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Round 10 AFL 2007 Premiership Season - Pre-game Articles - St Kilda vs Geelong
From the training today the following injured will play either at Saints or Scorps: Max, Grammy, Raph, Ferg Likely to Play: Joey, Thommo - One more week: X Two more weeks: Sammy, Goose, Allen - More than two weeks: Gardiner, Harvs, CJ The Thread 'plugger66' et al saintsational.com Injury Report - This site Ball use suffocating Saints forwards St Kilda forward Stephen Milne believes indirect play is responsible for the Saints' scoring woes so far this season. In recent years, a Saints attack boasting stars such as Fraser Gehrig and Nick Riewoldt has put the club among the highest-scoring teams in the competition. So far this season it is the AFL's second-lowest-scoring team, averaging 77 points a game, only one point better than Melbourne. Milne believes that while Gehrig, Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke are all in solid form, the ball use up the field is hampering their scoring chances. "We're not using our talls as well as we have in the last couple of years," Milne said. "I think we're mucking around with it a lot in the middle and not giving our forwards the advantage to get it. We've just got to get it in there a lot quicker to give them a chance to be one-on-one and not let the other team get two or three numbers back on us." Milne has made a consistent contribution, with 14 goals from nine matches, but was looking for improvement ahead of today's Telstra Dome clash with Geelong. "It can be a bit frustrating there at times, but you've got to make the most of your opportunities and I've been doing that a little bit," he said. "But hopefully I can pick it up this Sunday and kick three or four and set up a couple and hopefully we can beat the Cats." The Article Sam Lienert/RealFooty/03Jun07 Hosting St Kilda matches on Casey agenda Casey Council will up its bid to house St Kilda Football Club with the long-term lure of a stadium capable of hosting AFL matches. City of Casey chief executive Mike Tyler said Casey Fields, in Cranbourne East, would be equipped to host Saints matches against interstate teams by 2015. TEAC Oval in Port Melbourne, Junction Oval in St Kilda and Casey Fields are the frontrunners to be the new home of St Kilda, which revealed this week it would be leaving its 42-year base at Moorabbin. "Long term, it is possible we might end up with a small, boutique stadium that could accommodate a St Kilda versus interstate team match," Tyler said. "We've lost Waverley (Park), and that disappointed a lot of people. Look, it would be quite expensive and council wouldn't have the funds to develop it, but Casey Fields has the possibility of developing in to that in the future. I am quite sure no one, 10 or 15 years ago, would have thought York Park (in Launceston) would have developed the way it has." The Article Damian Barrett/HeraldSun/02Jun07 MORE MOORABBIN MOVE ARTICLES - + Training reports/images and other recent articles Saints relieved as Hudghton returns St Kilda has regained four players from injury for tomorrow's match against Geelong at Telstra Dome. The injury-plagued Saints lost veteran Robert Harvey with a hamstring strain and ruckman Matthew Clarke has a foot problem, but the inclusions are encouraging. They have been desperate to recall full-back Max Hudghton, who has managed only one game so far this season with leg injuries. He leads the recalls, along with forward Xavier Clarke, onballer Leigh Montagna and half-back Jason Gram. Montagna had expected to miss about a month with a broken jaw, but he is back only a fortnight after suffering the injury. The Saints also dropped Brett Voss and Andrew McQualter. Geelong regained captain Tom Harley for only his second game this season. He is back after needing surgery for a finger tendon injury. The Cats also regained in-form half-forward Paul Chapman from a hamstring injury, leaving out Josh Hunt and Joel Selwood. The Article AAP/RealFooty/02Jun07 Hunt, Selwood unlucky Cats Gareth Trickey/HeraldSun/02Jun07 Geelong Football Club inspired after a rude shock loss . . . The Cats' round five loss at home to the Kangaroos, when Geelong was jumped from the start and only played decent football when the game was gone, was the springboard for one of the best turnarounds this season. Ahead of Sunday's round 10 game against St Kilda, Geelong coach Mark Thompson said his players were determined to make sure they were switched on before games to ensure there were no repeats of that Sunday shocker . . . The return of captain Tom Harley and reigning best and fairest Paul Chapman from injury means Geelong will start at full strength against the Saints, who also regain a glut of key players in an overdue case of good fortune. Thompson said St Kilda's wretched run with injury and patchy results made their form had to read, and admitted he did not know exactly what game plan opposing coach Ross Lyon would employ at Telstra Dome. "Between second (place) and the 13th team (St Kilda) there's two games," Thompson said. "They've won games of footy and they've been impressive, they've lost a few and they've had a lot of players out. We look at them this week and we see a side getting back into some sort of real good shape as far as names are concerned, so it holds for an interesting game." Harley could find himself thrust into a major role in his return game after finger surgery, as St Kilda have named big man Justin Koschitzke in the forward line, alongside Fraser Gehrig and Nick Riewoldt. The Article GeelongAdvertiser/01Jun07 Harley ready to pounce Michael Auciello/GeelongAdvertiser/02Jun07 Harley's fired up Michael Auciello/GeelongAdvertiser/01Jun07 Saints welcome back stars Jason Shields/GeelongAdvertiser/02Jun07 Geelong vs St Kilda: It could get ugly Jason Shields/GeelongAdvertiser/01Jun07 Baker talks a tough game Brad Green/GeelongAdvertiser/31May07 Strengthened Saints seek to cool down Cats For the first time in a number of weeks Ross Lyon has had some positive news at the selection table. The Saints are set to welcome back a number of their stars for the crucial match against the hottest side in the AFL on Sunday evening. This is the beginning of a crucial three week period for the Saints leading up to and including the bye week. Following the Cats is a game against the in form Kangaroos and a trip to Perth to face the Eagles. The Saints will need to win at least two of these matches to launch a run at the finals in the second half of the season. In the last two seasons, the Saints have been 6-6 at the halfway point of the season and finished strongly. For supporters, it will be exciting to a stronger Saints line-up against one of the hottest sides in the competition. There have been high expectations of the Cats in recent years and in the last month they have dominated their opposition. The Article Adrian Blades/saints.com.au/01Jun07 Cats focus on starting games well A rude shock a month ago continues to inspire Geelong to check their pre-game attitude and has helped deliver impressive starts the past four AFL games. The Cats' round five loss at home to the Kangaroos, when Geelong was jumped from the start and only played decent football when the game was gone, was the springboard for one of the best turnarounds this season. Ahead of Sunday's round 10 game against St Kilda, Geelong coach Mark Thompson said his players were determined to make sure they were switched on before games to ensure there were no repeats of that Sunday shocker. "One of the things we do want to do every week for the rest of the year is to really work on starting the game well, every game," Thompson said. "The last time we really got criticised, when we lost a game we should have won, is when we didn't start the game well." The Article AAP/TheAge/01Jun07 Injury-hit Saints recall stars for Cats clash St Kilda last night named a wish list of stars for possible return for Sunday's clash against in-form Geelong. The injury-ravaged Saints last night pencilled in full-back Max Hudghton, Xavier and Raphael Clarke, Leigh Montagna, running defender Jason Gram and veteran Andrew Thompson in its 25-man squad. But just how many make it on to Telstra Dome for the twilight clash depends on fitness tests for five of them, while Raphael Clarke is available after injury. St Kilda coach Ross Lyon this week flagged the five as definite chances, but warned they would have to come through two training sessions without any doubts before they could play. They all came through the first on Wednesday and will be scrutinised closely in the second today. The Article Michael Horan/HeraldSun/01Jun07 Clubs welcome review into VFL's feeder role St Kilda and Melbourne have welcomed a review into the VFL, fearful the feeder system could be playing a role in the gap between Victorian and interstate AFL clubs. The Saints are pleased with their improved alignment with VFL club Casey Scorpions, but believe there are challenges ahead to match the development path of some interstate rivals. "I think the second-tier competition and the competitiveness of the Melbourne-based clubs is directly linked," St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser said last night. "The review is timely. It's time to have a serious look at it. There's still room for improvement. We could be further aligned and we'll continue to work on that." The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/01Jun07 What's new, Pussycats? . . . The Cats are finally playing premiership football, with a difference. They defend well, but they score big, much bigger than the other favoured teams, and if they are successful it could have long-standing ramifications in altering the assumption that it takes a dour, defensive style to win a flag. The Cats have learnt from the best but subtly changed their approach, empowering their talented forwards. The Article Gerard Healy/HeraldSun/01Jun07 St Kilda's injury crisis improves Fisher St Kilda defender Sam Fisher says he would love to have Max Hudghton back in the side, but has benefitted as a footballer during his absence. Hudghton has played just one game this season, in round two, and has since been out with a quadriceps injury. He also hurt his calf in his comeback match for Casey Scorpions reserves last weekend. He was been named in the Saints' squad for Sunday's match against Geelong at Telstra Dome, but Friday's training session will be the crucial test for him and several other borderline players. Fisher, who has filled the full-back position in Hudghton's absence, said it would greatly ease the pressure on an undermanned Saints defence to have the gutsy veteran back. "I'd love to have Maxy back, I love having Maxy, I've loved playing with him ever since I've been with the club," Fisher said. "So if he gets through tomorrow that would be great. I'd quite enjoy having Maxy back to help me out back there and take on a bit bigger-bodied forward." The Article AAP/RealFooty/31May07 Fisher longs for Max factor AAP/HeraldSun/01Jun07 Saints "driven out" of Moorabbin St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser believes the Saints are being driven out of their Moorabbin home in similar circumstances to Collingwood's forced departure from Victoria Park almost a decade ago. Fraser said the club had no choice but to leave the Linton Street Oval after discussions with local council City of Kingston broke down again this week. "If you talk to Eddie McGuire he'll tell you that the council chased Collingwood out of Collingwood," Fraser said. "There's no question that the Kingston city council are chasing and have chased St Kilda out of Moorabbin." After calling Moorabbin home for 42 years, St Kilda has decided to abandon plans for a proposed $10.5 million training and administration facility and relocate elsewhere. Fraser says the City of Kingston has made the redevelopment impossible. "There are a couple of councillors who don't want us there, they've openly stated that," he said. "They've clearly made their mind up. On every stage they've made it difficult for us. I think that from what I saw at the council meeting the other night (Monday), those councillors have a significant influence over the total process which is clearly disturbing." The final straw, according to Fraser, was the refusal by the council to allow the club to transfer their 83 gaming machines from their current location at Linton Street 200m up the road to South Road. "We've been asked by the council on an ongoing basis to follow the process. We've done that every step of the way," Fraser said. The Article Catherine Murphy/saints.com.au/30May07 Saints shift from Moorabbin disappoints Kingston Community . . . On Monday night Councillors agreed to make a submission to the VCGR supporting the relocation of the gaming machines from Linton Street to South Road. It was also agreed that the Council would support a reduction in the number of gaming machines if the Commission made that determination. It is the responsibility of the Victorian Commission for Gaming Regulation (VCGR) to determine the number of gaming machines not the Council. Mayor Petchey pointed out that Kingston Council adopted a gaming policy five years ago which states Council has a primary concern that the overall public interest is fully taken into account when assessing applications for the installation of gaming machines. "Council has been completely transparent with St Kilda Football Club regarding this policy. We did not nominate a specific reduction from the existing 83 machines. That decision is of course the responsibility of the VCGR," she said. The Mayor noted that two reports, one commissioned by the Saints and the other by Council, supported the shifting of gaming machines to the new site and that it was "strange in the extreme that the Saints have decided not to pursue its gaming permit application and to end what had previously been constructive discussions with Council on the best possible outcome for Moorabbin Reserve and the community".Council is still committed to opening up Moorabbin Reserve for improved public access. This commitment includes a $2.5 million contribution by Council to the redevelopment of the St Kilda Football Club's new training facility and Reserve improvements. The Article City of Kingston website/30May07 Saints march out of Moorabbin Having abandoned Moorabbin, St Kilda Football Club is without a home - and perhaps $3.5 million of State Government funds. The state was to contribute that amount to the $10 million development of St Kilda's social club - a commitment now in doubt, according to Premier Steve Bracks. "If St Kilda decide to move to another location, we'll have to consider our funding arrangements and whether that's suitable to also follow," Mr Bracks said yesterday. After news broke following a row with the local council over poker machines, St Kilda nominated TEAC Oval in Port Melbourne as a possible new home. No way, said Port Melbourne Football Club general manager, Barry Kidd. "There is more chance of relocating to the moon than TEAC Oval. We haven't had any discussions with St Kilda and we won't be either. We are just not interested." St Kilda insists it will move from its bayside home, where it's been since 1965, to a new base for training and administration, frustrated by Kingston Council's push to cut the number of poker machines at the proposed South Road social club. The Article RealFooty/31May07 Ten into one won't always go New St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says he has wanted for nothing since joining the AFL club. "I've had no request knocked back at St Kilda - I've had full support, full resources," he says. The only thing is, the club itself does not know where it will call home beyond the end of next year. The Saints are adamant they will leave Moorabbin, their home since 1965, because of a breakdown in negotiations with the City of Kingston council over a planned ground redevelopment. Lyon stresses it is business as usual for the football department and he is confident that whatever happens, the Saints will end up with a first-class training facility. But the Saints' falling out with City of Kingston again highlights the inherent structural flaw of the league. It boils down to an issue of the "haves" - the non-Victorian teams - and the "have nots". You wonder if Adelaide, say, could have dramas of this magnitude with any local council in their city. In St Kilda's defence, the club has made outstanding progress over the last few years to shore up its finances. They are no basket case. The Article AAP/SydneyMorningHerald/30May07 Impending move is "no concern": Lyon St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has distanced himself from the controversy surrounding the club's impending move from its spiritual home at Moorabbin. Lyon has adopted a "when it happens, I'll deal with it" attitude, as it was revealed the club will look for other locations to build its new training facilities, after negotiations to renovate the Linton Street ground were abandoned. "I have no real concern," he said, shortly after club chief executive Archie Fraser addressed the media about the new proposal. "When I was appointed, I was shown the plans and it's really exciting for the club, particularly for the playing group, that they're going to get state of the art facilities. We're going to try and compete with the Collingwoods and the Essendons and interstate teams in that regard. That's fallen over in regards to the location here at Moorabbin. It puts it back to the drawing board, but I'm confident that there will be a facility being built for St Kilda, dedicated for the playing group, somewhere in Melbourne." The Article Jennifer Witham/AAP/ saints.com.au/30May07 The Council's options Option A: Council fully supports 83 gaming machines for the development Option B: * Council wishes to reiterate its policy of pursuing an overall reduction in gaming machines in Kingston. Given that the current proposal will increase gaming revenue in Kingston, particularly in the Moorabbin area, Council would strongly support a reduction in the number of gaming machines. Council is not in a position to nominate a specific number of gaming machines to be removed from the venue but would, however, strongly support in the number of gaming machines if the VCCR was of the view that a reduction was appropriate. Option C: Based on Council's policy to reduce the number of gaming machines in Kingston to below the Melbourne average, Council wishes to see the number of gaming machines in the St Kilda Football Club development reduced to approximately 70 machines. Council Meeting Agenda City of Kingston (pdf) - from page 96 - Recommendations from page 117 * believed to be the option the Council unanimously voted for Pokies dispute has Saints on the move . . . St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser says the council was forcing the club to reduce the number of poker machines as part of the redevelopment. He says the Saints will now look for a new home, but they will retain their 30-year lease at Moorabbin and the poker machines there will continue to operate. "That's the ironic thing. All the things that we were going to do - pull the stands down, beautify the area, all that's now gone," he said. "Basically we're going to have to put the fences up and leave the gaming facilities there and spend the $10.5 million somewhere else and build another world class facility for another community. It's madness." He said St Kilda needed gaming revenue to survive. "We specifically stated that we would be building a responsible building and certainly that income and those machines were critical to the success and the longevity and financial outcomes that we need to be sustainable and successful," he said. "So in essence what they've done is they've sent a clear message that they don't want us there." But Kingston Mayor Topsy Petchey said she is baffled by the claims. "We have not nominated a specific reduction for the existing 83 machines. We have not opposed it," she said. "And the message is clearly we remain committed to advancing this process and discussions with St Kilda Football Club." The Article ABCSport/30May07 Saints on the march . . . "We know the benefits of having an AFL club and you know the work the players do in the community on an ongoing basis, so it's very disappointing." St Kilda Football Club said they have had discussions with the City of Port Phillip and the City of Casey council. The club's spokeswoman told theage.com.au that the club's gaming area will remain in operation. "We've got this lease for another 30 years ... the gaming area will remain, so we'll go and look at redeveloping somewhere else," she said. The City of Kingston's Mayor Topsy Petchey issued a statement on the move this morning. "After extensive consultation that resulted in strong community support, Council agreed to the sale of land to permit a shift of the Football Club's social club and gaming facilities from within Moorabbin Reserve to the South Road frontage," the Mayor said in his statement. "We are particularly disappointed the Football Club would abandon the Moorabbin community after so many years of sustained support." The Article theage.com.au/30May07 St Kilda to move headquarters Reko Rennie/RealFooty/30May07 Saints set to walk out of Moorabbin home St Kilda has decided to walk out of its 42-year home at Moorabbin after another breakdown with local council over plans to redevelop the precinct. Saints chief executive Archie Fraser yesterday told the Herald Sun a proposed $10.5 million revamp of Moorabbin would be abandoned. "We're gone, we're out of here," Fraser said. "This is not about an article to get some press to patch it up, this is over. And, in all reality, it is not our decision. We are the victims of a council backdown. It's a tragic day." St Kilda will now assess new bases, with options in City of Port Phillip, believed to be TEAC Oval in Port Melbourne, and City of Casey (Casey Fields in Cranbourne) to be considered. "Tomorrow we clean the whiteboard and we will work towards getting the guys into a world-class facility by the start of 2009," Fraser said. "It will probably be easier because we will find a willing partner. We will cast the web wide and we will still make it happen, make no question about that." The Article Damian Barrett/HeraldSun/30May07 Casey council chases St Kilda . . . Casey mayor Colin Butler said Casey Fields, which this season hosted a practice match between Essendon and Hawthorn, was ready to house St Kilda. "The site is available immediately," Butler said. Port Phillip mayor Janet Bolitho said her council had not yet discussed a possible relocation by the Saints. "I think someone kicked a ball and wants to see where it lands," she said. Kingston council, which controls the Moorabbin site, yesterday denied it was to blame for St Kilda's departure. At a meeting on Monday night, Kingston council approved the following recommendation: "Council wishes to reiterate its policy position of pursuing an overall reduction in gaming machines in Kingston. Given that the current proposal will increase gaming revenue in Kingston, particularly in the Moorabbin area, council would strongly support a reduction in the number of gaming machines." The council voted against Option A, which read: Council fully supports 83 gaming machines for the development. "St Kilda is not being upfront," Kingston council chief executive John Nevins said. "They are implying it is Kingston council that gets to determine whether they can relocate all their 83 gaming machines or not. That is not the case. It is the gaming commission that does that." Fraser refuted the Kingston council claims. "Had they supported us on this, we would have stayed, but they didn't and we now have an opportunity to build an elite training facility somewhere else, then take the $6 million we were going to plough in to the (social club) site on South Rd (Moorabbin) with a difficult council, and spend that $6 million anywhere we like." The Article Damian Barrett HeraldSun/31May07 Saints gear up for the Cats The Saints this week take on one of the best teams in the league, Geelong, according to St Kilda coach Ross Lyon. "Geelong are a powerful group and they are one of the best teams going around." The Saints play the Cats at Telstra Dome this Sunday, 5.10pm in the Club's first twilight match of the year. "They've obliterated some strong teams, their defence is outstanding and they are the number one attacking side. They are very experienced and they are a team that has been together 6-8 years, they're all up and going" Lyon said. With the Saints sitting at 4-5, this week's game against the Cats is a crucial one for the Club. "Last week we felt we had enough personnel to win, but we didn't. We started poorly and were inaccurate. Going into this week's match, if we execute when we need to, and use the ball effectively, we can win." Last week the Saints played the Dockers in Perth and Lyon added his disappointment at his team's lack of polish in front of goal. "Inaccuracies do contribute to the game, and although we had more inside 50s than Freo, unfortunately we just couldn't convert and didn't make the most of our opportunities". The Article Vanessa Gigliotti/saints.com.au/30May07 St Kilda, council still at loggerheads . . . St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser said the Saints would not alter their application for 83 poker machines despite Butterss calling for a common-sense solution. "Yesterday Rod was expressing his hope a deal could be done but we won't be changing what we have requested," Fraser said. "The council knows what we want and what we have been discussing for three years. Yes, it would be great if we could get support because we don't want to leave Moorabbin." St Kilda wants Kingston's support of its application before it approaches the Victorian Commission for Gaming Regulation to have the poker machines relocated. A spokesman for Kingston said the council wanted St Kilda to keep its training base at Moorabbin and was happy for talks to be renewed. "We were never the ones who walked away from the table," he said. Fraser said St Kilda was yet to contact Kingston about holding more talks and wanted to discuss the matter with the Saints directors later this week. The Article Adam Cooper/AAP/saints.com.au/05Jun07 Same Article AAP/SydneyMorningHerald/04Jun07 Saints still hoping to stay at Moorabbin . . . Butterss said on Sunday it would be a "great shame" for the Saints to leave Moorabbin and said the club was prepared to renew talks with Kingston officials over the redevelopment of the facility and surrounding area, which will be partly funded by the Victorian government. Butterss invited the council back into more negotiations in an attempt to resolve the dispute and keep the Saints at their current home. "I hope on this occasion that common sense prevails and that both parties can sit down and work out a deal which is good for all parties concerned," Butterss told the St Kilda function before the twilight game against Geelong." The Article Adam Cooper/AAP/saints.com.au/03Jun07 Western Saints President resigns An email from Lew Mutch, President of Western Saints was distributed at 11.05pm last night. The email was sent to Rod Butterss, Archie Fraser, Committee members and others including westofmoorabbin.com. The email as follows: "To all Western Saints Committee. After almost 40 years running the W.A. St Kilda Supporter Group and in the past 19 years as President of the Western Saints the time has come for me to end that connection. I submit my resignation effective immediately. I thank you all for your support over the years and wish Western Saints and St Kilda Football Club my best wishes for the future. Lew Mutch" No more information is available but this follows the successful Fremantle Dockers game function. The Western Saints supporters group, through considerable work from Lew, who has planned a function for the Eagles game. The Vice President is Chris Williamson. - westofmoorabbin Editor Thank you Lew Mutch 'st_Trav_ofWA' et al/saintsational.com Hudghton recall worth risk St Kilda coach Ross Lyon will have no qualms about recalling veteran Max Hudghton to AFL action if the full-back can get through a fitness test tomorrow. Despite playing less than a quarter of football this season, after tearing a thigh muscle in Round 1 against the Brisbane Lions and then last weekend limping off favouring a calf muscle in his comeback game with Casey Scorpions reserves, Hudghton is high on the Saints' list of selection hopefuls for Sunday's Telstra Dome meeting with a rampant Geelong. Hudghton and five other players -- the Clarke brothers Xavier and Raphael, Jason Gram, Leigh Montagna and Andrew Thompson -- are chances to be available for the Saints. And a further boost to the Saints was the appearance of former skipper Aaron Hamill, back training with the senior group and moving well for the first time in the wake of a long-term knee injury. The Article Michael Horan/HeraldSun/31May07 Hamill returns to track The doubters have said that Aaron Hamill might never play football again. Yesterday, the one-time St Kilda captain who has been consistently betrayed by his body took a significant step towards another return by completing all but a small portion of a training session. It was the 29-year-old's first competitive workout since his right knee was operated on over summer. The delight of his teammates was visible and audible. When Hamill completed a simple end-to-end running drill, receiving a handball and then dishing one off, he was first cheered and then physically encouraged by as many players as could get their hands on him . . . This week, St Kilda faces the team that its coach Ross Lyon thinks is "probably" the best in the competition - Geelong. And, as if on cue ahead of the meeting with the AFL's most prolific scoring side, full-back Max Hudghton could top a list of as many as six inclusions to the St Kilda line-up. Jason Gram, a different kind of defender but no less important to the Saints' make-up, would also be welcomed back if he passes a fitness test tomorrow, as would Leigh Montagna, who a little over a week ago was written off until at least round 12 after breaking his jaw. "We'll have a few fitness tests late in the week on Gram, Montagna, Xavier Clarke, Hudghton, Raph Clarke. (They) will probably be available, but they'll have to get through two sessions and then we'll make that final decision," Lyon said. The Article Samantha Lane/RealFooty/31May07 Geelong: Key pair pushes for selection Geelong could be facing a selection dilemma this weekend with Tom Harley and Paul Chapman both expected to push for selection after stints out with injury. Harley is coming back from a finger injury and has played only one senior game this year, while Chapman has missed the last three weeks with a hamstring complaint. Geelong fullback Matthew Scarlett said the two are a good chance to be considered for Sunday's clash with St Kilda, but believes the selection committee will have a hard task finding players to omit from the high-flying Cats' side. "Tommy should come back into the side this week, and "Chappy" might as well," Scarlett told gfc.com.au . . . The Cats found an unlikely goal-kicker in tagger Max Rooke last weekend, as he slotted three goals in just his second game for the season after he battled back-related hamstring problems early on. Rooke is renowned for his ability to employ a blanketing role and is usually given a job on an imposing midfielder, but broke convention against the Power to push forward and find the big sticks multiple times. The Article Jennifer Witham/gfc.com.au/saints.com.au/30May07 SEN has a buzz . . . but where are the listeners? To borrow a term from its own vast collection of sporting cliches, in SEN 1116's ability to stimulate (or at least elongate) debate, stir controversy and perhaps even influence decision makers, the 24-hour sports station is punching well above its ratings-survey weight. In the almost three and a half years since it first went to air, SEN has become a major part of the dog-chasing-his-tail cycle of sporting news in a city where rumours of a Brownlow Medal favourite's dicky hamstring take clear precedence over the business dealings of a prime ministerial candidate's rich wife. Whether SEN breaks a story, solicits a controversial comment from a key figure in an interview or merely follows up a story or opinion aired elsewhere, its endless hours of discussion and talk-back are clearly reaching the ears of sports-industry heavyweights - particularly at the AFL, which is sensitive to public opinion in a season when it has been beset by controversy on and off the field. The Article TheAge/31May07 (2 pages) Imbalance is all about money Andrew Demetriou is investigating why Victorian teams can't win the flag. I suspect he already knows the answers. Anyone involved with the AFL scene can see why the clubs here don't cut the mustard. Here's a quick summary, Andrew: Vic clubs don't win premierships because, with two exceptions, they don't have as much money as the interstaters. Hence, they aren't as well coached, or conditioned, and they haven't recruited as wisely - particularly with the rookie list. They are still lumbered with archaic ways and silly past players with no idea about modern managerial practices while West Coast and Adelaide are uber professional, corporate-structured monoliths that hand-pick their directors, doctors and sponsors from an entire state. Geelong aside - and maybe Hawthorn in Tassie - the Victorians don't have home-ground advantages any more either, because the AFL herded them all into two grounds in the name of a '90s craze called "ground rationalisation". But the interstate teams have their own Windy Hills and Victoria Parks, and when they come here they either play in the Telstra bubble, or at the 'G, which they treat as an inspirational special occasion while complaining they don't play there enough, since it prepares them better for finals. The absolute upshot, Andrew, as you're aware, is that Victoria has 10 of the 16 teams, and that's pretty much the main reason it hasn't provided a premier for six years and counting. Jeff Kennett actually makes sense on this, pointing to the elephant in the room, that it's hard to compete with one and two-team towns, even from a fanatical football state of five million, with 10 teams vying for the same scraps (often from Eddie's table). The Article Jake Niall/RealFooty/31May07 Footy divide widening: Daniher Melbourne coach Neale Daniher has drawn a parallel between the AFL and the English Premier League, warning that a handful of wealthy clubs will continue to dominate unless steps are taken to create a level playing field. Daniher said the greater income available to clubs based outside Victoria tended to be channelled directly into their football departments, and it was no coincidence that these clubs had dominated the competition in the new millennium. "To run a football department budget is around $15 million and you've got half the clubs that can't get to that already and seven of them are in Melbourne," he said before training at the Junction Oval on Thursday morning. "The only way you get an advantage is through money raised outside the cap and if some clubs are earning $300,000 a week in extra revenue and that's say, Adelaide and West Coast, compared to Melbourne, the Western Bulldogs and Kangaroos, that's where they spend their money. That's where the disparity comes in, money off the field that goes into coaching, recruiting, medical, rehabilitation - it's only going to get bigger and bigger." The Article Angus Morgan/Sportal/31May07 Tassie plea for Origin The spiritual leaders of Tasmanian football will make an impassioned plea to the AFL for involvement in any State-of-Origin series next year. Spokesman Robert Shaw, Fremantle's football operations manager, said last night he would take the matter to the AFL Commission. He will write to commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, commissioner Bob Hammond and chief executive Andrew Demetriou, putting the Tasmanian case and seeking an audience. The Article Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/31May07 Coaches back origin concept Martin Boulton and Len Johnson/RealFooty/31May07 Allies Origin snub Andrew Hamilton/Brisbane/AdelaideAdvertiser/31May07 Tassie angry over snub Adam Smith/AdelaideAdvertiser/31May07 Robert Harvey visits Hillsmeade School St Kilda champion Robert Harvey dropped in on Hillsmeade Primary School recently to launch a national health and wellbeing program. The dual Brownlow Medallist visited the Narre Warren South school and had about 850 students hanging on his every word. Harvey was there to talk about 1 SEVEN - a program being run by the Australian Football League, Cricket Australia and Netball Australia to help students, teachers and parents learn about the benefits of an active lifestyle for youngsters. Hillsmeade teacher Liz Riches said the program is based around a website that offers vital tips for all three groups. She said the presence of an AFL superstar resulted in the students being on their best behaviour throughout the special assembly. "Our principal said she had never seen 850 kids get into a hall so quickly, be so organised and be quiet so quickly," Ms Riches said. The Article Berwick News/31May07 Homeless Saints look to Casey Fields . . . The Scorpions' general manager, Brian Woodman, is excited about the possibility of sharing the City of Casey's premier sporting complex with the Saints."Some people are saying it might take away something from the club, but I don't believe that," he said. "Certainly an AFL club would attract the attention of everybody in the region, but in an overall sense, it would only add to the value of our football club." Mr Woodman and his club have been in discussions over the past 12 to 18 months with St Kilda about alternative plans to Moorabbin, although he believes it is far from a fait accompli that the Saints will leave. "It is an option that the Saints have looked at and if they don't stay at Moorabbin it would certainly be on their radar," Mr Woodman said. "But I still believe there is plenty of water to go under the bridge with negotiations between the City of Kingston and St Kilda Football Club." The Article Marc McGowan Cranbourne News/31May07 Lenny caught in web scam Sydney's Adam Goodes has become a target for identity thieves who are preying on his AFL fame. The dual Brownlow medallist has been revealed as one of a growing number of AFL players who have had blogs or websites set up under their names by people falsely claiming to be them. The AFL Players Association said yesterday it was worried about the number of its stars who have become victims of this form of identity fraud . . . Other big-name AFL stars who have had their identity stolen have been Adelaide's Mark Ricciuto, Collingwood's Nathan Buckley, Jason Akermanis from Western Bulldogs, St Kilda's Lenny Hayes, Brad Ottens from Geelong, the Bulldogs' Scott West and Hawthorn's Shane Crawford. So far the AFLPA believes no player has been financially hurt or had their reputation seriously damaged. The Article Tim Morrissey FoxSports/31May07 Brent Reilly emerges . . . from Nick Dal Santo's shadow . . . Until last year, Crows fans could only wonder what might have been. The classy Dal Santo played 18 games in his first season at St Kilda in 2002 and has been a dominant midfielder since 2004. Hard-running Reilly managed just one game in his first year and didn't establish himself in the Crows line-up until last season. Entering this year, the career form-lines of the 23-year-olds read: Dal Santo 98 games, 51 goals, 1865 disposals, Reilly 68 games, 30 goals, 939 disposals. Now, suddenly, Reilly is making a compelling argument that he too could be a premier AFL midfielder. For the first time in his stuttering career, Reilly is matching Dal Santo for possessions. The Article Andrew Capel AdelaideAdvertiser/01Jun07 GO BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE
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