Archives

Round 1 2006 AFL Home and Away Season
Opening Game
West Coast ($1.52) vs St Kilda ($2.25)
Thursday March 30th
5.45pm AWST
Channel 9 Telecast
Commentators: Dennis Cometti, Dwayne Russell, Garry Lyon and Dermott Brereton
Viewing times: Melbourne, Adelaide and Tasmania 8.30pm, Perth and Darwin 7.30pm, Brisbane and Sydney 12.00pm - Local times
TABSportsbet: West Coast $1.52, St Kilda $2.35
Centrebet: West Coast $1.58, St Kilda $2.35
Teams & Interactive Match-ups

Watts selected to take on Eagles
St Kilda will unleash former Crow Fergus Watts for the first time in Thursday night's season-opening clash against West Coast at Subiaco Oval. Watts, 20, played five matches for Adelaide in 2004, yet he was unable to break into the powerful Crows' side last year, named an emergency on eight occasions. He was an emergency for Adelaide's preliminary final loss against West Coast, after booting 10 goals for Woodville-West Torrens against North Adelaide in a SANFL semi-final. Watts was traded to St Kilda last October, the Saints giving up their No.17 selection overall in last year's exchange period.
Article & Teams Matt Burgan/saints.com.au/29Mar06

Skipper wants to get Saints' Ball rolling
. . . Will St Kilda win the whole shebang on his watch? Ball smiles at the question. "Win the whole show? We hope so." But if September feels a long way off, Ball knows that getting the right start is nearly as difficult as finding the right end. "I was talking to (assistant coach) Mick McGuane about it and he made an interesting comment about that," Ball said. "He said the first game and the last game are always the hardest to win. This time of year, everyone wants to win that first game and get off to a good start."
The Article Chip Le Grand/TheAustralian/30Mar06

"We are happy with the way he (Steve Baker) has gone about it," Thomas said. "I went to the AFL umpires conference and it was interesting that all the umpires there said that as far as they are concerned, Steven Baker is one of the best taggers, if not the best tagger in the competition, because they tend to have to pay very few free kicks against him," he said.

Baker gets umps' approval: Thomas
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas has launched a spirited defence of his No. 1 tagger Steven Baker, claiming the stopper's close-checking style has been given the thumbs-up by AFL umpires. Thomas did not expect that Baker would have to make any more than minor adjustments to his playing style to cope with the AFL's crackdown on tagging and scragging tactics around stoppages.
The Article Mark Duffield and Lyall Johnson/TheAge/30Mar06

Hope springs eternal as fans eye new season
. . . Among the tens of thousands of blue and gold fans cheering on West Coast tonight, look out for 600 who will brave the Eagles' nest in red, white and black. They're the die-hards from St Kilda's cheer squad and the Western Saints supporters group, the latter having weathered a cyclone to be there for their team's first game. Cheer squad member Pam Mawson said the potential for a win made the trip to WA worth it. "It's worth more than when we win at home," she said. A handful of supporters from Melbourne will travel to Perth but Lew Mutch, president of the Western Saints, said members from Broome, Kalgoorlie, Karratha and the mining town of Mount Tom Price would be at Subiaco to fly St Kilda colours. Those travelling from the tip of WA were yesterday hoping that cyclone Glenda would stay off the coast long enough so their planes could take off
The Article Dewi Cooke and Reko Rennie/TheAge/30Mar06

Eagles coach under fire over foul-mouthed 'spastic' slur
. . . "This stuff is out of the Dark Ages and, on behalf of people with cerebral palsy, we demand a public apology. The term shouldn't be used and it is regrettable that it is used," he said. "The association would be happy to talk to John about more positive ways to profile people with disabilities." Chief executive John Knowles Cerebral Palsy Association of WA.
The Article Craig O'Donoghue and Mark Duffield/West Australian/30Mar06
Worsfold off the long run West Australian/TheAge/30Mar06

Key Players Missing
. . . St Kilda last night named Aaron Hamill, who suffered a calf muscle injury against the Magpies on February 26. It could not consider Justin Koschitzke (knee), while Xavier Clarke, Raphael Clarke and Leigh Fisher are still battling hamstring niggles. West Coast will be without five players from last year's Grand Final side - Drew Banfield (thumb), Kasey Green (Kangaroos), Ashley Sampi (emergency), Michael Gardiner (hamstring) and Sam Butler (hamstring).
Riewoldt: Loss a blessing Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/29Mar06

Nick Riewoldt: I've got nothing to fear
Riewoldt, the headline-grabber this time last year when he sensationally injured his right shoulder, is confident the joint can hold up against any treatment from West Coast at Subiaco. "I'm getting most of the strength back into it and I have no worries at all with my shoulder," Riewoldt said. "Like any injury there's ongoing maintenance, but I'm not concerned about anything happening again."
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/30Mar06
Nick fit and ready to fire Mark Stevens/TheAustralian/30Mar06

Eagles and Saints primed
. . . Thomas, meanwhile, said he read nothing into his side's indifferent pre-season results, nor did he pay great attention to West Coast's off-season woes. "They have all been hard fought games ... We are not the least bit concerned about the loss side of it, we are more concerned how we have gone about it, who we have played and the game time everyone has had," Thomas said. "We like to overestimate the opposition and then you get zero surprises . . . As far as we are concerned they are really angry . . . about losing a grand final, they are at full strength, and they are going to come out with fire breathing."
The Article AAP/HeraldSun/29Mar06

Peckett ready for anything
As the third-oldest player on any AFL club list in 2006, St Kilda stalwart Justin Peckett is more than prepared to accept whatever role is allocated to him by the Saints this season. Peckett, 33, is embarking on his 15th season at Moorabbin and continues as the second-longest serving player at St Kilda behind champion veteran Robert Harvey.
The Article Scott Spits/saints.com.au/29Mar06
Mick Mcguane on SEN saint patrick/Saintsational.com

Saints to rely on their old school
St Kilda is set to rely on its old school by fielding its most experienced team against a slightly underdone West Coast in the season opener at Subiaco Oval tomorrow night. The Saints, who have not won at the Eagles' home ground since 1998, will finalise their team today but appear certain to include their six oldest players in a 25-man squad. The six, who turn 30 or older this season, are Robert Harvey, Fraser Gehrig, Stephen Powell, Justin Peckett, Andrew Thompson and Max Hudghton. The squad for Perth left the training track early at Moorabbin yesterday and did not include Leigh Montagna and the star of last year's qualifying final win over Adelaide, James Gwilt. Coach Grant Thomas said that newcomer Fergus Watts was a strong chance to make his debut for the Saints and that defender Jason Gram, who played only five games last season, was a certain starter.
The Article Greg Denham/TheAustralian/29Mar06
No substitute for experience Greg Denham/TheAustralian/29Mar06
Why your team can and can't win the flag John Salvado/AAP/HeraldSun/29Mar06

Eagles confident despite summer
Despite a pre-season campaign peppered with controversy, court appearances, injuries and mishaps, West Coast coach John Worsfold says his team is as well prepared as it was this time last year. Veteran defender Drew Banfield topped off the Eagles' troubled buildup today, when he was ruled out for up to a month following surgery on a lacerated thumb, which the 32-year-old injured in a domestic accident. Banfield's misfortune followed the legal troubles of Ben Cousins and Ashley Sampi, Michael Gardiner's disciplinary problems, a second season-ending knee injury to Brad Smith, and lingering injuries to Chad Fletcher, Darren Glass and David Wirrpanda that have left the key trio short of match practice.
The Article Tim Clarke/TheAustralian/27Mar06
Eagles punt on fitness of stars Steve Butler/WestAustralian/28Mar06
Eagles get timely boost Sportal/28Mar06

Saints push for greatness
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas says the Saints must take the leap from being 'a good team' to 'a great team' in order to improve in 2006. After exiting the finals race at the preliminary finals stage in the past two years, pressure is mounting on the talented St Kilda list to breakthrough and win the club's first premiership since 1966 and second flag overall. When asked what internal expectations the Saints were placing on themselves in 2006, Thomas replied: "Just to take another step forward, to improve as a team. We think we've come from being a good side, to a good team. We want to become a great team . . . That has pretty significant implications. I think Sydney would rightfully amongst all its peers be regarded as a great team. And we would like to be regarded as a great team."
The Article Scott Spits/saints.com.au/28Mar06
Saints crave greatness by sacrifice Stephen Rielly/TheAge/29Mar06

"What you can't afford is middle-range players playing for survival, you can't afford your best players to play for themselves and you can't afford young players to play safe". Grant Thomas

Talent won't make Saints great
More specifically, Thomas declared that players on all tiers of St Kilda's list must take a more team-focused approach. "You can't afford middle-range players to play for survival and you can't afford your best players to play for themselves. You can't afford young players to play safe. You've just got to have everyone on the same page and that means that there's sacrifice - both physical and mental," said Thomas, who took over from Malcolm Blight during the 2001 season. "I don't think there's many premiership sides that haven't been regarded as great teams. For all Brisbane's brilliance in three years, they were clearly the best team in the competition - the way they worked for each other and played for each other. And that's the step that we need to take." Asked whether St Kilda was a superior team in 2006 than last year, Thomas replied: "Are we a better team? Absolutely. But everyone is."
The Article Sam Lienert/TheAustralian/28Mar06
Mike Sheahan's top 50 Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/29Mar06

Hamill to play
Aaron Hamill is a certain starter for St Kilda's season-opening clash against West Coast at Subiaco on Thursday night. The former Saints skipper has had a limited preparation for the premiership season after aggravating a calf injury during the first quarter of St Kilda's NAB Cup opener against Collingwood in late February. At the time there was speculation about the seriousness of the injury but the club indicated Hamill had not torn the muscle, only 'disrupted' scar tissue. The 28-year-old played briefly against Sydney in Newcastle a fortnight ago but St Kilda coach Grant Thomas declared at training on Tuesday that Hamill would definitely play against the Eagles.
The Article Scott Spits/saints.com.au/28Mar06

Season preview: St Kilda
. . . Is Luke Ball the right choice as captain?
Regardless of your view of St Kilda's rotational captaincy policy, Luke Ball is a good man for the position due to his natural leadership qualities. Many times during 2005 did Ball - who turns 22 in May - display typical courage with his fearless attack on the ball and willingness to put his body on the line. With question marks surrounding Justin Koschitzke's fitness, the Saints did the right thing by anointing the No.2 selection in the 2001 NAB AFL Draft as their skipper for 2006. The gutsy on-baller has played 65 AFL matches in three seasons and for St Kilda's sake, let's hope the Saints benefit from his leadership for a full season . . .
The Article Scott Spits/saints.com.au/28Mar06
The Saints are set to Star at AFL World saints.com.au/27Mar06

Jake Niall Preview
Last year, the Saints opened the season in Brisbane in a gladiatorial contest remembered principally for Nick Riewoldt's busted collarbone and the ruthless way in which a pair of Lions rammed the young skipper. The trip north to the Gabbatoir was then still considered the game's most challenging journey; now, West Coast in Perth is football's least appetising fixture, with the Saints copping another ugly opener. St Kilda coach Grant Thomas, when asked yesterday about his team's recent struggles at Subiaco, noted that the Saints "aren't the only ones" to have trouble with West Coast at its spacious home. The Crows were the sole conquerors of West Coast at Subiaco last year. Neither of these fancied teams had impressive pre-seasons. The Saints didn't win anything, while the Eagles became a reality TV program, as Ben Cousins' evasive skills compelled him to cough up the captaincy. These pre-season blues will recede as soon as the ball is bounced and it would be surprising if Thursday night's game wasn't a decent game. If West Coast and St Kilda weren't pre-season winners, they weren't wounded where it really counts, either - in the medical room.
Baton passes to Victoria's main game TheAge/27Mar06

Eagles confident despite summer
Despite a pre-season campaign peppered with controversy, court appearances, injuries and mishaps, West Coast coach John Worsfold says his team is as well prepared as it was this time last year. Veteran defender Drew Banfield topped off the Eagles' troubled buildup today, when he was ruled out for up to a month following surgery on a lacerated thumb, which the 32-year-old injured in a domestic accident. Banfield's misfortune followed the legal troubles of Ben Cousins and Ashley Sampi, Michael Gardiner's disciplinary problems, a second season-ending knee injury to Brad Smith, and lingering injuries to Chad Fletcher, Darren Glass and David Wirrpanda that have left the key trio short of match practice.
The Article Tim Clarke/TheAustralian/27Mar06
Eagles punt on fitness of stars Steve Butler/WestAustralian/28Mar06
Eagles get timely boost Sportal/28Mar06

Hoodoo haunts Thomas
St Kilda's premiership clock is ticking, but coach Grant Thomas must bury a four-year Subiaco Oval hoodoo against West Coast first. Thomas has never beaten the Eagles in Western Australia and has won only one of his seven matches across the Nullarbor Plain since taking the Saints' reins in 2001. West Coast has fared only slightly better this summer than the Saints, who are hell-bent on a better start than last year, when they were 4-5 after nine rounds and failed to crack the top four until Round 17. Thomas believes the first side to compose itself after an early scrap will emerge victorious in Thursday night's season opener . . . Aaron Hamill has been declared fit and will go to Perth a day earlier than most of the team. Only Justin Koschitzke (knee) has been ruled out and both Xavier and Raphael Clarke (hamstrings) are unlikely.
The Article David Davutovic/HeraldSun/26Mar06
Brendon Goddard plays a half Scot Palmer/HeraldSun/26Mar06
Premiership Betting Odds Centrebet & TAB Sportal/TheAustralian/27Mar06

Aaron Hamill ready to rock and roll
St Kilda enforcer Aaron Hamill has declared himself fit for Round 1 and hopes a more stringent fitness campaign will end his injury curse. "I am ready to rock and roll," Hamill said yesterday. "The body is probably as good as what it was pre-Christmas." Hamill is set to head west next Tuesday - a day earlier than his teammates - for the Saints' season-opening clash against West Coast on Thursday night, a schedule he will follow for all interstate matches this season. It's all part of a fitness program he hopes will help keep him healthy for the entire season and ensure he is up and running through the finals.
The Article Jon Pierik/HeraldSun/24Mar06

West Coast turmoil on a roll
Embattled West Coast face more tough decisions ahead of its season opener against St Kilda with four key players battling to be fit. After a summer of off-field turmoil which has included the high-profile dramas of Ben Cousins, Michael Gardiner and Ashley Sampi, last year's grand finalists will have to decide whether Chad Fletcher (collarbone), Darren Glass (knee), David Wirrpunda (knee) and Sampi (calf) should run out against the Saints at Subiaco next Thursday. The Eagles will be desperately keen to prove they are as focused as ever on the ultimate prize - a premiership - but may be below full strength. Another issue that coach John Worsfold must address is that any player who steps out in the WAFL this weekend to gain some valuable match practice will only have a five-day turnaround if selected to take on the Saints. Key defender Glass, midfielder Fletcher and the attacking Wirrpunda are set to be rested this weekend.
The Article Jon Pierik/TheAustralian/24Mar06