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Round 17
St Kilda vs Richmond
M.C.G. Saturday 29th July 2006 at 2:10pm
Field umpires: Vozzo, Rosebury, Allen
TAB Sportsbet - St Kilda 1.40, Richmond 2.80

Aaron Hamill won't compromise
Mark Robinson: It must seem like an eternity since you last played?
Aaron Hamill: It's been a while, Round 7 against Geelong, but while the boys are winning it's a little bit easier. Thommo gave me a few weeks off and I headed up north to Queensland, Kosi was up there.
The Interview AAP/HeraldSun/29Jul06

Friday night telecasts may start earlier
Friday night AFL football telecasts may start earlier when Channel Seven takes over coverage next year - and the station has revealed there is a chance popular caller Dennis Cometti will be part of the commentary team. Seven managing director Ian Johnson today appeared to soften his remarks earlier this year that the station would not chase Cometti, recently voted Channel Nine's best commentator. Friday night telecasts have come under fire recently for starting closer to 9pm while the match is scheduled live for 7.40pm. Ratings for Friday night football have slid this year with several observers blaming low-ranking teams being drawn to play Fridays as well as the increasingly popular style of teams tediously chipping the ball back and forth.
The Article AAP/TheAge/29Jul06

Saints pin faith in defence
St Kilda has taken plenty of encouragement out of its near-disasters of the past fortnight. The Saints will go into today's match against Richmond at the MCG on a four-game winning streak. But they only beat bottom side Essendon two games ago by three points and last Sunday would have lost to Port Adelaide had Daniel Motlop booted a goal after the final siren. Assistant coach Matt Rendell pointed out the team had won despite kicking only 11 goals against Essendon and eight against the Power, a pointer to the Saints' improved defence. Several times last year, coach Grant Thomas bemoaned St Kilda's inability to stabilise its backline because of injuries.
The Article AAP/TheAustralian/29Jul06

Saint for life
Grant Thomas has a message for those in the football world who believe St Kilda's chance to win a premiership might already have come and gone. "We're not a 'time clock' club, much to people's chagrin," he said. "If people think our window of opportunity is closing . . . well, we haven't even actually in our minds opened the window to close yet. We're still looking to be better and better and better." And so is the St Kilda coach. For what began as a seemingly stop-gap appointment to stem the bleeding when the Saints' short-lived association with Malcolm Blight ended in disaster mid-2001, has evolved into a long-term partnership. And one that Thomas believes for both parties has plenty of life left in it.
The Article Rohan Connolly/TheAge/29Jul06

Malcolm Blight's ghost pops up
The listener spoke for probably half St Kilda's supporters and three quarters of the football world. "Is Grant Thomas the right man for the St Kilda coaching job?" he asked of St Kilda veteran Andrew Thompson on SEN's The Good Oil on Tuesday. "I think if Blighty was still there, we would have won a flag by now," the SMS said. Five years on, the brief and ill-fated liaison between StKilda and Blight remains one of the most fascinating chapters in modern football history. Poor, wretched St Kilda had the temerity to dismiss the legendary Blight as coach. During the season, dumping and humiliating the $1 million coach after just 15 rounds of the 2001 season.
The Article Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/29Jul06

Grant backed Blight
St Kilda president Rod Butterss said yesterday he was first alerted to concerns about Malcolm Blight's attitude a couple of months into his tenure. "Concerns were first raised by the chief executive (Jim Watts) of the day in February (2001)," Butterss said. "He called me in and said, 'I'm really concerned about my observations'. "I'm not going to go into what they were here, but he was worried about what he was seeing." Butterss, more expansive than ever before on the issue, ridiculed the popular view Grant Thomas had systematically undermined Blight.
The Article Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/29Jul06

Matthew Richardson no certainty to play
Richmond may go into its crucial clash against St Kilda at the MCG today without star forward Matthew Richardson. Richardson, 31, has played in pain and failed to kick a goal in three of four games since returning from surgery after breaking his wrist in Round 9. Tiger coach Terry Wallace would not say if Richo was right to take his place, but with talls Ray Hall and ruckman Greg Stafford named as two of the three emergencies, the whisper around the club is there will be at least one late change to the 22 selected.
The Article Rohan Connolly/HeraldSun/29Jul06

Nick Hulett Match Preview
. . . Gehrig is likely to get Darren Gaspar, while the returning Joel Bowden may take Riewoldt. Milne, who will hopefully have recovered from his kicking yips against Port, will probably get Andrew Raines . . . It has been proven though that at the MCG teams find it more difficult to employ these negative tactics, and that fast, direct football can effectively combat the flood. On top of this the Saints have unearthed the perfect flood-beating weapon in Jason Gram, who is one of the league's leading bounce takers, has pace, and kicks the ball long . . . Nick Dal Santo, Luke Ball and Robert Harvey will again lead the charge in the midfield, up against Shane Tuck and Kane Johnson, as well as youngsters Dean Polo, Nathan Foley and Brett Deledio . . . The most important dual in the middle may come in the ruck, with Tiger Troy Simmonds having enjoyed a great season. With Michael Rix omitted, Cain Ackland and Jason Blake will need to compete in the hitouts and keep an eye on Simmonds roaming the ground.
The Article Nick Hulett/saints.com.au/27Jul06

Milne takes to air
Stephen Milne used to earn a crust from crumbs. Now the daily bread delivery has dried up he's had to find new ways to make a living as a small forward . . . Milne is often fighting for the ball against two or more opponents as teams put extra players in defence to crowd Nick Riewoldt and Fraser Gehrig.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/28Jul06

Saints in rare big man dilemma
Since Peter Everitt was traded to Hawthorn, St Kilda have struggled to find an effective ruck combination that could take on the likes of Jeff White, Dean Cox and Brendon Lade. Trent Knobel played 41 games for the Saints then crossed to Richmond and St Kilda took a chance on dumped Power ruckman Cain Ackland. Ackland was relatively unknown at AFL level after making just 12 senior appearances in four seasons at Port Adelaide. Ackland formed a solid ruck combination with Jason Blake, who was in a purple patch this season before being struck down by a hamstring injury . . . Rix started in a blaze of glory with a fantastic AFL debut against Sydney and has provided the big-bodied ruckman that the Saints had always lacked with the Ackland-Blake duo. However, with Justin Kochitzke a chance to return this weekend against the Tigers, surely all four ruckman could not co-exist in the same side, which provides the Saints with a rare big man dilemma.
The Article Footy Goss/saints.com.au/27Jul06

Kosi comeback vetoed
St Kilda ruckman-forward Justin Koschitzke's planned return to AFL action has been vetoed on medical grounds. Koschitzke had been strongly tipped to return to play for the Saints against Richmond at the MCG on Saturday for what would have been his first senior appearance since sustaining a fractured skull in a collision with Western Bulldog Daniel Giansiracusa in round six. But his name was absent from the team sheet submitted to the league on Thursday night.
The Article Sportal/saints.com.au/27Jul06
Saints put Koschitzke's return on hold Rohan Connolly/TheAge/28Jul06
Koschitzke still sidelined AAP/FoxSports/27Jul06
Koschitzke's return is put on ice Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/28Jul06

More cameras and angles for football
Channel Seven's football blueprint for the future includes cameras on the ground during play and miniature cameras in the goal posts. The goal post cameras would be for replays of line-ball goal decisions, while a moving camera behind the goals could be placed directly in the line of a player having a shot. There are even plans for cameras and microphones inside the coaches' boxes. Channel Seven has outlined how it would like to cover AFL football next year when it rejoins the league as one of its broadcasting partners for the next five years.
The Article Geoff McClure/TheAge/28Jul06
AFL plan to move Dees' Gabba game to Canberra irks Lions Caroline Wilson/TheAge/28Jul06
Docker Polak set to move east next year Stephen Rielly/TheAge/28Jul06
Tigers take lion's share HeraldSun/28Jul06
AFL seeks $1m for radio rights

The AFL has put a $1 million price tag on its 2007 radio rights and restructured its weekend broadcast packages in a move expected to marginalise the ABC and set up a bidding war between 3AW and sporting newcomer SEN. The AFL's senior executive in charge of broadcasting, Ben Buckley, confirmed yesterday that the league was considering buying a stake in SEN. The station revealed two days ago that it would bid against 3AW and Triple M for the top level of radio rights. "SEN are interested in bidding for all the packages we have on offer and we are looking at a relationship with them," Buckley said. Triple M has already put forward an enthusiastic and impressive presentation to the AFL. Only one other commercial station in Melbourne will be included in what has been termed the "A-class package", so it is possible that AFL stalwart 3AW could miss out or be relegated.
The Article Caroline Wilson/TheAge/29Jul06
AFL plan to beat Carrara impasse AAP/TheAge/29Jul06
AFL and netball set to 'wed' Peter Ker/TheAge/29Jul06
Joel Smith completes long journey Lyall Johnson/TheAge/29Jul06

Koschitzke's year in doubt
Former St Kilda captain Aaron Hamill has cast serious doubt on Justin Koschitzke's hopes to resume his injury-riddled career this season. Hamill said he sympathised with the 2001 Rising Star winner, who has endured a horror season. "You really want him to be out there and you hope that he's able to get out there," Hamill said. "But questions have to be raised when he's out indefinitely and the club said a fortnight." Hamill, also sidelined with a knee injury, said Koschitzke was disappointed to miss selection for today's clash with Richmond, but said he would continue training until given the green light by specialists.
The Article David Hastie/HeraldSun/29Jul06

Not yet for Kosi
St Kilda has made just one change for Saturday's clash with Richmond at the MCG, rushing back veteran ball-winner Andrew Thompson for ruckman Michael Rix while the Saints have resisted the urge to include ruckman/forward Justin Koschitzke. Koschitzke was mooted to return to the AFL this round after an unfortunate run with injury and suspension. The return of Thompson will see him play just his second match since he injured his back against Melbourne in round 10. Rix made his AFL debut in round 11 this season - and has since played the past six matches after stints on Hawthorn's rookie list and with the Coburg Tigers in the VFL in previous seasons.
The Article saints.com.au/27Jul06
One change for Tigers richmondfc/saints.com.au/27Jul06
All Teams Round 17 AFL/saints.com.au
AFL teams for Round 17 HeraldSun

Polo's flying start
It has been a year to savour for Richmond's Dean Polo. Ever since his mercurial debut performance against Essendon in round six when he racked up 28 possessions and kicked three goals, Polo has managed to maintain a consistent form-line and is fast becoming one of Richmond's best young players. Despite kicking only three goals since then, he has continued to win the ball with great regularity for the improved Tigers, and is averaging 15 touches a game . . . He believes that the key to victory against the Saints will be how ferocious the Tigers' players attack the football. "We're always playing our best footy when we're hard, first at the ball, all that kind of thing." The match marks the beginning of the crucial run home to September, and Richmond's goal remains a spot in the top eight despite the recent poor patch the club is experiencing.
The Article richmondfc/saints.com.au/27Jul06

AFL Match Preview R17
. . . The Tigers will get back Joel Bowden this week, with the handy defender returning from suspension right in time to confront the Saints' multi-pronged attacking structure. Saints spearhead Nick Riewoldt has gone goalless only once this season - against the Swans in round 11 - and kicked three the last time these two sides met, although his opponent was Thursfield who was playing in the game in which he would eventually suffer his season-ending knee injury. Darren Gaspar held Fraser Gehrig to three, while Patrick Bowden and Kayne Pettifer proved a nuisance for the Saints with three goals apiece.
The Article Jennifer Witham/saints.com.au/27Jul06

Round 20 Tickets Update
Due to demand the St Kilda Football Club has managed to secure an additional allocation of 100 tickets to the Round 20 Fremantle V St Kilda game. Tickets will be allocated to WA members only and are available strictly on a first in first served basis. Call Kylie (St Kilda Football Club) on (03) 9559 6659 or - (email bookings preferred) - Source: Lew Mutch, President Western Saints
The Article - sainters.net

AFL 'blind' on pain-killing jabs
Victorian AMA president Dr Mark Yates said yesterday the lack of definitive data and research on jabs in the AFL appeared to be a "blind spot". The AFL said yesterday it would consider keeping a log of the number of pain-killing injections given to players by club doctors. AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said he would look into the initiative to end the secrecy clubs imposed on the number of players who took the field with pain-killers to mask injuries.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/27Jul06
X-Men find AFL silence 'borders on contempt' Stephen Rielly/TheAge/27Jul06
Pain-killers an occupational hazard Andrew Capel and Richard Earle/HeraldSun/27Jul06
I can't even jog Andrew Capel/HeraldSun/27Jul06

Premiership betting almost dried up
. . . bookmakers around Australia report premiership betting has almost dried up due to the Crows' dominance this season - it is fast becoming obvious Adelaide's 2006 season resembles those of some of the competition's most recent champion teams. While the Brisbane side of 2001-03 remains the modern day benchmark after becoming the first club in 46 years to win three successive flags - none of those sides was able to dominate a home and away season the way Adelaide has so far this year. The Lions didn't even finish the season on top in any of those seasons and in 2003 actually finished third with only 14 wins and a draw.
Crows on the verge Paul Gough/Sportal/RichmondFC/saints.com.au//26Jul06

Medico calls for open injection policy
Leading sports medico John Orchard has called on AFL clubs to help lift the lid on the secret world of pain-killing injections. Orchard, co-author of the AFL's annual injury report, says it is hypocritical to administer needles and then refuse to mention or justify the practice in public . . . Local anaesthetic injections remain one of the great taboo topics in professional sport, with AFL clubs under no obligation to report to the league the number of injections administered. bs remain coy and private about pain-killing injections, but Orchard says transparency would help with research.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/26Jul06
The pointy end of footy Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/26Jul06
AFL may log painkillers Robert Grant/AAP/FoxFooty/26Jul06

St Kilda must not play Kosi
Justin Koschitzke should not play football this weekend. In fact, and admittedly in the absence of any conclusive medical evidence, there is still a strong argument that he should spend the rest of the season on the sidelines. As emotional and neurologically conservative as this might sound, where is the upside? A better chance to win a premiership? A shot in the arm for the emotional wellbeing of a brilliant young footballer who must have dwelt in some dreadfully dark places this year? Frankly, neither issue seems worth risking Koschitzke's albeit helmeted head in the heat of battle after this latest concussion.
The Article Caroline Wilson/TheAge/26Jul06
Andrew McQualter Transcript/Noddy.saints.com.au

Tigers once again wrestle with a Richo question
Richmond is wrestling with how best to handle spearhead Matthew Richardson, with coach Terry Wallace admitting the Tigers may rest him if they felt it would speed his return to form and full fitness . . . "Like any team in this competition, if you weren't alive and you believe it was better for him (to rest) coming into another year, you'd make that decision at that stage," said Wallace, whose Tigers remain in finals contention, though a loss to St Kilda at the MCG on Saturday could kill off their top-eight hopes.
The Article Guy Hand/TheAge/26Jul06
Richo to play as required Jennifer Witham/Sportal/RichmondFC/saints.com.au/26Jul06
Improvement paramount for Wallace Paul Gough/AFL/saints.com.au//26Jul06

Koschitzke to take on the Tigers
Keep your fingers crossed, but St Kilda's walking headline, Justin Koschitzke, seems likely to make his long-waited AFL return on Saturday. Senior return? Justin Koschitzke's football career looked to be on shaky ground after suffering a head injury in a clash with Bulldog Daniel Giansiracusa. Saints coach Grant Thomas is set to buck conventional wisdom for old-fashioned gut instinct and name Koschitzke to play Richmond at the MCG. Despite the limited preparation and perhaps reluctance from training services, Thomas last night revealed he was leaning towards a senior return.
The Article Mark Robinson/HeraldSun/25Jul06

$850,000 too much at Seven
Dennis Cometti, the golden voice of commentary, is unlikely to call AFL on television next year. And it all comes down to money. As Channel 7 prepares to take over telecasting the game in 2007, Cometti's chances of being signed by Seven appear extremely slim. "We're really lucky to have quite a few people already in our stable who are both experienced and more than capable," Seven Melbourne boss Ian Johnson says . . .Seven does not deny Cometti ranks among our top footy callers, and concedes his name has been discussed at executive meetings regarding AFL.
The Article Robert Fidgeon/HeraldSun/26Jul06
No deal with Sydney: Everitt Michael Stevens/HeraldSun/26Jul06
All Clubs Injury lists HeraldSun

AFL plans even draw
. . . The AFL is in the early stages of preparing next year's fixture, which will see several changes from the fixture of recent years due to the new television agreement with Channels Seven and Ten. The major one will be the addition of a Sunday twilight game every week with these matches to be shared between Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, as opposed to the current fixture where the only such matches are staged in Perth - beginning at 2.40pm Perth time and 4.40pm in the eastern states. But next year there will be games played in both Adelaide and Melbourne starting later than 4pm on a Sunday with these games likely to be shown on pay television.
The Article Paul Gough/AFL/saints.com.au/25Jul06

Hawthorn deal
Hawks tipped to play four games a year in Launceston
Hawthorn is poised to play four home games a year in Launceston from next season, including two each year against Victorian opposition. Talk in Tasmanian football circles has suggested that Premier Paul Lennon may announce at Aurora Stadium today that Hawthorn will increase its commitment to the State to play four matches in Launceston next year - leaving it as the only AFL team to play home games in Tasmania . . . Any agreement between the State Government, the AFL and the Hawks would allow the AFL to release St Kilda from the final year of its contract with the State Government to play two home games here each season. St Kilda officials have said the Saints will see out their two-game Tasmanian contract until the end of 2007 if no alternative can be arranged.
The Article Phil Edwards/TheExaminer/25Jul06

Hamill: No spring chicken
Hamill won the title of spiritual leader long ago but has joined his teammates in just one of their five recent September outings. His body has failed him when it counts most. And now, six weeks before another September rolls around, one of the competition's genuine battering rams finds himself trying to get right again. Hamill turns 29 next month. He has played just six matches this year because of a knee injury that, when he was on the verge of returning, flared again. It's a scenario, in his 11th season, that might alarm those conscious of the multi-million-dollar, five-year contract Hamill signed a couple of years ago, which does not expire until the end of 2008. In the words of his former Carlton coach David Parkin: "At the time I thought that was a very brave thing to do, or a very stupid thing."
The Article Samantha Lane/TheAge/23Jul06

Hawks: MCG a prioity
Hawthorn has requested more home games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground next AFL season. The Hawks have played home games at Docklands stadium, the Gold Coast's Carrara Stadium, Launceston's York Park and the MCG this year. The club is currently in negotiations with the Tasmanian Government and the AFL to take on St Kilda's two matches in Launceston next season. But Hawthorn's chief executive Ian Robson says securing more games at the MCG remains the club's main priority.
The Article ABCSport/25Jul06

Hawks keen to play on in Tassie
Rob shaw talks to Hawthorn CEO Ian Robson about the club's future in Tasmania. Early last year, Hawthorn CEO Ian Robson made a comment that may have uncannily pre-empted the subsequent direction of AFL football in Tasmania. Freshly installed behind the desk of his Glenferrie office, he told The Examiner: "If we're being magnanimous, it's great that St Kilda are down there as well. If we're being selfish we'd love to have Tasmania on our own." A season-and-a-half later, the Hawks' Hobart-born head is potentially negotiating towards just that end.
The Article TheExaminer/25Jul06

The Run Home
. . . The Saints are riding their luck having struggled to beat lowly Essendon and Port Adelaide in the past two weeks but remain in top four contention. But their draw is far tougher than Collingwood's although they will fancy their chances of beating Richmond at the MCG this week and then West Coast, Geelong and the Bulldogs in matches that will all be played at Telstra Dome. But they still face two more interstate trips, against Fremantle in Perth and Brisbane at the Gabba. Likely to remain in fifth place.
The Article Paul Gough/afl.com.au/25Jul06

Andrew Thompson on SEN
. . . Thommo said that 'he doesn't think Aker will play with the Saints next year. One of the best footballers he has seen out on the ground. Have to be careful what he does with the team. Would be a risk to take Aker. Don't know if that's where the Saints would go - but GT could do anything!'
The Transcript Oh When the Saints/saintsational.com/25Jul06

Race for second opens up
For the better part of two months, as West Coast staked its claim as the AFL's great escape artist, a top-four spot for Victorian clubs seemed like a double-edged sword. As critical as has proved the double chance come finals time, the prospect for those finishing third or fourth of a qualifying final in Adelaide or Perth, followed by a potential preliminary final in the other city, was hardly one to relish. But it's a different ball game now . . . the Saints are still very much a shot, facing a Richmond that has gone right off the boil these past two weeks, and those out-of-touch Eagles at Telstra Dome, over the next fortnight.
The Article Rohan Connolly/TheAge/24Jul06

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