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Round 12 AFL 2007 Premiership Season - Pre-game Articles - West Coast Eagles vs St Kilda
See also Mid-season Articles
See also Mid-season Articles
Born: 21/8/1971. 181cm, 86cm. Recruited from Seaford. 349 games. 208 goals. Brownlow Medal: 1997, 1998 Best and fairest: 1992, 1994, 1997, 1998. Second best and fairest: 2000, 2003 Third best and fairest: 1990, 1993, 1996, 1999. All-Australian: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003. International Rules: 1998 EJ Whitten Medal: 1992, 1993, 1996 AFLPA MVP: 1997 Michael Tuck Medal: 2004 Pre-season premiership: 1996, 2004 Captain: 2001-02 Robert Harvey, this is your life Robert Harvey made his debut for St Kilda 11 days short of his 17th birthday against Footscray at the Western Oval in Round 19, 1988, wearing No. 52. He started on a half-forward flank and had the first kick of the match, racked up 12 touches. The Saints lost by 69 points. The next year, wearing the more familiar No. 35 guernsey, he played six games before injuring his ankle against the Swans at Moorabbin and missed 10 weeks. He returned for the final six rounds - the last games he would play under first coach Darrel Baldock. The St Kilda line-up that day was: B: Sheldon, Frawley, Jeffrey HB: Nixon, Elphinstone, Cunningham C: Rice, Mick Dwyer, Daniels HF: Winmar, Loewe, Burns F: Harvey, McConville, Bowey FOLL: B.Jones, Coghlan, Burke I/C: Barker, Peter-Budge The Article Jackie Epstein/HeraldSun/24Jun07 Hero Harvey inspires play-on call St Kilda champion Robert Harvey plays his 350th game today, against West Coast and has been urged to continue his long career next year. Hawk Shane Crawford said Harvey, 35, should sign on for a 21st season. "The key with Robert Harvey is preparation," Crawford said. "He just has a real passion for the game. He's a very unique individual to be doing it for so long and to be doing it so well. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he continues. He's still physically capable of performing, so you'd just keep him going. Absolutely I would." The Article Jackie Epstein/HeraldSun/24Jun07 Saints war on 'spy' claims A private detective alleges St Kilda Football Club hired him to spy on its players, reigniting the bitter war of words between club president Rod Butterss and sacked coach Grant Thomas. Magistrates' Court documents show Advanced Protective Services sued the football club for unpaid bills for "investigative services". APS private eye Normy Cove claimed he tailed players after St Kilda hired him. Mr Butterss denied the club hired spies, but said Thomas might have been behind it. Last night, Mr Butterss called the Sunday Herald Sun and retracted that accusation. Thomas denied he was behind hiring spies, adding: "I'm getting a bit tired of my name continually being brought up in relation to problems and issues with St Kilda Football Club. Obviously I'm disappointed by this." The detective agency claimed it was hired by the Saints . . . St Kilda Football Club CEO Archie Fraser last night confirmed he had spoken to board members and all denied knowledge of a private investigator being hired to spy on the players. The Article Liam Houlihan/SundayHeraldSun/24Jun07 Eagles honour brave 'Damo' West Coast will pay one of football's highest tributes when they wear black armbands to honour Damian Scott, 12, in today's clash with St Kilda at Subiaco Oval. The brave Manjimup boy, who died last week after a battle with the soft-tissue cancer rhabdomyosarcoma, was the club's No.1 junior ticket holder. Michael Braun was among seven Eagles players to attend his funeral in Bunbury on Friday. Damo's determination and engaging personality inspired a cross-section of high-profile West Australians, including Eagles' premiership stars, boxing champion Danny Green and Australian Idol singer Chris Murphy. The Article Braden Quartermaine/SundayTimes/24Jun07 Worsfold confident Judd will play Saints Still confident Chris Judd will play against St Kilda on Sunday, West Coast John Worsfold says he is also upbeat about his captain signing a new contract with the Eagles after this year. While Judd struggles to overcome a groin injury to take his place at Subiaco, where Saints veteran Robert Harvey will play his 350th game, the Eagles face their own fight to retain the Brownlow medallist's services when his contract expires at the end of the season. And while speculation continues to swirl about Judd's intentions after 2007, Worsfold said he said he was struggling to find a reason why the superstar would want to move from Perth. "I am confident. It would be silly not to be confident because he is enjoying his football here, he has settled in well and I know he enjoys his teammates and the football club," Worsfold told ABC radio. The Article Tim Clarke/AAP/AFL/saints.com.au/23Jun07 Harvey fit for milestone game Dual Brownlow medallist Robert Harvey will play his 350th game against West Coast at Subiaco Oval tomorrow after joining his teammates in Perth for their final training session yesterday. Harvey, who flew to Perth on Thursday night on a different flight from the rest of the St Kilda team, hasn't played since injuring his hamstring against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval on May 25. Only nine men have played 350 VFL/AFL games and Harvey, who will be watched by a large contingent of family, will become the first Saint to pass the 350-game milestone. While the 35-year-old veteran appears certain to play, doubts remain about another Brownlow medallist. West Coast captain Chris Judd was given a fitness test on his injured groin during a closed training session yesterday morning. The Article Craig O'Donoghue/RealFooty/23Jun07 Judd likely to miss Harvey's big day . . . St Kilda veteran, who was in vintage form before hurting the hamstring, is unlikely to face Judd, despite the Eagles captain being named yesterday . . . Without Judd, the Eagles defeated Geelong at Skilled Stadium by three points and Carlton at Subiaco Oval by 10 points, but lost to Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium by 37 points. In fact, the durable midfielder has missed just four games since making his debut in the second round of 2002, playing 126 games out of a possible 130. His other absence was because of a one-game suspension in 2005. It is understood that Judd has told his coach he wants to play, but a St Kilda source said the Saints were not expecting him to take his place. Worsfold, acting on medical advice, is unlikely to risk his captain and is expected to rule him out tomorrow. The Article Greg Denham and Courtney Walsh/TheAustralian/23Jun07 Judd doubt in Harvey's 350th match Robert Harvey is preparing for another significant career notation as well as taking the family on a short mid-year holiday in Western Australia. The St Kilda legend flew into Perth yesterday with his wife Danielle and three children ahead of tomorrow's 350th game against West Coast. Barring an unforeseen injury during a light training run at Subiaco yesterday, he will become the 10th AFL-VFL player to reach 350. Harvey and several teammates arrived a day after the main playing group, a pre-arranged schedule that only heightened speculation the Saints would hold him back for next Saturday night's home game against Richmond at Telstra Dome. The Article Bruce Matthews/HeraldSun/23Jun07 Three changes for Eagles, Saints . . . Beau Waters returns to the line-up after being a late withdrawal last week while Jaymie Graham will play just his third match for the season and utility Mark Nicoski his first after being sidelined by a serious shoulder injury . . . Rowan Jones is among the Eagles emergencies along with Chad Jones and Steven Armstrong . . . Despite concerns that he may not take part in the match, Harvey trained with the squad at Subiaco on Friday. Harvey, who is poised to play his 350th AFL match, was named at half-forward in the Saints line-up which also includes Xavier Clarke and Leigh Fisher who come in for Brad Howard, James Gwilt and the injured Fraser Gehrig. Shane Birss, Fergus Watts and Matthew Ferguson are the St Kilda emergencies. The Article Sportal/22Jun07 Judd could play forward against Saints West Coast captain Chris Judd could play further forward to ease his workload against St Kilda at Subiaco Oval on Sunday. Judd has been struggling with a groin injury but has been named to take his place against the Saints. He will undergo a fitness test at training this afternoon. Eagles assistant coach Tony Micale says it is difficult to decide where best to put the inspirational midfielder. "It's a difficult one because he's such a power player, an important player through the middle," he said. The Article ABCTVNews/22Jun07
Robert Harvey's transition into the next phase of his life has been in motion for some time now and has taken unexpected forms. Like his nightly guitar lessons, a vow to brush up on his Italian and a move, with his family, to the Mornington Peninsula. So prepared was Harvey for starting life after footy that, in the middle of last year, he and wife Danielle and their three kids, Connor, Remi and Alyssa, uprooted from bayside Melbourne, where the couple had lived for about 13 years, and headed for the quieter surrounds of Mount Eliza. Harvey, at age 35, then signed on for a 20th year with the Saints. Another pre-season, the rigours of weekly training sessions and matches have been nothing compared to the 45-minute drives he's had to make to and from Moorabbin since. They've been killing him. "There's no way I would have moved if I knew I was going to play on," Harvey chuckled yesterday, speaking to The Age before he and his family flew to Perth, where he will play his 350th game on Sunday. The Article Samantha Lane/RealFooty/22Jun07 St Kilda punters optimistic . . . Surprisingly, the biggest move of the three games has been for St Kilda at the line to get within 37 points of West Coast at Subiaco on Sunday. "We opened the Saints at $1.90 at the line and have taken more than $27,000 in bets on them, so we're into $1.80," Davies said. (Lasseters Sports' Gerard) Daffy said: "There is a real feeling the Saints will make a great match of this one, especially with Harvey back and the promise of bad weather." Sportingbet Australia's Stephen Fletcher sees it very differently. "Punters can get an easy 11 per cent on their money by taking the $1.11 West Coast to win," he said. "OK, Harvey is expected back for the Saints, but they would need five Harveys and three Riewoldts to beat the Eagles over there." The Article Adam Hamilton/HeraldSun/22Jun07 Embley, Nicoski ready to rock: Sumich . . . Several players will come under serious consideration for the game against St Kilda on Sunday. Vice-captain Andrew Embley has made good progress from an arthroscopy on a knee and will have strong claims. Mark Nicoski and Jaymie Graham, who have been regular senior players in the past couple of years, have each played a couple of games since returning from injury and will certainly be discussed at the match committee this week . . . The Saints represent a tough challenge, particularly with so much at stake. They need to win to stay in touch with the top eight, so we know they will come at us hard. Over the past few weeks leading into the break, they started to get some big names back and with players of the calibre of Nick Riewoldt, Nick Dal Santo, Stephen Milne, Justin Koschitzke and Luke Ball part of their team, they have the capacity to take the game apart. For our part, we will concentrate on playing our style of game and will be keen to make it as difficult as possible for the Saints on our home turf. The Article Peter Sumich/SundayTimes/21Jun07 West Coast sweat on Judd's late fitness test West Coast captain Chris Judd has been given until tomorrow to prove his fitness after again being rested from training yesterday. A groin injury restricted Judd to playing in the forward line during the final quarter of the club's one-point loss to Essendon in round 11 and coach John Worsfold said the star might have been rested if the team hadn't had the mid-season bye last week. Scans show that the 2004 Brownlow medallist has not strained or torn a groin, so the club has been working on ways to manage his soreness. He walked laps during training on Monday and did stationary skills yesterday . . . Key defender Adam Hunter and veteran Daniel Chick missed the session because of illness while Brent Staker again watched from the sidelines. But vice-captain Andrew Embley made a bold bid to prove his fitness with a strong training performance. The Article Craig O'Donoghue/WestAustralian/21Jun07 Jones replaces Wooden in Eagles squad The West Coast Eagles have included Chad Jones in a 25-man squad for Sunday afternoon's match against St Kilda at Subiaco Oval. Jones has been elevated from the rookie list to replace Josh Wooden, who has been added to the Eagles' long-term injury list. Beau Waters, Steven Armstrong, Jaymie Graham and Mark Nicoski have been added to the squad, while Chad Fletcher is out with a groin injury and Mitch Brown has been dropped. The Article ABC Regional Online/21Jun07 Eagles a huge challenge: Lyon Now the Saints are preparing to tackle the toughest task in footy, heading west for a clash with West Coast, themselves smarting from a last start loss to Essendon. As the media waited for Lyon to enter the dim room hosting Wednesday afternoon's press conference at Moorabbin an equally gloomy coach was expected. Perhaps the break did Lyon more good than anyone else in the game. While this wasn't quite up to the standards set by 'Reverend' Neale Daniher up the road at Junction Oval in recent times, it was certainly a more relaxed Lyon. When the opening question failed to come within seconds of him taking his seat, Lyon quipped: "Beautiful, there's nothing on." As the question-and-answer session continued the coach was more interested in promoting the potent pairing of Justin Koschitzke and Nick Riewoldt in attack than carping about the unavailability of spearhead Fraser Gehrig. Then there was Robert Harvey, set to play his 350th game if he can overcome a hamstring injury. Does the flight to Perth come into consideration when assessing whether to take the former skipper's selection? "No, there are plenty of seats to get him on the plane," Lyon grinned. The Article John Clark/Sportal/20Jun07 Means to an end Retirement comes easily to some people. Take Austinn Jones, St Kilda's distinguished wingman and defender who walked away unceremoniously at the end of the 2005 AFL season, despite having a year of his contract remaining at an estimated $250,000. Jones went and coached Narre Warren to a premiership with a few of his long-time mates, and began a promising career in football commentary for the ABC. "There's not been one moment when I've thought, 'That was the wrong decision'," Jones said last week. "That's the real test." The Article Martin Blake/TheAge/24Jun07
. . . "At some point Fraser won't be playing for St Kilda, whether it's next year or the year after. We've got two gun forwards, Koschitzke and Riewoldt . . . you build premiership teams around those guys. They're going to be around for the next seven years, so it's an insight this week into what it's going to be like without Fraser." Lyon said Harvey, who trained strongly yesterday after a solid session on Monday, had progressed well and was probably the best judge of his own condition . . . Xavier Clarke (injured calf) appeared to be limping slightly but completed yesterday's training session and, according to Lyon, should be available for selection . . . Matt Maguire (foot) will play for the Casey Scorpions this week but Aaron Hamill (knee) and Michael Gardiner (foot) are both another week away from returning through the VFL. The Article Martin Boulton/RealFooty/21Jun07 We can't afford Riewoldt: Lethal Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews admits he would love to lure St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt back to Queensland, but concedes the full forward is out his price range. Contract negotiations with ruckman Jamie Charman are on hold, and there are reports the Lions want to swap the ruckman for the Saints' star forward. But Matthews said he was still hopeful Charman would remain in Brisbane and said there was little chance of Riewoldt returning to Queensland. "I don't think we've got any capacity to be going recruiting, and Nick Riewoldt is a big recruit," Matthews said. "You are talking a massive amount of salary cap percentage - so I would think the chances of Nick Riewoldt being here are just about nil. Would we like Nick Riewoldt here? We'd love Nick Riewoldt here, but that's not the point - we can't get him here."  The Article ABC Queensland/21Jun07
St Kilda training exceptionally well: Lyon . . . "We left Round 7 in pretty good shape at 4-3, but the last month has been inconsistent," Lyon said. "Everyone talks about game plan, but if you can't execute fundamentals consistently, there's not too many game plans stand up. In our wins we've been averaging 16 goals, so it has been feast or famine. You get lauded when you win and criticised when you lose, which is fair enough." Harvey, who strained a hamstring against Fremantle in Perth in Round 9, trained strongly yesterday. Lyon said he had followed the lead of Wayne Bennett, coach of NRL premier Brisbane, by freshening his players with a four-day break during the split round. "He used to keep them going, but he gave them a four-day break (last year) and they came back and finished off the season well. So we went that way and on Monday they trained exceptionally well, really vibrant and positive," he said . . . The Saints will follow the same routine as the last Perth trip by arriving late today. The Article Bruce Matthews/HeraldSun/21Jun07
Robert Harvey looks set to play his 350th AFL match in hostile territory after coach Ross Lyon said that the Saints' veteran had done everything asked of him on the track ahead of Sunday's match against West Coast at Subiaco. Harvey, 35, will become the first St Kilda player to reach the milestone, but has been sidelined since injuring his hamstring in the round nine loss to Fremantle at the same venue. "I expect him to play, there wasn't much emotion in my decision - when gun players are available you play 'em. If he gets through everything, he'll play," Lyon said at Moorabbin on Wednesday. "We have protocols that he's got to tick off and at the minute he's jumping right over the top of them." Lyon admitted the scenario wasn't ideal but deferred to the club's medical staff and the man himself when it came to deciding whether he was up to the long plane trip as well as the match on the wide-open expanses of Subiaco. The Article Jason Phelan/saints.com.au/20Jun07 Testimonial has given players impetus and excitement: Lyon . . . Lyon said the celebration of Harvey's career at a testimonial dinner last weekend had given the Saints' players "some real impetus and excitement" . . . The coach discussed with them some insights the evergreen Saint, who is in his 20th AFL season, provided into his motivation through footage played at the dinner . . . Meanwhile, Lyon said the gameplan he had introduced to the club was not responsible for the Saints' scoring woes . . . "When you don't play well you don't kick a lot of goals and at the minute we're not playing well," said Lyon . . . "I'm not going to defend the indefensible, if anyone thinks I'm trying to defend eight or 10 goals, I'm not. What I'm saying is when we play well and we win the ball and we execute the gameplan we kick a lot of goals. But when we're inconsistent over four quarters and we don't use the ball well and we go wide and we don't hit targets we don't kick a lot of goals." The Article AAP/TheAge/20Jun07 Charman and Riewoldt Trade? Brisbane Lions ruckman Jamie Charman is yet to start talks with the club about a new contract, and he is considering a move to a Melbourne club next year. Sources close to the club say there is growing evidence that Charman is open to a move. One possible scenario involves Brisbane offering Charman as a trade to St Kilda for forward Nick Riewoldt. Riewoldt is yet to agree to terms with the Saints, and there remains a lot of talk that Brisbane is having a crack at luring him home for next year. The Lions have struggled in attack and they are looking at ways to take the heat off co-captain Jonathan Brown. Brisbane is believed to be interested in retaining Charman at a reasonable price, but it is also prepared to trade the premiership ruckman if he wants to leave . . . The Saints are also desperate for a mobile ruckman. The Article Andrew Hamilton/HeraldSun/21Jun07 Monday Training . . . Harvey, X, Hamill, Goose and Gardner completed full 2 hour training session today (Monday) - M Clarke did not train. 'Bernard Shakey' saintsational.com . . . Hamill, Gardiner and Goose will play this week if they complete full training on Wednesday but none will play in the seniors this week. It would be madness on the big ground and could cause further injury as they would need to play most of the game where as at Scorps they will probably play a half. Harvey, X and Fish will be back in the ones this week and will replace G, Howard and one other. M Clarke is also a big chance in playing with Kosi staying up forward all game. 'plugger66' saintsational.com The Thread saintsational.com Right call, says Clarke Former Adelaide ruckman Matthew Clarke says the Crows were right not to talk him into staying at West Lakes. As debate still lingers over whether coach Neil Craig made the right call on Clarke, the St Kilda big man is in no doubt. "The development of (Jonathon) Griffin would indicate it was a good call wasn't it?" Clarke, 33, said. "I think they made a really good long-term call and even a short-term call; the way he (Griffin) has played has been excellent." While former Crows captain Chris McDermott quizzed Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg on Saturday night about the decision, Clarke said Griffin might not have flourished had he stayed. "You've got to develop your list," said Clarke, who has played six games with the Saints this season." The Article Zac Milbank/AdelaideAdvertiser/22Jun07 AFL Commission may get another new face in 2008 The AFL Commission is expected to change again before the start of next season, with the competition's longest-serving commissioner, Colin Carter, looking at stepping down after 15 years. The author of the AFL's 2001 report into game development and grassroots football, and senior adviser to the Boston Consulting group, is due to stand for re-election by the 16 clubs in February but is considering resigning his position. Carter's potential vacancy would bring two new faces on to the AFL's governing body with the league having already appointed headhunters to consider candidates to replace the late Ron Evans, the former commission chairman who died on the eve of the 2007 season. The Article Caroline Wilson/RealFooty/22Jun07 3AW takes axe to vaudeville footy Radio station 3AW reacted to its shock drop in football ratings by sacking host Craig Hutchison and producer Ralph Horowitz yesterday. The station also put Rex Hunt on notice that his style must change. Other axings were the Saturday morning program Glossing Over and its announcers Dr Turf and Trevor Marmalade. Saturday evening special comments man Scott Cummings was also told his services were no longer required. Hunt last night conceded he had indulged in too much vaudeville and promised fans he would get back to basics. The Article Michael Horan and Jon Anderson/HeraldSun/22Jun07 GO BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE
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