Archives

2006 Mid Season
ARTICLE ARCHIVES:   2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006
St Kilda Saints Supporters Links

MID-SEASON ARTICLES PAGE 3 l PAGE 2 l PAGE 1 l ALL 2006 ARTICLES l HOME l GO BACK


2006 Mid Season - 3


For the Love of the Jumper - 4
Following the chronicle of Saints players who have worn the number 1, 2 and 3 jumper during their career, this is a detailed anthology of those who have worn the number 4. I have named a Saints team comprising those who have worn number 4, and have selected a top 3 of players who have carried number 4 with pride for the Saints. As always many of the players named are legends for the Saints but the number 4 carries special significance as the great Darrel Baldock wore it to lead the mighty Saints to our only Premiership in 1966.
The Article Allan Grant/saints.com.au/24Jun06

Playing for their careers
ST KILDA
Barry Brooks: Has never come on as St Kilda hoped since his trade from Port Adelaide. Rix has pushed past him. Saints' fifth-best ruckman.
Mark McGough: Dropped again last week. Unlikely to take St Kilda towards a flag.
Allan Murray: Consistently in the VFL side's best, but struggles to make an impact when elevated. Sixteen games since 2002.
Justin Peckett: One of a number of question marks at the end of the year. Will be 34 in October. Played the past five games.
Stephen Powell: Only three AFL games this year and is suspended after a VFL indiscretion. Still only 30 at year's end. Might be saved by retirements of older teammates.
Andrew Thompson: Had played every game until back injury versus Melbourne in Round10. Also 34 in October. Still a chance to go on.
The Article Jon Ralph/HeraldSun/25Jun06
Players chase TV money Samantha Lane/TheAge/25Jun06

Riewoldt finishes with a bang, and the name is Jack
A Riewoldt kicked three match-winning goals yesterday, but it wasn't Nick. As the St Kilda player took the weekend off, his 17-year-old cousin, Jack, recovered from a slow start in Tasmania's opening under-18 game against NSW/ACT to kick the last three goals of the game and secure an 11-point win. After not touching the ball in the first quarter, the 193-centimetre forward finished with 15 possessions, eight marks and four goals, a month after returning from a broken collarbone.
The Article Emma Quayle/TheAge/25Jun06

This time last Year
"At the end of the day the playing group dictate whether you win or lose but if they're not bringing the right attitude to the game then the coach is accountable for that because you need to prepare them for battle. But when I look at every game this year theres been a few that have come down to personnel and 2 or 3 that have come down to attitude which are the ones we aren't happy about." Grant Thomas on SEN 23Jun2005

"Five big names are expected to follow Nick Dal Santo's lead and re-sign with St Kilda within the next month. Coleman medallist Fraser Gehrig, midfielder Lenny Hayes, big man Justin Koschitzke and the Clarke brothers, Xavier and Raphael, are all well into new contract negotiations that are expected to keep them at Moorabbin." The HeraldSun 23Jun2005

"St Kilda leader Aaron Hamill has broken down again in a major setback to the club's hopes of a mid-season revival. In yet another injury blow for the club, which started the season as premiership favourite but after 12 rounds has won only six games, Hamill injured a calf muscle during a warm-up at Moorabbin on Sunday." Caroline Wilson/TheAge 21Jun2005
2005 Mid Season Articles westofmoorabbin.com Archives

Had Blighty Stayed . . .
The Saints shocked the football world when they lured Malcolm Blight out of retirement to take over as coach in 2001. When Blight was sacked after only 15 games, the football world was in disbelief. Those who called the shots felt that Malcolm wasn't putting in the time needed to educate a young but talented list. Since Blight's departure, Grant Thomas has coached the Saints 112 times for 55 wins.
Shock and awe Robert Walls/TheAge/24Jun06
(stats) Hall of Fame inductees HeraldSun/23Jun03

Excited Baldock officially a Legend
Ask Darrel Baldock how it feels to be the newest Legend in the Australian Football Hall of Fame and he doesn't need to speak - the answer is written on his face. Baldock couldn't stop laughing, smiling and shaking his head in disbelief when contacted by afl.com.au in the lead-up to his official elevation from the Hall of Fame to Legend status. "I suppose excited would be the word," he said. "I get quite funny about these sort of things, but I was delighted. It's unbelievable. Yes, I'm really excited by it."
The Article Angus Morgan/saints.com.au/22Jun06
Baldock given Legend status ABCSport/22Jun06

Baldock a legend for all time
Ian Stewart's assessment of the AFL's newest legend and his former teammate, Darrel Baldock, is as simple as it is profound. "He's the only player I've ever known who was as good when he played as he is in retirement." Stewart said of fellow legend and 1966 StKilda premiership teammate.
The Article Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/23Jun03

Plugger's win-win
Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee Tony Lockett believes his move from St Kilda to Sydney at the end of the 1994 season was a win/win situation for all parties. In accepting his honour at the Hall of Fame dinner at Crown in Melbourne on Thursday night, Lockett said he needed a fresh challenge at the end of 1994. But he believed the result benefited his career and both the Saints and Swans. "I had my issues and when I look back on them now, it's one of those things you go through as a kid and everyone adapts differently. I think if I had my time again, I'd probably change a few things," Lockett said when accepting his award.
The Article Matt Burgan/Sportal/saints.com.au/23Jun06

Surgeon says Koschitzke is OK
St Kilda ruckman Justin Koschitzke was given the all-clear by his neurosurgeon yesterday in the wake of his dramatic fainting spell on national television on Sunday but the Saint is no closer to having a definite return to football date. Koschitzke's manager Liam Pickering said yesterday the long planned visit to the neurosurgeon had reaffirmed initial findings from Epworth Hospital on Sunday that the fainting spell was not related to the fracture in his skull he received six weeks ago. Pickering said there was still no definite timetable for the ruckman's return to the game.
The Article Karen Lyon/TheAge/20Jun03
Koschitzke's return flagged by Saints Jim Wilson/HeraldSun/20Jun03
Kosi receives green light Greg Denham/TheAustralian/20Jun03

St Kilda star told to ease up as parents watch their son faint
Koschitzke regained consciousness immediately after he fainted, while his girlfriend Alicia telephoned his parents, Lorraine and Greg, who were watching the television at home in Brocklesby. He walked to the ambulance after the incident and was taken to Melbourne's Epworth Hospital where a precautionary brain scan showed Koschitzke's skull fracture was healing well. He was discharged about 12.30pm, 2½ hours after he fainted. It was speculated Koschitzke also fainted about 10 days ago and kept the incident quiet, but the Saints coach Grant Thomas and Pickering could not confirm this.
The Article Bordermail/TheAge/19Jun03

"After discussions with club doctors, I wouldn't be surprised to see him (Kosi) playing again within a month," Dr Peter Larkins

Saints signal Koschitzke return
Confusion continued last night over what caused star Saint Justin Koschitzke to collapse while being interviewed on TV at the weekend. Speculation on when he will play again this season is also the subject of discussion, with sports medical expert Dr Peter Larkins declaring Koschitzke should be back within a few weeks. Larkins agrees with Saints medical staff and a neurosurgeon who said the incident on Channel 7's Sportsworld had no connection with the fractured skull Koschitzke suffered six weeks ago.
The Article Jim Wilson/HeraldSun/20Jun03
Round 12 injuries list AAP/HeraldSun/19Jun03
Koschitzke hoping to return soon ABCSport/20Jun03

Scorpions - Match Report
In fresh and sunny conditions, the Casey Scorpions thrashed the living daylights out of Port Melbourne by 96 points at Casey Fields on Sunday afternoon . . . From this victory, Saints fans will be hopeful that these performances from the St Kilda listed players from this match will help over the next two weeks to push for selection, and lift the Saints as they head into the mid season break before they face Hawthorn. Mark Mc Gough returned for his first match for a while and found the football once again with 35 possessions (21 kicks, 14 handballs, 10 marks, 6 clearances). Allan Murray had a busy day around the ground with 25 possessions (16 kicks, 9 handballs, 11 marks). Other Saints to impress were Dylan Pfitzner also with 25 possessions (16 kicks, 9 handballs, 3 spoils), along with Barry Brooks (11 possessions:- 9 kicks, 2 handballs, 8 marks, 4 goals). Sam Gilbert worked hard in defence as well (11 possessions: 5 kicks, 6 handballs, 6 pressures, 7 spoils).
Scorpions smash Port Melbourne on the road to victory Gary Romeo/saints.com.au/19Jun06

Ball given the all clear
St Kilda has received some much-needed good news on the injury front with inspirational midfielder Luke Ball cleared of a recurrence of osteitis pubis. With Robert Harvey - who will be sidelined for three weeks after injuring his hamstring last Friday night - joining midfielders Lenny Hayes and Andrew Thompson on the Saints' casualty list, Ball's absence would have been a crushing blow for the club.
The Article Andrew Wu/saints.com.au/19Jun03
Rookie Success? saintsational.com (Forum Thread)

Injuries soar towards record
. . . With more than 10 full rounds and finals to come, the all-time record of 21 set in 1997 is under serious threat. This year's ACL toll has already passed the final figure of the past three seasons - 2003 (11), 2004 (9) and 2005 (10). Leading sport medico John Orchard, co-author of the annual AFL injury report, said the spike in knee injuries would be a strong focus at the end of the season.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/20Jun03

It wouldn't hurt to yield for AFL to yield
Next weekend, St Kilda and Hawthorn will run onto Telstra Dome wearing blue and white checked police tape around their biceps. It will be a small show of support for the Silk-Miller Cup the two teams play for in honour of two murdered policemen, fans of both teams. But neither St Kilda nor Hawthorn will be fined $20,000 for this, because the AFL has approved the annual community-minded gesture since 1999. Under AFL rules blue and white is OK, but yellow is banned.
The Article The Age/20Jun03

Justin Koschitzke is cleared
News reports have cleared Justin Koschitzke of any serious problems when he fainted on Channel 7's SportsWorld studio this morning. He was talking to David Schwarz about being only a few weeks off playing on the AFL weekly wrap when he starting mumbling and he fell backwards. It was later reported that he did not have any breakfast and had just fainted.
Saintsational Thread saintsational.com
 Link to Video seven.com.au/18Jun06

"There is no evidence whatsoever there are any other mitigating medical problems that may have contributed to his faint, He is perfectly well now."
Club doctor Ian Stone

'Kosy' collapses in TV studio
. . . "The good news for Justin and his family is that he's going to hospital and the signs are good. He does have a little bit of memory loss but only very slight. The medicos did say he fainted and lost a bit of blood pressure but he'll be OK." Schwarz said before he had collapsed live on air, Koschitzke had been looking forward to joining his St Kilda teammates on their mid-season break in Bonnie Doon, in north-east Victoria, for a week-long camp. "He said that he caught up with some ex-players last night in Stewart Loewe and they played a bit of poker but he had an early night," said Schwarz. "He came in (to the studio) with his partner Alicia and we're glad she was here because she did the ring-around to his family and manager Liam Pickering. "
The Article Daniel Pace/foxsports.news.com.au/18Jun03

Koschitzke on-air collapse
Koschitzke, who fractured his skull in a clash with Western Bulldog Daniel Giansiracusa last month, collapsed on Channel 7's Sportsworld. Koschitzke, 23, started swaying and slurring his words during an interview with former Melbourne player David Schwarz before collapsing and falling backwards. A shocked Schwarz tried to catch Koschitzke as he fell.
The Article Matt Cunningham, Sarah Wotherspoon and Dina Rosendorff/HeraldSun/19Jun03
Koschitzke collapses on TV set Daniel Pace of AAP/HeraldSun/18Jun03

Saint's faint 'not linked to head injury'
Perhaps the only thing more startling than Justin Koschitzke's collapse on television yesterday was the fact that the ambulance that ferried him to the Epworth hospital for precautionary scans didn't crash on the way. For when Koschitzke lost consciousness yesterday morning, slumping to the floor of the Channel Seven studio from which he was co-presenting a Sportsworld segment with David Schwarz, it was yet another episode in the story of misfortune the St Kilda ruckman has been living through for years. It was only six weeks ago, against the Western Bulldogs, that Koschitzke's skull was fractured in a shuddering collision with Daniel Giansiracusa. The hearing he lost in his right ear as a consequence of that clash of heads has yet to return, although it had improved sufficiently to allow the Saint to gingerly return to training 11 days ago. St Kilda's doctor Ian Stone dismissed suggestions of a link between what he described as "a simple faint" and the head injuries Koschitzke suffered in the Bulldogs match.
The Article Stephen Rielly and Kate Hagan/TheAge/19Jun03

Kosi faint due to illness
. . . The St Kilda star had told Schwarz prior to being interviewed that he played poker with some ex-players from the club on Saturday night, but did not stay out late. Koschitzke, 23, has played just two matches this season. He missed the opening three rounds with a knee injury, while he suffered a quadriceps injury in round five before sustaining the fractured skull. After winning the 2001 AFL Rising Star, Koschitzke has battled a number of injuries throughout his career. He has played 73 matches, but has played just 53 since 2002, although he remains one of St Kilda's most important players.
The Article Andrew Wu/saints.com.au/16Jun03

Koschitzke told to ease off
St Kilda star Justin Koschitzke has been told to lighten his attempt at an AFL comeback from a fractured skull after he fainted on national television today. Dehydration, a lingering virus and no breakfast are considered the likely reasons Koschitzke, 23, fainted minutes into a segment on Channel Seven's Sportsworld program, rather than by the effects of the head injury he suffered six weeks ago in a bump from Bulldog Daniel Giansiracusa.
The Article AAP/HeraldSun/18Jun03
Footy Survey Logo Footy Fan Survey seven.com.au

St Kilda waits on Ball scans
St Kilda, already facing three weeks without champion midfielder Robert Harvey, will sweat on results of scans that will determine whether captain Luke Ball's osteitis pubis has recurred. After the Saints' 10-goal battering by Adelaide on Friday night, Ball said he had an "ongoing battle" with the condition. "I've had a little injury at the start of the year and I've probably got a bit of an ongoing battle with my osteitis pubis, but nothing very serious, to be honest," Ball told 3AW. "I'm honestly not that bad. I've probably played 70 or 75 games now and I've probably been like this or pretty similar for all those games." In his medical review yesterday, Ball, who has missed two matches this year with a groin-related problem, complained of soreness, which prompted the club to book him in for tests.
The Article Samantha Lane/TheAge/18Jun03

Saints still believe
St Kilda's form so far in 2006 may have been "hot and cold", but assistant coach Matt Rendell says the club has certainly not given up hope of being a legitimate contender for this year's premiership. A week after winning a hard slog against reigning premier Sydney in heavy conditions at the SCG, the Saints were no match for Adelaide in the round 12 opener at Telstra Dome on Friday night, going down by 63 points. But while Rendell says it won't be the end of the world if the club fails to end a premiership drought that is heading towards 40 years this season, he believes recent history suggests the Saints can still turn things around this year. "I think if it doesn't happen this year and we lose some senior players at the end of the year, our opportunities are still big because we might be in the top quartile of average age at the moment but I think we drop to the bottom quartile next year," Rendell told Triple M radio on Saturday afternoon. "You would say we're a pretty young team and they've gained a lot of experience over the last three or four years. Certainly they're not an excuse but you need all your good players playing and we haven't been able to manage that in the last few years."
The Article Luke Buttigieg/Sportal/saints.com.au/17Jun03

Saints' 1966 win taught a child a vital lesson
Friends scoff at my ardour for Aussie football, I'm afraid. They seem to think that, as a psychologist, I should seek out a psychologically sophisticated pastime rather than barracking for the St Kilda Football Club. But I've always learned plenty from going to the footy. I grew up in 1950s and 1960s Hobart. My father ran one of the old corner stores and he worked long hours before he came at night into our substandard dwelling behind the shop. We felt the want of money. Yet, on a Saturday, Dad paid for himself and me to attend the Sandy Bay Football Club games in the Tasmanian Football League.
The Article Rosemary Williams/TheAge/18Jun03


ALL 2006 ARTICLES l HOME l GO BACK