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Round 15 AFL 2007 Premiership Season - Pre-game Articles - St Kilda versus Adelaide Crows
The intriguing on-again, off-again relationship between St Kilda president Rod Butterss and the coach he sacked 10 months ago, Grant Thomas, seems to be on-again after successful mediation involving a Catholic priest finished with a handshake. The pair also have resolved their million-dollar-plus financial battle and have confidentially settled the matter of the alleged $1.14 million loan Butterss extended to Thomas in 2001 when, as a fellow director of the club, he bought a home in Brighton for $2.3 million. Butterss, whose leadership has come under increasing pressure since he launched his extraordinary public attack on Thomas last month, confirmed late yesterday that "all matters have been resolved" with the one-time close friend whom he last month described as a "virus" who needed to be "flushed out" of the St Kilda Football Club. In the latest bizarre chapter of the relationship between the two men who took control of St Kilda in 2000, successful mediation finally took place over the past fortnight. "We've shaken on it," Butterss said. "I have to tell you, it was a watershed" . . . "Rocket is the man to take the club forward and I've told him that," Thomas said yesterday. The Article Caroline Wilson/RealFooty/13Jul07 Priest reconciles feuding Saints CatholicNews/12Jul07 Halo, goodbye: Saints search for new home St Kilda's search for a new home has been widened to include Monash University and a cricket ground in Glen Waverley. The club has held preliminary discussions with university administrators about building an elite training centre, originally planned for Moorabbin, at the Clayton campus of the university. "We have had some discussions with Monash University and Monash council . . . we might follow them up in a couple of weeks' time and they might come back to us," Saints chief executive Archie Fraser said. He said the talks had been "initial discussions to see whether it could work". The campus joins other options for the club, including staying at Moorabbin, returning to the Junction Oval or relocating to Casey Fields in Cranbourne. Fraser said the club hoped to decide on its favoured option within six to eight weeks. St Kilda has also had early talks with the City of Monash about relocating to Central Reserve in Glen Waverley - a ground that has hosted international women's cricket but which is currently unused. The Saints' previously stated aim of being in new facilities by early 2009 has been relaxed. "It is still possible but given it's a 40-year decision, we want to get the right one," Fraser said. "If it takes a little bit longer that is OK." The Article Dan Silkstone/RealFooty/13Jul07
. . . Fisher's charmed childhood on the banks of Lake Bonney, a backwater of the Murray, is enough to make any AFL recruit from the boring 'burbs envious. About the only thing the Fisher kid didn't do was fish. "I was lucky enough to have a massive, big back yard with a little half-court tennis court," Fisher said yesterday. Then there was the speedboat in the garage. "We used to do a lot of water-skiing and then wake-boarding when it became popular . . . I used to love doing that," Fisher said. He also wandered the fairways of the lush, par-72, 6110m Barmera Golf Club just down the road. But that's not all . . . Fisher's parents Terry and Sue are still in Barmera, 220km northeast of Adelaide. Terry has teamed up with a neighbour in a tree-lopping business. Sue works down at the hospital. They were in Melbourne last weekend to celebrate their son's 25th birthday. And you can guarantee the Fishers might have taken a moment to ponder their son's charmed run. In 2003, the St Kilda defender was a bench player for SANFL club West Adelaide. When he did get a run, it was in the forward line next to Daniel Bradshaw's brother Darren. "I didn't play footy for three or four years before that because of golf," Fisher said. The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/12Jul07 Lyon worried over umpire ruling St Kilda coach Ross Lyon believes AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson set a 'dangerous precedent' with his comments relating to the umpiring in last Saturday's clash between the Saints and Collingwood at the MCG. Anderson said the performance by the umpires in Saturday's game, which saw a 23-12 free-kick count in St Kilda's favour, was 'below average'. Lyon said he was concerned by Anderson's comments on Tuesday suggesting the 'rub of the green went against Collingwood in terms of the mistakes that were made'. "When you talk about rub of the green throughout the year I think we've had some games that the rub of the green hasn't gone our way but we don't sit there and ask people to analyse," Lyon said on Wednesday afternoon. "But even within that game I thought we had some decisions that didn't go our way. Did we have more or less than Collingwood? I don't know because I've moved on. I think it's a dangerous precedent." The Article Andrew Wu/Sportal/11Jul07 Saints won't focus on finals St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says his team's aim in the final eight rounds of the season is not on making the finals but rather continuing its recent improvement. Two games out of the eight in 12th position with six wins, the Saints are likely to need to win at least six of their final eight games of the season to make the finals for a fourth consecutive season. Lyon, in his first year at the helm with St Kilda, said his long-term aim was to produce a side that could become a "serious contender to winning a premiership . . . whether it be the next eight weeks, the next season or the year after." However, Lyon, while acknowledging his team was still a mathematical chance of making the finals this year, said his side could ill-afford to be results driven at the neglect of staying 'in the present'. That was the pledge the club made prior to its win over reigning premier West Coast, which snapped a four-game losing streak, the coach revealed. "And if you take your eye off what you've got to do and stay in the present and the process of winning the ball and making the tackle and those sorts of things you can fall away pretty quickly," Lyon said. The Article Andrew Wu/Sportal/11Jul07
St Kilda star Aaron Hamill's latest injury setback is set to turn up the heat on the club's salary-cap pressures as it seeks to re-sign several of its big names. After failing yet another comeback from a knee injury this month, Hamill is unlikely to play again. However, he is on a guaranteed contract for 2008, worth as much as $600,000. St Kilda is not publicly talking about pushing him into retirement yet, but it may become a reality to ease salary-cap pressure next season. The club has yet to come to terms with Nick Riewoldt, Nick Dal Santo and Xavier Clarke, who are all out of contract at the end of this season. Hamill's contract for 2008 could place severe pressure on the Saints' ability to retain one or two of their most experienced players. St Kilda re-signed Hamill to a lucrative five-year deal, starting in 2004, which was heavily back-ended in the final year. Hamill's manager David Allison yesterday said he had not been in contact with the Saints following his client's latest setback, but conceded it was likely Hamill, who turns 30 next month, could be asked to retire and accept a payout for less money. "His deal is unconditional, but I'm happy to listen to what they (St Kilda) have got to say," Allison said. If Hamill's career is cut short, he would have a choice of cutting his losses at a reduced rate, or staying on at his contracted remuneration but would have to be listed and continue to rehabilitate for another 12 months. The Article Greg Denham/The Australian/13Jul07 More Aaron Hamill contract articles This site Lyon: Existing trade system 'reasonable without being perfect' . . . St Kilda coach Ross Lyon described the existing trade system as 'reasonable without being perfect'. "I know (free agency) is a concept that exists overseas," Lyon said. "There are good reasons for it to exist, but clearly the rules of the competition, the salary cap and the draft has really encouraged some clubs to be able to lift off the bottom. I think we've got to be careful with anything that tampers with that. I'd be shooting from the hip. If I sat down and had all the facts and could work my way through it, I'd be able to make some observations and have an opinion on it. But at this stage it's really a headline for me and something as a club we'll look at probably having an opinion on and be asked to be put forward to the AFL." The Article Andrew Wuand Angus Morgan/Sportal/11Jul07 Sheedy calls for mid-season draft Jennifer Witham/AAP/saints.com.au/12Jul07 Push for free agency Established footballers would be free to swap clubs outside the AFL draft system under a radical proposal which is gaining momentum within the competition and is likely to become reality within two years. AFL players are pushing the competition to allow players to avoid the increasingly infertile trade period and instead do their own deals to move clubs in a push which it claims will avoid potential costly legal battles in the future. Brendon Gale, the AFL Players Association boss, last week presented the AFL with a 70-page submission outlining the players' free agency proposal and an AFL working party headed up by football executive Adrian Anderson will meet for the first time next week to consider the push. The working party includes AFL representatives and club executives ranging from Andrew Ireland (Sydney), Steve Trigg (Adelaide) and Peter Rohde (Port Adelaide) to recruiting bosses Scott Clayton (the Western Bulldogs) and Hawthorn's Chris Pelchen. "It won't affect this year's draft," said Anderson, who has received detailed submissions from all 16 clubs. "I agree the players trades have been declining but that is not necessarily a bad thing. It is true however you do want players to have the ability to move clubs." Gale said it was no longer acceptable for clubs to delist footballers on the eve of the October 31 deadline, rendering them virtually incapable of being drafted. The Article Caroline Wilson RealFooty/11Jul07 Coaches sound warning on free agency AFL coaches have urged caution over a proposal to introduce free agency, warning it could compromise efforts the league has made to create an even competition. The AFL Players' Association has submitted a proposal for limited free agency, arguing aspects of the current system amount to a restraint of trade, leaving litigation open to players. The association and the AFL have expressed concerns about the declining rate of trades taking place in the assigned post-season trading period in recent years. The Article AAP/HeraldSun/12Jul07 Clubs need protection in free agency Martin Blake and Chloe Saltau/RealFooty/12Jul07 FREE AGENCY Quick cash grab would besmirch the whole caper . . . There are plenty of examples of players who, at the end of 2007, qualify for restricted free trading if four or five years' service is the criterium. Consider this list: Adelaide - Nathan van Berlo, Brisbane Lions - Michael Rischitelli, Carlton - Jarrad Waite, Collingwood - Dane Swan, Essendon - Brent Stanton, Fremantle - Aaron Sandilands, Geelong - Gary Ablett, Hawthorn - Campbell Brown, Kangaroos - Daniel Wells, Melbourne - Brock McLean, Port Adelaide - Shaun Burgoyne, Richmond - Andrew Raines, St Kilda - Luke Ball, Sydney - Craig Bolton, West Coast - Daniel Kerr, Western Bulldogs - Adam Cooney . . . Under a seven-season free agency rule, Docker Matthew Pavlich and St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt, who are uncontracted at the end of the season, could both walk out with no return to their clubs at all. They have been great servants but, at 26 and 27 years of age this year, they are coming into their prime. To be able to leave without the club's development work coming to fruition is against the very spirit of recruiting. If both wanted to leave, the system in place now allows them to do so. Which club in its right mind would not permit them to play at all and miss out on the chance of trading for their services? Both player and club win in this situation, which is more balanced than a totally player-orientated free trade. The Article Tony Shaw/RealFooty/13Jul07 Next fortnight crucial for Crows . . . Which one of Adelaide's variable sides would turn up against the Saints? "Hopefully the side that showed up against Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Kangaroos and Hawthorn - that's the side we'll be endeavouring to bring to the ground tomorrow night and in the next eight weeks that'll be the side we'll need to bring as well," Craig said. Adelaide's 16-9 (and one draw) record against St Kilda includes 4-1 at Telstra Dome, and the Crows also have a 16-9 record against all teams at Telstra Dome. "It's an interesting record there," Craig said. "It's a fantastic stadium to play in. I know all the players I've spoken to, particularly in this club, always look forward to it. You know exactly what the conditions will be. From a viewing perspective, it's fantastic. If I was a player I'd always want to play at Telstra Dome - it's a great stadium." Reminded that the ground's surface was still regarded as 'slippery', Craig said: "It has been in the past. Just by viewing it on TV, it looks like it's starting to get a bit slippery again, but it's slippery for both sides." The Article Alan Shiell/Sportal/12Jul07 Craig concerned with Crows, not Saints An Adelaide triumph in the Telstra Dome encounter will effectively leave the 12th-placed Saints praying for a miracle to contest the finals. But Craig said he was more focussed on what another win would mean for his sixth-placed Crows . . . St Kilda has won just six games this season but its tall attacking trio of Fraser Gehrig, Justin Koschitzke and skipper Nick Riewoldt will challenge Adelaide's relatively small defence. Craig said the Saints' marking strength and the enclosed Telstra Dome, where the Crows have won 16 and lost nine matches, presented a conundrum for his coaching committee. "Their (St Kilda) height is well recognised and a danger," Craig said. "But Telstra Dome is a very quick ground so the debate is height - being able to manage their strength - versus the speed of the ground and the running capacity as well. They (St Kilda) seem to have made an effort to play with a bit more speed - be a bit more direct - and probably why wouldn't you with the possible forward line they could set up. But I don't know and it won't worry us too much, we're prepared to play whatever style has to be played." The Article AAP/SydneyMorningHerald/12Jul07 Footy shorts: Umps back in action Their performance was described as "below average" by the AFL, but all three umpires involved in Saturday's Collingwood-St Kilda clash have survived the axe. Field umpires Ray Chamberlain, Scott McLaren and Chris Donlon - roundly booed by fans at the MCG - are back this weekend. McLaren will officiate the Saints again, being selected for tonight's clash with Adelaide at Telstra Dome. Donlon has been appointed for tomorrow night's Essendon-Western Bulldogs game at Telstra Dome and Chamberlain will head to Perth for Sunday's Fremantle-Kangaroos game. The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/13Jul07 From commentator to coach . . . The case of Tim Watson is always mentioned when a champion player without coaching experience is touted as a prospective coach. Watson was the Essendon hero who made an impressive transition into the media, then won the St Kilda coaching post. Andrew Plympton was the Saints' president at the time and has an interesting perspective on the Watson experiment nine years down the track. He says that part of Watson's appeal was the knowledge he demonstrated in his TV commentary with Channel Seven. "Tim had a lot of inside information and knowledge of the game," Plympton said. "And you'll remember when he branded Essendon as marshmallows that he was seen as being very impartial and analytical in the way he went about it." Plympton believes that immediately after his playing career finished, Watson did not have an all-consuming desire to coach at the highest level. But gradually with the passing of time he observed the way everyone else went about coaching and thought he wouldn't mind having a go himself. "There was also a lot of encouragement from his peer group to take on coaching," said Plympton, who was impressed by Watson's analysis of all teams' strengths and weaknesses. Clearly Watson was intelligent and articulate and commanded great respect within the industry. So does Plympton think clubs would be reluctant to take on an untried coach because the Watson experiment didn't succeed? "I think they may be reluctant, but there will always be this love affair with star footballers that will over-ride that," he said. "Whether Michael Voss can coach is an interesting proposition. He is very much a template of Watson - a premiership player, captain of his club, multiple best and fairest winner, and respected in the industry. Watson then was what Voss is now." The Article Russell Holmsby/InsideFootball/13Jul07 Malthouse on RL's media caution . . . This year I have seen St Kilda's rookie coach Ross Lyon being criticised by journalists for being too secretive and cautious with the media. Apparently Ross started the season as a friendly, forward character, but things have changed with the onset of winter. Welcome to the reality of coaching. The Article Mick Malthouse/HeraldSun/13Jul07 Barassi blasts bad boys Barassi said the publicity surrounding AFL's bad boys was hurting the game . . . Retired St Kilda star Nathan Burke said the negative publicity was detracting from the on-field spectacle and players had a responsibility as community role models. " If somebody looks at you and your behaviour and you are in the spotlight and you get the rewards that go along with that, then you don't have a choice - you have to act accordingly," Burke said. " If you don't like that responsibility, then retract from the spotlight." The Article Daryl Timms/HeraldSun/13Jul07 Fines useless as "boobs on a bull" Judging by the amount of fines being handed out to sportspeople these days there must be a lot of very naughty boys out there. Every week someone is copping a five grand fine for "contravening a team rule" or "bringing the club into disrepute". Thankfully the AFLPA has capped the amount that a player can be fined to $5000 otherwise clubs would play the usual game: "We are more serious about punishing our players so if you fined your player $5000 we will fine ours $10,000." This would escalate until a player would have to mortgage his house for being five minutes late for rehab. In my opinion, fines are as useless as the proverbial "boobs on a bull". They have no lasting effect on the player involved or the rest of the group. Do coaches stop talking about umpires now they get fined? Do players stop transgressing in nightclubs because they get fined? Do people never ever speed again because they got fined, and do people never let the parking meter expire for fear of fines? The Article Nathan Burke/InsideFootball/11Jul07 Hamill's AFL return still a Saintly hope The bad news at St Kilda is that Aaron Hamill probably has about as much chance of returning to senior football this year as the club has of making the finals. The good news is that coach Ross Lyon hasn't given up on either possibility. Hamill hasn't played a senior game this season, but held out the promise that he might do so soon when he turned out for VFL affiliate the Casey Scorpions two weeks ago. But a full-scale comeback became as doubtful as ever last week when the knee flared and caused him to miss another run with Casey. Despite the setback, Lyon says he is far from ready to scrap Hamill's 2007 season. Hamill, 29, has been troubled by a knee injury since early last year and missed more than half of 2006 with that and other problems. The temptation to abandon 2007 in a bid to get everything right for next year must have its attractions given the Saints currently sit two games out of the top eight in 12th place. The Article AAP/RealFooty/11Jul07 Injury 'an ordeal' for Saints' Hamill ABCSport/11Jul07 Hamill's AFL return still a Saintly hope Mike Hedge/AAP/saints.com.au/11Jul07 Saints don't pick up the Bill St Kilda has lost Bill Express as a major sponsor. The company confirmed yesterday it would not be renewing its current three-year agreement at the end of the year. It is understood the original deal with Bill Express was worth more than $1 million a year and included incentives for finals appearances . . . St Kilda president Rod Butterss said last night the final decision by Bill Express had not come as a shock. "To be honest, we have seen this coming for quite some time -- hence why we have two sponsors," Butterss said. Butterss said Bill Express had achieved its goal of improving its branding. "Now their focus is specific product development with things such as their Bopo card -- and that is where we are continuing to work with them," Butterss said. Butterss was tight-lipped, but Bill Express's Bopo pre-paid Visa Card product could be a lower-level sponsor next year. "We're not disappointed because they have been a terrific company to work with," Butterss said. "We still enjoy a very strong working relationship" . . . Powerful St Kilda supporter Lindsay Fox owns about 11 per cent of Bill Express. The company has annual revenues approaching $1 billion. The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/11Jul07 New direction for Bill Express saints.com.au/11Jul07 Bill Express offical announcement re sponsorship Major bill payments and distribution network operator Bill Express Limited (ASX Code: BXP) advises that following a review of its marketing program, the Company intends to focus its promotional budget on direct product related activities. The move reflects the maturing of Bill Express' brand in the market and the natural progression toward direct promotion of products rather than the corporate brand. In line with this move, the Company has elected not to renew its major sponsorship of the St Kilda Football Club in 2008. Bill Express Limited CEO Mr Ian Christiansen commented, "As the major sponsor of the St Kilda Football Club over 3 years, we have enjoyed a great relationship. This period has been very successful in promoting the Bill Express brand, and we would like to extend our thanks to the St Kilda Football Club for their commitment." The Bill Express sponsorship will continue as normal until the end of the 2007 season. Bill Express is currently negotiating other major marketing and promotional arrangements, which are expected to grow the sales of the Bill Express suite of products, including the Bopo pre-paid Visa Card. The Board expects to announce the outcome of those negotiations shortly. clients.weblink.com.au (pdf) Voss tape prejudicial - lawyer The release of crucial video evidence of Michael Voss's part in an ugly pub brawl has his lawyer considering an application to have his court case thrown out. Solicitor Michael Bosscher said yesterday the leak and airing of edited security camera footage was hugely prejudicial against a "distressed and appalled" Voss. The former Brisbane skipper, fellow Lions Brownlow medallist Simon Black and St Kilda forward Fraser Gehrig are among six men charged following a brawl on the eve of last year's Grand Final. The matter goes before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on August 7, with Voss and Gehrig on charges of unlawful assault and Black charged with recklessly causing injury and assault by kicking. Bosscher is making a formal complaint to Victoria Police and Melbourne's Chief Magistrate over the leaking of the court evidence and has requested a thorough investigation. The Article Jim Morton/HeraldSun/11Jul07
Michael Voss last night said he was comfortable with his side of the story after video footage of a vicious nightclub brawl he was allegedly involved in was made public. Coaching candidate Voss, fellow Brownlow Medallist and former Lions team-mate Simon Black and St Kilda spearhead Fraser Gehrig are among six men facing charges over violence which erupted at St Kilda's Prince of Wales Hotel on grand final eve last year. Gehrig, 31, will face a charge of unlawful assault on a female, while Black, 28, has been charged with counts of recklessly causing injury and assault by kicking, in the early hours of September 29 . . . Gehrig's close mate and former St Kilda team-mate Steve Lawrence, 30, will face charges of intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury and two of unlawful assault . . . Lawrence appears to be shown outside the hotel and appears to be physically remonstrating with a man when he walks back into the hotel after allegedly being ejected. The Article Jon Pierik & Mark Buttler/AdelaideAdvertiser/11Jul07 Camera catches stars' pub showdown Nick Sheridan/RealFooty/11Jul07 Saints stars' fresh deals St Kilda has received new offers from the management of Nick Riewoldt and Nick Dal Santo and maintains a positive announcement will be made shortly. The offers, from manager Ricky Nixon, were sent to the club last night. Nixon had met Riewoldt and Dal Santo just hours before the revised offers were put to the Saints. The new asking price was a backflip from Nixon, who said on Channel 9's Footy Classified on Monday night he would not budge on his offer. Chief executive Archie Fraser last night seemed surprised a negative slant had been put on last week's discussions with Nixon. "I don't think there's any issues," Fraser said. " I don't think we're miles apart. We met Ricky on Friday and he suggested it would be a week or 10 days before he got back to us." The Article Suzana Talevski/MoorabbinKingstonLeader/11Jul07 Crows to do Perrie shuffle Whatever the mystery "few issues" Adelaide forward Ian Perrie says stopped his return to AFL action last week, they are now gone. And his availability at selection tomorrow - six weeks after having a shoulder blade cracked in a collision at a marking contest with team-mate Scott Welsh - is most timely for Crows coach Neil Craig. Perrie, who also has been troubled by a hamstring strain during his recovery, can - even after a six-week stint out of AFL football - return to Adelaide's attack with confidence. More so given Adelaide's match, the Friday night special against St Kilda, is at Telstra Dome where the West Australian can fondly recall impressive goal hauls with a high accuracy count. Perrie's resumption is perfectly timed. It allows Craig extraordinary flexibility in key roles both sides of centre. He now has Scott Stevens, Ken McGregor and Nathan Bock to work in either attack or defence, depending on Adelaide's needs for match-ups against St Kilda's tall forwards Fraser Gehrig, Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke. And Craig has increased options to create a mismatch with the supposedly vulnerable St Kilda defence. The Article Michelangelo Rucci/AdelaideAdvertiser/11Jul07 Toyota 'Good for Footy' Round . . . Grassroots footy is stepping up a gear, with the car manufacturer donating $1 for every person who attends the St Kilda v Adelaide match on July 13 at Telstra Dome. It has been dubbed by Toyota as the "Toyota Good for Footy Round", and the company's manager for promotions and events Wayne Gabriel said that while Toyota was keen to donate as much as possible to grassroots footy, it was up to the fans to step up to the challenge . . . Toyota kicked off the 2007 Toyota AFL Premiership Season by announcing that the last five minutes of every quarter onFriday Night Footy was designated "Toyota Time", in which Toyota has committed $1000 to the Toyota Good for Footy program for every goal kicked during this period . . . Goals kicked during "Toyota Time" at the St Kilda v Adelaide match will be worth a whopping $3000 per goal as part of the "Toyota Good for Footy Round" celebrations. The Article AFL/saints.com.au/10Jul07
Luke Ball shared the best-and-fairest at St Kilda in 2005 at 21 -- in just his third year. Two years on, he is playing like he is 31. The Saints have a decision to make on one of their co-captains and most valuable properties. Do they continue to play him and further aggravate his problems? Or, do they put him on ice and get him physically ready for a full-scale summer training program? . . . Coach Ross Lyon disagreed last night, but did make one or two significant concessions. "If we need to get him right and set him for the future, we'll do that, but it isn't that time at the moment," he said. "If I thought Luke Ball was carrying a body that was not allowing him to run like he can run, to play like he wants to, I wouldn't put him out there and embarrass him. I think he's contributed fairly strongly without being brilliant. He's had a steady year." The Article Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/10Jul07 Baker wins AFL Army Award Steven Baker has won an AFL Army Award nomination for his outstanding act of desperation against the Pies. Baker applied a desperate smother on Dane Swan then powered forward, collected the loose ball and kicked it inside the Saints' 50m arc. Saints fans can watch Baker's exceptional play and vote for him at 2007 AFL ARMY AWARD (afl.com.au). New to the 2007 season, the Army Award aims to recognise and reward the 'one-percenters' such as game-breaking smothers, tackles and shepherds. The Article saints.com.au/10Jul07 AFL Army Award: round 14 AFL/saints.com.au/10Jul07 Crow plan for Saint talls Now Adelaide coach Neil Craig has no choice. He will have to concede one of his taller forwards - either Ken McGregor or Nathan Bock - to defence to deal with St Kilda's tall marking units at Telstra Dome on Friday night. And Craig's restructure - of defence and attack - is eased this week by the anticipated return of key forward Ian Perrie, six weeks after he fractured a shoulder blade and then had hamstring problems in recovery. Craig's gamble on a short defence at the weekend was based on statistical data telling him the Hawks' tall forwards, such as Lance Franklin, are not major mark takers. And the wintry conditions at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night helped Craig's calculated ploy. It is the complete opposite on Friday night. The Dome helps forwards. And St Kilda has three tall, potent marking forwards - Fraser Gehrig, Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke . . . "It certainly is going to be interesting for us this week with the Saints having Gehrig, Riewoldt and Koschitzke," Burton said. "That will test us." The Article Michelangelo Rucci/AdelaideAdvertiser/10Jul07
Player manager Ricky Nixon stated on Nine's 'Footy Classified's' last night that St Kilda have knocked back the current Nick Riewoldt contract payment recievable offer. The contract negotiations between the St Kilda Football club and Nick Riewoldt, Nick Dal Santo and Xavier Clarke are currently under way and Nixon said that he will be meeting these players today to report on the current situation. Nixon represents 12 St Kilda players including Jayden Attard, Shane Birss, Xavier Clarke, Raphael Clarke, Nick Dal Santo, Sam Gilbert, Jason Gram, James Gwilt, Max Hudghton, Phillip Raymond, Nick Riewoldt and Brett Voss. His company 'Flying Start' is also the marketing and promotional activities manager for Aaron Hamill. As he is the manager of so many St Kilda players he should have a fair understanding of what the club can afford and keep them within the salary cap. Nevertheless, it's his job to get the best deal for each individual player so its not surprising that the negotiations are still in the tweaking stages and there is still plenty of time. Some sources close to the club and the players themselves have made it known publicly that they are sure an amicable deal will take place in the near future. Ricky Nixon played 63 games for St Kilda between 1986 and 1991. He also played for Carlton and Hawthorn so I guess you could say 'he aint perfect'. WoM Ed. Saintsational going uphill Saintsational Fan Forum has recently increased it's number of Modifiers (Mods) and is now more vigilant in policing the sites policies which makes it much more accessible for supporters, especially those who have a limited time to get to the core of the up-to-date information and fellow supporters viewpoints. No longer do we need to read through reams of bickering, fighting and spamming to get our footy fix. Well done everyone involved, and for those who have drifted away I can recommend that the site is well worth another go. The nature of the beast is that it will never be perfect for some, as a football club will always have a variety of supporters from all walks of life, a full range of age-groups, specific cultural backgrounds, interests and specific ideas. I guess that just leaves me to get my act together, but that may never happen! WoM Ed. saintsational.com Saints support AFL Good for Footy Brad Howard - from grassroots to elite footy . . . One young Saint to make the transition from grassroots to elite level is St Kilda recruit, Brad Howard. Leaving home at the age of 19 to pursue a career as an AFL footballer is something Howard admits takes time to adjust to. "The transition from local footy to elite AFL level is enormous. Everything about the game is amplified at AFL level" he says. AFL football is a demanding sport and Howard highlights the difference between grassroots football and the elite level. "The main difference is the speed of the game, decision making, pressure, ability and size of all players, as well the determination and hardness of players." Being selected at number 27 in 2006 NAB National AFL Draft, Howard reveals some insight into the transition from local player to professional footballer. "Being a footballer is a fulltime job and it is something you have to adapt to. Your body has to adjust to training nearly every day and at significant high intencities. You also take on off-field responsibilities as a representative of your Club and sport." The Article Vanessa Gigliotti/saints.com.au/11Jul07 Open Training Session Wednesday for kids The Saints . . . announce on Wednesday 11th July from 5:00 - 6:00pm there will be an open training session at Linen House Oval, Moorabbin. Usually the training session would be closed during such a short playing week, but the club has decided to make it an open session to accommodate for our junior supporters who are currently enjoying their school holidays. There will be a range of activities during the afternoon, including a sausage sizzle run by the St Kilda Social Club. It will be great day out for all Saints mums, dads and kids, so come and show your support for our players before they take on the Crows on Friday night. The Article saints.com.au/09Jul07 Team of the week: round 14 BACKS - Sam Fisher (St Kilda) - Provided enormous rebound - nine rebounds out of defensive 50 - while collecting 30 touches and an equal career-best 14 marks against the Pies. Topped the Champion Data player rankings in round 14. The Article Matt Burgan/AFL/saints.com.au/10Jul07 Saints still eyeing finals The finals equation became a bit tougher for the Saints after a narrow loss to Collingwood on Saturday, but Sam Fisher and his teammates are a long way from conceding their season is done. Fisher, whose 30 possessions made him prominent among his side's best players in the nine-point loss, said nailing down coach Ross Lyon's structures and processes was the key to moving forward. "It was our most important game of the year . . . so it's going to make it difficult for us. We can't afford to drop too many along the way, otherwise we're going to miss the finals," Fisher told saints.com.au. "All the boys are willing and up for the challenge, but we're not worried about the results; it's more what we do with the process that we need to get right. The results will come once we get that right. We're not really focused on the win-loss situation at the moment. We're just focusing on that process that's going to make us a good team and the results will come." The Article Jason Phelan/saints.com.au/09Jul07 AFL ruckman faces jail after guilty plea AFL ruckman Dean Brogan could face a jail sentence after his lawyer yesterday indicated the footballer would admit to assaulting an Adelaide doctor. Brogan, a Port Adelaide premiership player in 2004, is facing charges of one count of common assault on a person other than a family member, and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The charges relate to an incident in October 2005 when Brogan allegedly assaulted oral surgeon Zahi Khouri while walking his dog at Millswood, in Adelaide's southern suburbs. Yesterday, in a pre-trial hearing at the Adelaide Magistrate's Court, Brogan's lawyer, Mark Griffin QC, said his client intended to plead guilty to the more serious charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in jail. The Article Andrew McGarry/TheAustralian/10Jul07 Debutants pay dividends The next batch of prospective AFL draft picks is currently on show in the under-18 national championships in Melbourne. Young guns like Northern Knight's ruckman Matthew Kreuzer and Gippsland forward Dan McKenna could be the next big names in AFL football. Two former under-18 stars to have lived up to the hype are Carlton's No. 1 draft pick Bryce Gibbs and young Cat Joel Selwood. Experienced SuperCoaches know that a punt on an AFL debutant like Selwood can pay handsome dividends. Those who did their research in the pre-season took into account Selwood's average of 23 possessions in last year's TAC Cup. The Article HeraldSun/10Jul07 2007 Pre-draft page This site Panel takes eyes off the ball The AFL match review panel can be its own worst enemy, and has been again this week. How does it logically ignore the incident on Sunday evening when a Shannon Grant kick in a contested situation broke Brett Deledio's hand? It is an omission that defies explanation in this age where all players carry the burden of a duty of care towards their workplace colleagues. The Article Mike Sheahan HeraldSun/11Jul07 Saints in conflict territory A confrontation between a community conservation group and the St Kilda Football Club erupted last week when tree planting was stopped at Moorabbin Reserve. The row between the Saints and the Friends of Moorabbin Reserve threatened to derail sensitive negotiations about the stalled $16.5 million redevelopment of the Linton St training ground. Police were called to the reserve on Sunday, July 1 to dowse an argument between friends members, including Kingston councillor Greg Alabaster, and Saints chief executive Archie Fraser. Mr Fraser asked the group to stop planting and leave. Members of the group were planting trees at the site something the friends say they have been doing for the past 14 years. The verbal altercation was captured on video and audio footage, which has been viewed by the Leader. The video footage shows the two parties heatedly arguing about whether the group needed permission from the club to plant the trees. Friends member, Cr Alabaster said his group was disgusted with the attitude of the football club. "We did nothing wrong. It's outrageous," he said. Mr Fraser said he objected because of safety and liability concerns and would consider fencing off the area if the issue could not be resolved. The Article Mark Robinson/HeraldSun/11Jul07 GO BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE
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Announcement
The Two Nicks
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