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AT A GLANCE: St Kilda Football Club Redevelopment at Frankston Park Location: Frankston Oval - Cnr Bay Street South and Plowman Place Funding - $10.25m: St Kilda FC - $1.25m, State Gov't - $3.45m, AFL - $2.55m, Frankston Council - $3.00m Proposed details: The project will include following facilities: State of the art elite football training facility: Locker and change areas; Large gymnasium and indoor training areas; Strength and conditioning facilities; An Altitude Room; Video analysis facilities; Medical, testing and rehabilitation facilities. Training & Admin Centre FACT SHEET saints.com.au
 New sponsor, and financial 'hit', for Saints St Kilda has good news and bad to announce in coming weeks, with a new major sponsor expected to be disclosed but a loss of as much as $300,000 on the season to accompany it. The Saints are understood to have finalised a naming-rights deal with Corinthian Doors, a sponsorship that replaces the telecommunications company Vodafone, which chose not to renew its deal with the Saints. This good news, though, will be discounted by the 2007 financial result, which will now be "break even at best", according to chief executive Archie Fraser. While the Saints operated profitably this year, a decision has been made to take "some accounting hits" in the form of capital works write-downs and provisions for payments to former coach Grant Thomas and the recently retired Aaron Hamill. It is understood that as much as $400,000 has been put into the 2007 accounts for the settlement of Hamill's contract, which was not due to expire until the end of 2008. A provision of $270,000 is also understood to have been set aside for the contested claim Thomas has against the club for what he maintains are unpaid entitlements. More Stephen Rielly/RealFooty/23Nov07
Corinthian Doors website doors.com.au
Football clubs rake in $130m pokies cash Pokies venues controlled by AFL clubs are stripping punters of more than $130 million a year. The gambling blitz is led by league powerhouse Collingwood, whose 298 machines rake in about $27.5 million. Victoria's 10 AFL teams now control 1414 pokies at 20 suburban venues - 5 per cent of the market. Those figures could surge again next year, when reigning premier Geelong is expected to take charge of a new 80-machine venture at Point Cook ... Battlers the Kangaroos trail the field on $3.7 million from a league-low of 40 machines, based at Telstra Dome. More Michael Warner/HeraldSun/28Nov07
No pokies to Frankston - Harvey 'rapt' in move ... The club has agreed not to install poker machines at the new Frankston base and will also embrace a community partnership program, following its stormy relationship with Kingston Council, which rejected a request to move pokies to a new social club at Moorabbin. "(We will) work together on multiple strategies, including supporting business development and tourism initiatives, establishing a player ambassador program for the city, as well as being involved in programs to address graffiti management and social concerns such as drug and alcohol issues," Mr Fraser said. Cr Aitken said the program had already received strong support from the Frankston community, even those who did not support the Saints. "This is a smart move by St Kilda and I think they recognise we are a city on the move," he said. St Kilda champion Robert Harvey, who was recruited from Frankston's John Paul College as a 16-year-old, agreed. "I'm rapt for the peninsula and I grew up in Frankston," he said. "I know how much they love their footy and I know how many St Kilda supporters there are here." More Cameron Houston/RealFooty/22Nov07
Saints world class facilities St Kilda has used English soccer giant Chelsea as a model for its $10 million world-class facility to be constructed at Frankston Oval. St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser revealed yesterday that the Saints had sent a consultant to England to research the facilities at Chelsea and fellow Premier League side Aston Villa. "The elite training facilities market and innovations are moving so quickly, we felt it was prudent to ask one of our consultants to head overseas at Christmas," Fraser said. "He visited both the new Chelsea operation and the Aston Villa operation. There's been a significant move forward in the processes that are required for an elite training facility -- certainly some things such as a hydro pool, which has got treadmills built into the base for extensive rehab, an altitude room and a few other decision-making rooms." New club president Greg Westaway and his Footy First ticket promised to resolve the soft-tissue injuries that have plagued the Saints in recent years. While the club won't complete the move to Frankston until 2010, Westaway said it was one of the boxes he wanted to tick. "We stated publicly that one of Footy First's key objectives was ensuring our players had the best facilities to train in," he said. More Nick Higginbottom/HeraldSun/22Nov07
2008 Membership prices frozen St Kilda Footy Club has frozen membership prices this season, which is the first time for many years. The club has also planned for members to be satisfied with the quality of the items they are providing in the Membership packages; the kit will include: • 11 home games at Telstra Dome • A high quality member's only Saints scarf • Membership pin, wallet, pen, lanyard and sticker • Club voting rights (18 years or over) • Exclusive members emails • 10% discount on selected Saints Shop merchandise • Reserved Seat holders and Social Club members also receive a Saints cap in 2008 • DVD of St Kilda highlights (if membership purchased before 21/12/07) The club will improve its communication with members through both electronic and printed form methods, 'The Saint' annual magazine will be published and apparently there are some early plans for another publication towards the end of the season. Thanks to 'SaintWill' for forwarding this information which he received from Anthony Moore, General Manager Commercial Operations. WoM Ed ST KILDA MEMBERSHIP saints.com.au
Sixty-one unlisted players to train with AFL clubs The AFL has announced the line-up of unlisted players who have been given permission to train with AFL clubs. The St Kilda list - Rohan Bail (Mt Gravatt); Michael Barlow (Shepparton United); Ben Woods (Riverview) More AFL/08Nov07
St Kilda hits the ground running The Saints are hitting the pre-season hard in a bid to correct their poor results in 2007, defender Xavier Clarke says. The senior players enjoyed a seven-week break after the missing out on the finals this year, but Clarke said next season weighed on most players' minds. "Guys really looked after themselves in the break," he said. "Over the past few years, guys would have gone off and just enjoyed their break and let go a little bit, but this year there's a real sense that we want to achieve something next season. Everyone's on board and it showed." Clarke, 24, returned home to Darwin during the break, but with a weigh-in to look forward to in Melbourne, continued a program of warm weather training. "We got weighed in when we got back," he said. "I had to come in at under 80 kilos and I came in a kilo and a half under that, so I was happy with that." Clarke said the younger Saints had enjoyed least rest, but weren't the only ones worried about their shape. More Catherine Murphy/saints.com.au/20Nov07
Saints-Swans rivalry heightened: Clarke St Kilda defender Xavier Clarke says his team's rivalry with the Swans has been heightened even further with the additions of former Sydney players Adam Schneider and Sean Dempster to the Moorabbin fold. "It (the rivalry) all started when they beat us in the 2005 preliminary final and then went on to win the Premierhsip," Clarke says. "Pretty much from there, it's gone on and for the fact we've got Ross (Lyon) with us now and we beat them in the first game Ross coached and now we've got a few of their players. I think Ross and Paul Roos are good mates but they'll be wanting to beat each other each time we play." The 24-year-old has had more dealings than most with the Sydney recruits; he's providing accommodation. "Adam Schneider's moved in with me for a couple of weeks, just until he gets himself sorted out. I'll have to keep an eye on him though, I think he's going for my position," Clarke laughs. More Catherine Murphy/saints.com.au/19Nov07
Ball hopes groin troubles are over St Kilda star Luke Ball has a Christmas wish for season 2008 -- and it's not about finals footy. The classy midfielder hopes, once and for all, he won't have to keep talking about his infamous groin troubles. Ball is stepping up his recovery from a post-season adductor release operation and is optimistic it will help ease his chronic problems with osteitis pubis. The Saints' co-captain said his Sydney surgeon, who also operated on new Blue Chris Judd, was happy with the outcome. "I don't want to make any big statements because I remember saying last year that I was going along better than I ever had in December and January," Ball said. More Rebecca Williams/HeraldSun/19Nov07
Schneider out to seize "new opportunity" After six years with Sydney, new Saint Adam Schneider is slowly acclimatising to his new surrounds and the 23-year-old sees his off-season move to Moorabbin as a golden opportunity for him to grow as a footballer. No one was more surprised than Schneider when the Swans sent him and fellow premiership player, Sean Dempster, to St Kilda for draft pick 26 during trade week, but two weeks into his first pre-season with the Saints, he couldn't be happier. "I've just got to get used to the weather," Schneider says, laughing. "One minute it's foggy and then it's hot. It's probably been the hardest thing I've had to adapt to so far. But it's going well, the boys are fantastic and I'm really enjoying it. They've made me feel really welcome." More AFL/saints.com.au/14Nov07
McQualter goes for next draw There is no sense of fairness to the brutal rhythms of AFL football. Six months after St Kilda midfielder Andrew McQualter started his third AFL season as a youngster on the rise, he was discarded as unwanted. It took one mediocre season for the former Vic Country captain and number 17 draft pick of 2004 to be cast aside, despite the 21-year-old having another season to run on a two-year deal. McQualter admits he failed to make ground as expected this year but was shocked to be let go by coach Ross Lyon. Now he is determined to find a new home where he can harness the talent he undoubtedly possesses. More Jon Ralph/HeraldSun/18Nov07
Saints Support Movember To coincide with Movember (the month formally known as November), the St Kilda Football Club and its personnel have decided to grow a 'Mo'. The Club and its Movember participants are looking to raise as much money and awareness as possible for men's health to help fight against male depression and prostate cancer. You can help the cause by sponsoring one of the boys Mo's by visiting the official Movember website and entering the registration number (listed below) of the player or staff member you would like to support. More Alex Riewoldt/saints.com.au/10Nov07
New Saints pack a punch It hasn't taken long for St Kilda's out-of-town recruits to be introduced to one of Melbourne's great landmarks. As the city prepared for Melbourne Cup day, former Swans Sean Dempster and Adam Schneider and Cats Steven King and Charlie Gardiner joined the rest of the Saints in the Royal Botanic Gardens yesterday. As the club got serious about its 2008 campaign, some players ran a time-trial around the Tan and some put on the boxing gloves, while others hopped on bikes for some light training. "They're training every day, doing light work and some weights," development coach Danny Sexton said as he put some Saints through a sparring session." More Michael Horan/HeraldSun/06Nov07
AFLPA announce Madden Medal nominees ... The Madden Medal, aimed at acknowledging the achievements of departing players, is to be announced at Melbourne's Federation Square on December 13 ... The AFLPA Madden Medal Awards nominees are Mark Ricciuto, Anthony Koutoufides, Nathan Buckley, James Hird, Glenn Archer, Luke Darcy and Chris Grant. Community Spirit Award nominees include Collingwood pair Paul Licuria and Nathan Buckley, Essendon's Mark Bolton, Troy Cook from Fremantle and Shinboner Glenn Archer. Open Universities Australia Personal Development Award nominees are David Teague (Carlton), James Clement, Paul Licuria (Collingwood), James Hird (Essendon), Shane Parker (Fremantle), Josh Mahoney, Darryl Wakelin (Port Adelaide), Darren Gaspar, Ray Hall (Richmond), Matthew Clarke, Andrew Thompson (St Kilda). GNC LiveWell Football Excellence Award nominees include Mark Ricciuto (Adelaide), Chris Johnson, Chris Scott (Brisbane Lions), Matthew Lappin, Anthony Koutoufides, Lance Whitnall (Carlton), Nathan Buckley (Collingwood), Scott Camporeale, James Hird (Essendon), Shane Parker (Fremantle), Ben Dixon, Joel Smith, Richie Vandenberg (Hawthorn), Glenn Archer (Kangaroos), Byron Pickett (Melbourne), Aaron Hamill (St Kilda), Daniel Chick (West Coast), Brett Montgomery, Luke Darcy, Chris Grant (Western Bulldogs). More AFL/saints.com.au/29Nov07
League keeps eye on rotations The AFL's Laws of the Game Committee says it is winning the battle against ugly football, but will still consider a restriction on interchange rotations in the near future. The much-scrutinised panel last week decided on a year of consolidation rather than altering the AFL's rules after several controversial changes. Despite criticism of the hands-in-the-back rule this year, contested marks rose for the first time in a decade, contested possessions were at their highest rate since 2004, and scoring was at its highest level since 2001. But the AFL will conduct a detailed study to examine the link between the increased pace of the game and collision and fatigue injuries. It shapes as the key to a limit on unlimited interchange rotations. AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the Laws of the Game Committee continued to be concerned about interchange rotations, which have exploded in recent seasons. From a benchmark of 17 rotations per team per game in 2000, there has been a 241 per cent rise to an average of 58 a game in 2007. The Laws Committee considered trialling a new rule next year but decided on a season-long research program to find out whether the quicker speed of the game leads to higher injury rates. More Jon Ralph/HeraldSun/29Nov07
Tiger boss gets some Saintly help The St Kilda invasion of Gary March's Concept Sports has taken a new twist, with former Saints director Glen Casey taking over as chief executive of the listed sportswear company. March, president of the Richmond Football Club, has stepped aside as chief executive of the company he founded in 1992. Concept Sports already has one former St Kilda president, Andrew Plympton, as its chairman, and his successor, Rod Butterss, as a major shareholder. Last year, March hired Transition Group, the private business consultancy operated by Butterss and Casey, to assist with the turnaround of Concept Sports. More Stephen Rielly/RealFooty/08Nov07
Aussie rules sponsors really get a guernsey Australian Rules jersey sponsors generate more than three times the media exposure rugby union sponsors attract and easily overshadow those of any other football code. The average value of media exposure generated by Australian Football League team sponsors during the 2007 season was $3.49 million, compared with $2.46 million for National Rugby League club sponsors, $1.21 million for A League team sponsors and $1.07 for Super 14. Ford, on the jersey of AFL premiers Geelong, achieved media exposure of almost $7 million throughout the year, slightly ahead of 3 Mobile, which sponsors Essendon ... "The average cost of being a club sponsor in the AFL is about $1 million, so those sponsors are getting an average of $3.50 (in media exposure) for every dollar they invest," according to Guy Port, of sponsorship measurement firm S-Comm, which conducted the survey. More Lara Sinclair/TheAustralian/26Nov07
2 minor rule changes only HeraldSun
AFL sorry for privacy breach RealFooty
McDougall voted off OnQ's board Until February Peter McDougall was a director of 'Bill Express', and as of yesterday morning he was a director of another listed company known as On Q, which holds a controlling 38 per cent stake in Bill Express ... Bill Express books about $1 billion worth of sales a year, and makes nearly $7 million pre-tax, from bill payment facilities at newsagents and such like, other activities connected with its electronic distribution network facilities, and a recently introduced bopo prepaid Visa card, Its earnings declined by 15% in the year ending June 30 and recently small-cap investor SG Hiscock tired of its long-term stake and sold it. Just one of the reasons the market is somewhat disenchanted with Bill Express, which recently completed a three-year naming sponsorship of the St Kilda Football Club, is the state of affairs between On Q and Peter McDougall. More Christopher Webb/TheAge/30Nov07
Fox's ongoing saga with OnQ HeraldSun
Vodfone still eying Blues Corporates seen at Oaks Day ... Vodafone general manager Paul Guerra headed to the Lexus and Concept Sports tents, where he enjoyed a drink with several football people, including former St Kilda president Rod Butterss, former director Glen Casey and Richmond president Gary March, but he was coy about the telco's AFL plans for the coming season. Vodafone ended its sponsorship of St Kilda at the end of the season. "We're about two weeks away from an announcement," Guerra said when pressed on the company's future sponsorship plans. Carlton Football Club still looms as the favourite. "We have a preference, but the deal is still to be done," he said. More Mark Hawthorne/TheAge/09Nov07
Cousins gamble one in a million ... Ben Cousins could dismantle the foundations of AFL regulations if he takes legal action in a bid to play again. Cousins faces legal fees of about $500,000 if he initiates restraint-of-trade proceedings against the AFL, with the league facing similar costs. Any such action could destroy the league's controversial draft and salary cap rules. More Kim Hagdorn/Telegraph/04Nov07
Management is money, mateship and calling mum ... Cracking it for a spot on an AFL senior list might seem like the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, but it's the just the start of a long journey for player manager Tom Petroro's clients, and he's there to help at every step. New contracts, trades, off-field misdemeanors, awards and delistings are all part of the emotional rollercoaster, with each presenting a unique set of circumstances to negotiate. The trend of the last few years that has seen many clubs, such as Hawthorn and St Kilda, stock their lists with young players via the draft in order to push for a premiership down the track has created one such scenario. The flip side of having young players of similar ages coming through and developing as a strong group is that, as their worth in the market place grows, it becomes harder for clubs to pay players the going rate and stay beneath the salary cap. Tom Petroro Interview - part 2 Jason Phelan/AFL/07Nov07
League sanctions to back up drugs inquiry While former Supreme Court judge Bill Gillard, QC, has been granted sweeping inquisitorial power by the AFL Commission to investigate issues at the Eagles, the AFL has not spelt out the penalties players or officials face for non-co-operation, though it has warned the punishment would be severe. Gillard, who began at the AFL yesterday and is expected in Perth on Monday, was appointed as a result not only of the Ben Cousins controversies of the past year, but a number of other incidents including those involving Cousins' teammates Daniel Kerr and Chad Fletcher. Gillard is further charged with investigating a range of players and incidents, about which the AFL has anecdotal evidence of inappropriate behaviour and substance abuse. More Michael Gleeson/RealFooty/09Nov07
Veteran broadcaster George Grljusich dies Veteran Perth sports broadcaster George Grljusich has died today after being diagnosed with lung cancer last month. He was 68. Grljusich started his 47-year media career with ABC Radio after a football career with South Fremantle. Known for his fierce parochial streak, Grljusich devoted most of his career to covering the AFL and WAFL leagues. Grljusich was inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame after he announced his illness. A testimonial dinner was scheduled for November 14 at Fremantle Oval. Grljusich also covered six Olympic Games and 10 Commonwealth Games in his long broadcasting career. Last month he retired from an 11-year stint with 3AW-affiliate 6PR after being diagnosed with cancer. In this final broadcast Grljusich told audiences he found out he had terminal cancer after being diagnosed with pneumonia. More Mario Xuereb/TheAge/06Nov07
Kangaroos pay price for dithering The North Melbourne Football Club is being torn in two directions but even the most bitter Kangaroos rivals agree on one thing - the club's astonishing achievement in finishing third during this difficult and strife-torn season. In fact, what the Kangaroos achieved in 2007 almost could be described as a miracle, given all they were up against ... the Shinboner spirit - whatever that is - has never been so impressive or so defiant. Not only did the Kangaroos pay their players as a group between $500,000 to $750,000 less than most of their opponents, but they operated with a dedicated but virtually skeleton full-time group of football staffers. More Caroline Wilson/RealFooty/04Nov07
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