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2007 Pre Season Articles - Page 10
. . . "We know where we are at I think. We know who can stand up and who can't," Lyon said. "We will go forward over the next three weeks and make decisions based on that. We really have to fortify our defence. It has been a real issue in the last couple of games and it was highlighted again tonight." One bright point for Lyon was the successful return from injury of key defender Matt Maguire. The Saints coach waited until the 17th minute of the third term to introduce Maguire, who broke his left leg in August. He appeared strong and sound albeit a little rusty. The Article Michelangelo Rucci/HeraldSun/10Mar07 Brash pups shine Michelangelo Rucci/AdelaideAdveriser/10Mar07 Saints lose, but get Maguire back St Kilda lost a meaningless trial but no one felt a bigger winner than Matt Maguire as he walked off AAMI Stadium against Port Adelaide last night. Coach Ross Lyon re-introduced him to the faithful during a brief stint from late in the third quarter, and while he has a long way to go in his comeback, the signs were positive. It was Maguire's first appearance after a series of operations last year to repair breaks in his left leg. The cameo performance probably does not deserve rave reviews, but the mere fact the champion is on centre stage again was far greater news than Port's 57-point win. Also significant for Port was that an early pre-season prediction by coach Mark Williams that Nathan Krakouer would weave some of the magic of his famous football uncles Phil and Jimmy was ringing true . . . These games rarely tell us anything about the forthcoming season. But high among the encouraging signs for fans of both teams was the fact they played well without two of the best centre half-forwards in the land, Warren Tredrea and Riewoldt. The Article Ashley Porter/TheAgeRealFooty/10Mar07 Lyon points finger at defence Coach Ross Lyon said his team's defence was "virtually non-existent" and a number of key players failed to make an impact as the Saints were soundly beaten by Port Adelaide on Friday night . . . "We know where we are at and I think we know who can stand up and who can't," a Lyon said.  The Article AFL BigPond Network/saints.com.au/10Mar07
Saintsational and Barks Going spare in cyberspace . . . Members are often brought to the point of confrontation, and annoying posters get hammered. At Saintsational, St Kilda's unofficial site, a fan who calls himself "Barks 4 Eva" (after the late Trevor Barker) was the target this week. Barks is a long-time Grant Thomas detractor who felt vindicated when the Saints removed their previous coach last year. He has also argued long and hard that St Kilda's lack of bona fide ruckmen under Thomas hurt the club. Hence, it was all too much when The Age published an article last weekend about Matthew Clarke, the former Adelaide and Brisbane Lions ruckman who has been lured to Moorabbin to help out at the stoppages. Barks launched into another tirade and copped it back as well. At last look, he had disappeared from Saintsational. A lot of what is written on these sites is mindless twaddle. Some of it actually makes sense. Some of it is downright funny . . . And there is the ongoing mystery of Cassius, a poster on Saintsational who defends the performance of former coach Thomas against the likes of "Barks 4 Eva". Cassius is believed to be either Clay Thomas, Grant's son, or Thomas himself. Judge for yourself with this post from Cassius this week: "b4e its your right to dispute but it works better when you have facts mate. Once again I'm happy to cop the flak on him but dont make it up. That aint fair." The Article Martin Blake/TheAgeRealFooty/10Mar07 Port powers past Saints Port Adelaide new boys David Rodan and Nathan Krakouer impressed as Power cantered to a 57-point victory over St Kilda in the AFL practice match at AAMI Stadium tonight. Power produced a strong third term to hold a six-goal break at the last change before winning 21.14 (140) to 12.11 (83) . . . Stephen Milne kicked four goals for the Saints, while Nick Dal Santo, Brendon Goddard and Robert Harvey all worked hard. Former Adelaide player Matthew Clarke had a nondescript return to his former home ground, shaded in the ruck by Dean Brogan. St Kilda spearhead Nick Riewoldt was named to play but did not appear at any stage. The Article AAP/FoxSports/09Mar07 Rodan stars for Power . . . Both teams had too many good players out for it to be considered a meaningful contest from which any short or long-term conclusions could be drawn. But there were enough individual highlights for coaches Mark Williams and Ross Lyon to find some positives, although they might have had a few problems seeing them amid the gloom of the first half when the lights were inadvertently not turned on to full capacity . . . Nippy Stephen Milne booted four of the Saints' 11 goals and Jason Blake and Luke Ball got two each. Speedy blond Clinton Jones confirmed his encouraging pre-season form, Nick Dal Santo, Robert Harvey, Andrew Thompson and Brendon Goddard won plenty of the ball, as usual, Matt Maguire had a satisfactory run in the third quarter and in some of the final term, but Nick Riewoldt did not appear. The Article Alan Shiell/Sportal/09Mar07 Barker on the attack Over the coming days, on saints.com.au, the 2007 squad will be previewed by the club's assistant coaches. In the first part of the series, forward coach John Barker talks about his charges in attack. Barry Brooks: 'Brooksy' has had a pretty good pre-season and been pretty lively in the first few practice matches, so he's the type of guy that if he really wants to grab his game by the scruff of the neck, he could have a good future in the AFL. Fraser Gehrig: He's been a great performer over a long period of time and he hasn't missed a beat in training at all this pre-season, so hopefully he can have another great year, backing on from all of the rest of them. He's just a great footballer. The Article Matt Burgan/saints.com.au/09Mar07
ROBERT Harvey has been the grand old man of footy for the past two years and is about to commit his ageing body - it is closing in on its 37th year - to one final season in the hope of finally being part of a premiership team. And if the mere thought of yet another year of footy, his 20th, doesn't make the St Kilda warrior feel old, this chilling stat surely will. You see, a check of the playing lists of 2007 has established that when Harvey made his league debut 15 days short of his 17th birthday - it was on August 6, 1988, in a round-19 match against Footscray at Whitten Oval - 42 players on this year's AFL playing lists (including rookies) had not even been born. What's more, Collingwood's Ben Reid, the league's youngest player in 2007 - he turns 18 next month - did not make his way into this world until eight months later, meaning he had only just been conceived. Needless to say, a lot has changed in Harvey's 19-plus years. Not only does the body that has played 340 games and kicked 204 goals (and won him two Brownlow Medals) feel and look a lot older - that classic photograph of him . . . was taken in his third season in 1990 The Article Geoff McClure/TheAgeRealFooty/08Mar07 We'll run them off their feet . . . Port, which plays St Kilda in a NAB Regional Challenge match at AAMI Stadium (7pm) tonight, has speed on every line. In the midfield, Shaun and Peter Burgoyne and Danyle Pearce lead the charge, Daniel Motlop and Brett Ebert provide the most pace up forward and Jacob Surjan and Nathan Lonie the serious leg speed in the back half. Peter Burgoyne was the Power's fastest over 20 metres in pre-season testing. Forward Josh Mahoney says Port's torturous pre-season - which has involved lots of running - has been dedicated to improving pace and endurance. "We're going to play fast footy," he said. "We'll have a fast game. We'll be willing to run. That's why we've had a hard pre-season." The Article Andrew Capel/AdelaideAdvertiser/09Mar07 . . . After a five-season absence from broadcasting AFL, Seven has been bold enough to interview players such as St Kilda's Andrew Thompson near the interchange while the game is in progress. Whether veteran Thompson and new Saints coach Ross Lyon would be equally as receptive to the idea in the premiership season remains to be seen. Keep out of our face Andrew Capel/AdelaideAdvertiser/09Mar07
The injury problems that were a factor in derailing St Kilda's premiership hopes in the past two seasons should not play a part this year, according to the club's new conditioning coach. Peter Mulkearns, who took charge of the Saints' strength and conditioning program last week, said the soft tissue problems that had affected the club so badly could be avoided simply by installing a continuous training program and having the right emphasis on recovery. "If you have a look at how they've been conditioned, how they've been strengthened, how they've followed the basic principles of general conditioning, you'll be able to get a handle on injuries," said Mulkearns, who has taken over from Craig Starcevich at Moorabbin. Aaron Hamill (knee), Justin Koschitzke (fractured skull), Lenny Hayes (knee), Xavier Clarke (hip) and Raphael Clarke (quad) missed a combined 72 games because of their injuries last season, while Matt Maguire broke his leg late in the year. "Soft tissue injuries do happen, there's no science to stopping them completely, but if we get everything right and we get the systems right and get continuity in training, hopefully they won't be as prevalent." The Article Emma Quayle/TheAgeRealFooty/04Mar07 Saints chief accused of mistreatment St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser last night vowed to vigorously defend allegations he had mistreated two senior women employees at the club who have become the first in the AFL to take their concerns to head office. The two women - one of whom recently resigned from the club after taking one week's stress leave - have approached the AFL's human resources chief Jane Hollman with a series of alleged concerns including verbal abuse. As a result of their unofficial complaints, AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has contacted St Kilda president Rod Butterss, who is investigating the incidents. There is no suggestion Fraser has sexually harassed either woman, both of whom have held senior positions within the club. "My record of dealing with professional women is as good as anyone's," Fraser told The Age. "These are two women, both of whom are under performance review, who have chosen to go to the AFL. If my name gets dragged through the mud, I won't be happy but I will be very happy to defend myself." The Article Caroline Wilson/TheAgeRealFooty/08Mar07 Port to rest five against St Kilda Port Adelaide will rest a number of gun players for their practice match against St Kilda with coach Mark Williams saying he wanted the AFL team ready for the regular season. In the side to take on the Saints at AAMI Stadium on Friday night, vice-captains Chad Cornes, Brendon Lade and Michael Wilson, along with Kane Cornes and Shaun Burgoyne are to be rested. Forward Damon White will also miss the game after suffering a slight corked thigh during the Power's extra-time loss to Geelong in Darwin last weekend. Williams said the defeat in extreme monsoonal conditions had tired some players but the focus was on readying the side for its round one clash against Fremantle in Perth. The Article AAP/SydneyMorningHerald/07Mar07
Matt Maguire, his career seemingly jeopardised by a gruesome leg injury that required a series of operations, will play practice match football before the season, a development that has buoyed the Saints. Maguire is flying at training - joining in full training, running without restriction and, according to club insiders, is set to play a practice match, if not this weekend then in the fortnight before the season begins. The imminent return of the key defender, who received bad breaks to both the tibia and fibula in his left leg and who had no less than nine operations, coincides with the resumption of co-captain Lenny Hayes, who also is expected to play at least one practice match before the season begins and is in the mix for Saturday's game against Port Adelaide. The Article Jake Niall/TheAgeRealFooty/06Mar07 Riewoldt leads returning brigade St Kilda co-captain Nick Riewoldt is expected to play his first match of the pre-season when the Saints tackle Port Adelaide in a practice match at AAMI Stadium on Saturday. Riewoldt has been sidelined with a hamstring injury. But the Saints say Michael Gardiner, recruited from West Coast, is unlikely to play. He is among a group of several players who are aiming to be ready for the opening round of the season against Melbourne on March 30. Andrew Thompson, Matthew Clarke, Xavier Clarke and Leigh Montagna, who missed last week's practice match against Collingwood, should also be available for the Port game. Gardiner (knee), Justin Koschitzke (quad), Max Hudghton (groin), Lenny Hayes (knee) and Matt Maguire (leg) are expected to be filtered into the side during the next couple of weeks, with the aim of them being available in the opening or the few few rounds of the premiership season. The Article Daryl Timms/TheAustralian/07Mar07
First they discovered the king of cricket, Sir Donald Bradman, had distant Italian heritage. Now they have uncovered a member of Australian football's royalty, triple Brownlow Medallist Ian Stewart, has a direct connection to Italy. Tasmanian-born Stewart's true heritage has been disclosed in research for the VFL-AFL Italian Team of the Century to be named in May, most probably with Adelaide skipper and fellow Brownlow Medallist Mark Ricciuto as its captain . . . Stewart says he has not previously spoken of his Italian background to protect his late mother. He has eagerly accepted his invitation to the VFL-AFL Italian Team of the Century dinner in Melbourne on Thursday, May 31 when he is expected to command the centre position. The Article Michelangelo Rucci/AdelaideAdvertsier/14Mar07 Former AFL chief dies Former AFL Commission chairman Ron Evans died today after a battle with cancer. His wife, Andrea, was at his side. Mr Evans, 67, resigned last month after being diagnosed with abdominal cancer on the eve of the 2006 finals series. His successor is Carlton premiership captain Mike Fitzpatrick. The respected elder statesman was a mentor to AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou. Mr Evans oversaw landmark developments in the game, including two of the biggest broadcast deals in sport and the building of Telstra Dome.Mr Evans was regarded as one of the most influential men in football. He joined the AFL commission in 1993 and replaced John Kennedy as chairman five years later. The respected administrator was to be inducted as an AFL life member later this month. The Article Karen Collier/HeraldSun/09Mar07
St Kilda's Matt Maguire will launch his comeback tomorrow night, just seven months after snapping a leg. Maguire will play up to half the practice game against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said last night: "He said today 'I'm ready to go'. He wants to play. He's actually ready to play; he was ready to play last week. He just made the decision late today. It was up to him; he's done the work. There's no risk in what he's doing, other than those facing any other player running down the race." The Article Mike Sheahan and Michael Stevens/HeraldSun/08Mar07 AFL photo deal loses sight of bigger picture Thomas Hunter writes: In a move thought to be unprecedented in global sport, photographers from international news agencies like Reuters, AFP, AP and Getty Images have been locked out of AFL games for season 2007  The Article (Locked)by Thomas Hunter crikey.com.au Jobs for the boys anyone??? . . . read on . . . Sorry to break the news . . . but according to an article on crikey.com today, Getty images and a host of other picture agencies will not be able to sell Pics of AFL games. This contract has gone to Geoff Slattery Publishing, who just happens to share an office with the AFL and are the publishers of the AFL Record! No more AFL pics on Getty images by 'saint66au' saintsational.com Snappers in wrangle over AFL coverage Radio Transcript | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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TONY EASTLEY: At any sports event you'll see them, perched on the sidelines with their oversized camera lenses trained on the field of play to catch the very best shot of the day. Sport and press photographers go hand in hand, but not it seems with the AFL. Some of the world's biggest press agencies have accused the football league of breaching editorial independence after it denied them access to football matches this season. The move has sparked a row between the AFL and the World Association of Newspapers, which says the AFL's move to appoint its own official photographer is a money grab.
This report from AM's Daniel Hoare. DANIEL HOARE: If the AFL has been setting out to win friends among those in the media who cover its sport, the organisation has certainly been doing a good job of hiding it. Last month, the league kept a large media contingent waiting for nearly four hours after calling journalists to a press conference to announce its new programming schedule. And now, the AFL has drawn the ire of some of the world's biggest press agencies after refusing their photographers access to its games.The AFL says it's all about protecting its copyright to reproduce images of its own product. Full Transcript Tony Easley/AM ABC Radio Daniel Hoare reporting Pre-season tournament offers a cup of nonsense . . . If you remember who won last year's pre-season cup at all, it is only because you know it didn't do Carlton one bit of good in the season proper - or was that the year before? Whatever, you know that winning the pre-season comp has become in fact a curse. You know in any case that the cup had a different name last year or the year before, and will probably have another different name next year, and that the medal for the best player in the pre-season finale is such an obscure award that the man after whom it is named forgot it one night - at the presentation . . . The AFL must be the only sporting body in the world that runs two half-programs of matches. The first is irrelevant, the second - squeezed by the first - is incomplete. It is like being a little bit pregnant, all the time. Shamelessly. The Article Greg Baum/HeraldSun/09Mar07 Going back to 'ressies' could get fans closer to the game One of the great paradoxes of the modern game for diehard football supporters is that while they might see, hear and read a lot more about it than ever before, there's somehow a greater distance between them and the clubs they follow. Footy fans can jump on the internet and read biographies and the vital statistics of any one of 650-odd AFL players. It's actually seeing them with their own eyes and forming their own opinions, and attachments, that's often the problem. You used to be able to cast a keen eye over your team at training on your way home from work or school, something all but impossible these days with round-the-clock and closed sessions. Turn up at the same suburban ground on Saturday and you could come as close as humanly possible to some of football's biggest superstars, a lot harder now from the top deck of Telstra Dome. The Article Rohan Connolly/TheAgeRealFooty/09Mar07 Umps in for a shock Umpires with vibrating wristbands could become a fixture in AFL games. Although the league will not rush the introduction of the technology, AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson last night described the NAB Cup trial as "promising" . . . The league quietly used electronic wristbands in Friday night's Brisbane-Geelong game. The AFL will again look at the system, where wristbands vibrate the instant the timekeeper hits the siren. The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/13Mar07 Punters not 'all clear' on correct cup scores Betting agencies are pushing for an official "all-clear" in NAB Cup games after a late score change in Friday night's Brisbane Lions-Geelong clash. Punters who thought they had collected on the result were shocked to discover the AFL had cut Brisbane's winning margin from 15 to 12 points. The adjustment was not made public until several minutes after the siren, affecting bets. A nine-point goal awarded to the Lions' Luke Power deep in time-on in the final term was scaled back to a six-pointer after umpires' advisers informed the officiating umpires of the mistake. AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said yesterday the change was made before the umpires left the field -- and both clubs had known of the overrule within a minute of Power's kick. The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/13Mar07 Clubs debate push for 26 rounds An extension of the AFL's home-and-away season to at least 26 rounds will be tabled for discussion at next month's annual meeting of club chief executive officers. Hawthorn's Ian Robson has backed his president Jeff Kennett's call for debate on removing the pre-season competition and making all inter-club games part of the premiership season. "Obviously Andrew (Demetriou, AFL chief executive) has already set a very significant agenda item - the boys behaving badly - but we will look to have this discussed as well," Robson said. The Article Damian Barrett/HeraldSun/14Mar07 GO BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE
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