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Hamill hobbles into retirement St Kilda forward Aaron Hamill has pulled the plug on a football career plagued in its later years by a degenerative knee injury. Hamill, who is overseas, told the club yesterday he had retired. His decision ends a career that spanned more than a decade and included 98 games with the Saints and 92 with Carlton. Hamill missed the entire 2007 season after further surgery to an injured right knee that limited the bustling forward to just nine games in 2006. Former coach Grant Thomas said Hamill, 30, would be devastated to end his fierce playing career in such a tame fashion. "He was a great asset to the club and it would be gut-wrenching for him that he couldn't finish in a manner that more befitted his career," Thomas said yesterday. "To miss the last couple of years and dwindle off into the sunset isn't really what Aaron deserves. Unfortunately that's life. We all can't write our own scripts." Hamill joined the Saints in 2001 after five seasons with the Blues. He finished third in the best-and-fairest in his first year at Moorabbin and captained St Kilda in 2003. Thomas said Hamill was the prototype for today's breed of power forward . . . is the fifth Saint to retire, along with Andrew Thompson, Fraser Gehrig, Brett Voss and Matthew Clarke. Justin Sweeney and Phillip Raymond have been delisted, while rookies Jayden Attard and Clinton Jones have been elevated. The Article Gareth Trickey/HeraldSun/04Oct07 Hamill joins the long list of retired Saints AAP/RealFooty/04Oct07 Hamill calls it quits Sportal/03Oct07 Westaway sets Saints' agenda St Kilda president-elect Greg Westaway has reaffirmed his pledge that the board will provide the Saints with whatever resources are required to lift the club into finals contention and keep it there. Addressing his first media conference since the St Kilda board under Rod Butterss announced it was stepping aside clearing the way for the St Kilda Footy First group to take control, Westaway said he was looking forward to meeting the players as a group on Friday, and had a simple message for them. "We'll give them that little bit extra when they need to go the extra mile or extra yard when they need to in facilities, support, injury management, wellbeing or training that we think we can upgrade," he said. "We're 11th (in football department spending) and I would like to see us in the top four. The only place I would be happy being 16th is in media appearances. I'm a great believer that you've got to keep putting in at the bottom because there are people coming out at the top." While former board members John Gdanski and Ross Levin who switched to St Kilda Footy First are able to slot straight into their new roles, the remaining board members, Westaway, the managing director of Delaware North (Australia) Dana Nelson, Transurban CFO Chris Brandt, the Managing Director of Kingfisher Financial Solution Simon Grant and former players Nathan Burke and Andrew Thompson need to wait for their gaming licences to be approved. As they become available, they'll be co-opted onto the board and when there's a quorum of five, Westaway will be elected as president. The Article Angus Morgan/Sportal/03Oct07 Westaway puts players first ... We've gone third, third, eighth and ninth. It is hardly moving in the right direction. "That's really what it's all about and I don't believe we've necessarily given everything that we can to the players, which we have to do to make them perform at the top level. We're there to be in finals." He will promise more funding for the football department when he meets players, coaches and staff tomorrow before addressing members at the club's awards function that night. "It is the players' night, so really what I'll be doing is talking to the players. It's not about any political statements. Any plans, that comes a little bit later," Westaway said. "The message to the players from the board's point of view is that we will give them that little bit extra so they can go that extra mile. Facilities, support, injury management, well-being, training, which we think we can upgrade. I would have to look at the exact numbers, but we've been very poor in that area. I think we've been 11th in total football spending and I'd like to get that up to top four." The transport magnate said that while all positions at the club were under review, he anticipated hiring rather than firing staff. "I'm not the full bottle on recruiting and things of that nature. But I do know that our recruitment spending is next to last. So we're certainly boosting those resources," Westaway said. The Article Bruce Matthews/HeraldSun/04Oct07 Saints promised truckloads of cash ... Westaway vowed to boost the Saints' spending on football operations by $2.27million. Westaway didn't use this figure. But he did state his ambition to elevate St Kilda to within the AFL's top four clubs in terms of football department spending. "I will have to have a look at the exact numbers but we have been very poor in that area," Westaway said yesterday. "We have been 11th or thereabouts in total footy spend, and I would like to get that up to fourth. That will give us a better chance." According to the latest figures available, St Kilda's 2006 expenditure on football was $11.28m. West Coast Eagles, the club which finished fourth on the spendthrift ladder, ploughed $13.55m into football in the same year. St Kilda members will be hoping that Westaway can do the maths. Westaway, and members of Rod Butterss' dismantled board, may point out that these figures are out of date and St Kilda is already spending more on its football operations. This is correct; the figures for all clubs for 2007 won't be collated until March. But it is safe to assume that rival clubs have not been idle since the AFL last updated its books. Collingwood, the only Melbourne-based club in the top four in football expenditure in 2006, has this year spent in excess of $15m on recruiting, coaching, and paying its team. Westaway, the owner of a trucking company, has identified fitness/conditioning and recruiting as two areas in which St Kilda is under-resourced. Asked how he intended to pay for new staff and improved facilities, Westaway said his board was "well down the track in securing some good sponsorships". The Article Chip Le Grand/TheAustralian/04Oct07 Westaway board elect - Centre Stage at B&F New president Greg Westaway and his board will be on centre stage for the first time at Friday night's Trevor Barker Award, where the Saints will honour this year's best-and-fairest winner at Melbourne's Docklands. The mass resignation came on the eve of a court battle between the parties, which was scheduled to start today. Butterss, who has been at the helm of the Saints since 2000, and four directors -- Glen Casey, Mark Kellett, Andrew Bassat and Ray King -- left the club yesterday. Butterss said the board was not prepared to submit the club to a costly legal battle in the courts ... Butterss said he hoped Footy First would deliver the goods. "We want to provide a clear runway, we didn't want to put up any obstacles," he said. "We certainly didn't want to have a protracted fight in court, gobbling up a lot of money and a lot of energy, which distracts you from the goal" ... He and his directors appeared certain to be toppled following overwhelming support last month for the Footy First rebel group ... Westaway said that his group had more than adequate major sponsorship replacements following recent decisions by St Kilda's two main sponsors, Vodafone and Bill Express, not to renew their contracts for next season. The Article Greg Denham/TheAustralian/03Oct07 Butterss sniffed the wind ... and opted out Rod Butterss sniffed the wind and sensed St Kilda's (majority of members) were agitating for his board's removal. So instead of fighting the inevitable, the Saints president and his fellow directors Glen Casey, Mark Kellett, Andrew Bassat and Ray King opted to quit rather than face the prospect of defeat at an extraordinary general meeting set down for next month. The decision paves the way for Greg Westaway's St Kilda Footy First group to take the reins in what amounts to a bloodless coup. Westaway had campaigned primarily on a policy of increasing the money spent on the Saints' football department, criticising the Butterss regime for its overemphasis on reducing debt. Westaway, the managing director and founder of Gregorys Transport, was unavailable for comment, but in a statement commended Butterss for "listening to the St Kilda faithful and deciding to stand down" to make way for a "new, fresh and exciting regime". "The Footy First ticket thanks the members who have supported our endeavour to make significant change at our beloved St Kilda Football Club," Westaway said. Westaway said his first step will be to meet players and staff in the next few days. Footy First is also seeking legal advice on "formal proceedings from here" as they wait for the resignations of the five directors to be confirmed. The Article AAP/RealFooty/03Oct07 St Kilda board in show of wisdom Rod Butterss and the colleagues who remained loyal to him have made the correct decision. For St Kilda, for themselves. They have given their best, St Kilda is settled (relatively), the financial situation is sound (relatively) and they have walked away with their dignity and pride intact (relatively). The club's membership has spoken via the thousands of proxies accumulated by Footy First. Whether they all are legitimate is arguable, but most of them will be. Right or wrong, the membership wants change ... Butterss says he cherishes the privilege of his intimate involvement with the Saints during the past eight years, declaring his support and love for the club " will never die". Nice to hear. Far too many presidents have been turfed out of office in nasty election battles, never to be seen round the place again. They feel humiliated and unwanted at the club they love or have represented with enthusiasm and energy, and considerable cost, for a significant period. The smooth transition at St Kilda this time should ensure Butterss, Mark Kellett, Glen Casey, Ray King and Andrew Bassat may continue to openly and unconditionally support their footy club and be embraced at Saints games and special functions. The Article Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/03Oct07 Butterss melts in bid for unity ... The exit was swift, unconditional and complete. None of the Butterss five will attend the club's best-and-fairest count on Friday night and none of them expect to attend another board meeting at Moorabbin. Nathan Burke, Footy First's football director-elect, said he and others on the ticket were still awaiting gaming licence approval. "My understanding is that we can't officially be named directors of the club until the gaming licences come through," Burke said. "And we all applied for gaming licences last month." Burke said Westaway would hold a press conference today and make his inaugural address to the members on Friday night, without his predecessor in the audience. "No, I won't be going," Butterss said. "There will be a new administration in place and they need to be given a clear run. They don't need any encumbrances ... The occasion is a look back on the year that has been but I think it is more about looking forward. We don't want to deny them the opportunity to make a strong statement and tell the St Kilda faithful what they are going to do ... We're just really excited about the opportunity to lead the club into what we expect will be a bright future," Burke said. "We've spoken to a lot of the supporter groups, and now it's about doing the best thing by all parts of the football club. One of the first things will be getting on to the football department and letting them know what we're all about ... and finding out if there's any way possible we can assist them to bring football success to this club." The Article Stephen Rielly and Warwick Green/RealFooty/03Oct07 Butterss jumps before he's pushed Jordon Chong/CanberraTimes/03Oct07 St Kilda board resigns The battle for control of the St Kilda Football Club is over after club president Rod Butterss and the remainder of the Saints' board resigned on Tuesday - just a day before the club was due in the Federal Court as the rival 'Footy First' ticket sought to force the board to finalise an election date. Butterss, president of the club since 2001, has formally handed over control of the club to the rival ticket - headed by transport magnate Greg Westaway and featuring former players Nathan Burke and Andrew Thompson, who are expected to formally unveil their plans for the club at Friday night's best and fairest count. The decision by the Saints' board to resign came as the Westaway group had already reportedly secured the proxy votes of some 7,500 Saints' members ahead of the election, which Westaway wanted to be held on October 23 but Butterss was seeking to delay until November 26 - hence the pending court action. The remaining four members of the Butterss' board - Glen Casey, Mark Kellett, Andrew Bassat and Ray King - also resigned with the other two members in John Gdanski and vice-president Ross Levin having already thrown their support behind Westaway. Butterss said the current Saints board had resigned because it was not prepared for the club to go through a costly court battle when it was obvious the bulk of members wanted a change in the club's leadership. The Saints' president said a smooth transition and a stable environment were vital to enable the club to focus on the 2008 season and focus on vital issues such as the signing of sponsors following the recent loss of two major sponsors - which contributed to the demise of the Butterss' board. However Butterss said he left the club proud of his achievements and particularly the fact he was leaving it in strong financial shape. The Article Jordan Chong/AAP/TheAge/02Oct07 'nick' and 'Harveys Deciple' saintsational.com Butterss quits Saints presidency St Kilda president Rod Butterss and his fellow directors have quit the board of the AFL club. Butterss, as well as fellow directors Glen Casey, Mark Kellett, Andrew Bassat and Ray King, on Tuesday announced in a statement they were standing down. They were facing a serious challenge by a Greg Westaway-led rival ticket called St Kilda Footy First. Butterss said he and the board were "not prepared to submit the club to a costly legal battle in the courts which is scheduled to commence tomorrow. The resignations take effect immediately to allow the Footy First group the opportunity to outline their plans for success to the members at this Friday night's Trevor Barker awards night," the statement said. Butterss said a "smooth transition and a stable environment were important to enable the club to focus on the issues that really mattered such as signing sponsors and preparing for the 2008 season". The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/02Oct07 St Kilda resignations clear way for 'Footy First' St Kilda Football Club president Rod Butterss and four board members are standing down. Mr Butterss say they have quit the board because it is what club members want. The resignations clear the way for the 'Footy First group', which includes former player Nathan Burke to outline its plans at the club's best and fairest awards night on Friday. Mr Butterss says it was clear there was a mood for a leadership change and he wishes those who want to take over the running of the club well. "It's a tough gig and my only advice is please do what's right for our great club," he said. "It's a 130-year-old institution and full of wonderful people, and I'm sure they'll work hard and do their very best." The 'Footy First' group wants to take over the running of the club, claiming the current board has concentrated too much on finances and not enough on football. But Mr Butterss says he makes no apologies for leaving the club in a sound financial state. "The club's made $4 million in profits on the trot and we've invested a considerable amount in our football department over the years," he said. "We're comfortable that the club's in good shape and we wish the new team all the very best to take the club even further." The Article ABCSport/02Oct07 Sir Robert shares St Kilda Grand Final heartbreak story Craig Bellamy has made a habit of bringing in special guests to address the players and coaches at Melbourne Storm at key times. Andrew Johns visiting a training session last week is a prime example. But for all the guests, and all the addresses, there is one that sticks out the most for me. It was delivered by AFL great Robert Harvey. Two months ago, Robert joined the Storm team at a dinner, pouring his heart out about what it meant to play in a grand final. He might play a different code to us, but the boys hung on his every word. We took a lot on board that night. You only had to listen to Robert to understand how much it hurt him losing the 1997 Grand Final. We know that pain after last year. He has played 20 seasons at St Kilda but has featured in only one decider. They are just that hard to reach. St Kilda was the best side all season, finished first, but could not get over that final hurdle against Adelaide. We fell at ours last season against Brisbane. Robert thought that late in the season the Saints had become complacent and their form dropped off. He told us not to make the same mistake. Tomorrow, against Manly at Telstra Stadium, we don't plan to. We realise we are blessed to be in this position because every other footballer would give their left leg to be here. No stone will be left unturned come kick-off. We know what needs to be done. Our game plan has worked for us all season, and we must stick to it, but play even better. The Article HeraldSun/29Sept07 Josh Dicketts 'taken out' behind play in Cairns Grand Final Paul Daffey/TheAge/10Oct07 Transplant for Brent Monkhorst Rosanne Michie/SundayHeraldSun/30Sept07 Mark Sarau to coach Rutherglen Cats Grs/rutherglenfc.vcfl.com.au/26Sept07 Exhibition Match in Los Angeles axed An between Geelong and Richmond as part of next year's Australia Day celebrations has been cancelled because of a lack of funding. The AFL and Tourism Victoria were keen to take Geelong and its premiership cup to LA as part of a week-long celebration in January. However the exercise, which costs about $1 million, is believed to have fallen $100,000 short. Major logistical problems at the UCLA venue were also a factor. The AFL hosted a game there two years ago between Sydney and the Kangaroos. A community camp and school promotions were also planned. AFL game development manager David Matthews confirmed yesterday the league would now look elsewhere next year. More Scott Gullan/HeraldSun/10Nov07
Sydney Cricket Ground extended ... Under proposed modifications to the $70 million redevelopment of Yabba's Hill and the Doug Walters Stand, the playing surface of the Sydney Swans' home ground will be extended by 3 metres. The extension will boost the length of the field to 152 metres, ensuring the 50-metre arc and centre square markings no longer intersect. More Jano Gibson/RealFooty/03Nov
AFL splurges to tempt Roos The AFL has vowed to pay out the Kangaroos' $4.25 million debt and spend a further $3 million buying out its shareholders as part of the Gold Coast relocation package to be laid out today in further detail to the club ... A written guarantee of between seven and eight home-and-away games in Melbourne. ■ A special deal for the club's Melbourne members. ■ A promise to ensure the club's on-field success in the short-term via priority picks, further potential to pick up uncontracted players and a Gold Coast zone. ■ Continuing support of Arden Street as a permanent Melbourne training base for the club and the wider community. ■ State-of-the art training facilities and an AFL-funded marketing team to promote the team in the increasingly tough Gold Coast market. The multimillion-dollar investment in establishing a team on the Gold Coast also includes the redevelopment of Carrara - still the AFL's preferred venue - with more than $300 million and a stadium deal based on Geelong's Skilled Stadium model, in which the Cats profit to the tune of $30 a spectator. More Caroline Wilson/RealFooty/02Nov07
Robert Harvey is a genuine champion With our junior footballers admitting this week they have been left shattered by accusations that their AFL heroes take drugs, the game desperately needs role models who can set a good example. They don't come much better than dual Brownlow medallist Robert Harvey. That is why it was good to hear he will play on for another season with St Kilda. What is refreshing about this veteran - who will play an unprecedented 21 seasons - is that there has never been a whiff of scandal about him. This is despite the fact he runs himself ragged every game to the point it seems of almost total exhaustion. At 36, Harvey is the oldest player in the game and remains one of its best midfielders. It is a big effort. Harvey is a genuine champion, the type sorely needed to remind our young players that some AFL stars really are decent blokes. The Article Robyn Riley/HeraldSun/23Sept07 Peter Banfield walks away from Scorps . . . after being told his position would be advertised. Casey Scorpions' coach of three seasons Peter Banfield has walked out in anger after the Victorian Football League club decided to advertise his position last week. John Harrison, former chairman of the football executive and father of champion Scorpions midfielder Steven, also quit following the decision. Casey has held discussions with its AFL affiliate St Kilda in recent weeks and together they chose to make the senior coaching post full-time. The club reviews the coaching position annually but had not advertised Banfield's position in his previous two seasons. The Scorpions told Banfield, who led Casey to its first finals appearance in four years this season, that he would be on the short list of candidates if he was interested in applying. But Banfield, 41, declined to go through the interview process and was disappointed he was not offered the job unchallenged. "They either want me to coach or not to coach - I won't be the benchmark for other coaches," the physical education teacher at Aquinas College in Ringwood said. "Honestly, some people forget, as I said to (Scorpions president) John Sharkie, what state the club was in when I took it over. I'm really proud of the work I've done and the opportunities I've given to the players." The Article Marc McGowan/CranbourneNews/27Sept07 Councillor remarks over St Kilda using Casey Fields Jim Mynard/BerwickNews/27Sept07 SFF holding 8,200 valid proxies As I understand it, 'St Kilda Footy First' already have enough proxies to become the new board, whether it happens at an EGM, AGM or the current board resigns. Greg Westaway has over 8200 legitimate proxies and a great pile of invalid ones. If the current board mail out to the (approx) 22,000 eligible voting members, the mailout will go to exactly the same members that SFF's mailout went to, including the same invalid ones ... In non-compulsory voting, approx 40% will be bothered - that would be 8800. The other 60% will be away on holidays, changed address, couldn't be bothered, don't care or don't know how to vote. In any previous voting by any AFL Club the most votes were 16000 out of 48000. Which ever way you look at it, Greg Westaway and his new board are already in, just a matter of how soon and how it will happen. The Report 'hellorocky' saintsational.com (from GW meeting at Albury)  ST KILDA FOOTY FIRST PROXY TALLY stkildafootyfirst.com
Maguire deal, Baker next, X soon and no Fev S Kilda defender Matt Maguire has accepted a two-year deal to stay at the club. Maguire ended the hopes of several rival clubs at a meeting with the Saints before Monday night's Brownlow Medal count. Tagger Steven Baker is close to signing a new contract and Xavier Clarke is expected agree to a one-year deal next week. Chief executive Archie Fraser yesterday said keeping Maguire "really secures the spine that we want,". "We've secured everyone we wanted -- Dal (Nick Dal Santo) and Rooey (Nick Riewoldt) -- and we're working our way through," he said. Fraser said he expected a deal with Baker to be done "any time," ... Fraser said Carlton full-forward Brendan Fevola was not a club target, with a midfielder and another small forward the priorities. The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/26Sept07 Greg Westaway in Albury (Notes from meeting) Greg was met at the airport by the local TV and interviewed, they also caught footage of some supporters going in to the meeting, he thought it best not to allow media in as people may not speak up with them there. Answered questions for about 1½ hours. Also wanted to know what we wanted from the club as a supporter group - we want country family days, players etc, much the same as other areas said. Acknowledged that it was important for kids to meet players etc. I did ask if the leaking of info to Caroline Wilson will continue, answer - no, he wouldn't say who it was but it will never happen again. Moorabbin was spoken about a lot, he would get working on the redevelopment from day one. Basically most people were of the opinion that Rod Butterss had too much baggage that was damaging off field and it surely must flow on through the whole club. The profits were fancy accounting with written down values of stands etc. Greg's board has no business dealings with each other, they don't socialise apart from game days etc. Staff are paid very poorly for putting in mega hours. He hopes that once he is President that we will see and hear from him very little, much like about 13 other clubs (you work out the other 2). As said in other post Fraser's dad attended. If the player's parents and are supporting the new board then that must say something. Greg did say that his board will get in and he will be president, he gave the breakdown of numbers. There is absolutely no way Butterss' board can stay and Greg will be angry if the current board do a mailout and force a meeting, which all costs money. The SFF is privately funded and has not cost the club money. The Report 'hellorocky' saintsational.com Greg Westaway in Perth (Notes from meeting) GW said that the specific targets of SFF were: To increase democracy: My interpretation of his comments were that he believed that currently it operated autocratically &and that he wanted to ensure procedures that were open and transparent. He said Levin and Gadanski were included because they provided both continuity and independence (in relation to the current board). To increase revenue: At present they are talking with potential sponsors, 2 major and 2 mid tier. He particularly wants to enhance resources for servicing sponsors and generally ensure that there are adequate staffing levels to operate effectively. (He used the example of Archie apparently having to do his own typing because the previous long- serving PA had left and there was no one to replace them). Also, they wish to explore other revenue streams, the one he was specific about was through functions and using Dana Nelson's expertise. To improve facilities: They would revue options about possible locations but he felt that the Moorabbin redevelopment was most likely to be the best choice. He said that they would do whatever was necessary to get the development done because their first priority was to ensure they look after the football team and give them appropriate resources. To improve injury management: To enhance recruitment. He spoke of increasing funding available to that section. He discussed some specific WA issues, in particular that he would try to ensure that there was representation from the club at any post match gathering that might be arranged. And that seating for supporters at Subiaco would be increased from 350 to 500 with the promise of trying to get more. When asked if he had any involvement with Lindsay Fox he said "No. He had not spoken with him." and "They were competitors." He said that he had been a passionate supporter for 60 years and that he is involved because things are so bad that he felt compelled to act. The Report 'karnaby' saintsational.com GO BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE
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