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Round 14 AFL 2007 Premiership Season - Pre-game Articles - Collingwood versus St Kilda
The Collingwood-St Kilda clash at the MCG on Saturday looms as one of the better contests of the round, but it could also prove to be a frustrating experience for fans if the two sides can't address their issues in front of goal. The Magpies and the Saints are the two most inaccurate teams in the competition this season with Collingwood ranked 15th in the AFL with an accuracy of 54.3 per cent and St Kilda dead last with only 53.7 per cent of scoring shots on target. Despite their troubles in front of the big sticks, the Saints got their year back on track with wins in their last two outings and the Pies are having an impressive season even though they lost a tight one to the Hawks last week; a loss that may have been avoided had they kicked straighter. The Magpies' troubles start with their ball movement into the forward 50 because they enter their attacking zone through the corridor only 35 per cent of the time, the lowest percentage in the AFL. St Kilda is more inclined to move the ball centrally, with 49 per cent of entries occurring through the corridor, however going inside 50, wider leading options seem to be winning out, creating shots from tight angles. Both teams have struggled to convert from the easiest shot at goal; the set shot. The Saints rank 14th in the AFL with an accuracy of 55.5 per cent from set shots, while Collingwood ranks 15th with an accuracy of 54.5 per cent. Friday Focus: round 14 Glenn Luff of Champion Data/AFL/saints.com.au/06Jul07 Saints seek to continue march The Saints will be looking to square their season and march back to within a game of the top eight when they face the Magpies in a blockbuster clash at the MCG on Saturday afternoon. The match is not only crucial to the Saints finals hopes but is a great test against a side likely to be there come September. The Pies sit fourth on the ladder with eight wins and lost only narrowly to the in-form Hawks at Telstra Dome last weekend. The Saints have been boosted by the return of Justin Koschitzke after one week out with a hamstring injury. Koschitzke was outstanding against West Coast a fortnight ago and could be an option to stretch the Magpie defence alongside Fraser Gehrig and Nick Riewoldt. Matt Maguire's long awaited return is a boost to the defence and offsets the loss of the luckless Max Hudghton, cut down again by the hamstring curse. Maguire's return comes against a Pies team missing Anthony Rocca, and gives coach Ross Lyon more flexibility to play Sam Fisher in a more attacking role off half-back. Fisher and Jason Gram are a great attacking combination off the half-back line and when they are in good form the Saints get plenty of drive. While injuries can often deplete a side, it builds depth and players, who don't expect to get a game gain valuable experience and are ready to perform when the experienced players return. The Article Jason Phelan/saints.com.au/05Jul07 Hamill return remains on hold . . . "You're heart says 'yes' (pick him), but the pragmatic side says he needs a bit more conditioning. He won't be in there (the VFL) for seven or eight weeks. You'd think another week and we'll assess, probably three weeks maximum. He's really team orientated, he knows where he's at. Once you run down the race there's nowhere to hide. He's aware of that and we'll keep working to get him back." Maguire is another story. "Matty had done virtually a full pre-season and played in Round 1 and he's been running a fair while longer so as long as he gets through training we're pretty excited about playing him," Lyon said. "It's been a 13-week absence. He's a really bubbly and enthusiastic leader of the team so we're rapt at the thought of him coming back." Michael Gardiner has had surgery to correct a foot problem that has kept him out all season and Lyon was enthusiastic that, after a full pre-season, the West Australian recruit would make the field for the Saints. The Article Adrian Blades/HeraldSun/06Jul07 Magpies a hot ticket A week of Didak drama hasn't stopped Collingwood fans from unloading on the team to beat St Kilda at the MCG tomorrow. In contrast to most betting shops, TAB Sportsbet opened the Saints favourites at $1.85, but all the money has been for the Magpies. "The betting has turned right around with us now and the Pies are at $1.80 with the Saints at $1.95," TAB's Gary Davies said. Gerard Daffy with Lasseters Sports said even with the Saints at $2.05 "there haven't been any takers". The Article Adam Hamilton/HeraldSun/06Jul07 Ross Lyon: Magpies defence . . . When asked if his forwards were looking forward to playing against a depleted Pies' defence, Ross Lyon replied: "I don't know about that. They've been playing exceptional football and, as Mick's been saying, it's not about the players sitting in the grandstand. With Maxwell, Wakelin, Goldsack, Cox and Shaw, they've played fantastic football and not too many teams have scored a lot of points against them, so it's going to be a very difficult task." Match preview: St Kilda v Collingwood Jason Phelan/saints.com.au/05Jul07
A smiling Ross Lyon has confirmed star defender Matt Maguire will make his long-awaited comeback for St Kilda in this weekend's crunch match against Collingwood. And the Saints coach could include another key big man in the 22 with Justin Koschitzke more likely to play than the 'one per cent' possibility Lyon gave him on Thursday. Maguire, along with former skipper Aaron Hamill, resumed in the VFL last weekend with Casey. Both got through unscathed and Maguire's impressive display was enough to convince St Kilda selectors. "Aaron returned and he kicked four goals which was fantastic for Aaron and Casey. He'll train tonight and if he continues to go well he'll play for Casey again," Lyon told a large media pack at Moorabbin on Thursday afternoon. "Matty Maguire did a full pre-season, virtually, and played round one, he's been running for a fair while longer. He made a good return so if he gets through tonight we are pretty excited about playing him." The Saints trained behind closed doors at Moorabbin on Thursday ahead of Saturday's MCG date vs Magpies. The Article John Clark/Sportal/05Jul07 Stars to remain Saints St Kilda stars Nick Riewoldt, Nick Dal Santo and Xavier Clarke look set to play on with the Saints despite coach Ross Lyon remaining tight-lipped about the details of their contracts, which expire at season's end. Lyon said he would let managers negotiate with the trio while he focused on his team's upcoming match against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday. "Ken Sheldon's our football manager and they [the players] have obviously got Ricky Nixon [as their manager] and they seem to be across it so look, on the surface it [negotiating] seems to be going well," Lyon said on Thursday. "My philosophy is to let the cobblers do the cobbling so I'll let them come to an arrangement but all I can say is both Nicks and anyone else out of contract will be focusing on their footy and the game next week." The trio brings a wealth of talent and experience to the Saints' side, having played 324 matches between them, 15 of those being finals. The Article John Clark/Sportal/05Jul07 Saints monitor injury toll The extensive review of St Kilda's fitness and conditioning structure continues, with leading physiotherapist Peter Stanton at Moorabbin as a consultant. Stanton, a former Brisbane Lions physio, is keeping a close eye on medical practices as the Saints seek answers for their horrendous run of soft-tissue injuries. "He is comparing our practices to what is best practice in the competition," football manager Ken Sheldon said last night. "He's just watching our general training processes and spending time with our medical and physical preparation staff." Stanton will also spend time on the bench on game day. "We've consulted him and a team of experts to work through it and give us some feedback on our structure -- and any inefficiencies that might be in our system." The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/05Jul07 Western Australia 9.14 (68) d Victoria Country 3.7 (25) Goals: Western Australia : Masten 2, Morton 2, Ellard 2, Palmer, Garlett, Yarran - Victoria Country: Hobbs, McKenna, Bell. Best: Western Australia: Palmer, Masten, Morton, Rich, Myers, Rance - Victoria Country: Hockey, Austin, Selwood, Suban, Hobbs WA downs Vic Country John Clark/Sportal/06Jul07 Victoria Metro 7.7 (49) d South Australia 3.5 (23) Goals: Victoria Metro : Potts 4, De Bruin, Maric, Grant. South Australia : Holmes, Staple, White. Best: Victoria Metro: Potts, Polkinghorne, Otten, Cotchin, Famer, De Bruin. South Australia: Ebert, Hartlett, Murphy, Fairclough, McNamara. Vic Metro holds on against SA John Clark/Sportal/06Jul07 Stacks of stats for Heritage Round . . . ST KILDA (vs Collingwood) HIGHEST SCORE: 22.16 (148), round 21, 1982, at Waverley Park. LOWEST SCORE: 1.0 (6), round 13, 1898, at Victoria Park. AWAY RECORD: 17-89. - HOME RECORD: 36-57-1. BEST 1st QUARTER SCORE: 9.5 (59), round 20, 1975, at Moorabbin. BEST 2nd QUARTER SCORE: 7.5 (47), round 8, 1971, at Moorabbin. BEST 3rd QUARTER SCORE: 8.7 (55), round 21, 1982, at Waverley Park. BEST 4th QUARTER SCORE: 9.4 (58), round 10, 1944, at Junction Oval. GREATEST WINNING MARGIN: 73 points, round 17, 2005, at Telstra Dome. LONGEST WINNING SEQUENCE: 5, round 7, 1996, to round 12, 1998. MOST GOALS IN A GAME: 11, Bill Mohr, round 17, 1931, at Junction Oval. HIGHEST ATTENDANCE: 101,655, grand final, 1966, at MCG. The Stats afl.com.au/06Jul07 COLLINGWOOD vs ST KILDA - MATCH PREVIEWS . . . Summary The Didak affair continues to hang over Collingwood, although of greater concern is the long injury list. With that in mind, there was still plenty to like about last week's narrow loss to Hawthorn. It's crucial the Magpies win the midfield battle because if the Saints are allowed to dictate terms there and move the ball quickly to their forward line, the patched-up Magpies defence will be under the pump. The Saints are likely to again be without tall Justin Koschitzke but have Fraser Gehrig and Nick Riewoldt waiting to inflict damage on the scoreboard. Key The Magpies defenders lack nothing for pluck, but that may not be enough against Riewoldt, Gehrig and Co. • Real Footy Match Preview RealFooty - • saints.com.au Preview Jason Phelan • Sportal Match Preview Sportal.com.au - • AFL Match Preview afl.com.au Maguire, Koschitzke a chance for Saints St Kilda defender Matt Maguire and big man Justin Koschitzke have been picked for Saturday's AFL clash against Collingwood, but doubts still remain on whether they will actually line up. Saints coach Ross Lyon said all Maguire had to do was get through Thursday afternoon's closed training session at Moorabbin to be selected. "It's been a 13-week absence. He's a really bubbly, enthusiastic leader of the team so we're rapt, the thought of him coming back," Lyon said. "If he gets through tonight, we're pretty excited about playing him," Lyon said. Maguire has been restricted to one AFL game in 2007 due to a foot injury, but came through last week's run in the VFL unscathed. While Koschitzke was listed to start in the ruck, Lyon had estimated the 24-year-old's return from a hamstring injury suffered against West Coast two weeks ago at just one per cent. "If I was a betting man I'd say no, but there is a slim chance he could get through and be available for selection," Lyon said. The Article AAP/TheAge/05Jul07 Saints close to sealing trio Nick Riewoldt and Nick Dal Santo will reject huge offers from rival clubs to stay at St Kilda, with Riewoldt tipped to easily cross the magical $1 million mark in football earnings. Their manager, Ricky Nixon, has officially put offers to the Saints and is awaiting a response, which could come back as early as next week. "I have put an offer back for both of them and Xavier Clarke and it all rests with the club," Nixon said. Asked if his offer was a strong indication the players wanted to stay, Nixon said: "Yes and no. You're always going to put an offer back to the club, you're not not going to put an offer back. Now the ball's in St Kilda's court." Riewoldt's contract, which is expected to span three years, will centre around football and marketing components. For example, he would receive an estimated $700,000 football contract which will be counted in the salary cap and up to $300,000 in marketing which is not included. The Article Mark Robinson/HeraldSun/05Jul07 Hamill return remains on hold . . . "You're heart says 'yes' (pick him), but the pragmatic side says he needs a bit more conditioning. He won't be in there (the VFL) for seven or eight weeks. You'd think another week and we'll assess, probably three weeks maximum. He's really team orientated, he knows where he's at. Once you run down the race there's nowhere to hide. He's aware of that and we'll keep working to get him back." Maguire is another story. "Matty had done virtually a full pre-season and played in Round 1 and he's been running a fair while longer so as long as he get through training we're pretty excited about playing him," Lyon said. "It's been a 13-week absence. He's a really bubbly and enthusiastic leader of the team so we're rapt at the thought of him coming back." Michael Gardiner has had surgery to correct a foot problem that has kept him out all season and Lyon was enthusiastic that, after a full pre-season, the West Australian recruit would make the field for the Saints. The Article Michael Horan/HeraldSun/06Jul07 Magpies a hot ticket A week of Didak drama hasn't stopped Collingwood fans from unloading on the team to beat St Kilda at the MCG tomorrow. In contrast to most betting shops, TAB Sportsbet opened the Saints favourites at $1.85, but all the money has been for the Magpies. "The betting has turned right around with us now and the Pies are at $1.80 with the Saints at $1.95," TAB's Gary Davies said. Gerard Daffy with Lasseters Sports said even with the Saints at $2.05 "there haven't been any takers". The Article Adam Hamilton/HeraldSun/06Jul07 Saints to pick Maguire A smiling Ross Lyon has confirmed star defender Matt Maguire will make his long-awaited comeback for St Kilda in this weekend's crunch match against Collingwood. And the Saints coach could include another key big man in the 22 with Justin Koschitzke more likely to play than the 'one per cent' possibility Lyon gave him on Thursday. Maguire, along with former skipper Aaron Hamill, resumed in the VFL last weekend with Casey. Both got through unscathed and Maguire's impressive display was enough to convince St Kilda selectors. "Aaron returned and he kicked four goals which was fantastic for Aaron and Casey. He'll train tonight and if he continues to go well he'll play for Casey again," Lyon told a large media pack at Moorabbin on Thursday afternoon. "Matty Maguire did a full pre-season, virtually, and played round one, he's been running for a fair while longer. He made a good return so if he gets through tonight we are pretty excited about playing him." The Saints trained behind closed doors at Moorabbin on Thursday ahead of Saturday's MCG date vs Magpies. The Article John Clark/Sportal/05Jul07
Round 14 celebrates Heritage Round with a salute to the 1970s era. St Kilda's 70's guernsey clashes with Collingwood's nominated guernsey for this match, therefore the Club has chosen to wear its 2007 clash guernsey, which is predominantly white in the designated Heritage Round. After consultation with the AFL and Collingwood, the Saints made the decision to wear their clash guernsey to ensure that there is no clash with Collingwood's predominately black guernsey. While St Kilda would like to wear a guernsey that represents their 1970's heritage, the Club's decision to wear its clash guernsey was made to avoid the obvious clash with Collingwood's home guernsey. The Article saints.com.au/05Jul07 Maguire, Koschitzke a chance for Saints St Kilda defender Matt Maguire and big man Justin Koschitzke have been picked for Saturday's AFL clash against Collingwood, but doubts still remain on whether they will actually line up. Saints coach Ross Lyon said all Maguire had to do was get through Thursday afternoon's closed training session at Moorabbin to be selected. "It's been a 13-week absence. He's a really bubbly, enthusiastic leader of the team so we're rapt, the thought of him coming back," Lyon said. "If he gets through tonight, we're pretty excited about playing him," Lyon said. Maguire has been restricted to one AFL game in 2007 due to a foot injury, but came through last week's run in the VFL unscathed. While Koschitzke was listed to start in the ruck, Lyon had estimated the 24-year-old's return from a hamstring injury suffered against West Coast two weeks ago at just one per cent. "If I was a betting man I'd say no, but there is a slim chance he could get through and be available for selection," Lyon said. The Article AAP/TheAge/05Jul07 Maguire set for Saints return St Kilda defender Matt Maguire is expected to return to the side for Saturday's match against Collingwood at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The 23-year-old Maguire has not played since injuring his foot in the first game of the season against Melbourne. Saints coach Ross Lyon said he was confident that Maguire's presence would have a big impact on the side. "I mean he's a really bubbly and enthusiastic leader of the team, so we're rapt at the thought of him coming back," Lyon said. "It's great for Matt but really we just want him to play a part for the team." The Article ABCNews/05Jul07 Stars to remain Saints St Kilda stars Nick Riewoldt, Nick Dal Santo and Xavier Clarke look set to play on with the Saints despite coach Ross Lyon remaining tight-lipped about the details of their contracts, which expire at season's end. Lyon said he would let managers negotiate with the trio while he focused on his team's upcoming match against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday. "Ken Sheldon's our football manager and they [the players] have obviously got Ricky Nixon [as their manager] and they seem to be across it so look, on the surface it [negotiating] seems to be going well," Lyon said on Thursday. "My philosophy is to let the cobblers do the cobbling so I'll let them come to an arrangement but all I can say is both Nicks and anyone else out of contract will be focusing on their footy and the game next week." The trio brings a wealth of talent and experience to the Saints' side, having played 324 matches between them, 15 of those being finals. The Article John Clark/Sportal/05Jul07 Heritage Round theme: Living in the Seventies The Opening of Waverley Park, the first live broadcast of the Brownlow Medal, Peter Hudson kicking 150 goals in one season, Mike Brady's first rendition of Up There Cazaly, and football televised in colour for the first time. Welcome to the 1970s. The AFL is set to remember great footballing moments from this memorable era this weekend, after it launched the themed Heritage Round on Tuesday at the Global Television Studios in South Melbourne. In honour of the round, which will be focused on the decade that was ultimately a time of great change for the game, the launch involved a mock episode of the cult 1970s television program World of Sport. The Article Jennifer Witham/AFL/saints.com.au/03Jul07
St Kilda Defender Matt Maguire pressed his claim for a return against Collingwood on Saturday during a series of one-on-one drills with defensive coach Stephen Silvagni yesterday. Maguire played with Casey Scorpions at the weekend and is a likely replacement for Max Hudghton, who injured a hamstring. Aaron Hamill also trained after his four-goal haul with the Scorpions - his first match in almost 10 months following knee surgery. Hamill was restricted to 15 minutes of handball drills. Veteran Matthew Clarke's back will be tested later in the week. The Article Martin Boulton/RealFooty/04Jul07 Saints eager to march over Magpies Jayden Attard, one of the key instigators of St Kilda's revival, has warned the club's hard work will be unravelled if it has a disappointing display against Collingwood on Saturday. St Kilda can record three wins in a row for the first time this season if it rolls the Magpies at the MCG. But unheralded midfielder Attard said the gutsy 17-point win against Richmond on Saturday night and last week's heroic win against West Coast in Perth could amount to nought if the Saints lost to the Magpies. "I think Collingwood's definitely in finals contention. We need to pay them full respect," Attard said. "I think they are a very good side. Every game in the last half of the season is important." Attard was among the Saints' best against Richmond, playing a defining shut-down role on Brett Deledio, restricting the key playmaker to just nine kicks. The Article Chris Mitchell/HeraldSun/02Jul07 Heritage All year round . . . "People come to see the long kicks to the goal square, the one-on-one contests, rather than the kicking backwards and chipping around. There's very little of that because our blokes haven't got the ability to maintain possession." In the Southern League, which Holdsworth says has been attracting up to 3000 people to some matches, Daryl Pitman and Ian Bennett can be seen broadcasting the game of the round for Southern FM radio and Channel 31 on TV. Sometimes, "Benny and Dags" call the games from the side of a rental truck parked near the boundary line. It's a long way from the slick productions of the AFL broadcasters, but they have a loyal following. "They'll refer to blokes having a pie, or there's Mavis in the stand doing some knitting," said Holdsworth. "It's not Bruce McAvaney stuff, but that's what community footy is about." Pitman says there is no doubt community football is booming, and thinks people crave a regular Saturday afternoon fix when their AFL teams are on the road or playing in different timeslots. "I think it's across the board, we're getting good crowds at division-three games now and 10 years ago you would get five people and their dog," Pitman said. "It's good, old-fashioned footy." The Article Chloe Saltau/RealFooty/05Jul07
Pies hit the fixtures jackpot The AFL often talks up its fancy new software, designed to spit out the fairest fixture possible. Created by Canadian company Optimal Planning Solutions, the computer geeks swear by it. It must be good. Hey, the NFL is using it. Yet, no matter how much it spends on programs, the AFL draw will never be bullet-proof. The competition can never be truly equal when all teams aren't playing each other twice. There are always winners and losers. The moment the draw is released every October, we all guess who they will be. Right now, it is easy to make a definitive call. If you're feeling sorry for Collingwood amid the latest Alan Didak controversy, don't. The Magpies have a dream run home. They are the big winners. When you make a final judgment, it all comes down to the seven teams each club plays twice. And the Pies surely can't believe their luck. The four teams you'd love another crack at beyond Round 15 are blatantly obvious -- Richmond, Melbourne, Carlton and Brisbane. The Article Mark Stevens HeraldSun/05Jul03 Demetriou 'keen for coffee' with Didak The "cup of coffee" that AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou wants to have with Alan Didak will be a particularly hot brew for the Collingwood star. Demetriou said he plans to speak individually with Didak once there is a resolution to his off-field drama. The AFL boss reiterated the league might take "further action" if more information was revealed about Didak's association on June 12 with alleged CBD gunman Christopher Wayne Hudson. "When the dust settles on Alan Didak, I wouldn't mind having a cup of coffee with him," Demetriou told 3AW. "He doesn't need me to give him a lecture, he understands the stupidity of the situation he got himself in." The Article AAP/TheAge/06Jul07 Cousins suffers injury setback Sportal/06Jul07 Cousins & The Salary Cap 'carn_sainter' saintsational.com GO BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE
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