Round 5 Articles Go to Pre-Game

Bash sledge a low blow: Voss
The personal insult a St Kilda player directed to Essendon's Andrew Lovett last Friday night clearly crossed the line of sportsmanship, according to triple premiership captain Michael Voss. Voss said yesterday that it was a "cop-out" to blame match broadcaster Channel Seven for airing the sledge - "You bash your f------ missus, mate" - after it was picked up in an umpire's microphone during a dust-up involving several players just before three-quarter-time. The insult, Voss said, should simply never have been uttered. While Lovett indicated in a conversation with a senior Essendon official on Saturday that he did not want to lodge a complaint, the head of the AFL Players Association, Brendon Gale, said the comment was "at the outermost extremity" of gamesmanship. Voss went further, saying he would be embarrassed if he was the St Kilda player. "I think there's definitely a line, and in many ways, it's just called class."
AFL swears by broadcasts
The AFL is not concerned sledging between players is being increasingly detected by umpires' microphones and broadcast to viewers. Channel 7 has twice inadvertently broadcast audio in the past three weeks of players making inappropriate comments on the field. Viewers of the Round 3 clash between St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs could hear Jason Akermanis shout to an umpire: "He's f---ing grabbed my nuts", as he accused Robert Harvey of touching his testicles. And fans who tuned in to Friday night's St Kilda-Essendon clash heard an unidentified Saints player taunt Andrew Lovett with: "You bash your f---ing missus". But AFL broadcasting and commercial operations manager Gillon McLachlan said the league wasn't worried by the trend.
Joey comments on the Michael Voss Article
... Montagna revealed that an article in The Age on the day of the game by Michael Voss, suggesting the Saints had too many players who wanted to be the star, was inherently accurate and the topic had actually preoccupied the team earlier in the week. "We'd actually discussed that issue during the week, before the article came out, and a few of us even made a joke that Vossy must have been sitting in our team meeting," Montagna said. "It was pretty spot-on about what he was saying - basically, we had a pretty deep conversation with the leadership group and the whole group ... about what our mindset is like in regards to that selfishness aspect," he said. "In the morning, I know (captain) Nick Riewoldt sent a text message to a few of the leaders to have a look at the article - only because we respect Michael Voss and what he says." Montagna said it was not a matter of players putting themselves ahead of the team but that some senior Saints had to stop thinking they had to do all the hard work. "It's just little, subtle things - covering a man and sticking with that player, a little subtle block here and there, maybe sacrificing your turn to win the footy to allow your teammate to win the ball," he said. Link to the Michael Voss Article last Friday ...
Max inspires Saints to rise
St Kilda vice-captain Lenny Hayes has revealed how close defender Max Hudghton came to withdrawing from Friday night's match against Essendon. Hudghton, who did an outstanding job blanketing Essendon skipper Matthew Lloyd in the 36-point win at Telstra Dome, battled a flu-like virus all week, with club doctors giving him the all clear at the last minute. "He (Hudghton) has been crook all week and it was just a great effort. He was under a bit of doubt to play. He had a bit of a flu, bit of a virus, and missed a bit of training through the week," Hayes said. Hudghton was widely hailed as the best afield, keeping Lloyd goalless and to only seven possessions. "(Max) is a superstar," Hayes said. "He just doesn't get enough credit. This year, he hasn't been beaten at all and we're going to miss him when he goes. The way he's playing he can go on again, but who knows. Lloyd is a great player and that's what makes Max's job extra special." St Kilda's ruck stocks were dented, with Steven King expected to be sidelined with a back-related hamstring injury. But he was at the club's recovery session yesterday with a bandage on his left calf. King played 39 per cent of game time, yet managed 18 hitouts and a goal in the first half. "I think 'Kingy' may be in some doubt," Hayes said. Coach Ross Lyon was slightly more optimistic, with King to have scans to determine the damage he is hoping the ruckman will be available for next week's clash against Port Adelaide.
Essendon and St Kilda jumper clash talks
The AFL will hold talks this week in a bid to resolve the ongoing jumper clash between Essendon and St Kilda. The two clubs both played in their traditional strips at Telstra Dome on Friday night, often making it difficult to tell the teams apart. Supporters and commentators were not the only ones confused by the similar guernseys in what made for an often ugly spectacle. Umpires Scott Jeffery, Mathew Nicholls and Michael Vozzo told AFL ground operations manager Jill Lindsay at halftime that they were having trouble distinguishing between the teams. The trio said it was particularly difficult when the players converged before ball-ups and boundary throw-ins. "We all recognise that when you've got the same colours in the uniform that's the problem, so we'll have to revisit that and that will be an issue discussed this week and how we address it going forward," Lindsay said yesterday. The Saints and Bombers play again in Round 22, with St Kilda expected to wear its white clash jumper as the "away" team, which it has done previously. Essendon was not required by the AFL to wear its alternative strip on Friday night, donning the customary red and black jumper, white shorts and red and black hoop socks. But even the club's clash jumper, which caused similar confusion in the corresponding game last year, only has an enlarged red sash and red shorts as variations. Carlton, Fremantle, Hawthorn and North Melbourne all wore clash strips at the weekend. But the AFL remains concerned about the Essendon-St Kilda match-up.
Hayes keeps the faith for Gehrig
St Kilda midfielder Lenny Hayes believes there is still a spot in the Saints' line-up for Fraser Gehrig despite the forward structure working better without the G-Train on Friday night. And he also hinted this season was likely to be Saints veteran Max Hudghton's last. Hayes said the forward set-up was better and less predictable without Gehrig after the Saints' 36-point win over Essendon. "Fraser's been there almost every game over the last couple of years but I think the structure may have worked a little bit better," Hayes said. "I think we've struggled a little bit with the three up there ... I think it just needs a bit of tinkering there, whether (Nick Riewoldt) pushes up the ground a bit more. I think it worked a little bit better, it wasn't as predictable." Hayes said ruckman Steven King is in some doubt to play next week because of back spasms, adding Gehrig could return to the forward line to free up Justin Koschitzke to play in the ruck. Michael Gardiner is a chance to return following a calf injury. Hudghton's effort on Essendon's Matthew Lloyd - the defender held Lloyd to only seven kicks and one behind - drew praise from coach Ross Lyon. Hayes also praised Hudghton as "a superstar". "He was brilliant, Max is a freak. He's been crook during the week and it was just a great effort. He doesn't get enough credit," he said. "I could count on one hand the times he's been beaten, I reckon, since I've been at the club. He's amazing, he just does what's required, he hardly gets any kudos and he doesn't look for it." He hinted that Hudghton would retire this year.
Milne plays on to redeem himself
A trademark of St Kilda's game in recent years is the sight of lively forward pocket Stephen Milne playing on and snapping a goal. With a freakish goal sense, Milne has proved a match winner in attack for the Saints; rewind to round 22, 2005 when he kicked 11 goals without a blemish against the Brisbane Lions. But on the flip side, it is not uncommon to see Milne take a mark, run around, get caught and turn the ball over. There was plenty of play and miss for the 28-year-old in Friday's win over Essendon. Several crucial errors in the third quarter had coach Ross Lyon screaming down the phone, but Milne made amends early in the fourth quarter when he kicked two goals to snuff out any chance of an Essendon victory. Milne admits his first instinct is to play on even when it is not the best option. "I always do it but it's never too late to change and I've really got to get it out of my game," he said after the game. "A couple of times there were crucial parts where I stuffed the kick or played on when I should have held it up. I've really got to work on it and the coach was pretty angry because I should have held it up." Milne says he doesn't have an aversion to the set shot but sometimes the urge to run around and kick a fancy snap is too great to pass up.
Lovett plans to leave sledge alone
Andrew Lovett will not pursue a case against a St Kilda player whose highly personal sledge against the Essendon forward was clearly audible on Channel Seven's coverage of Friday night's game. While the offending St Kilda player could not be identified categorically, a voice was picked up on an umpire's microphone, saying, "You bash your f------ missus". The insult was dished out in the middle of mass convergence of Saints and Bomber players just before the three-quarter-time break. The Sunday Age believes that a senior Essendon official contacted Lovett about the incident yesterday and, after their conversation, felt sure that the player did not want to take the matter further. The feeling from Essendon was that sledging, so long as it did not breach the AFL's racist and religious vilification code, was part of footy. That was a view echoed by St Kilda's Justin Koschitzke. "I suppose if you are not discriminating with race and religion, I suppose everything else is a go," he said on Channel Ten's Before The Game.
Harvey sets the standard
Matthew Knights used his old sparring partner Robert Harvey as an example of what his players have to become after Essendon ran out of steam for the second consecutive week at Telstra Dome. The Bombers coach spoke about Harvey's 29-possession game - the most of anyone on the ground - at his post-game meeting to illustrate how important it is to play four quarters. After a poor first half, the Bombers trailed by 44 points at halftime before kicking six goals to two in the third quarter - just as they had seven days earlier against the Western Bulldogs - to get back in the match. However, the burst was again only for a quarter, with the experience of the Saints getting them over the line as Knights' team wilted, kicking two goals to four in the final stanza. "I used Robert as a theme after the game. I played against Robert," Knights said. "I said to my young players, 'If you want an education on how to run out games for four quarters, you will find no better example'. That's where our young players - Alwyn (Davey), Ricky (Dyson), Jay Nash, Kyle Reimers, Brent Stanton - those sort of boys, that is what we want them to get to, and I think they will in time."
Dons tease but Saints too steady
As the Bombers struggled to get the ball into their forward line, working desperately hard for the goals they did score, the Saints found more organised ways to goal, and scored. Their bright lights in the third term were Kyle Reimers, who turned Steven Milne into a fumbling mess, David Hille, who is playing with some real presence, Henry Slattery, who played with some composure and Paddy Ryder, switched to the forward line after half-time ... Hayes was good for St Kilda, as was Luke Ball. Max Hudghton made a shocking night for Matthew Lloyd even worse and Robert Harvey had 29 possessions, in a performance Matthew Knights wanted his players to consider as they tried to find some consistency.
Lyon: Saints have room for Gehrig
... "There's a spot for Fraser in our team. It's about team defence and then once we get all the other mechanics right and they're a given - defensive pursuit skills all over the ground - then it's going to allow the three tall forwards," Lyon said. "That's going to take a bit of time. I don't think it's mutually exclusive but when you're starting from 16th for forward pressure, something's got to give and it's got to give quick. Clearly it's an indicator of success, pressure in your front half and in your midfield. And I thought we did that well tonight." The Saints' ruck stocks will be put to the test next Saturday night against Port Adelaide if Steven King does not overcome the back-related hamstring injury he suffered against the Bombers. Lyon said King would have scans and could miss a week but stressed the injury was 'nothing dramatic'. Should King be sidelined, the Saints may be forced to rush back former Eagle Michael Gardiner, who has not played since Round Two due to a calf injury. "We're reasonably confident he'll play. It's whether we play him in the seniors or in the seconds," said Lyon, who stressed the injury was not related to the foot complaint which ruined Gardiner's 2007 campaign. Lyon said there was nothing wrong with Nick Dal Santo, who hurt his shoulder in a marking contest in the third term but returned for the final quarter. Meanwhile, the club has announced Jason Blake and David Armitage have signed new deals.
See-saw Saints better by half
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said there was still a place for Fraser Gehrig in the club's set-up despite the new forward line's success in last night's 36-point win over Essendon ... "I know it's a hot topic. I don't like dropping anybody, or resting anybody or omitting anybody or seeing anyone injured," he said. "Going forward, there is a spot for Fraser in our team, but it's about team defence and then once we get all the other mechanics right and they are a given, that will allow the three key forwards. We are working on that to get it to a level where it will allow Fraser to play, and the three talls, (but) it will take a little bit of time." Ruckman Steven King had a back spasm that caused hamstring tightness and saw him miss most of the second half. But while his absence might see Justin Koschitzke rucking and Gehrig returning, Lyon was hopeful King would come against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium next week. Captain Nick Riewoldt kicked a critical goal late in the third term to snap Essendon's momentum, while Steven Milne - atrocious early - rebounded to kick two important last-quarter goals. Midfielder Xavier Clarke said the side had played the kind of team football Voss had said it was not capable of. "It is always hard to see that sort of stuff. Vossy has got his right to say it. He's a champion of the game. That is his opinion on the team and we responded to that," he said. "It shouldn't affect you as a team but there is a lot of hype about the Saints and we want to play as a team. The boys did that well tonight." Earlier on SEN radio, 2007 retiree Brett Voss had agreed with his older brother's summation of St Kilda.
St Kilda stands tall to put breaks on Bombers
St Kilda fans have long ridden a roller coaster of emotions. Last night was no different as they watched their frustrating, but rarely dull, team rediscover at least some of their mojo after a jittery start to the year. The Saints jumped out of the blocks against Essendon, which looked hesitant in the early stages and frequently turned over the football. The eventual 36-point margin in favour of St Kilda was on the cards early in the match, but the Bombers threatened late to score a memorable victory. After clawing back from a 51-point deficit, the Bombers struggled to run out the match and the Saints held on to win, recording their third win of the year. As hinted by Lyon after the Cats had cruised to victory, forward Fraser Gehrig carried the can for the underperforming tall timber in the Saints' forward line and was dropped. In his third match back after one of the shortest retirements in VFL/AFL history, Gehrig's lack of defensive pressure was horribly exposed against Cats defender Matthew Scarlett and the match committee was forced to act. The G-Train's axing turned up the heat on Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke, who had four touches between them in the opening term. David Armitage, in just his fourth game, former Geelong forward Charlie Gardiner and Sydney Swans reject Sean Dempster shone early, while the hitherto out-of-sorts Nick Dal Santo had nine touches before quarter-time.
THE UPSHOT The Saints showed they are a better team than they have been playing like in the past few weeks, seemingly benefiting from more space in the forward line with the absence of Fraser Gehrig.
HOT AND COLD Robert Harvey did not touch the ball once in the first quarter, but came alive after that, finishing the game with 29 disposals.
Saints too strong for Bombers
St Kilda has survived a strong Essendon challenge to run out 36-point winners in their clash at Telstra Dome. Posting its third victory of the season, St Kilda beat the Bombers 18.15 (123) to 14.3 (87). The Saints led for most of the night but were jolted by a Bomber blitz in the third term. St Kilda was dominant in the midfield, an area they had been criticised for in the early parts of the season. Lenny Hayes was doing his in and under work at the stoppages, while Nick Dal Santo showed some form with excellent poise around the ground. St Kilda had the edge over Essendon early in the game to lead by 15 points at quarter-time. But it was the second quarter where Ross Lyon's men stamped their authority on the match. The Saints put on seven goals and could have had more but for some poor shots from easy angles. David Armitage showed plenty of nous in just his fourth game of senior football. The 19-year-old spent plenty of time on the bench but when he was on the ground he won contests and hurt Essendon with his left boot. Armitage booted two goals and gave Saints fans plenty of reasons to be excited about the future. And Sam Fisher set up plenty of the play with his dash from half-back.
Sportal Snippets
STAR MAN: Lenny Hayes was very good all night, even during the third term when the Saints were under siege. He finished with 25 touches, seven clearances and nine hard-ball-gets.
ABSOLUTE SHOCKER: Leigh Montagna's eyes lit up in the second term when Jason Laycock's laid a boundary hit-out straight into his path, allowing him to snap a classic rover's goal. If Laycock was a Saint it would have been textbook ruckwork.
Trains, planes fail to deliver
It wasn't a good night for locomotives. The trains were delayed over at Southern Cross Station, meaning only about 30,000 were in the stands for the first bounce. And the G-Train, Fraser Gehrig, might have come to the realisation that it is going to be tough to get back into the St Kilda team. The Saints, with a new-look forward formation including lead-up option Charlie Gardiner, won by 36 points against a spasmodic Essendon. Gardiner, Gehrig's direct replacement, added much-needed variety as the sometimes stodgy Saints conjured 33 scoring shots.
Saints keep Bombers at bay
... Lucas' absence was glaringly obvious in the first half, which was played on St Kilda's terms, as the Bombers worked laboriously into attack. They managed just eight entries inside 50 in the first term, finishing the match with 39 to St Kilda's 56. The Saints shut down Essendon's space and as a result the Bombers were unable to capitalise on their massive advantage in pace. With Essendon's defensive pressure almost non-existent, the Saints piled on 12 goals in the first half, of which only five came from their forwards. Charlie Gardiner, Fraser Gehrig's replacement, was important to the Saints' dominance in the first half, with two goals. Playing the role of a floating forward, his mobility and work rate gave youngster Tayte Pears severe headaches. Nick Riewoldt played closer to goal and despite a case of the yips around goal relished having more space inside forward 50 to work with. Neutralised early by Paddy Ryder, Riewoldt finished the match strongly. Rover Stephen Milne, perhaps playing for his league career, played with increased urgency. While he still produced moments which would have flummoxed any Saints fan, Milne's work rate was better than previous weeks. His battle with Bachar Houli in the first half was one of the highlights of the night. Houli provided plenty of run, finishing with 23 possessions and two goals, but the Saints would also have been pleased with Milne's game. Bombers fans will be wondering why the intensity shown in the third quarter was absent in the first half.As they showed on Friday night, the Bombers play like a bottom-four side when not on song but when their running game is in full swing they are one of the most aesthetically pleasing teams to watch in the competition.
Gehrig won't play VFL this week but may in the future
... Coach Ross Lyon is believed to have advised Gehrig on Wednesday night of his impending omission. The Saints decided Gehrig would not be playing at VFL affiliate Casey Scorpions, but instead rest his body after a delayed start to the pre-season. Gehrig retired at the end of last season, but had a change of heart and was a shock late nomination for the national draft. "We've decided to rest him. It was always part of the deal that he would not play every game," St Kilda football manager Matthew Drain said last night. "Structure-wise, we decided to line up differently after looking at the opposition." Drain made it clear Gehrig was no guarantee to return to the seniors after a week off. He said there was no deal where Gehrig was immune from fronting up at Casey. Asked if Gehrig could play at Casey next week, Drain said: "There certainly is a chance of that". Drain strongly denied speculation Gehrig had refused to play in the VFL. "That is absolute rubbish," Drain said. The big full-forward has had a chequered start to the season.


Round 5 Pre-GameBack to Post-Game



St Kilda drops axe on Gehrig
... Gehrig, whose comeback from retirement has not quite gone to plan with just seven goals in three games, will be rested and is not required to play for St Kilda's VFL affiliate club Casey this weekend. Saints' general manager of football operations Matthew Drain last night said it had been explained to Gehrig in the pre-season that he was unlikely to play every game this season in what is certain to be his final year. "We decided for team balance that it will be best for him to have a rest, that's always been part of the deal," Drain said. St Kilda coach Ross Lyon flagged an overhaul of his forward structure following last weekend's loss to Geelong. The Saints were overrun by the Western Bulldogs in round three. It was the first time the Saints had lost consecutive games since round 10 and 11 last season. The lumbering Gehrig was axed to allow more space inside the Saints' forward 50-metre arc for their other two tall forwards Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke, as well as to create more forward pressure. Aaron Fiora was omitted and the Saints could not select ruckman Michael Gardiner (calf) for the third week in succession or Adam Schneider (hamstring). Former Geelong half-forward Charlie Gardiner returns for his second match for his new club, while second-year Saints midfielder David Armitage will play his first senior game for the season. The 19-year-old played three games last season, but none after round 10. Xavier Clarke, who was knocked out in an off-the-ball clash against the Cats last weekend, has been cleared to play.
Are the Saints too big?
Are the Saints too big? Too accountable? Have they lost their aggressive spirit? These questions are doing the football rounds, and they are gathering momentum. And with every loss, it seems there is plenty of evidence to support the answer "yes" to each of them. However, the magnificent thing about football is the ability to atone and change things around immediately - ask the Tigers. Last week Geelong played the role of competition devil's advocate against St Kilda, and the Saints had no answers to the numerous questions the premier posed. St Kilda went into the game on the back of a wake-up belting from the Bulldogs, so no defence can be found in a lack of mental preparation. It started well but fell away badly for the second week in a row, leaving no other conclusion than there is now a significant gap between St Kilda and the best side in the competition, and it is unlikely - but not impossible - that it can be closed in what's left of this season. The time frame is debatable, but the process of catching the Cats - the Saints' peers of three years ago - begins with answering the questions St Kilda faces.
Armitage loves Saints life
By his own admission, David Armitage found it hard adjusting to the discipline and demands of being an AFL footballer. After he was drafted by the Saints from Queensland with pick nine in the 2006 National Draft, Armitage soon realised he had to curb his social activities if he was going to make the most of his AFL career. "I used to go out a bit back home when I was playing local footy but when you get here you can't do that," he said. "It's up to you if you want to have a drink or not but you've got to ask yourself if it is going to help your footy. You have to be disciplined in everything really. Once you figure that out, you're sweet. It's tough - just getting to know the ropes and what your body's capable of. Sometimes you can go to bed a bit late but you just need to know how the body works and what you can and can't do after hours." One man helping Armitage learn the commitment required at AFL level is midfielder Luke Ball, who has taken the 19-year-old under his wing.
None for all and all for one
Any high-performing team will always have its element of pure class - the guns, the game-breakers, the stars who have that ability to rip a game apart. We all recognise the importance of "having the right cattle" in the pursuit of a premiership, but a group of individuals who come together for a common goal does not automatically constitute a strong and effective team. It runs much deeper than that. St Kilda has the right cattle this year, but they do not work together as a team. They are a group of individuals who are together by name and jumper, but they do not work together for a common purpose. They do not support one another and do not share mutual accountability or responsibility for team results. That is now. But these are the only "skills" missing, and all that are required for the Saints to take the next step and forge a genuine premiership bid. It's not foot speed and it's not skill level, as has been widely reported. It's merely intent. Great teams are willing to look out for one another. To cover for a teammate until they are able to resume their role. They have players who swallow their own ego and perform a role for the team, even though they think they may be too good for that role. Great teams have players who have the ability to not only perform their role but to help others achieve their goals. To think outside of themselves. To not only do this when they are playing well but when they are below their best. Great teams have players that ensure team rules are followed and that the style of game they want to play is encouraged and supported. By everyone. And they have a group of men who accept mutual accountability for the result of the team.
AFL defends review panel's stance on bruising Clarke-West clash
... Clarke was taken from the field on a stretcher wearing a neck brace and with the St Kilda club doctor Tim Barbour further supporting his neck. He was seemingly caught unawares as West bumped him, just off the ball. Despite the apparent trauma he received, he did not have concussion, returned to the field and has been named in the team to play Essendon tonight. The match review panel's decision not to lay a charge has been strongly criticised by Kevin Bartlett, a 400-game player for Richmond, former coach and a senior member of the laws of the game committee. Bartlett called it a "glaring mistake" and called on the AFL to change the review panel's decision. St Kilda has also sought an explanation. Anderson said yesterday that he had questioned the match review panel chairman, former Carlton player Andrew McKay, about the decision. Prima facie, it seems to run counter to an AFL clampdown, at the start of last season, on head-high contact during bumping contests. "They did view it very closely," Anderson said, "and the key points Andrew highlighted were that the panel viewed it as a bump to the body, not to the head, where the stricter guidelines have come into force, and that the medical report indicated no injury was sustained." In its published reasons, the review panel relied on four of the six guidelines, as revised last year. They found the bulk of the contact was to Clarke's body, that West did not use his elbow as part of the contact, that (his feet) did not leave the ground and that he did not run a great distance to make contact. Asked if panel members had not given enough weight to the other two - that Clarke, from his actions and demeanour, was not expecting contact and therefore not actively involved in the passage of play, and that the degree of force was excessive for the situation - Anderson said that in the panel's view, the behind-the-goal footage indicated Clarke could be considered in the play and ought to have been expecting contact.
Dempster feels he belongs at St Kilda
St Kilda's seven-goal loss to Geelong last Saturday was a forgettable afternoon for the AFL club, but an important day for Sean Dempster. The former Sydney premiership defender resumed from pre-season knee surgery and played his first game for the Saints. Dempster, 24, and fellow Swan Adam Schneider were traded to the Saints at the end of last season. The Saints also imported Steven King and Charlie Gardiner from Geelong and Dempster said it meant a lot to debut for his new team. "I was speaking to Steven King, just before the Geelong match, and he was saying how big a thing it is to be traded to another club - all you want to do is get that first game out of the way, so you can really feel a part of it," Dempster said. "As much as the club makes you feel a part of it beforehand, you always want to play that one game, get it out of the way. It was a big thing ... I guess you want to prove to the club that them trading for you was worthwhile, you want to earn respect from your team-mates." Dempster admits that news of his trade initially did not add to an idyllic post-season trip to Fiji last October with his girlfriend.
Jason Blake: a Saint for all occassions
Jason Blake has built a career as a spare parts man. The St Kilda utility is in his ninth year in the AFL system but has never managed to make a position his own. Ever the team man, Blake is happy to take whatever is thrown his way, but would prefer a role in the centre above anything else. "I enjoy being in the midfield, getting in amongst it ... That's probably my favourite position to play," Blake said. "I think my role is that run-with role and stopping the quality players. That's where I'm probably most valuable in the team". In recent years Blake has been a back-up ruckman for the Saints, but with Steven King and Michael Gardiner on board is likely to spend less time contesting the centre bounces. Standing just 191cm, Blake has been able to hold his own against some of the monsters in the AFL like Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands.
G-Train off the rails
The decision to exhume the career of Fraser Gehrig was an easy one for St Kilda, because it was the G-Train who did the spade work. He wanted back, and the club were more than happy to rescind his retirement. Gehrig cost the Saints only pick 57, a spot on the list and fewer dollars than he earned in 2006 and 2007. Where was the downside? He would be a handy foil for Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke, insurance in the event that the accident-prone Kosi ran into a ladder. Even on Gehrig's increasing bad- hair days he would take a good defender. Accepting a 32-year-old, dual Coleman medallist wasn't a tough call in November. But today's selection decision on Gehrig was - and is - a very daunting choice for Ross Lyon and his match committee, for "the G'" isn't such a force now. Gehrig's form line over the past two-and-a- bit seasons has headed slowly but inexorably for the Mexican border. While he remains capable of tossing rag-doll defenders around and kicking a bag, some of the better key defenders have his measure. Exhibit A for the prosecution is Geelong's Matthew Scarlett, who, admittedly, removes the trousers of nearly every key forward in the competition. Last weekend, Scarlett didn't simply halt the G-Train, he ran off him to the tune of 24 disposals.
Harvey, X-Man and Chips should be available for Friday
St Kilda is confident champion Robert Harvey will be fit to take on Essendon at Telstra Dome on Friday night. Harvey suffered a corked left quad early against Geelong on Saturday and played out the game despite being restricted. "He should be fine. He was miles better this morning," St Kilda football manager Matthew Drain said last night. Drain said defender Sam Fisher (hamstring tightness) and Xavier Clarke (concussion) would be fine to take on the Bombers. Clarke was flattened by a Trent West shepherd in the second term, but returned after serving the mandatory 20-minute period for being taken from the ground on a stretcher. St Kilda's biggest fitness worry from Saturday's game is Adam Schneider, who was a late withdrawal after suffering a hamstring injury at training.
AFL's Dream Team and Vic squads named Squads
The match will be played at the MCG on May 10.
The Dream Team Coach: Mark Williams, includes St Kilda's Lenny Hayes, Justin Koschitzke, Nick Riewoldt
Victorian squad Coach: Mark Thompson, includes St Kilda's Nick Dal Santo, Jason Gram, Leigh Montagna