Archives

ST KILDA: 7.3, 10.6, 16.9, 19.10 (124)
BRISBANE LIONS: 4.2, 4.7, 8.11, 12.15 (87)
GOALS - ST KILDA: Riewoldt 5, Milne 3, Gehrig 2, Fiora, Goddard, Blake, Fisher, Montagna, Ackland, Schwarze, Maguire, Hamill
BRISBANE LIONS: Brown 2, Brennan 2, Charman 2, Power 2, Stiller, Akermanis, Rischitelli, Leppitsch
BEST - St Kilda: Dal Santo, Hayes, Riewoldt, Montagna, Fisher, Baker, Thompson
Brisbane Lions: Voss, Charman, Brennan, Leppitsch
INJURIES - St Kilda: Gehrig (buttock), Harvey (hamstring)
Brisbane Lions: Leppitsch (ankle)
CHANGES - Nil
REPORTS - Nil
UMPIRES - Vozzo, Rosebury, Ellis
CROWD - 35,760 at Telstra Dome

Furgus Watt's season ruined
St Kilda recruit Fergus Watts is facing 12 weeks on the sidelines after breaking a leg in the VFL yesterday. The key position hope fractured the fibula in his left leg playing for the Casey Scorpions against Port Melbourne. Watts is likely to need a plate and screws inserted, but the Saints will know more today. "He is to be assessed by the surgeon," club doctor Ian Stone said last night. The injury to the bone just above the ankle seriously derails the season of the promising 20-year-old. Watts, the son of Saints chief executive Jim Watts, crossed to Moorabbin during the trade period. The Saints gave up their first-round draft pick for Watts, who had limited opportunities at Adelaide.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/17Apr06

Milestone for Milne
The last time the Saints and Lions met, Stephen Milne kicked 11 goals straight. His standout performance inspired a chant of 'Milney' that echoed throughout the Dome, and was even heard by the man himself. "It was an unbelievable chant and feeling. I had goosebumps," he said. Last night Milne again delivered an inspiring performance. Playing his 100th game, the 26-year-old had 10 kicks, took 5 marks, and booted three goals. The crowd erupted into the 'Milney' chant with his first goal, 23 minutes into the second quarter. A near miss at the seven-minute mark of the third quarter was soon made up for, and a quick clearance from the centre saw the goal sneak dribble the Sherrin through for his second goal in as many minutes. Milne ran through the Saints' banner carrying four-year-old son Tyson, who has influenced his career "in many ways".
The Article Casey Niall/saints.com.au/15Apr06

"'Harvs' has been around a long time and he's had his fair share of hamstrings but I don't think that's any reason for major concern . . . It's not a huge worry for us - we'll get him right. I think 'Harvs' is at the stage of his life where he's not going to be playing 22 games every year, but if he's playing 16 or 18 I think that's a pretty good result." Grant Thomas

Thomas praise for Thompson
. . . "If you look at 38, 35 possessions for Hayes and Dal Santo - we need to recognise Andrew Thompson's great role on Simon Black." Thompson had 16 disposals but, perhaps more importantly, laid a match-high nine tackles to be one of the Saints' best. Thomas also found plenty of positives in Stephen Milne's three-goal performance in his 100th match for the club. "When he plays on instinct and when he's extremely busy and when he's tackling the opposition and chasing them and putting pressure on it's no mystery that he plays his best footy," Thomas said. "He should be pretty proud of his 100th game."
The Article Angus Morgan/Sportal/saints.com.au/14Apr06

Saints burn 'em off
Troy Schwarze's teammates call him "Wool" for obvious reasons but no amount of flowing sheep-like curls could obscure his view of Michael Voss. Deep into the second term, Schwarze sensed heat from behind after running on to the end of a loose ball on the wing. He turned his head quickly to see who he was up against. One look at Vossy and it was if the unheralded Saint immediately thought: 'Happy days'. Rather than quickly give it off, Schwarze slammed his foot on the pedal, took a bounce and arrogantly sprinted away.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/15Apr06

Harvey's sore hammy no big worry
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas says ageing midfielder Robert Harvey will have to be nursed through the season after suffering another hamstring injury on Thursday night. Harvey, 34, underwent scans yesterday and the details will be announced today, but the prognosis cannot be good given Harvey's past history. The dual Brownlow medallist missed seven matches last season with a similar injury and carries scar tissue from the problem. Thomas yesterday refused to concede that Harvey would miss more than one match - against Port Adelaide in 10 days.
The Article Michael Stevens/HeraldSun/15Apr06
Thomas OK on Harvey's hammy Angus Morgan/Sportal/saints.com.au/14Apr06

Hamstring woes rule out Harvey and Gehrig
Scans on St Kilda stars Robert Harvey and Fraser Gehrig have confirmed the pair will miss next week's match against Port Adelaide, but both could be available after that. Both players damaged hamstrings in the win over the Brisbane Lions. Scans showed Harvey had damaged scar tissue but had not sustained a strain or tear, while Gehrig had the mildest of hamstring tears. St Kilda coach Grant Thomas last night said that while both would miss next round's trip to AAMI Stadium on Anzac Eve, they would then be reassessed and could be available for round five.
The Article Michael Gleeson/TheAge/15Apr06

Led again by the elite Lenny Hayes (38 touches), Nick Dal Santo (31) and 12 goalkickers, the Saints booted seven goals in the first quarter.

Boys will be buoyed
Last year the St Kilda Saints were boys roughed up by men. Last night, the boys showed they had become men and made their former intimidators from the Brisbane Lions look old and tired while cruising to a 37-point win at Telstra Dome. Intimidation, as Leigh Matthews noted this week, has gone from the game. After last night's performance, it looks as though the Lions' dynasty has also gone from the game. Brisbane trailed weary bodies behind skilled and efficient St Kilda, which looks better by the week after a sluggish first-round loss to West Coast. A moment midway through the first term symbolised the teams when Nick Riewoldt turned his young opponent Wayde Mills inside out before guiding the ball onto his right to snap the Saints' third goal. Riewoldt learnt a similar lesson in the corresponding game last year. The change in a year reflects the ageing and maturing of both sides. But it is now the Saints who are in their prime, none more so than Nick Dal Santo and Lenny Hayes. Dal Santo finished the night with 31 touches, Hayes an astonishing 38 - none of them wasted.
The Article Michael Gleeson/TheAge/14Apr06
Cocky Aka should torment opposition, not his coach Tim Watson/TheAge/15Apr06

Lion's painful lesson
St Kilda scraped away any rusty residue from its two opening performances with a polished and commanding 37-point victory against Brisbane at Telstra Dome on Thursday night . . . The early-season signs of battle fatigue and lethargy must be of concern to coach Leigh Matthews, who must resurrect his team for Richmond at the Gabba next Saturday night . . . No worries for Grant Thomas, who watched his midfield dominate possession, his fowards lead and present well, while his defence stood firm. Key forward Nick Riewoldt booted 5.2 and grabbed nine marks and 10 kicks. He was joined on the scoreboard by other multiple goal-kickers Stephen Milne with three and Fraser Gehrig, two. Midfielders Lenny Hayes and Nick Dal Santo were the highest possession winners with 38 and 31 disposals respectively.
The Article Scott Gullan/HeraldSun/14Apr06

Akermanis goes quiet
Outspoken Jason Akermanis failed to deliver when the Brisbane Lions endured another Telstra Dome belting from St Kilda last night. Akermanis touched the ball only four times in the first half, having no impact in the midfield early and limited input as a forward later. Rarely able to shake off close-checking Saints Steven Baker and Jason Gram, Akermanis's tardy 1.4 return reflected the general ineffectiveness of the once mighty Lions. Coach Leigh Matthews later bemoaned missed chances with senior players Jonathan Brown, Daniel Bradshaw and Akermanis the principle offenders in the second quarter.
The Article Bruce Matthews/HeraldSun/14Apr06
Aka goes quiet Bruce Matthews/TheAustralian/14Apr06

"Tonight was far and away our best performance and we'd like to use that as a foundation for the future," Grant Thomas

Thomas concerned for Harvey
A hamstring injury to veteran midfielder Robert Harvey has soured what Grant Thomas described as his team's best performance of the season. The two-time Brownlow Medallist had his left hamstring heavily strapped and did not take to the field in the second half, the injury likely to rule him out of the Saints' Anzac Day eve clash with Port Adelaide next round. It is the fourth time in the past 12 months that Harvey - who missed seven matches last year - has hurt his hamstrings. "It's not looking great for him in relation to next week. He couldn't come back on. Whether or not he's hurt some scar tissue we have to wait and found out there," Thomas said. However, he said Harvey, a veteran of 320 matches, would not let the injury get him down. "Harvs has been around for 18 years. He knows what it's about and he's had these sorts of adversity before and he'll work doubly hard to come back, whether its next week or he has a couple of weeks off, depending on whether or not he has an injury," Thomas said.
The Article Andrew Wu/saints.com.au/14Apr08

Easy for Saints over Lions
St Kilda scraped away any rusty residue from its two opening performances with a polished and commanding 37-point victory against Brisbane at Telstra Dome on Thursday night. The Saints extended their impressive recent outings against the Lions and their ominous form under the Dome roof with a 19.10 (124) to 12.15 (87) win. Meanwhile, Brisbane's indifferent record on the road trudges on. The once-were-warriors have now lost their past six matches away from home. The Lions' much-vaunted match-winners and key players looked down and despondent. The early-season signs of battle fatigue and lethargy must be of concern to coach Leigh Matthews, who must resurrect his team for Richmond at the Gabba next Saturday night.
The Article Amanda Buivids/saints.com.au/13Apr08

Lions lose fear factor
Troy Schwarze's teammates call him "Wool" for obvious reasons, but no amount of flowing sheep-like curls could obscure his view of Michael Voss. Deep in the second term, Schwarze sensed heat from behind after running on to a loose ball on the wing. Schwarze turned his head quickly to see who he was up against. One look at Vossy and it was as if the unheralded Saint immediately thought: 'Happy days.' Rather than quickly give it off, Schwarze slammed his foot on the pedal, took a bounce and arrogantly sprinted away. It soon became a no-contest. Voss, the great warrior and team leader, gave up and started jogging as Schwarze surged to half-forward. Schwarze's daring dash summed up the night. The Brisbane Lions, not even the great Voss, don't intimidate like they used to. Not only did the Saints match it in the tough stuff, but they preyed on a lack of speed, skill and poise shown by their once mighty opponent. The game looked over inside 10 minutes when the Saints, through the dominance of Nick Riewoldt, slammed on three goals.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/14Apr06

I didn't think it was possible to take another step up when you are at the top already. But Lenny Hayes this year has gone to the summit. His performances this year and especially tonight were awsome. Poochy - saintsational.com

Harvey's hamstring a blow for Saints
St Kilda's long-held dream of putting its best team on the park took another savage hit when champion onballer Robert Harvey injured his hamstring against the Brisbane Lions last night. Harvey, who was sidelined for seven weeks last year with the same complaint, tweaked his overworked hamstring in the first quarter and could miss up to three weeks. Saints coach Grant Thomas said the dual Brownlow medallist would have a MRI scan today. "We'll do a scan and if he's got any damage we'll just have to take that path," Thomas said. "It's not looking great for him in relation to next week . . . he couldn't have come back on and whether or not he's hurt some scar tissue we'll just have to wait and find out" . . . As well as Harvey, the Saints also will be anxious about a reckless Cain Ackland elbow that collected Lions big man Jamie Charman in the third quarter and a minor leg concern to full-forward Fraser Gehrig, who was rested for much of the final quarter. The AFL also might cast an eye over a three-quarter time fracas that started with Lions skipper Michael Voss and several Saints players and ended with Jonathan Brown, Charman and Justin Leppitsch and half the St Kilda team pushing and shoving each other.
The Article Mark Robinson/HeraldSun/14Apr06

Winmar back in boots
Nicky Winmar has agreed to make a comeback to country football at the age of 40. The St Kilda Team of the Century legend this week signed with Rutherglen in northern Victoria's Tallangatta League. After four years living in his native Western Australia, Winmar is about to re-settle with his partner Beth in Corowa - just across the Murray River from the well-known winery town of Rutherglen. "I haven't played for a few years now, so I'm more trying to puff my way through training at the moment," Winmar told Albury's Border Mail when his comeback made front-page news. "I don't know about the hangers, but I might get itchy feet and jump around like a jack rabbit again." He is likely to make his debut for the Rutherglen Cats.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/15Apr06

Austinn powers on
Even a suspect hamstring was not enough to sideline new Narre Warren player-coach and former St Kilda star Austinn Jones. In his first game last weekend in the Casey Cardinia League, Jones enjoyed a comprehensive 110-point demolition of the Ronnie Burns-coached Berwick. But Jones, who played 226 AFL games, almost missed last week's season opener after injuring his hamstring at training during the pre-season. "I actually did a hammy at training and I've missed about five weeks," Jones said. "Prior to that I was in OK nick, but I'm in dire need of a run at the moment." Jones said he nursed himself through the game so as not to aggravate his recovering hamstring. "I only played about 40 minutes because I was still struggling a bit with the injury," he said.
The Article David Hastie/HeraldSun/14Apr06
ALL 2006 ARTICLES l HOME l GO BACK