bit of falseness in that. So to have the sort of win we did hopefully makes them acutely aware once again to be very diligent in everything we do." While critical of his players for sometimes sitting behind and waiting for the easy ball, Thomas praised them for the determination they showed in getting over the line in a game that earlier St Kilda sides would have lost . . . "In some ways it was good for our club to go through that because if we had perhaps been a little bit better through parts of the game and maybe won by four or five goals or whatever, maybe there would have been a little bit of falseness in that. So to have the sort of win we did hopefully makes them acutely aware once again to be very diligent in everything we do."
The Article Lyall Johnson/HeraldSun/16Jul06
Saints back Hamill
St Kilda president Rod Butterss is confident the club will reap a healthy return from Aaron Hamill's controversial five-year contract, despite his third consecutive injury-ravaged season. Hamill had more surgery to his injured knee this week, but hopes to be back in a month to be fit for the finals. Signed until the end of 2008, he has been involved in only one of the club's past five finals. By Round19 he would have played in only 36 of St Kilda's past 68 games, that's 53per cent of matches. The Saints' other injury-cursed star, Justin Koschitzke, has played in only 32 of 64 games, a mere 50per cent.
The Article Jon Ralph/HeraldSun/16Jul06
Saints shine on Dons' dirty day
Considerable history emerged at the MCG yesterday when Essendon joined the team of 1933 with a record 14 consecutive losses and StKilda's Grant Thomas nestled behind Allan Jeans as the second-longest serving coach at the club. Hot Bomber: Jason Johnson gets one of his 41 disposals for the day. When Jeans was the maestro, the Saints were playing at Moorabbin, a venue that was wet and slippery even on dry days, thanks to an alleged faulty sprinkler system
The Article Rod Nicholson/HeraldSun/16Jul06
Bombers lead, and lead, and lead, and then...
Good sides find a way to win when they shouldn't. Bad sides don't know how to win when they should. Simplistic, but probably an apt summary of St Kilda's thrilling three-point victory over Essendon at the MCG. For a team that sat bottom of the ladder, having lost its last 13 games, the Bombers were brilliant yesterday; hard at it, committed, their senior players showing the way, their kids following the example. The Saints, meanwhile, were slow out of the blocks, for much of the game stodgy in their movement of the ball, and for some time looked like they'd rather be anywhere but chasing a football around a sodden MCG in rain that just wouldn't let up. They trailed for 103 of the game's 116 minutes. But they were in front when it counted. Which, paradoxically, might end up proving a more valuable learning experience than what was supposed to be a crushing win.
The Article Rohan Connolly/TheAge/15Jul06
"That kick was absolutely unique, except for the one before it which was identical." Dermott Brereton
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