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Round 20 AFL 2007 Premiership Season - Pre-game Articles - St Kilda vs Fremantle Dockers
Montagna Hopeful Saints can curtail Pavlich . . . Both the Saints and Fremantle have revived their seasons with strong form in recent weeks, St Kilda picking up three wins and a draw from the past five rounds, while Fremantle have won three of their past four. Montagna said the Saints' improvement had been largely a result of an increased focus on scoring, with a concerted effort to move the ball more quickly into attack through the centre corridor to benefit their potent attack. He said the Saints had also noted some changes in the way Fremantle had played in recent weeks, their form boosted by a mobile ruck partnership of Robert Warnock and Daniel Gilmore and the return from injury of speedsters Byron Schammer and Brett Peake. The superb form of re-signed key forward Matthew Pavlich, who has kicked 17 goals in the past four weeks, was also an obvious plus for them. "Obviously he's their key target, so we've got to play a good defender on him," Montagna said. "But he can push up to the midfield as well, last week he picked up 30 possessions, so he can be just as damaging there. Hopefully we can curtail him and then we've got to make sure their other forwards don't bob up, like Farmer and Tarrant." The Article Sam Lienert & Adam Cooper/AAP/AFL/saints.com.au/17Aug07 Saints have flag aim: Montagna St Kilda midfielder Leigh Montagna says the Saints are vying for more than just the chance to make up the numbers in the top eight, believing finals qualification will give them a genuine tilt at an AFL premiership. The ninth-placed Saints meet 12th-placed Fremantle at Telstra Dome on Saturday, one of several matches this weekend that could make or break the seasons of a log-jam of clubs trying to grasp the bottom one or two finals berths. No club in history has won a flag after entering the finals in lower than fifth spot. But, Montagna says that in a season in which only three wins currently separate second-placed Hawthorn from 13th-placed Essendon, this year could be different. "I think so, I think this is the year where, Geelong are a standout, but the rest of the teams are pretty equal," Montagna said. The Article AAP/TheAge/17Aug07 FRIDAY SUPER PREVIEW: SAINTS VS DOCKERS St Kilda forwards v Fremantle defence - St Kilda's forward line has been one of the head scratchers of the season so far. Where have all the goals gone? Sure, the method of supply has changed significantly under new coach Ross Lyon, but in a season when the bottom three teams have struggled mightily, the Saints still have the least potent attack in the league. That said, you'd still back the red-hot Nick Riewoldt, resting ruckman Justin Koschitzke and even a slightly out-of-sorts Fraser Gehrig to win out in their one-on-one duels if the blokes up the field can get their act together. Fremantle's porous defence has tightened up of late, but it remains one of the key factors in the side's disappointing season. Players like Scott Thornton and Roger Hayden can generate some good run out of defence, but with Michael Johnson, Luke McPharlin and co. rightly concerned with the Saints' tall timber, the door might be left ajar for the likes of Stephen Milne and Brett Voss. THE PREVIEW Jason Phelan/AFL/saints.com.au/17Aug07 'Ready to rip in': Luke Ball I can't stress enough what a huge game it is for the club this week. It could be season defining. Fremantle are travelling over from Perth and have won three of their past four games, with their only loss coming courtesy of Geelong. They are in form and are looking at the eight, I'm sure . . . This week's game will most likely be won in the midfield and while we have a good one, Freo have plenty of run in theirs and are capable of beating any team on any day. Because of that we would love as many Saints fans as possible to pack out Telstra Dome and make their trip over here as uncomfortable as ours to Subi. We haven't played the Dockers over here for a long time and our last home game against them was the "siren-gate" drama at Aurora Stadium . . . The body is feeling good this week and I'm ready to rip in. The Blog Luke Ball/16Aug07 Pavlich has all ingredients If your club could design the perfect player for the modern game, he would look remarkably like Matthew Pavlich. He would be in his mid-20s, tall and strong, yet mobile, quick and agile. He would be a key position player, versatile enough to settle instantly forward or back, or go into the midfield. He would have good hands and a reliable kicking leg, one that provided both length and accuracy. Critically, he would be brave and durable, and he also would be popular among his peers and a leader. Actually, he would be Matthew Pavlich. But, is there a blemish in the perfect picture? Is Pav a champion or just a player of high quality? Does his name come to mind instantly when we're discussing players capable of determining the outcome of a big game? As Jonathan Brown does, as Wayne Carey, Jason Dunstall and Tony Lockett did so often. It is an intriguing question for some of us. I have raised it previously: does he impose himself upon big games often enough? The Article Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/18Aug07 Dockers hopeful at Docklands Fremantle caretaker coach Mark Harvey has admitted the Dockers have difficulty playing at Telstra Dome but is confident they can rectify their poor record at the ground against St Kilda on Saturday. The Dockers have won only seven of 22 games at the Dome since the stadium first held games in 2000 and more recently they have won just once in their past five appearances at Docklands. Harvey said the surroundings, most notably the closed roof, were vastly different to those the players regularly experienced on the wide open Subiaco Oval. "I think the sides that don't play on this particular surface a lot, and we're one of those sides, just at times have problems with the stadium particularly when it's closed roof and all that sort of business," Harvey said before putting his players through a light training run at the Junction Oval in Melbourne on Friday morning. "It's a bit difficult at times so sometimes as you're getting used to it the opposition can get ahead of you" . . . Matthew Carr will return to the team for the Saints clash while emergency Troy Cook has also made the trip to Melbourne. Harvey said the Dockers were confident they had enough firepower at both ends of the ground to give themselves a strong chance of victory. "They've got some tall forwards (but) we've got some pretty good ones ourselves so there's going to be some mind games and different structures up forward," he said. "But ultimately it will come down to the midfield and the direction of what they are doing there." The Article Rob O'Gorman/Sportal/17Aug07 Attack on the ball is the key: Harvey Fremantle caretaker coach Mark Harvey says a focus on his team's attack on the football has helped the club remain in contention for the top eight. Freo faces a virtual elimination final against St Kilda at Telstra Dome on Saturday and Harvey, a raging favourite to take the role on a full-time basis from 2008, admitted his side's commitment at the contest had been highlighted since he took charge. "I've asked them to do what their teammates would expect of them," Harvey said before Fremantle trained at the Junction Oval in Melbourne on Friday. "I think when you're on the football ground and you're in combat, it's a physical game, everyone's got to toe the line." Fremantle boasts a 3-1 record since Harvey has taken charge and has gathered some momentum as it makes its last-ditch effort at the top eight. St Kilda, itself an in-form team since the mid-season break, represents another hurdle at a venue where Freo hasn't enjoyed a lot of success. But Harvey is pleased his team has given itself a shot of playing beyond the home and away rounds. "We've still got a couple of tough games coming up and St Kilda's one of them tomorrow," he said. "So all we've done is give ourselves a glimmer of hope and we've got to make the most of it. If we finish up getting there (into the eight) we'll have earned it." The Article Ben Broad/AFL/saints.com.au/17Aug07 Pavlich gives Dockers much needed stability: Harvey ABCSport/17Aug07 Harvey only focused on extending season AAP/TheWest/17Aug07 Saints will throw everything at us Mark Harvey/SundayTimes/15Aug07 Dockers arrive in Melbourne . . . Matt Carr returns to the line up after spending last weekend on the sideline with general soreness. Last week's debutante Andrew Foster makes way for the 28 year old. Speaking to the media prior to the team's departure to Melbourne on Thursday morning, Assistant Coach Michael Broadbridge said Fremantle was expecting St Kilda to be close to full strength for the crucial clash. "There's no doubt this is a big game for both clubs," Broadbridge said. "I think it will be a finals-like atmosphere. Having said that, the winner still has to play another two games before the finals and probably still has to win those two to get in. So really it's a game as important as the following two." The Article Andrew Bousfield/fremantlefc.com.au/saints.com.au/16Aug07 Success is in our own hands: Harvey Andrew Bousfield/fremantlefc.com.au/saints.com.au/15Aug07 Birss, Raph, V2 and M Carr in for 'Mini-Final' . . . St Kilda made three changes for Saturday's mini elimination final against Fremantle with Shane Birss, Raphael Clarke and Brett Voss returning in place of dumped trio Jayden Attard, Clinton Jones and Michael Rix. The Dockers, who will go above the Saints on the ladder if they win at Telstra Dome in the increasingly tight battle for eighth spot, made just one change with the experienced Matthew Carr returning in place of Andrew Foster. Doubtful stars named to play Paul Gough/Sportal/16Aug07 AFL Match Preview . . . St Kilda has been a frustrating side to watch in 2007 - the once free-flowing attack-minded side which chalked up wins for fun a few years ago is long gone, their critics say. Meanwhile, the doubters still wonder about Fremantle and whether they'll ever realise their potential. At home, the Saints have to be the pick, but their inability to close games out remains a huge concern. AFL MATCH PREVIEW AAP/afl.com.au/15Aug07 SAINTS MATCH PREVIEW Ben Broad/saints.com.au/16Aug07 REALFOOTY MATCH PREVIEW realfooty.com.au/16Aug07 SPORTAL MATCH PREVIEW sportal.com.au/16Aug07 Cook a chance to reach his milestone Favourite son Troy Cook remains in contention to reach the treasured 150-game milestone after interim coach Mark Harvey declared he would include the former club champion in Fremantle's 25-man squad for Saturday's "mini-final" against St Kilda at Telstra Dome. Cook is anchored on 147 matches for the Dockers, leaving him three games shy of becoming the sixth player in the club's history to make 150 appearances, an achievement that will be rewarded with life membership. Harvey, preparing to coach in Melbourne for the first time since replacing Chris Connolly after round 15, indicated Fremantle were loath to make any changes to the 22 that annihilated Essendon last weekend. However, there's every likelihood Cook, Steven Dodd (collarbone) and Matthew Carr (groin) will be included in Fremantle's extended squad, with Andrew Foster and Byron Schammer under pressure to retain their positions. Carr trained with his teammates yesterday, but Des Headland is still battling a hamstring problem and was not seen . . . Fremantle will be making just their second trip to Telstra Dome this season after a round-two defeat to Essendon, well aware that failure to record a third consecutive victory will end their faint finals hopes. The Dockers have won only seven of 22 matches at the indoor stadium, the second worst winning percentage at that ground, and confront a side that is well versed in the nuances of the venue. The Article Digby Beacham/TheWest/16Aug07 Dockers set to stick with same 22 Justin Chadwick/Sportal/15Aug07 Headland's fitness in doubt: Mark Harvey Harvey said star forward Des Headland, who has missed two games with a hamstring strain, and Steven Dodd, who was a late omission from the side that beat Essendon in what was to be his first game back from a shoulder injury, were unlikely to return for Saturday's game. Harvey said Headland's fitness was still in doubt and he also wants to reward the players that have won matches against West Coast and Essendon. "It is very hard to make changes when they play like they do," he said. "When you play like we have in the last two weeks, you like to reward the effort." Harvey said veterans Troy Cook and Matthew Carr, who has been battling a groin problem, would be in the mix for a recall against the Saints. Harvey added he wasn't mentioning finals to his players. The Article AAP/smh/15Aug07 RL TUESDAY MEDIA CONFERENCE Finals are fine, but only if we're in form: Lyon "I think you have to look at things mathematically. There are results that if you won two, 11 and a half would get you in, depending on what the others do," he said on Tuesday. "As I said last week, you can limp into the finals and everyone says, 'Oh, St Kilda made the finals', but you actually want to go in with a purpose. We get an opportunity over the next three weeks to play good football, and if you were to win three in a row, you would go in full of confidence and good personnel, and a chance to do something. But if you just limp in, is there much point in that? I'm not sure there is. It will take a bit of pressure off myself and the president, and make our supporters happy, but you want to be realistic too." Lyon conceded that Saturday's clash with Fremantle was an elimination final of sorts, with the Saints holding a two premiership point advantage and Freo boasting the better percentage. "From here on in, you can't make any mistakes, but again, if we just focus on the pressure of the situation . . . they're really in the mix as well," he said. "They could win all three and get in, and if we win three, I think we'll definitely be in." The Article Jennifer Witham/saints.com.au/14Aug07  Ross Lyon Media Conference Sportal (Media File)
 Xavier Clarke Audio Sport927 (Audio) 14Aug07
Saints need to march into finals St Kilda's season is well and truly alive, according to coach Ross Lyon, but limping into the finals would do little more than relieve pressure on himself and president Rod Butterss. Lyon said the club needs confidence-building wins in the last three weeks of the home-and-away season to have any chance of making an impact in September - anything less and the Saints simply would be making up the numbers. "You can limp into the finals, sneak in and everyone says St Kilda made the finals, but you want to go in with a purpose," he said. "If you just limp in, is there much point? I'm not sure there is. "Obviously, it would take a bit of pressure off myself and the president and keep our supporters happy, but you want to be realistic." The first hurdle is beating the resurgent Dockers at Telstra Dome on Saturday, which, Lyon says, will come down to a battle of the midfields. "They've got their runners back. (Byron) Schammer and (Brett) Peake were critical to them last year and they've missed the majority of the year through injury. "And they've restructured their ruck department with (Daniel) Gilmore and (Robert) Warnock, who are averaging about 22 possessions each." Lyon said caretaker coach Mark Harvey had opted successfully for more short kicking and handball over the past month, which allowed the Dockers to play to their strengths. "There's more short kicks, more handballs, more marks inside 50, so they're probably bombing it less and using the ball better going inside their forward 50." Having averaged 14 goals in the six games after the mid-season break, the Saints were held to nine goals against Sydney and 12 the week before in the draw against the Western Bulldogs. The Article Martin Boulton RealFooty/15Aug07 Lyon tries an old trick Albert Park Lake and surrounding ovals were bathed in sunshine yesterday, but St Kilda players were cooped up in a nearby basketball stadium. The Saints won after a similar indoor training session earlier in the season, but the rerun had little to do with superstition. It was borne out of necessity after a grinding battle against Sydney as coach Ross Lyon tries to reinvigorate his players mentally and physically for the clash against Fremantle at Telstra Dome on Saturday. "We've only done it one other time when it was wet," Lyon said. "It (Sydney) was a really brutal game and we've got to make sure we come up fresh." Lyon and his match committee will consider Raphael Clarke, Shane Birss and Brett Voss in what is virtually an elimination final for the ninth-placed Saints against the free-running Dockers. "From here on in, you can't make any mistakes," Lyon said. "They're really in the mix as well, they could win all three and get in. If we win three, I think we'll definitely be in. The season is well and truly alive. Fremantle has changed a bit (under Mark Harvey), more short kicks, more handballs and key forwards playing well, so it's a really big challenge for us. They were a top-four team last year and they've got their critical runners back, (Byron) Schammer, (Brett) Peake and (Jeff) Farmer, and they've restructured their ruck department with (Daniel) Gilmore and (Robert) Warnock." The Article Bruce Matthews/HeraldSun/15Aug07 Lyon stands by 'G-Train' . . . Lyon has revealed that the 31-year-old, who battled on despite a broken hand and nasty bout of the flu earlier in the season, has been playing under duress more recently with a serious foot tendon injury. "He had a plantar fascia that he carried which was really brave, that's torn right through," Lyon said. "He's had one before which was really public but . . . this one we kept pretty quiet, but he worked his way through it." Lyon said Gehrig was frustrated by being double or even triple-teamed, but was still hungry and still capable of getting the job done. "Against Carlton he kicked six and against Hawthorn he was really good and against Collingwood he was really good but the last two weeks he's kicked two and zero," said Lyon. "Has his mental state changed? I'm not sure. Has the delivery to him changed? Probably. Up until the last two weeks I don't think anyone would have questioned his form or his attitude. Fraser will never be dropped while I'm coach" . . . Lyon stressed that the Saints can't afford to make any mistakes against the Dockers in what amounts to a mini-final. He's very well aware that the club needs to win all three of its remaining matches - against Freo, West Coast and Richmond - to make the finals and he said it's important to go into September with a purpose. "If you were to win three in a row you go in full of confidence and good personnel and a chance to do something," he said. "But of you just limp in, is there much point in that? I'm not sure there is." The Article Angus Morgan/Sportal/14Aug07 Gehrig frustrated, but coach stays loyal St Kilda coach Ross Lyon admits full-forward Fraser Gehrig is frustrated by modern-day football but has vowed to never drop him as the Saints enter a virtual elimination final against Fremantle on Sunday. Gehrig's form loss, the lack of firepower in attack and an alarming trend of losing last quarters are the issues Lyon has to get in order if the Saints are to keep their finals hopes alive at Telstra Dome and eliminate a fellow aspirant. Both the ninth-placed Saints and 12th-placed Dockers need to win all three remaining games to be assured of reaching the finals. Gehrig has booted only two goals in the past two games and Lyon admitted the Coleman medallist was frustrated at being double-teamed by opposition sides aiming to curb his physical strength and blanket his threat. "The fact is he's 31 and in talking to him, it's not easy for a power forward these days," Lyon said. "You used to be able to play one-on-one footy inside forward 50 and isolate (him), but you see (what) Jonathan Brown, Nick Riewoldt and (Matthew) Pavlich (have to handle). They've got to compete against two or three because opposition coaches say `Well, we're not going to allow you to kick six. If the other bloke is good enough, well, good luck to him.'" The Article AAP/TheAge/14Aug07 Sheahan: Saints goal-starved Guess which club has kicked the fewest points after 19 rounds with 1548, an average of 81 a game? No, no and no. St Kilda, actually. The club with Nick Riewoldt, Fraser Gehrig, Justin Koschitzke and Stephen Milne in its forward line. The club that led the competition in points scored in 2005. It is irrefutable proof of the change in the way the Saints have played this year, their problems in the midfield, the increased emphasis on defence and accountability from new coach Ross Lyon. St Kilda's total of 220 goals is nine fewer than the Adelaide figure. Bottom team Richmond has kicked 243. Asked at a media conference yesterday if he could "put your finger on what's costing you games", Lyon said: "Yeah, not kicking enough goals." He did, though, reject the comparison with 2005, when the free-wheeling Saints finished third under Grant Thomas. "Everyone talks about '04, '05. If you want to go to recent history, which is '06, they were actually the eighth-ranked attack (7th). It's easy to romance about 04-05," Lyon said. After 19 rounds in 2005, Gehrig, Milne, Koschitzke and Riewoldt had kicked 159 goals. The corresponding figure this year is 126. The Article Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/15Aug07 STATS CONFIDENTIAL Saints letting go their comfortable leads Why are the Saints no good things when they have a comfortable lead at three-quarter time, Mark Stevens asks. Coach Ross Lyon might be the key to that mystery. There is safety in numbers. That's what Fremantle coach Mark Harvey will be telling his players if they are within four goals of St Kilda at the last change at Telstra Dome on Saturday. Harvey no doubt will have one simple set of numbers with him in the huddle: the Saints have a 0-6 record in last quarters since Round 14. St Kilda has kicked just 10.15 after three-quarter time, while its opponents have piled on 24.17. The difference is 86 points, an average of 14.3 points a game. St Kilda has been outscored by 13 (Sydney), 17 (Bulldogs) and 25 (Carlton) in the past three weeks. The most glaring fadeout was in Round 14 against Col'wood. The Saints kicked the first goal of the final term before allowing the Magpies to kick the last 4.6 of the game. Mark Stevens Mike Sheahan/HeraldSun/15Aug07 Making the eight is not enough Football is big business these days, we are often told, but in purely business terms, September makes little sense . . . Asked this week about the economic value of making the final eight, few club executives pulled any punches. "Bugger all" one chief executive said. "Unless you win the grand final, it's not worth much, if anything." Prizemoney has been raised by the AFL this year, but for the team sneaking into eighth, it is still only $65,000 - barely enough to defray the cost of travel and running a football club for an extra week . . . In previous years, the AFL paid a weekly allowance to clubs involved in finals to cover such costs. Prizemoney was minimal - often less for winning the flag than for a pre-season competition win. This year is different. The old allowance has been scrapped and prizemoney boosted, but a big part of that goes to the players, under their collective bargaining agreement. Last year's prizemoney plus the allowance totalled $1.72 million. This year - with just prizemoney and no allowance - $2.89 million is up for grabs. Scrape into eighth and you'll be rewarded with an away final against a top-ranked side, the likelihood of an early exit and no high draft pick to excite next year's potential members. There are also extra costs. The Article Dan Silkstone/RealFooty/18Aug07 Twin peaks Warwick Green/RealFooty/18Aug07 Freo to sign Harvey Mark Harvey could be appointed Fremantle's successor to Chris Connolly before the end of the season. In a further indication Dockers officials are convinced their caretaker coach is the right man for the job fulltime, chief executive Cameron Schwab refused last night to rule out offering Harvey a long-term deal before round 22. The latest twist came as Carlton settled on former star midfielder Brett Ratten as the replacement for Denis Pagan, who was sacked last month. Ratten yesterday withdrew from the Melbourne coaching race. It is understood the Blues board will rubber stamp the dual premiership star and 255-game veteran's nomination as the next Carlton coach at a board meeting on Monday night. The appointment will be announced on Tuesday. Schwab conceded the Dockers would not stand in Harvey's way should his management enter into discussions with Essendon about the coaching vacancy at Windy Hill, but was adamant the port club had no intention of interviewing any prospective candidates. The Article Digby Beacham/TheWest/17Aug07 Cousins, Judd may miss Tiger clash West Coast's match committee faces a crunch call this morning when it decides whether to risk key midfielders Ben Cousins and Chris Judd for tonight's game against Richmond at Subiaco Oval. Judd has continued his weekly battle to manage a serious groin injury that forced him to play as a forward pocket against the Kangaroos last weekend, and he spent yesterday walking laps while the rest of the team trained. The premiership captain has barely trained for weeks and appeared in pain when he kicked the ball last week. While Judd has been in doubt for weeks, Cousins' injury is a fresh drama. The former captain has carried hamstring soreness since injuring the muscle five weeks ago and failed to complete the warm-up yesterday before feeling for his leg and leaving the field. West Coast football manager Steve Woodhouse denied the Brownlow medallist had strained the muscle but said the match committee would wait until just hours before the game before deciding whether he would play. Adding to the drama, Cousins is also battling an ankle injury. The Article Craig O'Donoghue/RealFooty/18Aug07 Johnson could miss the finals Chip Le Grand/TheAustralian/18Aug07 Association aims to help former players Making the switch from football star to born-again layman was easier in his day, according to legendary Richmond forward Michael Roach. "It was a pretty smooth transition back then," said Roach, who retired in 1989. "I went to work." Roach, who played 200 games for the Tigers over a 12-year career, also prolonged his AFL connection through the media and as a Tigers' reserves coach. But for most AFL retirees, the end of their careers is sudden and anonymous, the effects of which remain to be documented fully. "It's a not just a sport, it's a lifestyle, and it's a 24-7 lifestyle," AFL Players Association president Brendon Gale said. "But at some stage, the music stops, and guys have to go out and make adjustments and develop skills in other areas. Sometimes, guys struggle to deal with that. The facts are, the average career lasts a little over four years . . . so as soon as you join the system, you've got to be mindful of leaving it," Gale said. It is something the association has long aimed to address. The Article Mario Xuereb/RealFooty/18Aug07 Carlton to give Ratten the top job Greg Denham/TheAustralian/17Aug07 GO BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE
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