westofmoorabbin.com
|
|
|
| HOME l GO BACK |
2007 Pre Season Articles - Page 6
I'm here to win first up: Lyon
| |||||||||||||||||||
Click to View
 Click to enlarge Source: HeraldSun Pic: Wayne Ludbey |
Watts endures five ops
. . . Watts, almost forgotten among St Kilda's list of injuries, has had five operations on his left leg in the past 10 months. The problems started when Watts suffered a broken fibula and disjointed ankle last April. After a series of complications, Watts, a key position prospect, is still at least four to six weeks away from playing. "It's touch and go. I can't really mess with it too much. If it takes a bit longer, it takes a bit longer," Watts said yesterday. The Saints rated Watts highly enough to give up their first round pick to Adelaide in the 2005 trade period. He played in the Round 1 loss to West Coast last year, but hasn't been sighted at senior level since.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/15Feb07
Fitzy admits to betting
Ex-Swans and Crows player Ryan Fitzgerald became the latest player involved in the AFL betting scandal, saying on his Nova 919 breakfast show he had bet on football while playing. "I'm going to admit to you now - I did it, when I was playing AFL. I bet against other teams. Not the team I was playing for, but I bet." Fitzgerald said he didn't see a problem with players betting, provided it wasn't on their club.
The Article Leith Forres/AdelaideAdvertiser/19Feb07
AFL broadens inquiry Greg Denham/FoxSports/19Feb07
All bets off as AFL broadens its inquiry Greg Denham/FoxSports/19Feb07
They didn't read fine print AdelaideAdvertiser/19Feb07
More stars may be dragged in Michelangelo Rucci & Mark Dunn/HeraldSun/19Feb07
Bans for high shirt-front
The "big hit" has not quite been banned from AFL football, but its use has been severely restricted under changes introduced after the annual review of the AFL Tribunal. The fact that the front-on bump to a player deemed to have his head over the ball will be a reportable offence already had been foreshadowed, but the AFL moved further in making players liable for contact to the head or neck even in delivering an otherwise legitimate bump. So a "shirt-front" bump that involves any contact above the shoulder line is also liable to draw a suspension.
The Article Len Johnson/TheAgeRealFooty/17Feb07
AFL defends new rules after Pie's blast Carley Jellett/TheAgeRealFooty/18Feb07
 Click to enlarge TheAgeRealFooty Pic: Mal Fairclough  Click to enlarge TheAgeRealFooty Pic: Mal Fairclough |
Lenny Hayes on SEN
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
Would rather have Chris Judd than Jonathan Brown at St Kilda if he had to choose (was the topic of discussion before he was interviewed). Everything's going well . . . on schedule for round 1, but won't push it. Hasn't started contact work yet, but that should start in 2-3 weeks. Hopes to play a couple of praccy games. A lot of the guys are tapering off at the moment after a big pre-season. Compared to previous pre-seasons: Hasn't been totally different, a lot of running, weights etc. A few different things emphasised in terms of what is happening with the footy . . . probably gone a bit harder than the previous year. Less injuries this year and the players have worked harder on the track . . .
Full Trancsript Here This site
or at saintsational.com by '2007'
Master of space and time craves tangible reward
. . . As Dal Santo prepares for another season with St Kilda - his sixth since making his debut in 2002 - the popular perception is that another clock is ticking. This one - as sinister as the timepiece swallowed by Captain Hook's crocodile - measures the time left for a very talented list to win a premiership. St Kilda is widely held to have under-achieved - a judgement based on having failed to secure even a grand final appearance from a list top-heavy with first-round draft picks. Injury has played a part, it is conceded, but so, too, has a failure to grasp opportunities when presented. It is not a notion with which Dal Santo agrees. "We've been hearing that for a little while, people saying that we've had our chance," he says. "We finished eighth last year, but were equal-fourth on points, so we're still competitive with the best sides. We're not going backwards. We've got a pretty good squad. It's just a matter of getting it right at the right time of year and maybe a little bit of luck with injuries to key players."
The Article Len Johnson/TheAgeRealFooty/14Feb07
Just grand, boys!
Bloodlines run deep in the AFL. Just ask Fremantle defender James Walker, whose great-grandfather is one of the most famous footballers of all - former Collingwood great Gordon Coventry. But it's not until you really delve into footy's vast archives that you realise just how far it extends . . . Take, for example, St Kilda's Luke Ball and Hawthorn recruit (and fellow former Xavier College student) Josh Kennedy. Ball and his brother, former Hawthorn player Matthew Ball, are the sons of ex-Richmond and South Melbourne player Ray Ball . . . Others with some famous pedigree include Lenny Hayes (St Kilda). His great-grandfather, Vin Maguire, played 43 games with Geelong between 1915 and 1919.
The Article Geoff McClure/TheAgeRealFooty/14Feb07
Head rule strikes at injuries
The AFL has a simple message to footballers amid the complex changes to its reporting and tribunal rules: if you bump a player in the head, you will be responsible for the consequences. This means that Daniel Giansiracusa would have been suspended for last year's skull-fracturing hit on Justin Koschitzke, Alan Didak for his head-high shepherd on Heath Scotland and Byron Pickett for his shoulder charge on an unsuspecting Ryan Crowley which left the young Docker with a broken cheekbone. The laws governing body contact have been altered substantially. Under a new rule, it is a reportable offence to bump a player from front-on when he has his head down over the ball. In a revised definition of rough play, any other forceful bumps to the head or neck are reportable. The exception to this is if a player did not have a "realistic alternative" to contest the ball, or to tackle or shepherd in a more reasonable manner.
The Article Chip Le Grand/TheAustralian/17Feb07
Bumpy ride for transgressors Bruce Matthews/HeraldSun/17Feb07
New Player Pics and profiles
The 2007 Player profile photo's are now up on the Official Site
saints.com.au Link
AFL says it's encouraging contested marks
Adrian Anderson has rejected claims by Sydney coach Paul Roos that new rule interpretations will make it "almost impossible" for umpires to keep AFL football games free-flowing. The AFL's general manager of football operations also defended the laws of the game committee, saying that continual monitoring of the game had ensured "it remains the most exciting, safe and best spectacle it can be". Anderson also rejected the suggestion that coaches and clubs had been told there would be no further rule changes.
The Article Len Johnson/TheAgeRealFooty/13Feb07
Uniforms go hi-tech Carolyn Ford/HeraldSun/13Feb07
 Click to enlarge Robert Harvey ABC Sport - file Thumbnail retouched |
Banging On with Robert Harvey
Robert Harvey: ". . . Ross Lyon is the seventh coach I have played under throughout my career at St Kilda. I remember playing against him back in the 90's and he was a hard-at-it player. I can recall pretty clearly a few hip and shoulders he gave out during that time. I met Ross a few times but didn't know him well. In his short time with us it has become clear that his style is one the players are embracing. Ross is pretty calm and his demeanour pretty even, but one thing's for sure, players know where they stand and what's expected of them. Ross is organised and diligent with his structures and there is little grey area in players knowing their roles. Coming from Sydney under Paul Roos, Ross has brought some new ideas and some new strategies that should fit in well with the personnel that we have. There is always an adjustment period when a new coach comes in and over the last fortnight it's been noticeable among the players that the penny is dropping on Ross's game style."
The Post 'Davo027' FrankstonLeader/saintsational.com
Harvey ready to go again
The AFL's oldest player, St Kilda veteran Robert Harvey, freely admits he thought 2006 would be his last year. But now as he prepares for an amazing 20th season in the AFL, the champion midfielder sounds like an excited rookie as he describes the huge impact new coach Ross Lyon has made at Moorabbin. Harvey has seen plenty of coaches during his record 340 games with the Saints and former Fitzroy player Lyon will be his seventh, following on from Darrell Baldock, Ken Sheldon, Stan Alves, Tim Watson, Malcolm Blight and Grant Thomas. But Harvey, who admits he would have retired had the Saints won any of the past three premierships, is nothing but optimistic about the Saints' chances of finally winning their second premiership under Lyon's tutelage.
The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/saints.com.au/10Feb07
 Luke Ball Image: HeraldSun |
Ball Yeah!!
He was captain and he was playing hurt. There were fears a deliberating groin injury could end his season with one false step. So is he now finally fit to showcase his prodigious talent?
Luke Ball's eyes should be focused above the goal umpires head. Instead, they nervously dart sideways. A measly 40m feels more like 80m. Most bush hacks would back themselves to take a shot, yet the St Kilda skipper desperately looks for help. Someone offer a lead. Pleeeeaase. It was a scene that became all too common for Ball last season as he wrestled with the physical and mental demons associated with osteitis pubis. Ball struggles to recall roosting it over 40m at all. "I might have tried . . . but I didn't feel confident kicking with any power at all," Ball said this week. "It felt like if I was to really try and unload with a kick, it would tear it and do even further damage. It was a confidence thing. A protection thing." As an All Australian, best and fairest winner and No. 2 draftee accustomed to doing as he pleased through the junior ranks, you couldn't blame Ball for feeling humiliated. Suddenly, he was rendered powerless by wretched groin soreness.
The Thread 'i_luv_nick_riewoldt' et al saintsational.com
Article by Mark Stevens, HeraldSun 10Feb07
No link to article found on the 'HeraldSun' website
I want to lead again
As the St Kilda squad sweated its way through a South Afrian training camp in late 2004, a support staffer watched Luke Ball in awe. "You could hand over the captaincy to 'Bally' now, throw the key in the Zambezi River, we'd be just fine for the next 10 years," he muttered. Back then, Ball was just 20, with Grant Thomas' rotation system still in place. But it was clear to some at Moorabbin that there was a standout in their midst. Under Thomas' revolving-door captaincy policy, Nick Riewoldt landed the 2005 gig. No one argued because the Saints possessed enviable leadership depth. What would Carlton give for such a selection dilemma? Ball, predictably, was next in line. He captained the Saints for 21 games last year . . . Now, with a new coach with a fresh outlook on the captaincy, both Ball and Riewoldt have another shot. With Lenny Hayes, Aaron Hamill and Justin Koschitzke focused on returning from injuries, it seems a two?way race. Riewoldt put his hand up as a contender early this week - and now Ball has made his intentions clear.
The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/10Feb07
Also available here 'i_luv_nick_riewoldt' et al saintsational.com
Scorpions Sports Breakfast
Ken Sheldon and Tony Elsaugh Breaking the News on the "Saints"
Business 'Sports' Breakfast - Friday 9th March 2007
The Details scorpions.com.au
 Click to enlarge Sam and Steve at Brighton Baths springvalefc.com.au |
Saints and Scorpions train together
St Kilda's VFL aligned Club, the Casey Scorpions participated in a joint training session and breakfast with the Saints squad on Saturday, at the Brighton Baths. The training session was beneficial for both Clubs as it was basically an introduction to kick off the season" said Development Coach, Danny Sexton. St Kilda's Tony Elshaug, General Manager Football Development and Scorpions Coach Peter Banfield addressed the teams as part of the session. Both playing groups mingled and joined eachother in skills and training sessions as they prepare for the 2007 VFL/AFL seasons" said Development Coach, Danny Sexton. The Saints open the 2007 AFL season on Friday, 30th March against the Demons at the MCG, 7pm while the Scoprions' season kicks off the following week on Sunday, 8th April against North Ballarat at Austar Arena, 2pm.
The Article springvalefccom.au website
Vale Jack Lowry
Jack Lowry who played for St Kilda during the WW2 period, died at the age of 90. Jack tied in the VFA Medal in 1938 and then played 54 games for St Kilda in the number 9 jumper until around 1946.
Jack Lowry - R I P 'Duggie' et al saintsational.com
Boys glimpse a man's world
Before they start, Clayton Gartlett flings a pair of bright, white football boots onto the wooden floor. Jeff Farmer's signature is scrawled across them, in golden ink. Back in his room, Gartlett has a collection of snapshots to show everyone, too. This time in two years, several members of the latest Australian Institute of Sport-AFL academy intake will be nearing the end of their very first pre-season - league players at last. More will be in their second summer, ensconced and with a debut season quite possibly behind them. A couple will not have been drafted. But right now, these boys are 16 and 17 year olds, who know they want to be AFL footballers and have a healthy chance of doing that, but they are living only on the edge of that world, still trying to figure out what it's really like. Each player was assigned to an AFL club last month for a week of "work experience", and they shared their experiences during their training camp at Melbourne University the following week. They spoke with innocence, but an informed innocence, which made for interesting insights into the job they hope to soon have.
The Article Emma Quayle/TheAgeRealFooty/18Feb07
Million-dollar incentive for cups double
The AFL and its sponsors, NAB and Toyota, announced yesterday that a million-dollar bonus was on offer to any team that wins the 2007 pre-season and premiership competitions. The windfall will be split evenly between the club and players and will be outside the salary cap. The premier already pockets $1 million, and the NAB Cup titleholder $220,000 . . . Eyeing the million dollars in cash that was on show at the pre-season cup launch, St Kilda forward Nick Riewoldt said it was extra incentive to do well, if any player needed any. "I think there's always been a bit of a perception externally that players take it easy for the NAB Cup and clubs don't really value it but that's certainly not the case," Riewoldt said. "Once you're on the ground, it's hard to tell footballers to go 70 or 80 per cent. It's in their nature to go 100 per cent" . . . A cautious Riewoldt said he would miss the Saints' first-round NAB Cup clash with the Brisbane Lions in Cairns on February 24 as he recovered from an injured hamstring.
The Article Melissa Woods/TheAgeRealFooty/10Feb07
 Click to enlarge Dinner with Saints saints.com.au |