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2007 Round 4 Pre-game Articles - St Kilda vs Essendon
Tuesday 17th June Training Images See Harvey run and run and run "Once you get to 25 you realise there isn't long left, especially for someone like me who started at 16. Your body gets such a hammering every week. You wonder how long it can hold up." ROBERT HARVEY, May 1997. Nice one, Harvs. Who did you think you were fooling? Almost 10 years on from that interview, Robert Harvey today fronts up for game No. 344 -10th on the all-time list. And according to his most recent past coach, Harvey at 35 is more damaging than ever. Grant Thomas was watching from the outer last week as Harvey destroyed the Bulldogs with 10 disposals in the first term. It only strengthened his belief that right now the veteran is probably still the Saints' No. 1 midfielder. We're talking a bunch of onballers including Luke Ball, Lenny Hayes and Nick Dal Santo. The Article Mark Stevens/HeraldSun/21Apr07 Apprentice to seek sorcery against master The AFL's most inexperienced senior coach takes on the most experienced at Telstra Dome today. While Ross Lyon has only three games under his belt as St Kilda coach, Sheedy will be shaping up for game 616. Despite that, the novice is sure to make life hard for the veteran. Lyon and his team of assistants will have researched closely the new-look Bombers. But for the amazing second-half fade-out last week against the Blues, Essendon should be undefeated. The St Kilda brains trust would have noted the following and planned accordingly. . . . FLOODING BACK: When Essendon has possession in the midfield, all the Sainters will run to their defensive end to put the squeeze on Essendon's forward space. The Saints don't want a shoot-out. Essendon averages 17 goals a game and the Saints only 12. A tight, in-close game with plenty of stoppages will suit the Saints, especially with ruckman Matthew Clarke and rover Luke Ball returning to the team. . . . CLEARANCES: St Kilda has to lift its act to win here, as they are the worst-performing team in the AFL in the all-important area of clearances from stoppages. They shouldn't be when you consider the quality at ground level. It is up to Robert Harvey, Nick Dal Santo, Lenny Hayes, Ball and Baker to make this a priority if they are going to win today. Hayes leads the Saints with eight clearances for the season. Chris Judd sets the standard with 22. The Article Robert Walls/RealFooty/21Apr07 Three's a crowd for dynamic duo Essendon ruckman David Hille is loath to disturb the Matthew Lloyd-Scott Lucas show, despite the chance to exploit an undersized St Kilda defence at Telstra Dome today . . . The Bombers' attack looms as a particularly potent weapon against a St Kilda line-up that is missing key defenders Matt Maguire and Max Hudghton through injury. And the absence of suspended spearhead Fraser Gehrig will make it harder for coach Ross Lyon to swing tall forward Justin Koschitzke into defence. That leaves Sam Fisher with the likely stopping job on Lloyd, while Hille tips utility Jason Blake to be handed the job on Lucas. It also opens the possibility of Hille floating forward to create a match-up nightmare for the Saints. But the big man said he was reluctant to interrupt the forward set-up. Seagulls flying high AAP/HeradSun/21Apr07 Hille threat elevates Bombers' forward thrust AAP/RealFooty/21Apr07 Gardiner in for Scorpions . . . St Kilda ruck Michael Gardiner will return from injury for the Scorpions and veteran Shane Wakelin will line up in defence for Willy. Seagulls flying high Geoff Poulter/HeradSun/21Apr07 Captains' Column: I'm Back It's been a frustrating couple of weeks since the head clash with Melbourne's Matthew Whelan in round one, but I'm looking forward to playing against the Bombers on Saturday . . . after seeing the results of the scan, a little bit of bruising appeared in the brain, which was quite stark actually. I saw the films of the scan and you could definitely see something that wasn't supposed to be there, but having said that I've felt fine over the past couple of weeks . . . I had another scan the other day, but I wasn't super confident that it would all clear up this week. But after seeing the specialist again on Thursday, it was all gone and 100 per cent cleared up. The further risk has now gone and I'm back to normal and cleared to play against Essendon on Saturday. I'm jumping out of my skin to play on Saturday . . . At the moment I'm weighing up if I should wear a helmet. I've spoken to the doctors and they're sure that the helmet won't actually protect the injury that I had. It also won't stop me from receiving any more concussion injuries or a repeat of deeper bruising in the brain. The Article Luke Ball/saints.com.au/20Apr07 Brain scans were "stark": Ball Matt Burgan/AFL/saints.com.au/20Apr07 Bombers' attack a tall order for Saints Essendon ruckman David Hille is loath to disturb the Matthew Lloyd-Scott Lucas show, despite the chance to exploit an under-sized St Kilda defence at Telstra Dome. The Bombers' two tall targets have booted 26 goals between them in the first three rounds, helping make Essendon the AFL's second-highest scoring team . . . The Bombers' attack looms as a particularly potent weapon against a St Kilda defence that is missing key defenders Matt Maguire and Max Hudghton through injury, while Brett Voss is out of favour. Adding to the Saints' difficulties, the absence of suspended spearhead Fraser Gehrig makes it harder for them to swing the likes of tall forward Justin Koschitzke into defence. That leaves Sam Fisher with the likely stopping job on Lloyd, while Hille tips utility Jason Blake to be handed the job on Lucas. It also opens the possibility of Hille floating forward to create a match-up nightmare for the Saints. The Article AAP/WestAustralian/20Apr07 Saints look to ground Bombers St Kilda proved last week that when their best players are up and running, they are capable of kicking a big score. This week the Saints face a new challenge against a Bombers line-up looking to rebound from a dramatic fade out. Last week the Saints forward line had too many options for the shorter Bulldogs defence but this week without Fraser Gehrig, they confront Mal Michael and Dustin Fletcher keen to bounce back following their mauling by Brendan Fevola. The Saints defence will also come up against a forward line with significant firepower of its own. Essendon has played a quick, attacking style in the first three weeks with their elusive crumbing players standing at the feet of Lucas and Lloyd. The Bombers have kicked fifty goals in their three games this season and only wasteful kicking cost them a matchwinning lead against Carlton. However, the Bombers have also conceded big scores in the last two weeks and the Blues and Dockers have shown that Essendon can be scored against quickly. A hallmark of the Saints' two victories has been their creative play off the half-back line. Gram, Goddard and Baker played with great attacking flare last week against the Bulldogs and all finished up with more than 20 possessions. Their run and carry hurt the Bulldogs and they will hope to do so again by exploiting the inexperience of some of the young Essendon forwards. The Article Adrian Blades/saints.com.au/20Apr07 Ball clear to play - M Clarke back . . . Despite coach Ross Lyon declaring earlier in the week that injuries suffered in a head clash with Demon Matthew Whelan in Round 1 would likely keep him out, Ball was picked after getting medical clearance to play . . . Ball and follower Matthew Clarke rejoin a Saints side that will be without forward Fraser Gehrig, suspended for one match for striking Bulldog Brian Harris last weekend. "Luke went through his scans with the specialist and was given the all clear," Saints general manager of football Ken Sheldon said. "He's feeling fine . . . and has trained the house down over the last four sessions." The Article Michael Horan/HeraldSun/20Apr07 Saints confident on Ball this time St Kilda are confident co-captain Luke Ball can strike third time lucky and return to the AFL for the round four game against Essendon. The Saints have named their gutsy midfielder to play at Telstra Dome on Saturday after missing the past two games because of the effects of the bump to the head he suffered from Melbourne's Matthew Whelan in round one. Earlier this week Saints coach Ross Lyon virtually conceded Ball would again miss this weekend after previous aborted comebacks, but club doctor Ian Stone said the 22-year-old was ready to resume. "Absolutely, or we wouldn't have named him," he said. "He had further scans this week and his cognitive signs are fine - there's no impairment at all - and the bruising has cleared up." The Article AAP/RealFooty/19Apr07 Ball named for Saints St Kilda co-captain Luke Ball has been named for Saturday’s Round Four clash against Essendon after missing the past two matches with concussion. Ball is selected along with ruckman Matthew Clarke, to replace suspended full-forward Fraser Gehrig and Clinton Jones (dropped) . . . Aside from star midfielder Ball, the Saints will also play ruckman Matthew Clarke in Saturday’s game against Essendon at Telstra Dome. Clarke returns from a hamstring strain, and will play alongside Michael Rix, Barry Brooks, Justin Koschitzke, and Jason Blake, giving the Saints plenty of tall timber against the Bombers. Essendon have named an unchanged side, despite speculation that in-form midfielder Jason Winderlich had suffered a hamstring injury. The Article Tom Nightingale/AFL/saints.com.au/19Apr07 St Kilda still hopeful on playing Ball AAP/BrisbaneTimes/19Apr07 Courier Mail Preview: St Kilda v Essendon . . . Summary: One wonders how Essendon will bounce back after letting an eight-goal slip against arch-rival Carlton last weekend. At least the Bombers won't have to front up to St Kilda's Fraser Gehrig, who is out through suspension, and injured midfielder Luke Ball. But St Kilda's other key forward Nick Riewoldt is back in form and shredded the Bulldogs last weekend. The Bombers will want to keep him on a far shorter leash than the one Carlton's Brendan Fevola escaped repeatedly last weekend as he crushed the Bombers. But at the other end, the Saints will need to rein in Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas, both outstanding this season. That will be made easier if the Saints' midfield can get on top of the Bomber, which they should be able to do even without Ball. Whatever the result, the Bombers will at least want to show they are over last weekend's effort. Key St Kilda should be able to win if they shut down supply to Lloyd and Lucas. Saints' midfielders Nick Dal Santo and Lenny Hayes need to assert their authority early on to make sure that happens. Tip: St Kilda by 25 points. The Article CourierMail/19Apr07 Sheedy: Hird will play against Saints Kevin Sheedy was far from his jovial self when facing the media today, adamant that this weeks’ game against St Kilda was a must win match, while rejecting speculation that James Hird will be rested until ANZAC Day . . . While there was a suggestion that Courtney Johns may make his return for the Bombers this week after impressing in the VFL last weekend, Sheedy has ruled out Jason Johnson for the match. "He won’t play. He will play in the VFL," Sheedy said. "He is not going to go down the path of what we did last year, bringing him back too early which hurt his confidence and belief systems. I am not going to go down that way again so he will play in the VFL." Sheedy also ruled out Scott Camporeale, preferring to give him another run in the VFL this week before putting him in contention for selection. The Article essendonfc.com.au/18Apr07 AFL Preview: St Kilda v Essendon . . . WILDCARD: Mark McVeigh - The AFL's most controversial high mark has been a revelation up forward in the past couple of weeks, with his deadly left foot giving the Bombers yet another goal-scoring option. Where he lines up this week is anyone’s guess – McVeigh is just as likely to be minding Milne in the back pocket at the first bounce as he is to be roaming the half-forward line. BLUFFER'S GUIDE: This one is quite likely to be a shootout – two potent attacks against two suspect defences. Matthew Lloyd, Lucas, Andrew Lovett et al going goal-for-goal with Riewoldt, Koschitzke, Stephen Milne and co will be worth the admission price. MID-WEEK QUESTION MARKS: How badly affected will the Bombers’ morale be after their shock loss to Carlton? Throwing away an eight-goal lead to their mortal enemies may have punched a big hole in the Dons’ confidence, which was soaring after surprise victories against Adelaide and Fremantle. Will St Kilda be able to cover the absence of Gehrig? The G-Train’s suspension removes one massive match-up issue for Essendon, freeing Michael for other tasks. The Article AFL/saints.com.au/19Apr07 Sportal Preview: St Kilda v Essendon . . . We Think: Kevin Sheedy was gutted by the Bombers' loss to Carlton and he understands the importance of getting straight back on the winners list this week. Given that St Kilda will again be without key defenders Max Hudghton and Matt Maguire, Sheedy may take the opportunity to go tall up forward by including Courtney Johns who bagged seven goals in the VFL last week. The Saints will miss the suspended Fraser Gehrig and with Luke Ball likely to miss again because of the concussion he suffered in round one, that means four-fifths of the club's spine will be watching from the stands. The Saints have more brilliance, but Essendon's evenness is a big plus. If the Bombers can maintain supply from the midfield, Lloyd and Scott Lucas will be hard to stop. Essendon by 18 points. The Article Angus Morgan/Sportal/19Apr07 Hird will play: Sheedy Resting Hird this Saturday would not only be a 'disservice' to the Bombers' fans and football in general, Sheedy said, but would be an insult to St Kilda, which has taken part in the past three finals series. "We take four points against St Kilda as the most crucial four points" . . . While Hird will line up against the Saints, two other veteran midfielders in Jason Johnson and Scott Camporeale would be turning out for Bendigo instead . . . Sheedy also confirmed defender Dustin Fletcher, who along with Mal Michael was towelled up by a red hot Brendan Fevola last Saturday, would line up on St Kilda gun Nick Riewoldt. "They get a decent score on the board and a bit of confidence and belief when they find a young champion like him coming back," Sheedy said. The Article Sportal/18Apr07 Sheeds regrets Fletcher move Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy has taken the blame and admitted moving Dustin Fletcher to the forward line in the first half of Saturday's three-point loss to Carlton did not work out as planned. Fletcher's posting in front of goals gave Carlton full-forward Brendan Fevola the opportunity to turn the tide on the Bombers' eight-goal lead . . . Sheedy ruled out repeating the move of Fletcher to the forward line at Telstra Dome on Saturday against St Kilda, preferring to give the veteran defender the job on danger forward Nick Riewoldt. The Article Gareth Trickey/HeraldSun/19Apr07 Essendon Training Report . . . I went down to Windy Hill for training with the assistant coach of the Saints, Tony Elshaug. Good friend and neighbour of mine. He was obviously doing some homework on who will play and what not. We came to the conclusion that Johns is definitely going to play. Saints have no Maguire, no Hudghton, and he trained with the senior group - Tony, and I, believe he will definitely play. Other notes: Winders: Looks quite injured unfortunately, I doubt he'll play. Possibly and hopefully his back for Anzac Day. Doubt Sheeds will play him if his still sore. JJ: Trained with senior group and looked quite good, he will play I'd say. Hird: Did half the session. Will definitely be playing this week though. Ryder: Didn't train with the senior group. Tony reckons this may just be to keep him on his toes though. And I agree. NLM: Trained and definitely looked 100% The Post 'Jason' bomberblitz.com St Kilda Training Report Tuesday 17th The following players did little or no training today. Lenny, Grammy, Kosi, Sammy Hammill, Matty Clarke, Gardy, Max, Harvs, eddy and Fraser. From what little they did I would say that from last weeks side Grammy and Kosi could be in trouble and Matthew Clarke may play. Bally and Watts did all the training however apparently there is still doubt over Bally. Raph also did a little but not heaps. The Post 'plugger66' saintsational.com Ball set to miss St Kilda midfielder Luke Ball's immediate AFL future remains in limbo amid further concerns about his recovery from a head injury . . . The Saints' co-captain is scheduled to undergo another scan. But St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has virtually written off Ball as a starter for Saturday's match against Essendon at Telstra Dome . . . As well as Ball, rebounding defender Jason Gram is under a cloud with general soreness, while spearhead Fraser Gehrig is suspended . . . Ruckman Matthew Clarke, a late withdrawal against the Bulldogs last weekend with a hamstring strain, is also doubtful according to Lyon . . . "Obviously we've got suspension and injury worries, we don't have our fullback, centre-half-back, full forward, Gram won't train tonight because he's pulled up really sore" . . . But in better news for the Saints, ex-West Coast ruckman Michael Gardiner is on track for his first outing of the season in the reserves on Saturday. The Article AAP/SydneyMorningHerald/17Apr07 Ball to miss another week Injured St Kilda midfielder Luke Ball looks set to miss another AFL match as concerns remain about his recovery from a head injury. Saints coach Ron Lyon today said Ball would go for another scan this week and was unlikely to play against Essendon on Saturday. Ball was heavily concussed in round one when he collided with Melbourne defender Matthew Whelan. He hasn't played since. Lyon said there was still a risk involved in Ball playing should he receive another head knock. "Functionally, he's perfect but there's still an element of risk," Lyon said. "Until that disappears he won't play." St Kilda are also sweating on the fitness of defender Jason Gram, who Lyon said had general soreness after last weekend's match. The Article CourierMail/17Apr07 Ball sidelined again ABCSport/17Apr07 Fears linger on Saint's head injury . . . Sports injury specialist Dr Peter Brukner said resting Ball for another week was not unusual if he still had headaches from the concussion. "One or two players a year miss two or maybe three weeks (through) concussion," Brukner said. "This (Lyon's comments) tells us he still has symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, feeling lethargic or he's not concentrating too well." Brukner said it was normal for a club to tread cautiously if a player still had headaches more than a week after concussion. The Article Martin Boulton/RealFooty/18Apr07 Ball not yet in clear . . . "Cognitively, he is all right. Functionally, he is perfect. But there is an element of risk and, until that disappears, he won't play." (Ross Lyon Said) The Saints will also be without key forward Fraser Gehrig after he copped a one-match suspension for striking Bulldog defender Brian Harris. St Kilda elected not to contest the penalty, with Lyon pragmatic about Gehrig's ban. "It's done and dusted. We'll move on, that's life," Lyon said. "It's not ideal having a key forward out. We'll have to restructure." The Article Rebecca Williams/HeraldSun/18Apr07 St Kilda's inner sanctum sealed St Kilda's new coach, Ross Lyon, has declared the Saints' pre-game rooms a suit-free zone, ruling that club directors, non-football officials, sponsors and family members stay away from the players before matches. In a move that has caused the club to look at other ways to appease its financial backers, Lyon told the St Kilda coaching panel that interviewed him late last year he would prefer a pre-match ban on all but the football inner sanctum should he win the job at Moorabbin. Saints president Rod Butterss confirmed the new rule, describing it as "a big change certainly, hopefully it's part of a coming of age for our football club. He respectfully pointed out that he would prefer this scenario", said Butterss yesterday. "We have all respected it. The board members don't go down to the rooms before games any more. If you have a job role involving the game, you're in. If you don't have a job role, you are out. If you are a heart surgeon, I doubt you would welcome or have to deal with 30 or 40 extra people looking on. Ross wasn't laying down the law or making it a condition of his employment, he simply said that before the games he would prefer that players were left alone to prepare for their job." Ironically, a similar request was put to the board by sacked coach Grant Thomas two years ago, but it was denied. The Article Caroline Wilson/RealFooty/18Apr07 Gehrig hit for a game St Kilda spearhead Fraser Gehrig will miss Saturday's game against Essendon unless he fights a one-match suspension at the AFL Tribunal tonight. Gehrig was offered the one-game penalty after being cited by the AFL match review panel for striking Bulldog Brian Harris. The incident assessed as intentional conduct with low impact to the body drew 125 demerit points which equates to a one-game ban. Normally, it would be reduced to a reprimand by pleading guilty, but Gehrig's past record increased the points by 30 per cent to 162.50. An early plea would cut the total by 25 per cent to 121.88, still consigning the Saints' goalkicker to miss Saturday's game against the Bombers. The demerit points loading resulted from Gehrig's existing poor record of three matches suspended within the past three years. The Article Bruce Matthews/HeraldSun/17Apr07 Sports merchandiser goes for Nylex concept There's movement at Concept Sports, and members of the St Kilda Football Club board are again joining the company that Richmond Football Club president Gary March founded. Former Nylex chief executive Glen Casey, St Kilda Football Club's vice-president, has been appointed a non-executive director of Concept. Last month Concept announced that St Kilda president Ron Butterss had bought into the company. Then former St Kilda president Andrew Plympton, a business associate of Butterss, was duly appointed Concept's chairman. "We would welcome board members from any other club if they're interested," March quipped yesterday. Butterss and Casey are directors of Transition Group, a private company that has been buying Concept stock over the past year. The Article Mark Hawthorne/TheAge/20Apr07 Ice starts to thaw in Saints-Fox standoff St Kilda's disgruntled No. 1 member Lindsay Fox has returned to the club for the first time since coach Grant Thomas's shock sacking, the Saints no longer fearful of a Fox-led takeover of the club. The billionaire former president, who has also been linked to Carlton since Dick Pratt became president of the Blues and launched a massive corporate fund-raising campaign, spoke with St Kilda president Rod Butterss last week at a sponsors' lunch. The two men, who fell out when Fox backed the sacked Thomas and took a shot at Butterss with his "fish rotting at the head" comment, have reportedly agreed to talk over a coffee in coming weeks. The Saints board had feared the influence of Fox, who organised a meeting with Thomas and his players at his home in the days that followed the sacking. The fears that he may engineer a takeover of the board were heightened when he spent close to $1 million buying into the parent company of St Kilda sponsor Bill Express. Fox's son, Andrew, was a St Kilda director during the early days of Butterss' presidency, but any suggestion that the Fox family could take on Butterss and his team have gradually dissipated. The Article Caroline Wilson RealFooty/21Apr07 GO BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE
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