Round 15
Essendon vs St Kilda
M.C.G. Saturday 15th July, 2:10pm
Weather Forecast: Rain periods - Min 6 - Max 12
Sportsbet: Saints $1.11, Essendon $6.55
Field umpires: Kennedy, M.Nicholls, Hendrie
Saintly six
As Kevin Sheedy and his lieutenants sat down this week to plot a way to combat St Kilda at the MCG, it's safe to say that the names Fraser Gehrig and Nick Riewoldt would have occupied plenty of their thinking. It's the same every week, for St Kilda has built its team around big forwards. Yet when the Bombers step out this afternoon, the numbers suggest that their problems might well start at the other end of the ground. St Kilda's brand, its style, its shop window, screams attack. But its defence is winning games. It is just that hardly anyone has noticed.
The Article Martin Blake/TheAge/15Jul06
Saints' fine line in easing Kosi return
In a perfect world, Justin Koschitzke will play a full game of football with St Kilda's VFL affiliate today, fly through training next week and be declared fit and ready to resume his AFL career against Port Adelaide next Sunday . . . Physically, Koschitzke's recovery is all but complete. He has not had a CT scan for a month, but his neurosurgeon is confident the skull fracture has repaired. He is desperately short of match fitness but he has been able to complete a solid running program. His hearing problems have resolved and he is no longer suffering from dizzy spells.
The Article Chip Le Grand/TheAustralian/15Jul06
"Matt Maguire can play on a certain type but can't play on the guys with the speed that Max can. And Matt is much more suited out further. Sam Fisher is developing but at this stage I don't have the same confidence (with him) as I do when Max lines up on a guy. I rate him as the most important guy in the Saints' line-up." Nathan Burke
Max Hudghton is Sergeant 'Pepper'
In the unforgiving culture of the football club locker-room, a committed young man desperate to prove himself to the world is often going to be a juicy target for the old sweats. So it was a few years ago for St Kilda defender Max Hudghton, who, according to former teammate Nathan Burke, would occasionally lose his cool after taking the bait being thrown his way by mischievous teammates
The Article Trevor Grant/HeraldSun/15Jul06
Kosi set for Tigers Bruce Matthews/HeraldSun/15Jul06
Grant Thomas gives stability Bruce Matthews/HeraldSun/15Jul06
Thomas belies critics Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/15Jul06
Thomas equals coaching record
. . . "Grant's win-loss record since the beginning of 2004 stands at 64% and we are positioned to play in our third consecutive finals series, the last and only time we achieved this was 33 years ago. It's great when a milestone like this comes along, it allows people inside and outside the Club to look at the facts, digest them and then realise the magnitude of his achievements" said Chief Executive Officer, Archie Fraser.
The Article St Kilda Football Club/saints.com.au/14Jul06
Kosi a week away
St Kilda assistant coach Matt Rendell says key big man Justin Koschitzke could return to the AFL as early as next round against Port Adelaide at Aurora Stadium. Koschitzke has played just two matches this season - in rounds four and six - as his season has once again been riddled with injury.
The Article Matt Burgan/Sportal/saints.com.au/14Jul06
Saints launch raffle online saints.com.au/14Jul06
Thomas passes Alves
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas will become the club's second longest-serving coach at the MCG on Saturday when the Saints clash with Essendon. Thomas will coach his 115th senior game for the club, taking him past Stan Alves and leaving him trailing only the legendary Allan Jeans, who coached the club for 332 games between 1961 and 1976, including the 1966 premiership win.
The Article Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/14Jul06
Future shaky for top coaches Tim Lane/TheAge/15Jul06
Big Saint on verge of return
St Kilda believes ruck-forward Justin Koschitzke could return to AFL football as early as next weekend after his recovery from a skull fracture. Koschitzke will play a second game for Casey Scorpions in the VFL at Williamstown today after an encouraging start last week. Football manager Matt Rendell said there was a "small chance" Koschitzke could play against Port Adelaide next weekend, but that it was more likely he would resume senior football against Richmond a week later.
The Article Rohan Connolly/TheAge/14Jul06
GT - Second longest serving coach
. . . St Kilda;s President Rod Butterss said of this achievement, "Thomo is a natural leader who is extremely passionate about the St Kilda Football Club and the sustained success we will achieve at the Club. We are never afraid to push boundaries at the Club and Thomo is always open to fresh ideas that can take the playing group and the St Kilda Football Club towards our common goal."
The Article footygoss.com/14Jul06
... helped launch Plugger Pig Steve Butler/TheAge/15Jul06
Rendall on Hamill: "Hopefully, he can get the last five (home-and-away matches) before the end of the season."
Saints unchanged
The Saints will go into Saturday's clash with Essendon at the MCG unchanged after deciding to stick with the line-up that defeated Collingwood by 59 points last week. The Saints have named Cain Ackland, Aaron Fiora, Andrew McQualter and Justin Peckett to start on the bench, while Sam Gilbert, James Gwilt and Andrew Thompson are the emergencies. Essendon has made four changes, all compulsory. The Bombers lose veteran defender Dustin Fletcher (back) and promising forwards Courtney Johns (ribs) and Angus Monfries (calf) to injury, while improving defender Nathan Lovett-Murray has been suspended for three weeks.
The Article saints.com.au/13Jul06
Preview: Essendon v St Kilda saints.com.au/13Jul06
Bombers little choice Rohan Connolly/TheAge/14Jul06
Sheedy pleads patience Alistair Hogg/Sportal/AFL/saints.com.au/12Jul06
Football journeyman finds right place
There are some who would not have blamed Michael Rix for giving the game away. Turning 25 earlier this year, Michael had endured setback after setback in pursuit of achieving his dream of playing senior AFL football. Therefore it's a testament to him that he has persisted for so long in waiting to get his chance, "It's certainly different at this level. I played with Port (Melbourne), Box Hill and I thought I'd have a chance with Hawthorn on the rookie list but they didn't want me."
The Article Luca Giacobello/saints.com.au/13Jul06
Round 15 previews
. . . St Kilda has so many in-form midfielders, such as Luke Ball, Nick Dal Santo, Robert Harvey and Leigh Montagna it's hard to see the Bombers getting a look-in at the centre bounces.
The Reviews Robert Grant & Adam Cooper/AAP/HeraldSun
"My instructions are to try and run and carry the ball and kick long, those sorts of things" Leigh Montagna
St Kilda's most improved?
It's a measure of just how much Leigh Montagna has improved in 2006 that in just 14 rounds he has already played more games for the Saints this year than in any of his four previous seasons. Montagna is fast emerging as a key weapon in the Saints' push for a third consecutive top four finish and last week against Collingwood he produced arguably the best match of his 43 game career. The Saints' wingman, opposed to Magpies' star Ben Johnson, had 23 touches and two goals to play a huge role in a 10-goal win that leaves Grant Thomas' team within striking distance of the top four.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/13Jul06
Hawthorn's war chest worth $7m Jake Niall/TheAge/13Jul06
Footy's X-Men seek help after heroic efforts Mike Sheahan & Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/13Jul06
Sheedy puts Cole on notice AAP/TheAge/13Jul06
Kangaroos ditch Canberra for Gold Coast ABCSport/13Jul06
Saints consider 1984 compensation
The St Kilda board yesterday discussed for the first time whether it was possible to compensate the former players and coach who accepted 22.5 cents in the dollar and helped save the club from liquidation in the 1980s. At a meeting yesterday morning, the board canvassed the question of its moral obligation to those players and the legal ramifications of repaying, in some form, the players - including club legends Barry Breen, Allan Jeans, Gary Colling, Jeff Sarau, Bruce Duperouzel and Kevin "Cowboy" Neale - who accepted 22.5 cents in the dollar in 1984 when the club had debts of $1.45 million.
The Article Jake Niall/TheAge/12Jul06
Payback time, Saints Jake Niall/TheAge/29Jun06
Sammy's setback
St Kilda's injury-plagued forward Aaron Hamill has suffered another major setback in his recovery from a knee injury with his return to action now set to be delayed by a couple of weeks. The Saints had expected Hamill, who has played just six games this season, to return in the VFL this week but instead he is set to undergo more surgery after his knee flared up following his return to full training. Hamill had his knee examined by leading orthopaedic surgeon Peter Wilson on Tuesday, who recommended further surgery despite the fact there is no new damage to his injured knee.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/11Jul06
Hamill's return delayed Paul Gough/Sportal/ABCSport/11Jul06
Hamill's return delayed Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/12Jul06
Nick Dal Santo socks turned down
The AFL fashion police are on patrol again, penalising two Western Bulldogs players for wearing short socks . . . St Kilda's Nick Dal Santo has also been the target of eagle-eyed AFL match-day officials, but it appears he will not be penalised. Dal Santo's manager Ricky Nixon last night said the Saint was originally hit with a $5000 fine after being viewed on video. He later challenged the decision and proved he was simply wearing conventional socks folded down.
AFL socks it to players Mark Stevens/CourierMail/12Jul06
Players say $5000 fines really sock Article&Cartoon/Michael Gleeson/TheAge/12Jul06
Seven decides — AFL countdown clock will stay
The television countdown clock to stay to the final siren and the prospect of Friday night footy shown live in 2007 is not a done deal, not by a long shot. That was the word emanating from the Channel Seven bunker yesterday as the one-time footy network cranked up planning for its return to AFL broadcasting after a five-year absence . . . The Friday night live TV issue will also be the subject of much more discussion before it gets the go-ahead, if it ever does. The league is happy for it to happen, but somehow we don't reckon Seven will be as keen. Not only does its 7.30 program Better Homes and Gardens continue to be a ratings winner, but last week in Melbourne it helped Seven to win Friday night overall, beating Nine, even though it had the footy.
The Article Geoff McClure/TheAge/28Jul/06
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