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2007 Round 19 Post-game Articles - Sydney Swans vs St Kilda
Dashing St Kilda defender Jason Gram has echoed coach Ross Lyon's belief that the Saints need to win all three remaining games if they have any chance of seeing September action. With the other two teams on nine-and-a-half wins, including Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs, who both copped humbling losses in round 19, the possibility of scraping into the eight with just another two wins is now a distinct possibility. However, Gram was adamant that winning two more games from St Kilda's remaining clashes with Fremantle, West Coast and Richmond is simply not good enough . . . St Kilda's upcoming clash with Fremantle at the Telstra Dome now shapes as one of their most important in recent times. "Freo will be tough next week. From now on in it's definitely do or die," Gram said. The Article Sean Cusick/AFL/saints.com.au/12Aug07 Attard's effort recognised Jayden Attard has been nominated for the AFL Army Award for applying a courageous spoil on Sydney's Craig Bolton late in the fourth quarter on Saturday night at Telstra Stadium. Attard put his body on the line and took a heavy fall to give the Saints possession. St Kilda fans can watch Attard's fantastic spoil and vote for him at www.afl.com.au/armydefence/home.aspx. New to the 2007 season, the Army Award aims to recognise and reward the one-percent style acts such as game breaking smothers, tackles and shepherds. At the end of the home-and-away season, the AFL All-Australian Selection Committee will shortlist the 22 weekly winning acts to six nominations which will then be voted on by the public via afl.com.au. The Article saints.com.au/14Aug07 MATCH REVIEW PANEL FINDINGS R19 Bakes cleared - Danny Sexton fined Lynch was reported for charging the Kangaroos' Jesse Smith after making contact with the back of the young Roos' defender in a marking contest. However the panel, in dismissing the charge, said Lynch was already leaving the ground in an attempt to mark when he made contact with Smith so the contact was unavoidable . . . Meanwhile the issue of umpire contact was again to the fore this week with even a club runner - St Kilda's Danny Sexton - hit with a $2400 fine. Hawthorn's Chance Bateman copped the same amount but St Kilda's Jason Gram and Collingwood's Heath Shaw were cleared of the same offence. The panel also chose to take no action against the Hawthorn and Brisbane players that took part in a half-time push and shove in close vicinity of youngsters waiting to play in an Auskick game during the main break, saying the players had not been involving in any 'vigorous grappling.' And St Kilda's Steven Baker and Sydney's Peter Everitt are in the clear following their second quarter clash on Saturday night at Telstra Stadium due to a lack of video evidence. The Article Paul Gough/Sportal/13Aug07 Saints: Tough fight for finals Three wins from three matches is the equation facing St Kilda if it wants to feature in September. Sydney ran out a 17-point winner at Telstra Stadium last night after an exciting arm-wrestle for three quarters. Saints coach Ross Lyon said poor discipline cost the team when it mattered and it would have to play for its life against Fremantle, West Coast and Richmond. The Article Jackie Epstein/HeraldSun/12Aug07 Saints or sinners for surging Freo Fremantle are preparing for a virtual elimination final against St Kilda next Saturday after breathing new life into their season yesterday with a 63-point demolition of Essendon at Subiaco Oval. The Dockers' finals hopes looked extinguished a month ago, but they are now just half a win outside the top eight with experienced campaigners Des Headland and Steven Dodd expected to be available for the cutthroat clash with the Saints at Telstra Dome after recovering from injuries. St Kilda have been installed $1.72 favourites by TAB Sportsbet for the hot August final, with Fremantle rated $2 chances. The Dockers face lowly Melbourne in round 21 at Subiaco Oval before finishing their regular-season campaign against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. Despite all but ending Essendon's top-eight chances in impressive fashion, caretaker coach Mark Harvey was cautious about Fremantle's stunning form revival continuing to the extent that they could snare a shock finals berth . . . Pavlich, subdued slightly in the derby, exploded against the Bombers, running rings around a host of opponents to amass 30 possessions, 16 marks and 6.3 in a display smacking of leadership and brilliance. Fremantle's dash off half-back and a dominant midfield overwhelmed Essendon, who had no answer to the influence of former captain Peter Bell (26 possessions and three goals), Paul Hasleby (35 touches, 10 marks and one goal) and Dean Solomon, who relished another chance to play against his former teammates with 21 disposals and two goals. The Article Digby Beachamk/WestAustralian/13Aug07 AFL's Monday wrap Sydney / St Kilda - Sydney continued its run towards another year of finals footy, at the same time stalling St Kilda's, with a hard-fought 17-point win at Homebush. With Barry Hall held goalless by Max Hudghton, the Swans needed goalkicking inspiration and it came in the unlikely form of Jarrad McVeigh. McVeigh finished with three majors, including a crucial conversion in the last quarter. The Article Simon White/AFL/saints.com.au/12Aug07 Loss leaves Saints in a critical state After going down to Sydney by 17 points in what St Kilda coach Ross Lyon described as a "critical game", the Saints must win all three remaining home-and-away matches to play in the finals. The news that Melbourne had upset the Western Bulldogs by seven goals made him pause, but Lyon was not willing to say it gave them any margin for error "No doubt (we'd have to win three) - 11 and a half is not going to get you in. It was a really critical game tonight," he said. "I don't think it makes too many St Kilda people happy; it certainly doesn't make me happy or the group happy." The Swans played a typically disciplined brand of close, tough football, managing to kick free midway through the last term as the Saints appeared to fall away. The Swans' pressure never gave the Saints players an inch to move in. Lyon said his side did not cope well with the pressure applied by the Swans but added that he thought his players contributed to their own demise. "I have to bite my tongue a bit and review it on Monday," he said. "I thought we competed pretty well (but) I thought some of our decision-making and probably discipline at times was poor. They're a good team and they capitalised on it." The Article Lyall Johnson/RealFooty/12Aug07 We need to win our next three: Lyon St Kilda coach Ross Lyon laid down the challenge for his troops following their heartbreaking 17-point loss to Sydney - win the final three matches if they are serious about making an impact in September. Despite both Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs losing today - meaning that any of the three teams could possibly make the eight with just another two wins - Lyon rubbished suggestions of qualifying for the finals with just 46 premiership points. "No doubt (we need to win our final three matches)," a visibly shattered Lyon said. "Eleven and a half isn't going to get you in, (so) this was a really critical game tonight." The Saints led for much of the night against their highly-fancied opposition, but conceded three goals to one in the intense final quarter as the 2005 premiers flexed their muscle. "Our form's been solid, but obviously that month that we didn't win a game is really compounding now," Lyon said, referring to St Kilda's horror patch from rounds eight to 11 when they lost consecutive matches to Hawthorn, Fremantle, Geelong and the Kangaroos. "We've made some in-roads, and we again learned some lessons tonight." Lyon wasn't aware of the Bulldogs' 42-point capitulation to the Demons at Telstra Dome - which has done St Kilda's finals chances a great favour - but held firm on his belief that the Saints need to win all three of their remaining Melbourne matches against Fremantle, West Coast and Richmond. The Article Sean Cusick/saints.com.au/12Aug07 Swans send Saints marching St Kilda will spend the next three weeks fighting for a finals spot after being overrun by the Sydney Swans at Telstra Stadium last night. In a finals-type atmosphere before a finals-size crowd the Saints put up a brave fight before going down by 17 points. Sydney gained the ascendancy when Nick Davis, who had been rarely sighted, goaled after the three-quarter siren. The lead had fluctuated throughout the match, but the Swans looked home after Jarrad McVeigh kicked his third goal 14 minutes into the final quarter. It was only St Kilda's second loss since the half-way mark of the season, but Sydney's 11th win pushes them up to the fringe of the top four and seemingly assured of seeing September action. Swans coach Paul Roos has also squared the ledger against his protege Ross Lyon who would have been proud of his charges in their first appearance at the venue. The loss of Leo Barry and Lewis Roberts-Thomson had put the Swans on the back foot, but a heroic Craig Bolton marshalled the defence and kept Fraser Gehrig to two goals, which all came in the first quarter. The Article Jackie Epstein/HeraldSun/12Aug07 Sydney gritty, not pretty Sydney has continued its customary late charge towards September, grinding out a tough 17-point victory over St Kilda last night. In a dour struggle before 63,369 fans at Telstra Stadium, Jarrad McVeigh emerged as an unlikely goalscorer, kicking a career-best three majors, with Sydney sneaking away from what had been a match-long arm wrestle to win 12.10 (82) to 9.11 (65). After another slow start to the season, the Swans had won four of their past six games, but the victories were against Melbourne, Richmond, Carlton and Fremantle - all sitting outside the eight. It was far from pretty last night but the Swans couldn't care less, having accounted for a team in the finals mix and now find themselves fifth on the ladder, just one win outside the top four heading into next week's trip to Brisbane. Barry Hall had a dog of a day, blanketed by St Kilda defender Max Hudghton, but McVeigh picked up the slack for the home side. The Article James Dampney/RealFooty/12Aug07 Swans grind out vital victory The Sydney Swans are knocking on the door of the top four after a courageous win over St Kilda last night moved them into fifth spot. Swans coach Paul Roos labelled his team's hard fought 17-point victory over an in form St Kilda side as the performance of the year . . . St Kilda went into the first break with an eight-point lead thanks to late goals from Gehrig and Riewoldt. In the second term St Kilda midfield star Luke Ball threatened to take over the game and forced the Swans to rotate Nic Fosdike, Amon Buchanan, Jude Bolton and Ben Mathews through the middle in an attempt to limit his influence. Sydney's intensity ensured they remained in the match with clever goals to Adam Schneider, Fosdike and Peter Everitt levelled the halftime scores at 35 points. St Kilda's Nick Dal Santo kicked the first goal of the third term but received a heavy bump from Barry Hall several minutes later in the Swans' forward line. The incident is likely to come under the scrutiny of the match review panel. If they determine Hall made contact with Dal Santo's head the Swans' forward could face time on the sideline. Despite the drama Sydney maintained their poise to lead by four points at the final break. The Article Tim Morrissey/DailyTelegraph/12Aug07 Our best game of the year: Roos Paul Roos was ecstatic with the Swans performance after a pulsating 17-point victory over the Saints describing it as "the best game of the year", a win he says was based on outstanding defensive work. "We came up against a side that is in very good form," Roos said of St Kilda. "They had a real crack and we had a real crack and were fortunate to be ahead at the end of the game. I thought it was the best game of the year and a good contested game of footy." The Sydney coach singled out the work of two of his defenders, added that the duo of Craig Bolton and Teddy Richards was "outstanding" on Saints spearheads Fraser Gehrig and Nick Riewoldt and was a key to the victory. The Article Aidan Ormond/AFL/saints.com.au/11Aug07 Swans stifle Saints in close clash This was close, one-on-one, hard-tackling, low-scoring football. An old-fashioned arm wrestle. At times, there were 10 players not only surrounding the ball but piling on top of it. Schoolyard stacks on the mill. Much of the talk last week had been the St Kilda forward match-ups - who would pick up the triple towers of Nick Riewoldt, Justin Koschitzke and Fraser Gehrig. The answers were not as you would have expected, with Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Leo Barry late omissions and Luke Brennan, Craig Bolton and Ted Richards getting the tough assignments. Yet, the most interest was always going to be further afield, because much of what happened in the midfield would dictate whether St Kilda's talls could take full toll of their size advantage. In the first half, Nick Dal Santo was picked up by Jarrad McVeigh, who had Steven Baker for company early in an attempt to break the tag. But typical of the Swans' discipline, McVeigh stuck like glue, forcing Baker to move elsewhere. Leigh Montagna, who has been one of the Saints' most prolific ball-getters this season, was picked up first by Nic Fosdike and after half-time by McVeigh, whose job on Dal Santo was taken by Luke Ablett. The Article Lyall Johnson/RealFooty/12Aug07 Swans outlast dogged Saints A brave St Kilda has fallen short of a stunning upset over the Sydney Swans, going down by 17 points at Telstra Stadium on Saturday night. While the match wasn't pretty, it was a hard, uncompromising arm wrestle with the Saints employing a Sydney-esque level of accountability. St Kilda led for much of the night, but ultimately couldn't stay the full four quarters with the methodical 2005 premiers in a thrilling match played under finals-style intensity. The opening three quarters were almost identical, with St Kilda knuckling down at the stoppages and dropping numbers back to the Sydney half-forward line. The final quarter was a fitting finale to a classic battle, with the intensity somehow going up another notch. In a see-sawing contest, the final result wasn't sealed until the 22-minute mark of the final quarter, when Nick Malceski bombed a 50-metre left foot goal to give the Swans a three-goal buffer. With a spot in the eight up for grabs, the Saints signalled their intentions early with Fraser Gehrig booting two early goals with his first two kicks. With Leo Barry missing from the Sydney defence, Nick Riewoldt capitalised on his height and athletic advantage over Ted Richards. The blonde centre half-forward contributed another trademark performance built on gut-wrenching hard work and highlighted with flashes of class. The Article Sean Cusick/saints.com.au/11Aug07 Poor discipline cost us: Lyon A bitterly disappointed Ross Lyon has conceded his side must win its remaining three matches to have any hope of making the finals, following their 17-point loss to the Swans on Saturday night. The Saints now find themselves in an even more precarious position outside the top-eight with matches remaining against Fremantle, West Coast and Richmond. When asked his thoughts on his team's current position after the match an emotional Lyon made his feelings quite clear. "I don't think it makes too many St.Kilda people happy, it certainly doesn't make me happy or the group happy," Lyon said. While Lyon was unable to fault his player's effort he was prepared to label the performance ill disciplined . . . The Saints entered round 19 level on 38-points with the Lions and Bulldogs, who also suffered defeats on Saturday. But Lyon refused to entertain any thoughts of making the eight unless his side can win its remaining home-and-away fixtures. The Article Steve Orme/Sportal/11Aug07 Swans on song The Sydney Swans have continued their strong run towards the finals with a 17-point victory over St Kilda at Telstra Stadium on Saturday night. A dominant fourth-quarter performance saw the Swans limit the Saints to a single goal and in the process move into fifth position on the AFL ladder. Jarrad McVeigh bagged a career-high three goals for the home-side while Craig Bolton and Amon Buchanan were also among the Swans best. For the Saints Luke Ball and Leigh Montagna led the way but the loss leaves them outside the eight with Fremantle, West Coast and Richmond awaiting on the run home to the finals. A goal from Nick Davis from outside 50 after the siren proved telling as the Swans headed into the final term with a four-point lead and the wind in their sails. The Swans led by as many as 10-points early in the final term but the Saints would not lay down. McVeigh's third major gave the Swans their biggest lead of the match - 11-points midway point of final term before goals to Schmidt and Malceski sealed the victory in front of over sixty-three thousand fans. The Saints had the better of a frenetic opening term with Fraser Gehrig opening his account inside the first minute - one of his two goals for the term, while Riewoldt also majored in the dying seconds for the Saints. The Article Steve Orme/Sportal/11Aug07 GT wants $60,000 in holiday pay 'saintsRrising' et al saintsational.com
Laser louts caught shining blinding beams at AFL footballers will be banned from future games. AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson said the AFL and venues would work to ban anyone who tried to interfere with players. Mr Anderson said the AFL was concerned over an incident at the MCG last Friday when a laser was shone at the faces of Richmond captain Kane Johnson and Collingwood's Ryan Cook. The Article Peter Mickelburough/HeraldSun/14Aug07 Knobel prize for coast clubs Well-travelled ruckman Trent Knobel is returning home to the Gold Coast. The 27-year-old, who has had stints with Brisbane, St Kilda and Richmond, confirmed this week that he has bought a house at Ashmore and is keen to play in the AFLQ next year. Although there are whispers that he has already decided on a club, Knobel was non-committal when we contacted him. But he did reveal he has spoken to all three Coast clubs in AFLQ Division 1. The whispers suggest Knobel will not be at Broadbeach, where he played for a season in 1998 after moving over from the Surfers Paradise under-18s. At 202cm, Knobel would be a handy pick-up, provided he can overcome leg injuries that have hampered him for the past two seasons. In 2006 Knobel managed five games in the VFL and this year has not played at all after two ankle operations. Knobel has played 75 matches at AFL level. The Article Gold Coast News/14Aug07 Ex-Devils trainer in pay dispute The Tassie Devils' former fitness trainer says he's owed about $10,000 by AFL Tasmania. Russell Kapper hasn't worked with Tasmania's VFL team since the end of April, after a falling-out with the coach. Kapper had his role with the team reduced as punishment for being out late drinking the night before a game and waking players when he was locked out of a hotel room. He denies he was drunk and says the Devils' coach, Daryn Cresswell, overreacted. "Cressa works in a dictatorship: you'll do this, you'll do this, you'll do this, or you're out the door," he said. "That's how Cressa works." Kapper received a letter saying he'd be contacted when required by the Devils. Four months on he says he hasn't been called on, and his monthly payment from AFL Tasmania has ceased. The Article ABCSport/14Aug07 St Kilda Player Development What has happened to the development of the following players, and why have their careers not gone to plan . . . Barry Brooks: Tasmania U18, All Australian U18, First round pick 2001 (#15) - 7 AFL games in 6 seasons . . . Ruck Matthew Ferguson: Vic Country U18, All Australian U18, Second round pick 2001 (#22) - 8 AFL games in 5 seasons . . . HB/HF Raphael Clarke: Northern Territory U18, All Australian U18, First round pick 2003 (#8) - 21 AFL games in 4 seasons . . . Utility Fergus Watts: Vic Metro U18, All Australian U18, First round pick 2003 (#14) - 6 AFL games in 4 seasons....CHF/FF Andrew McQualter: Vic Country U18, All Australian U18, First round pick 2004 (#17) - 1 AFL games in 3 seasons . . . Rover/BP David Armitage: Queensland U18, All Australian U18, First round pick (#9) - 2 games in 1 season . . . HB/Midfielder All are highly credentialled juniors with good pedigree, all tested well, and high hopes were justified for all of them . . . how would our side be going if these players lived up to expectation . . . Barry Brooks: Likely delistment, a real pity, the guy has unlimited talent . . . but lack the application to make the most of it . . . he is very laconic, which makes his efforts seem worse than they sometimes are (because of his skill, it is forgotten that he is 6'6") . . . his career is almost over, and it never took off . . . really disappointing for him, a great bloke from all reports . . . Matthew Ferguson: Could be delisted . . . his career has been marred by three things . . . 1) Injury, every season he has been hampered. 2) development, he has been played out of position for 4 seasons due to a pathetic Scorps team (FB/CHB) 3) Opportunity, has never got one . . . this season it has been a DISGRACE! Raphael Clarke: Lazy, and does not prepare his body well enough . . . problems that run in the family . . . Raph will not succeed at St Kilda until he stops believing that it is his god given right to be there, and to be an AFL player . . . how he got a game this season straight out of the scorps twos was a JOKE . . . won't be delisted, but needs a kick up the arse or traded. Fergus Watts: Adelaide were filthy when he left . . . they thought he could really play . . . he was injured for a season there . . . and spent the last season and a half injured at Moorabbin . . . so who knows . . . IMO he will never be a star (due to a well documented lack of pace) but is tough and courageous, and he can take a catch . . . won't be delisted...but needs to slim down in the off season . . . and get some run into his legs . . . possible delisting/trade Andrew McQualter: Really lost his way at the start of this season, not sure WTF went on there - it seemed like he had lost all ability (it was obviously confidence) . . . he was a confident, gun junior with awesome leadership qualities . . . he made up for his lack of size, with pure aggression at the contest . . . he finished in the last couple in the time trials in pre-season(this is a a person who was in the top group for endurance at the DC) looked slow and unfit at Casey in earlier rounds, and couldn't get a kick . . . IMO the problem stems back to the fascination with bulking kids up that the GT regime had . . . Mini was a runner, and then 'bulked up' and it worked against him (and others . . . Goddard, Ball) . . . he has spent most of 07 losing weight . . . and it is paying dividends . . . he has had a great last 8 games at Casey . . . his kicking depth is his biggest worry IMO (and size) . . . likely delistment David Armitage: Only a first year . . . but the club, and he would not be happy with a two game return for his fist year . . . of ALL the draftees in 06 (gibbs included) it was thought he was the most 'ready made' of the crop . . . due to the fact he has a mans body.(84kg) and his toughness . . . the simple problem with Armo is fitness, he is not fit enough to play AFL, not even VFL, where he cannot play a full game . . . he does have all the attributes though . . . he will be quality - but that is what we thought about the whole list . . . will not be delisted. All of these players at 18 were 'blue chip' investments . . . and should have been 150+ gamers . . . not because of where they were picked in the draft . . . but why they were picked there . . . The Post 'st.mart' saintsational.com Watts and Brooks 'st.mart' saintsational.com From the Scorps vs Tassie Thread by 'saintbrat' et al saintsational.com The Article Matt Burgan/saints.com.au/14Aug07 Coca-Cola AFL All-Australian side FORWARDS Jared Brennan (Brisbane Lions) Jonathan Brown (Brisbane Lions) Travis Cloke (Collingwood) Brett Ebert (Port Adelaide) Lance Franklin (Hawthorn) Fraser Gehrig (St Kilda) – One of only 12 players in the competition to boot more than 40 goals this season, the "G-Train" has bagged 44 majors and has once again combined strongly with co-captain teammate Nick Riewoldt. Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs) Steve Johnson (Geelong) Corey Jones (Kangaroos) Matthew Lloyd (Essendon) Scott Lucas (Essendon) Cameron Mooney Matthew Pavlich Matthew Richardson Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda) – A genuine star of the game, Riewoldt is also one of the hardest working key forwards in the business. His running prowess combined with his marking ability has again shone in 2007. He also has 34 goals to his name. To register for the 2007 Coca-Cola Zero All-Australian game, click here. Brown fined for Tribunal lie Hawthorn has suffered a double dose from the AFL with Campbell Brown hit with a $7500 fine by the AFL after admitting that he had lied in a tribunal hearing involving West Coast Eagles star Chris Judd, while the club was fined $25,000 for filming an AFL match without permission. The AFL ordered an investigation into Brown's actions at the tribunal hearing after the Hawthorn defender admitted to a television program earlier this week that he had lied to protect Judd. The Article Bren O'Brien Sportal/15Aug07 Hawks cop $50,000 video fine Hawthorn copped the financial hit, but all clubs were placed on notice by the AFL last night to cease video-recording football matches. The Hawks were fined $50,000 ($25,000 now and $25,000 suspended) after they were caught recording the Round 18 St Kilda-Bulldogs match at Telstra Dome. AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the filming of the match was a "most serious breach" of AFL regulations. AFL rules stipulate only host broadcasters can record matches. Clubs have the right to pay for footage from AFL cameras placed behind the goals, but they are prohibited from all other forms of video-taping. While it was the Hawks who were caught by the AFL, the practice of recording matches, through still or video cameras, is widespread. The Article Damian Barrett/HeraldSun/16Aug07 GO BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE
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