Introducing the Saints e-diary in 2006
The Saints have taken their corporate and supporter communication to a new level with the introduction of the Saints e-diary in 2006. The e-diary is a new concept which will inspire all Saints supporters to join in the celebration of Club events, and support our special offers during the season. It will give St Kilda fans the ability to download the latest Saints events, merchandise offers and match day games straight into their Microsoft Outlook Calendar.
The Article saints.com.au/23Mar06
Sweeney sweet with Saints
Justin Sweeney was drafted to St Kilda from the obscurity of Tyabb as the shock final selection in last year's NAB AFL Draft, but the 18-year-old is taking it all in his stride. For the second year running, the Saints took a punt on an unknown quantity, picking up the young forward - who booted 70 goals for Tyabb in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League in 2005 - but who was unavailable to play in the TAC Cup U18s competition. Twelve months earlier St Kilda gambled on James Gwilt, a youngster of Papua New Guinean descent drafted from suburban club Noble Park. In just his second match Gwilt played a crucial role in the Saints' narrow qualifying final victory over Adelaide.
The Article Scott Spits/saints.com.au/17Mar06
Sydney: 3.7, 6.11, 18.8, 12.19 (91)
St Kilda: 0.2, 5.7, 8.8, 11.8 (74)
Goals - Sydney: Davis 4, O'Keefe 2, Hall 2, Schneider, Moore, Ablett, Williams
St Kilda: Watts 2, Hayes 2, Milne 2, Riewoldt, Murray, Powell, Dal Santo, Montagna
Best - Sydney: Davis, J. Bolton, Jolly, Richards, Roberts-Thomson
St Kilda: Watts, Riewoldt, Schwarze, Milne
Injuries - Sydney: Nil
St Kilda: Nil
Reports - Nil
Umpires - Pannell, Armstrong, Meredith
Crowd - 3,203 at the Newcastle
Swans welcome a win
Sydney won the battle of the pre-season strugglers, overcoming St Kilda by 17 points in Newcastle yesterday. The AFL premier ended its five-game losing streak to win 12.19 (91) to 11.8 (74) in a welcome breakthrough heading into round one against Essendon at Telstra Dome. It was the first practice win for the Swans since Paul Roos took over as coach in 2003. The Saints remain winless from their four practice outings this years and will need to regroup for the season-opener against West Coast at Subiaco. Classy forward Nick Davis booted four goals in a great display for Sydney and Ryan O'Keefe and Barry Hall added two apiece. Fergus Watts, Nick Riewoldt and Stephen Milne landed two goals each for the Saints.
The Article AAP/TheAge/19Mar06
Malawi team visits the Saints
Members of the Malawi Commonwealth Games team have visited the Saints at their training session at Moorabbin, where they were given a taste of Aussie Rules. On Wednesday afternoon, Malawi squash athletes Chikumbutso Mkutumula and Aubrey Taulo, along with boxer Fundo Mhura and Team Manager Oscar Kinjala, attended training to watch the Saints. Captain Luke Ball, who carried the Queen's baton over the Malawi flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Games, met the elite athletes, who were amazed at the size and strength of Australia's AFL stars.
The Article Vanessa Gigliotti/saints.com.au/22Mar06
Liam scores a goal
As soon as a blindfolded Liam Holland smelled liniment in the air, the young footy fan guessed he was in Saints country. Liam was treated to the surprise visit to the St Kilda Football Club, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. With the blindfold peeled off, Liam met the entire Saints team, including his idol Fraser Gehrig, with whom he has struck up a firm friendship since the burly spearhead visited him in hospital last year. Liam, 11, was fitted out in a club jumper and boots and invited to take part in the Saints' training session. The team cheered on their young fan as he was presented with another surprise - tickets to World Wrestling Entertainment's annual Wrestlemania in Chicago this month.
The Article Carla Danaher/HeraldSun/20Mar06
Saints Family Day
An estimated crowd of 6,000 fans gathered at Moorabbin Oval on Sunday 19th March for St Kilda's annual Family Day. All Saints players and coaching staff were in attendance, giving supporters the opportunity to be up close and personal with their Saints stars. Signing sessions were conducted in the Bowling area of the ground, with players swamped by eager fans seeking autographs. Newly appointed skipper Luke Ball, Nick Riewoldt, Aaron Hamill and Nick Dal Santo were amongst the crowd's favourites. Perfect weather conditions enabled full use of the dunking machine and bubble pool.
The Article Vanessa Gigliotti/saints.com.au/20Mar06
Saints down to Swans in Newcastle
The Saints have completed the practice match component of their pre-season without managing a win after going down to Sydney by 17 points in Newcastle on Saturday afternoon. But is St Kilda coach Grant Thomas worried? Not in the least. Quizzed after the match about the Saints' winless pre-season, Thomas replied: "I am not the slightest bit concerned at all" . . . "Sydney played very well and could have got an unassailable lead early but didn't finish off their shots and from there we just clawed our way back into the game," he said. The premiers ended their five-game losing streak to run out 12.19 (91) to 11.8 (74) winners for a confidence boost heading into round one against Essendon at Telstra Dome. The Saints will need to regroup for the season-opener against West Coast at Subiaco. Fergus Watts, Nick Riewoldt and Stephen Milne landed two goals each in strong performances for the Saints, while Nick Davis booted four goals with Ryan O'Keefe and Barry Hall adding two apiece.
The Article Karen Collins/saints.com.au/18Mar06
Eddie gives Saint a hint
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire may have solved the problem of Nick Riewoldt's 'yips', claiming the St Kilda star's inaccuracy at goal could be a 'straight forward mechanical cock-up'. In a rare show of support for an opposition player, McGuire, the Nine Network chief, pointed out that after Riewoldt had badly injured his shoulder last year he could not extend his right hand, so he did not place the ball on his boot and kick through it the way he used to. After attending Collingwood's practice match success at Princes Park yesterday, McGuire said of Riewoldt's plight: "That's only been my speculation, but a bit of informed speculation".
The Article HeraldSun/12Mar06
Riewoldt still off target
The St Kilda star kicked five straight behinds from set shots at Princes Park yesterday as the Western Bulldogs recorded an 11-point win. Although the Dogs recaptured some of their 2005 form and held a five-goal break for much of the game, the match will be remembered as much for Riewoldt's day in front of the big sticks. St Kilda coach Grant Thomas revealed Riewoldt had kicked 42.8 at training during the week, but conceded he had struggled for confidence yesterday in front of a crowd of 3000, which eagerly awaited every shot. "I could see in his run in that he lacked a bit of purpose and a bit of confidence. In other games he's played this year he's kicked OK," Thomas said. Thomas likened Riewoldt to a golfer who had lost sight of the fairway. "Stand on the first tee and you can see the ball hitting the middle of the fairway, that's how it will come off and go," Thomas said.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/11Mar06
Dogs nab win over Saints
With the start of the home-and-away season now just a couple of weeks away not only is 2006 flag favourite St Kilda still winless but its best forward Nick Riewoldt is desperately short on confidence in front of goal. The Saints lost their third successive match in the pre-season on Friday night, going down to the Western Bulldogs 13.15 (93) to 12.10 (82) in their NAB Challenge match but what was of even more concern was Riewoldt's dreadful kicking for goal. The star forward, who had the "yips" throughout 2005 when he could manage only a total of 33.36 for the season after kicking an accurate 67.32 the year before, missed chance after chance on Friday night as his confidence levels began to dip. In all Riewoldt missed five set shots, all from within 50, while failing to kick a goal while another snap on the turn sailed out on the full.
The Article Paul Gough/afl/saints.com.au/08Mar06
Saints bitten by Dogs
. . . With Aaron Hamill and Justin Koschitzke sidelined and Riewoldt struggling, the Saints' attack was impotent until the final quarter when they finally came to life to show why they are rated so highly. After Brad Johnson missed a shot which would have given the Dogs a six-goal lead to seal the game, the Saints slammed on the next six goals with the inspirational Robert Harvey kicking two and Fraser Gehrig booting two, including one off the ground to give the Saints a shock lead at the 24-minute mark. However the Bulldogs fought back to score the win their play overall deserved with the goal that regained them the lead fittingly coming from best man on the ground Daniel Giansiracusa with a left foot snap before Rohan Smith sealed the game at the 28-minute mark with a 50-metre goal on the run.
The Article Paul Gough/afl/saints.com.au/08Mar06
Pre-season yips kick in for Saint
A new technique, a new approach, a change of hands and a worse result. If practice matches are viewed for portents for a season, then St Kilda, which went down by 11 points to the Bulldogs yesterday, will be worried. Over the summer, the Saints' star forward Nick Riewoldt recast his kicking action after acknowledging his problem before goal. He kicked a respectable 33 goals 36 behinds last year but knew he was not confident in front of goal. He had the yips, so over the summer he switched hand positions and altered his kicking style . . . The Saints' key forward kicked an embarrassing five behinds and one out on the full from six shots at goal. Five of them were set shots and one a wild snap. All of them were from within 40 metres - one only a trifling 20 metres out - and all were from no real angle.
The Article Michael Gleeson/TheAge/11Mar06
Would have won the game after playing poorly for three quarters, but we rested the players who were actually winning us the game, Ball, Maguire, Harvey, Gehrig and Riewoldt all came off with 5 minutes to go. It is like GT did not want us to win after an average effort. st.mart
Marto's Take on Bulldogs game Saintsational
Nine umpires have little impact in test
Much like practice matches, there was a lot of talk and effort for no real result for the nine umpires who strode on to Princes Park all armed with a whistle and ready to blow it at the suggestion of a tug of a shirt. In the end, only the umpires who customarily do so made the decisions that matter. The goal umpires worried about the score. The boundaries concerned themselves with running the white line. The field umpires focused on keeping up with changed rules and interpretations. There was only one moment in the second quarter when a boundary umpire seemed likely to intervene. He witnessed high contact and made to draw his whistle, but his colleague in the centre already had his shot away. It cannot be said to have succeeded or failed. It could recommend the view that the number of field umpires is adequate. It would also allay the concerns of those who feared over-umpiring.
The Article Michael Gleeson/TheAge/11Mar06
St Kilda squad: Justin Peckett, Xavier Clarke, Andrew Thompson, Fergus Watts, Lenny Hayes, Fraser Gehrig, Steven Baker, Leigh Montagna, Nick Riewoldt, Luke Ball, Jason Gram, Stephen Powell, Sam Gilbert, Allan Murray, Matthew Ferguson, Aaron Fiora, Barry Brooks, Sam Fisher, Nick Dal Santo, Cain Ackland, Michael Rix, Matt Maguire, Andrew McQualter, James Gwilt, Phil Raymond, Robert Harvey, Troy Schwarze, Stephen Milne.
Western Bulldogs squad: Travis Baird, Shane Birss, Matthew Boyd, Adam Cooney, Daniel Cross, Nathan Eagleton, Cameron Faulkner, Daniel Giansiracusa, Lindsay Gilbee, Chris Grant, Ryan Griffen, Mitchell Hahn, Ryan Hargrave, Brian Harris, Brad Johnson, Kieran McGuiness, Jordan McMahon, Will Minson, Adam Morgan, Dale Morris, Robert Murphy, Sam Power, Farren Ray, Matthew Robbins, Wayde Skipper, Rohan Smith, Peter Street, Scott West.
Umpires to pay only obvious in new roles
Boundary and goal umpires will be permitted to pay only obvious free kicks, such as holding and pushing infringements, in today's radical umpiring experiment in the St Kilda-Western Bulldogs practice match. And the AFL said yesterday that it had no plans to use boundary and goal umpires to adjudicate beyond its pre-season trial, in which two field umpires will be deployed as (decision-making) boundary and goal umpires. AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the boundary and goal umpires would make limited 'matter of fact' decisions such as 'holding, pushing and throwing' in today's match at Princes Park. Anderson said the extra umpires would not adjudicate on 'interpretative decisions' - frees that are not clear-cut, such as holding the ball. No fewer than nine umpires will be able to pay frees today - three field, four boundary and two goal umpires (with an extra goal umpire also on hand) - with some umpires to be rotated between the different roles
The Article Jake Niall/TheAge/10Mar06
Saints on the mend
young St Kilda defender Raphael Clarke is poised to make a delayed start to the AFL season. Clarke is back in full training after groin surgery in the off-season sidelined him for the NAB Cup. The 20-year-old, a Rising Star nominee late last season, was among the Saints' hardest workers during a 90-minute session at Moorabbin yesterday. "He has started to get into the mix in the past week," coach Grant Thomas said. "He's not far off a game. He probably won't play this week, but definitely next week I would think. He'll train all this week and next week."
The Article Bruce Matthews/HeraldSun/09Mar06
Jason Cripps Chat Noddy/saints.com.au/01Mar06
Saints safe with selection
St Kilda is taking few risks with its squad for Friday's NAB Challenge match against the Western Bulldogs at Princes Park. Key players Aaron Hamill (calf tightness), Justin Koschitzke (patella tendonitis) and Brett Voss (ankle) have all been left out of the 28-man squad to take on the Bulldogs. Koschitzke and Voss - who rolled his ankle against West Coast in a NAB Challenge match in Mandurah last Saturday - both trained with the main squad at Moorabbin on Wednesday but Hamill was restricted to light duties with other injured players. The 28-year-old disrupted scar tissue in his calf during the NAB Cup opening round loss to Collingwood and will be sidelined for another 1-2 weeks.
The Article Scott Spits/Sportal/saints.com.au/08Mar06
Seven umps join forces to decide all
In perhaps the most radical umpiring experiment of recent times, boundary and goal umpires will assist the field umpires in making decisions in tomorrow afternoon's practice match between St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs at Princes Park. The AFL has already experimented by using four field umpires with the NAB Cup, but tomorrow the league will go further into uncharted territory by allowing the two boundary umpires and two goal umpires to adjudicate and pay free kicks. The experiment comes from the AFL's umpiring department, which wishes to see whether goal and boundary umpires can assist field umpires in making more accurate decisions. The proposal is somewhat similar to one put forward by Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews at the height of the controversy surrounding player-umpire collisions several years ago. Matthews advocated that there be a central controlling umpire with four boundary/field umpires
The Article Jake Niall/TheAge/09Mar06
Road trip is too risky for Hamill
Aaron Hamill is ready to resume next weekend, but St Kilda's plan to give him valuable game time has been complicated by another tough road trip. The Saints, fresh from a visit to Mandurah in Western Australia, have been drawn to face Sydney in Newcastle on Saturday, March 18. Although confident Hamill will have overcome calf soreness by then, the Saints are unlikely to risk him. Not only is the travel a factor, but there are concerns about the turf cricket pitch at the Newcastle venue.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/08Mar06
St Kilda season preview
An extraordinary number of people seem to find it difficult to distinguish between the strength of St Kilda's 2005 list and the team it was able to field when it mattered. While the player group certainly looked capable of winning the flag, the reality is six of the best 22 didn't play the day the Saints were eliminated by Sydney in a preliminary final. Whether you like Grant Thomas or not, that's a fact. The players were Xavier Clarke, Sam Fisher, Aaron Hamill, Justin Koschitzke, Justin Peckett and Luke Penny. Five would have been in the starting 18, with Peckett on the bench. Yet, even with so many missing, and with Luke Ball going up and down on the spot because of a chronic groin problem, St Kilda still led by seven points at three-quarter time.
The Article Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/08Mar06
Gram measures his goals
Jason Gram wants to cement a spot in St Kilda's best 22 this season and the 21-year-old has already pinpointed his preferred position. "With Aussie Jones going, I want that spot off half-back, setting up the plays, pretty much a quarter-back role - a running half-back," Gram told afl.com.au, reflecting on the surprising decision by Jones to hang up the boots after 226 AFL matches. "That would be a great spot for me - a running half-back. I went alright (against Collingwood in the NAB Cup). That's where I've played most of my footy the last few years." After being drafted by the Brisbane Lions with the No.19 selection in the 2001 NAB AFL Draft, Gram has only managed a handful of senior matches in four seasons and is acutely aware of the need to make his mark with the Saints in 2006. "I've been in the system now for five years, I've got to show I can do something. I've only played nine games." Gram said.
The Article Scott Spits/AFL/saints.com.au/07Mar06
Experts link injury with depression
Serious injury is the major cause of depression among AFL players, the league's chief medical officer told a sport and mental health conference yesterday. According to Dr Harry Unglik - whom former North Melbourne and Sydney player Wayne Schwass credits with helping him through his depression - a range of issues associated with recovering from a serious injury can be of concern to a player.
The Article Lyall Johnson/TheAge/07Mar06
Elliott, all puffed up and self-important when he was Carlton's president, used to thunder Victoria could not sustain 10 AFL teams. Collins' worst and growing fear is that Elliott was right. Patrick Smith
Can't pay, can't play, Carlton's stormy existence getting worse Patrick Smith/TheAustralian/07Mar06
2006 AFL NAB Regional Challenge - Week 1
WEST COAST 5.3 7.3 10.8 12.12 (84)
ST KILDA 0.3 5.5 9.9 11.10 (76)
Goals - West Coast: Lynch 5, Seaby, Chick, Nicoski, Jones, Judd, Embley, Staker 1
St Kilda: Brooks, Montagna, Milne, Sweeney 2, Pfitzner, Ackland, Fiora 1
Best - West Coast: Lynch, Chick, Kerr, Staker, Cox
St Kilda: Brooks, Gwilt, Montagna, Milne, Gram
Injuries - West Coast: Nil
St Kilda: Voss (ankle)
Crowd - Approx 8000 at Rushton Park
Roger's Match Report saintsational.com
karnaby's Player Reviews saintsational.com
Mr X Match Report saintsational.com
Saints push Eagles hard
The Saints overcame a slow start to push the Eagles all the way in their NAB Challenge match at Rushton Park in Mandurah on Saturday, before going down by eight points - 12.12 (84) to 11.10 (76). Five goals to Quinten Lynch helped the Eagles to the scrappy victory. The Saints went into the match without guns Nick Riewoldt, Luke Ball, Aaron Hamill, Fraser Gehrig, Robert Harvey, Lenny Hayes, Max Hudghton, Matt Maguire and Nick Dal Santo, but the young St Kilda side fought back from a 30-point quarter-time deficit to force the Eagles to grind out the match. Just five points in favour of West Coast separated the sides at three-quarter time, but goals to Brent Staker and Lynch midway through the final term secured the win, before two late goals to the Saints closed the final margin to eight points.
The Article Justin Chadwick/Sportal/saints.com.au/04Mar06
Voss injury rubs salt into Saints' wounds
. . . Voss, one of the key backmen in the Saints' line-up, rolled an ankle in the second quarter and is likely to miss two to three weeks. The courageous defender was sandwiched between a teammate and Eagle Mark LeCras in a second quarter marking contest and went to ground clutching his right ankle. The injury was iced immediately but Voss, who spent the second half watching his teammates from the bench, appeared unable to put any weight on the foot. The Saints were up against it from the start. Coach Grant Thomas had publicly expressed his displeasure at being sent on another pre-season road trip in the first place and selected a team minus the club's marquee players Nick Riewoldt, Luke Ball, Fraser Gehrig, Robert Harvey, Lenny Hayes and Nick Dal Santo.
The Article Mark Duffield/TheAge/05Mar06
Eagles fly, but Saints shine
West Coast, playing under Chris Judd as captain for the first time, was given a pre-season scare by undermanned St Kilda in Mandurah tonight. The Eagles capitalised on a five goal to nil opening term to win in near 40C heat that led to shortened quarters and extended breaks. The Saints hit back after quarter-time and won the next three quarters by 22 points, but the five-goal deficit at the first break was too much to rein in. However, given the youth of the side fielded, St Kilda has great depth going into the 2006 premiership.
The Article Chris Pike/SundayTimes/04Mar06
Eagles win over young Saints Chris Pike/AAP/HeraldSun/04Mar06
Big step forward: Lynch kicks five as heat takes its toll David Davutovic/WASundayTimes/05Mar06
Frying Saints pan timing
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas says it could take several weeks for his players to recover from playing in near-40deg heat in Western Australia on Saturday. Thomas, who left home most of his star players, made no secret that he would have preferred not to fly to WA for the practice game against West Coast at Mandurah, south of Perth. "They could have delayed the game and played it under lights, but we got through it," Thomas said. "Our players were pretty light on their feet after the game. I think some of West Coast's were too. The players' protection should be the utmost priority . . . Putting the players under heat duress can take two to three weeks to recover, so we just have to try and manage that the best we can."
The Article AAP/HeraldSun/05Mar06
Demons put heat on AFL Jake Niall and Lyall Johnson/TheAge/06Mar06
"It would have been great if we could have delayed the game and played under lights . . . Our players were pretty much on the edge and I think that some of West Coast's players were too . . . I think the well-being and the health of the players should receive the utmost priority." Grant Thomas
Coaches fume over heat
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas and West Coast assistant coach Peter Sumich have called for greater consideration for player welfare after their teams played in searing heat at Mandurah's Rushton Park yesterday. After the Eagles had survived a searching test from the undermanned Saints to win by eight points, both Sumich and Thomas said more needed to be done to protect players from the heat. Temperatures climbed into the high 30s at Mandurah at the time the game started at 4.15pm. It had originally been scheduled for 3.45pm but was delayed for half an hour because of the fear of hot weather. Rushton Park, the home of WAFL club Peel Thunder, has six light towers and is regularly used for night matches in the WAFL but the lighting was not deemed of sufficient standard for an AFL practice match.
The Article Mark Duffield/TheAge/05Mar06
Key Eagles to tackle Saints
Half a dozen key West Coast Eagles players will take the field for the first time in senior practice matches when the club tackles St Kilda in a NAB Regional Challenge match against St Kilda at Rushton Park, Mandurah, on Saturday. Tall utility players Adam Hunter and Jaymie Graham, experienced midfielders Michael Braun and Drew Banfield, defender Beau Waters and forward Damien Adkins have been included in a 28-man squad for the clash. The match, which will start at 4.15pm, offers valuable match practice for each of those players as the start of the season proper draws nearer. Hunter has not played the last couple of warm-up games, including the NAB Cup opener against Fremantle last week, because of an ankle injury and is likely to start in attack against the Saints.
The Article Gary Stocks/saints.com.au/02Mar06
Injured Koschitzke put on ice by Saints
St Kilda star Justin Koschitzke is likely to be sidelined until at least Round 4. And his recovery from patella tendon surgery could take even longer as the Saints refuse to rush him back. "He might be out until Round 4 or 5 only because we are going to be conservative," St Kilda coach Grant Thomas said yesterday. "We'll be taking no risks with him whatsoever . . . zero. If it's Round 8, it will be Round 8. Whatever's in the best interests of Kosi. I've got no doubt he could play Round 1, but we're saying whenever he's basically ready, we'll add a few weeks on."
The Article Mark Robinson/HeraldSun/03Mar06
Kosi, Hamill look on
Aaron Hamill and Justin Koschitzke were restricted to light kicking duties on Thursday as their St Kilda team-mates were put through an exhausting training session ahead of Saturday's NAB Challenge match against West Coast in Mandurah. Intrigue surrounds the seriousness of Hamill's calf injury after the former St Kilda skipper was forced to leave the field during the first quarter of the Saints' one-point extra-time loss to Collingwood in a first-round NAB Cup match at Telstra Dome last Sunday. The 28-year-old underwent a scan on the calf last Monday and the club later indicated that Hamill had not torn the muscle but merely disrupted scar tissue.
The Article Scott Spits/Sportal/saints.com.au/02Mar06
Thomas hits out at 'Kids Cup'
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas has labelled the pre-season competition a waste of time that diluted the AFL brand, and said playing matches in summer heat was a serious safety concern. Thomas said the interest in the 22-round home-and-away season would be heightened if AFL clubs concentrated on intra-club matches at this time of year, and said the NAB Cup was threatening to turn into a "Kids' Cup", with sides looking to protect their established stars. With temperatures set to soar into the high 30s in today's match against West Coast in Mandurah, south of Perth, Thomas has flown a team of youngsters to WA. More than half of the 24-man squad has played fewer than 10 games and six are yet to make their AFL debut.
The Article Craig O'Donoghue/AAP/TheAge/04Mar06
How wiser old dog Muir gets new kicks
Next month, as Robert "Mad Dog" Muir steps on to Ballarat's City Oval for a game of football, his appearance will have the unlikely effect of drawing sighs of relief from players and umpires. Muir, who played 68 at-times violent games for St Kilda from 1974-84, will be wearing the orange strip of the Ballarat Football Umpires Association, of which he is the newest recruit. The umpires are rapt to have him, and the players are happy they don't have to go up against him. Muir, 53, first thought about crossing over to the "other side" when he heard there was nobody game to umpire a game involving players from the Turana youth correctional centre. "I thought it would be sad to see the game shut down because no one was interested, so I thought, 'No problem, I can umpire the game, I'm not scared of these blokes,' " Muir said yesterday.
The Article Reko Rennie/TheAge/03Mar06
Sour exit spurs Peckett's final tilt at a flag Mark Robinson/HeraldSun/04Mar06
Sam's star is on the rise
The past two seasons have seen St Kilda develop perhaps the best defense in the competition. The combination of youth, experience, speed and strength ensured the Saints repelled the ball out of their backline with exceptional ease and efficiency. Sam Fisher has grown in stature since becoming a regular fixture in the Saints' last line, paralleling the success of his side to his own. It is no coincidence that playing alongside hard-nosed men like Max Hudghton and Steven Baker, that Sam has developed his game with great confidence and maturity to become one of the success stories of last season.
The Article Luca Giacobello/saints.com.au/01Mar06
The "Class" of 2001. Five years is a long time in Football
Malcolm Blight was recruited in the off season, and given his record, there were huge expectations. The list had been pruned and with significant new additions to the list many pundits had us firing on all cylinders. Respected columnist Rohan Connolly had us in the eight when he wrote "There's not much doubt that most eyes will be on St Kilda's progress after a recruiting splurge the likes of which has not been seen for decades." Robert Walls wrote "New recruits, plenty of dough, lots of hype and of course Malcolm Blight is a sure fired recipe to lift the Saints. Just how high and for how long, only time will tell". Dermott Brereton was more circumspect when he wrote, "The landscape has changed at Moorabbin and they will be better. But monumental ascendancy into the eight by seasons end just will not happen". One of the amazing facts of the pre 2001 season was the $1.90 being offered by Sportsbook about the Saints making the Final 8. This price was undoubtedly influenced by the recruitment of Blight as well as the 12 new arrivals.
The Article Allan Grant/saints.com.au/28Feb06
Scans clear Hamill of major damage
Scans have revealed disruption to Aaron Hamill's troublesome calf muscle, but no tear. The results yesterday alleviated fears the St Kilda powerhouse could be sidelined indefinitely. Saints coach Grant Thomas said last night he expected Hamill to play one, perhaps two, matches before the start of the season. Hamill, 28, reported calf soreness after being taken from the field, as pre-planned, in the first quarter against Collingwood on Sunday night. It's understood Thomas learnt of the problem when he tried to send his former captain back on the field. Medical staff told Thomas the muscle had tightened and Hamill was in pain.
The Article Mark Robinson/HeraldSun/28Feb06
Mackaysaint's take on Sunday saintsational.com
Collingwood 2.2.1 2.3.2 2.4.4 2.8.8 (74)*
St Kilda 0.1.0 1.2.2 1.6.6 1.9.10 (73)*
Goals - Collingwood: Licuria 2, Fraser 2, C Cloke (1 nine-pointer), Lonie (1), Didak, Tarrant, Swan, Rocca. St Kilda: Riewoldt 3, Harvey 2, Goddard 2 (1), Gehrig, Watts, Murray.
Best - (TheAge) Collingwood: Lockyer, Licuria, J Cloke, Fraser, O'Bree, Prestigiacomo. St Kilda: Riewoldt, Hayes, Ball, Fisher, Hudghton.
Injuries - St Kilda: Hamill (calf)
Umpires: McBurney, Kennedy, Armstrong, Fila
Crowd: 24,567 at Telstra Dome
*After extra time
Full-time scores: Collingwood 2.7.6 (66) St Kilda 1.8.9 (66)
"It was a tremendous hitout for both sides, maybe not so much for Collingwood because they have to go on . . . But to get basically a full game, and having the extra 10 minutes is going to be invaluable for us," Thomas said. "We get a really clear indication of where we are at fitness-wise, and to have a really good, close, tight contest like that is invaluable. If you can orchestrate it like that, that is what you would orchestrate . . . A good, hard tussle for the whole game and then thinking it is over and then having to go again, it's priceless I think."
Hamill to be nursed through calf injury
The calf problems that beset Aaron Hamill last year have returned with the new season and the inspirational St Kilda forward is likely to play, at most, one practice match before round one. Scans yesterday revealed what coach Grant Thomas categorised as "a disruption" to the muscle fibres but not a tear. Hamill was rotated off the ground in the first quarter of the NAB Cup match against Collingwood last Sunday, but could not return when called on as his right calf had tightened. Though the damage is minor, it is enough of a scare for the club to reinforce the conservative approach to the 28-year-old's training regimen. He has already been on a tailored program.
The Article Len Johnson/TheAge/28Feb06
Hamill sore, but safe Mark Robinson and Mark Stevens/TheAustralian/28Feb06
Hamill again troubled by calf Matt Burgan/saints.com.au/26Feb06
Hamill injured again Damian Barrett/HeraldSun/27Feb06
Free kick rise with extra ump Mark Stevens/TheAustralian/28Feb06
Saints downed in extra time
Collingwood has won its first AFL match since July last year in the most stunning fashion, overcoming St Kilda in extra time to advance to the quarter-finals of the NAB Cup. The Magpies 2.8.8 (74) defeated the Saints 1.9.10 (73) after a see-sawing final term and extra-time to set-up a clash against the winner of the West Coast and Fremantle derby. Incredibly, the points total was the same as the 1966 grand final - except this time the teams reversed the score and Collingwood claimed the victory.
The Article Matt Burgan/saints.com.au/26Feb06
Magpies shine in extra time Jake Niall/TheAge/27Feb06
Fraser ensures justice is done Adam Cooper/AAP/HeraldSun/26Feb06
Alves hits back Jon Ralph/HeraldSun/26Feb06
Pies dump Saints in extra time news.com.au/TheAustralian/26Feb06
Dockers crush West Coast James Dampney?AAP/HeraldSun/26Feb06
St Kilda: Player by Player Reviews Various Reviews saintsational.com
Goddard: Best yet to come
. . . This year he hopes to settle into the midfield and use a pre-season in which he has worked on his change of pace to rid himself of perceptions he is a one-paced flanker not yet crucial to St Kilda's fortunes. Goddard, still only 20, understands the best way to quieten negative talk is by on-field performances, but says the critics are too impatient.
The Article Jon Ralph/HeraldSun/26Feb06
Brendon Goddard saintsational.com
PLAYING SQUADS
Collingwood: Leon Davis, Ryan Lonie, Alan Didak, Nathan Buckley, Brodie Holland, Chad Morrison, James Clement, Blake Caracella, Shane O'Bree, Dale Thomas, Chris Egan, Paul Licuria, Ben Davies, Chris Tarrant, Guy Richards, Anthony Rocca, Tarkyn Lockyer, Josh Fraser, Ben Johnson, Nick Maxwell, Travis Cloke, Cameron Cloke, Jason Cloke, Simon Prestigiacomo, Dane Swan, Sam Iles, Heath Shaw, Harry O'Brien
St Kilda: Cain Ackland, Steven Baker, Luke Ball, Jason Blake, Nick Dal Santo, Matthew Ferguson, Aaron Fiora, Sam Fisher, Fraser Gehrig, Brendon Goddard, Jason Gram, James Gwilt, Aaron Hamill, Robert Harvey, Lenny Hayes, Max Hudghton, Matt Maguire, Andrew McQualter, Stephen Milne, Allan Murray, Justin Peckett, Stephen Powell, Nick Riewoldt, Michael Rix, Troy Schwarze, Andrew Thompson, Brett Voss, Fergus Watts
Saints in it to win it: Dal Santo
While some clubs are approaching the NAB Cup as a warm-up to the home and away season, St Kilda will be trying to win every game during the pre-season, according to midfielder Nick Dal Santo. "St Kilda's approach towards any match is we go out to win the game. I don't think many teams go out there just to get through or see how things are going," Dal Santo told a media conference with Collingwood's Anthony Rocca on Friday. "When we're out there we're obviously competitive as everyone is and we're going to definitely try and win the game. If we lose it, it's because we were beaten by a better side and if we win it we'll take each game as it comes after that." Despite the absence of gun tall Justin Koschitzke, who has patella tendonitis, the Saints have signalled their pre-season intentions by naming a formidable 28-man squad to tackle Collingwood on Sunday.
The Article Andrew Wu/Sportal/saints.com.au/24Feb06
Watts poised to play
St Kilda will enter Sunday's NAB Cup match against Collingwood with a strong list, with Fraser Gehrig, Aaron Hamill, Robert Harvey, Lenny Hayes, Max Hudghton and Nick Riewoldt all named in the squad. But the Saints, under new skipper Luke Ball, will be without Justin Koschitzke (patella tendonitis), Leigh Fisher - who battled serious hamstring injuries last year - and the Clarke brothers Xavier (hamstring) and Raphael (patella tendonitis). Two new Saints are in the line-up - former Crow Fergus Watts, who is likely to play his first official match for the club - and former Hawthorn rookie Michael Rix. Watts was the first player traded during last year's exchange period, when St Kilda nabbed him while giving up selection No.17 to the Crows.
The Article Matt Burgan/saints.com.au/23Feb06
Play the ball, not the man
With the AFL's new rule changes to be seen in action for the first time in this weekend's opening round of the NAB Cup, AFL Umpires' Director Jeff Gieschen has a simple message to players wondering how the new interpretations will be applied: 'Play the ball, not the man.' The NAB Cup marks the start of the 2006 season - a year in which three new rule changes and seven new rule interpretations will be introduced. Gieschen told afl.com.au on Thursday the key philosophies of the changes were to ensure the game remains free-flowing and continuous and to ensure players who make the ball their sole object are protected.
The New Rules Paul Gough/saints.com.au/23Feb06
Brayshaw, Lyon new hosts of Footy Show Daniel Ziffer/TheAge/23Feb06
NAB CUP PREVIEW: Collingwood v St Kilda afl.com.au
Coach says injured Pies won't fire early Adam Cooper/TheAge/22Feb06
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