Round 8 Post Game Articles Go to Pre-Game Articles

Fraser Gehrig's future looking shaky
... Gehrig would not commit to playing on this season, saying he would leave the decision squarely on the shoulders of Lyon and the match committee. "I'll have a chat with Ross this week," he said. "I'm struggling at the minute - and whether I go on, I don't know." He conceded he had struggled with the speed of the game and a body that continued to break down week by week. His immediate future is further complicated by the possibility Nick Riewoldt might return for the match against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Sunday.
Saints lack that polished finish
A lot can happen in 30 seconds these days - just ask Brendon Goddard. Unfortunately for the Saints defender the intense nature of what was an enthralling contest from start to finish meant that his horror half-a-minute at the end of the third quarter turned out to be one of the pivotal plays of the night. With 47 seconds remaining, St Kilda had the chance to hit the front with Charlie Gardiner having marked within range at centre half-forward. As he went back to take his shot, Goddard popped up beside him and called for a handball. Given he is the best kick in the side, Gardiner did the right thing and gave it off to Goddard but Collingwood youngster Nathan Brown was onto the move and his frantic dive smothered the shot for goal with the ball spilling the Magpies way. They cleared the danger zone and quickly found space opening up everywhere at Telstra Dome. Tarkyn Lockyer, who hadn't been sighted all night, was the man in the best position as the Pies surged and he also happened to be Goddard's opponent. Goddard tried to get back but for a fleeting moment took his eyes off the ball and interfered with Lockyer as he attempted to mark. The anguish on the Saint's face told the story as he argued vehemently with the field umpire.
Midfield muscle stifles Saints
... At game's end, the stats were even more telling: inside 50s 52-50 Saints way, centre clearances 16-6, tackles 55-41 Collingwood and goals 16-14 Collingwood. The most interesting numbers are the clearances for it is rare a team loses with such domination in the middle. The most telling numbers are the tackles. From quarter-time, the Pies won 49-27. They are the numbers, and when it's all said and done, they are always the result of actions. The Pies were magnificent in that regard. And the Saints weren't far behind. The nine-point margin was a reflection of an oustanding game of football, played with intensity and attitude, with brilliance and dash. It was also played without key forwards. Collingwood pair Anthony Rocca and Travis Cloke and St Kilda's equivalent Justin Koschitzke and Fraser Gehrig were virtually by-standers in the midfidler slug-fest.
Fraser Gehrig on his last legs
Saints coach Ross Lyon admitted Gehrig's form was "clearly as issue" after the embattled forward managed just one goal from three kicks in the narrow loss to the Magpies. Lyon said he would sit down with the 32-year-old this week as debate continues to rage on whether St Kilda and Gehrig got it right by reversing the retirement decision he made last year. "It's a concern, clearly it's a concern," Lyon said. "He'll be dissappointed. His body is not what it was, really. It's frightening what can happen in six months. He's a really proud competitor but his hands have been worrying him and he struggled to glove it a bit tonight. I feel I've given Fraser every opportunity over the last few weeks which really I didn't feel after the Geelong game that I'd done and it's important that's been done. So we'll assess his body and his mind but ultimately it's what's best for St Kilda. At 4-4, we've got some youth to come in. We need to put the measuring tape over a few guys. That's my take on it." Lyon said no one could question Gehrig's hunger to play, but conceded time may have caught up with him. "He's a really hard trainer but, I mean, father-time catches up with you," he said.
Lyon laments opportunities lost
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says failing to take advantage of opportunities was a key reason the Saints lost to Collingwood on Friday night ... "It was a game of opportunities. They (Collingwood) took some opportunities, they probably pressured a bit better than us in the second half," Lyon said ... Lyon paid tribute to midfielder Luke Ball, who had 30 touches in the loss. Ball has battled highly publicised injury problems over the past three years but seems to be nearing his best. "I thought he was super. I wasn't here a couple of years ago but we spoke about rebuilding his running so I think the evidence tells you he's running against elite midfielders and winning his own ball," Lyon said. "A lot of people were highlighting when he wasn't [playing well] which is fair enough, but if you want to highlight his positives tonight you'll get some good footage." It was a different story for forward Fraser Gehrig who kicked just one goal from seven possessions ... But Lyon said his team's problems up forward could not be blamed on just one player. "There were a couple of times someone's got it 40 metres out and next minute they've dished it out. We spoke about that. If you're inside 50, go back and kick it. It was a concern and it was costly in the end. You can tie that back in to taking opportunities."
Time takes toll in battle of the ages
Anthony Rocca and Fraser Gehrig characterised their teams at Telstra Dome last night; they were footballers and teams trying to remember lines that they knew off-by-heart, seemingly only yesterday. They were the two heaviest men on the ground, which made them imposing, but as dinosaurs were imposing. Both were willing, but only sometimes able. Gehrig is 32, Rocca just 30. This is a cruel game. Both showed glimpses of the good footballers they have been, but each also signs of the diminished player he has become. Rocca kicked an enormous goal from inside the centre square within the first five minutes of the match. But it would remain his only goal for the night. Gehrig, too, kicked one lonely goal, from a laces-out Justin Koschitzke pass in the first quarter. Thereafter, he rarely troubled the statistician, let alone the scorer ... It did not help the cause of either that both sides were so ragged with their kicking all night, not just into the forward line, but all over the ground. There were passages of play that could only fairly be described as a comedy of errors by foot. Pressure was a part-explanation, but not for the panicky moonballs out of defence, nor for the many passes that fell short of their target. This was not a night for fluency. Nor did it help that the other key forwards could not work their way into the game. Koschitzke made a promising beginning, but faded, a familiar tale. Travis Cloke was a ghostly presence, scarcely seen. Collingwood and St Kilda looked as they were, teams whose seasons refuse to ignite, and who are puzzled by it. The Magpies' win was only to be expected, considering the Saints' personnel crisis, but it was not convincing. St Kilda still might have stolen it; they had the last two shots at goal.
Attard on the long road to recovery
There is never a good time for a footballer to injure his ACL, but when you are seemingly weeks away from earning a permanent promotion to the senior list, the last thing you need is a 12-month spell on the sidelines. Such is the fate that befell St Kilda's Jayden Attard, who injured his knee in last year's round 21 loss to West Coast at Telstra Dome. Attard had only missed one game for the season after coming off the rookie list days before round one. It seemed just about certain he was in line for a permanent promotion. As it panned out, he is back on the rookie list waiting for his knee to recover. But the 22-year-old doesn't see his injury as a case of poor timing. Instead, he is glad he got the opportunity to show his wares in senior football. "I look at it the other way around. If I did a full pre-season then did my knee in round one, it would have been a waste," Attard said. "At least I got to play the year out and prove I could play at that level. It was frustrating at the time, but looking at it in hindsight I'm pretty happy I did the pre-season and played 20 games." Attard is now doing agility training, which is the last step before he can resume one-on-one contest work.
Magpies beat Saints to overtake them on ladder
... St Kilda badly missed injured skipper Nick Riewoldt in the forward line but produced a slick start to take out a 15-point lead by midway through the second term, before Collingwood lifted their intensity. The Saints dominated the clearances in the first half and were well-served by Luke Ball, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo and Leigh Montagna, but that quartet could not lift the Saints over the line in the last term. Although O'Brien was dispossessed a couple of times in defence in the first half, he created one of the season highlights early in the game when he ran forward and spoiled Stephen Milne from marking, paddled the ball forward and then threaded a goal from a tight angle, while Davis also conjured a miracle snap in the third quarter. Tonight's was the first game where the new interchange rules were introduced, and both sides were careful to ensure their players did not rush onto the field prematurely, to the point where Collingwood had five players off for some time late in the first half.
Magpies outclass Saints
... It was certainly not the fault of the Saints' midfield that their team went down as Lenny Hayes, Luke Ball and Leigh Montagna all tried their hearts out but the Magpies' veteran skipper Scott Burns was the game's most important midfielder as he inspired his team's comeback with 22 possessions and two goals and was easily the Pies' best player in the first half when the team was struggling. The Pies won because unlike the Saints they were able to conjure goals from other avenues on a night when the key forwards of both sides struggled to have an impact under the closed roof. While the Saints had no forward that looked dangerous the Pies had a match-winning forward in Alan Didak with three goals while Paul Medhurst, although well beaten by Sam Fisher, booted two and Leon Davis showed he is a more complete player now to run Burns close for best afield honours while also kicking a sensational goal to give the Pies the momentum immediately after half-time. And it was Didak who got the all-important goal of the opening term, after eluding Sean Dempster, to give the Pies' a 17-point lead and as the goals dried up in the final term that break ultimately proved enough to raise question marks yet again as to the Saints' progress under coach Ross Lyon.
Magpies score a narrow win
Collingwood's's slicker ball movement and more decisive finishing have seen it prevail over St Kilda in a Friday night of ebb and flow at Telstra Dome. In the end the Pies ran out nine-point winners, 16.7 (103) to 14.10 (94), but not before enduring some nervous moments after Shane Birss kicked his second goal just into time-on in the final quarter. Stephen Milne had the chance to bring his team to within one straight kick but his set shot faded to the right and with it, any chance the Saints had of stealing an unlikely victory. Alan Didak's classy third goal opened the scoring in the final quarter and put Collingwood out to a lead that would prove too much for the Saints. Robert Harvey had an influential last quarter and his rare set shot goal kept St Kilda's faint hopes alive, but when Scott Burns gathered his second after the increasingly damaging Didak won the clearance from the ensuing ball-up the contest was effectively over. A brilliant snap by Leon Davis set the Pies on their way in the second half and when Johnson followed up shortly after it seemed one team had decisively, finally, got on top on this game. But there was a theme at work that would not be denied. The Saints lifted their intensity and quickened the movement of the ball, and were rewarded through goals to Koschitzke and Gram. Two free kicks -- perhaps slightly fortunate ones -- allowed the Magpies to reassert their dominance on the scoreboard.
Roo made a fool of himself: Lovett
Essendon's Andrew Lovett said last night St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt made a "fool of himself" when he sledged him in Round 5. An umpire's microphone captured Riewoldt calling Lovett a wife basher. "If he wants to sledge and make a fool of himself on microphones, that's up to him," Lovett said on Channel 7. "I don't have any malice towards him. I'm over it. I've copped abuse growing up. I don't think it will stop at Nick Riewoldt."
Round 8 Pre-Game Articles Go back to Post-Game

Lyon's Saints are the dispossessed
Two significant matters emerged from St Kilda's win by less than a kick over Richmond a fortnight ago at Docklands, one technical, and one far more earthy. Firstly, there was the nature of the win, eked out in the face of a cluster of injuries. Nick Riewoldt and Steven Baker and Matt Maguire and Xavier Clarke all went down, but Stephen Milne's seven goals got the Saints over the line. It was not the type of win for which the modern-day St Kilda has been known. In the Grant Thomas-Ross Lyon period, the Saints have tended to either smash teams, or lose, and it certainly pleased coach Lyon. "We had two guys out there who shouldn't have been there," he said yesterday. "People have questioned our spirit as a group, which I find unfathomable when you look at that effort. We've won a lot of close games." Secondly, there was the technical matter of contested possession, meant to be crucial even in the modern, running game. St Kilda lost this category by a whopping 51 possessions on the night, yet beat Richmond through efficiency of ball-use. "That's a world record," Lyon said. "It's a really unique statistic." But Lyon, who played his football in an uncompromising way, has not been prepared to laugh it off. He's too old school for that, which is why he has challenged his midfielders as they prepare to take on Collingwood at Telstra Dome tonight. "I've spoken about our midfield needing to lift, about the game being won in midfield," he said. "They know that."
Mixed bag for Pies, Saints
There was mixed news on the injury front for Collingwood and St Kilda on Thursday night ahead of their much-anticipated Friday night showdown at Telstra Dome. The Saints - who looked set to field a decimated side for the crucial encounter having lost Nick Riewoldt, Xavier Clarke, Matt Maguire and Steven Baker to injury - surprisingly regained key defender Max Hudghton from a hamstring injury while big men Steven King and Jason Blake and classy defender Leigh Fisher all make welcome returns to the side. And Collingwood, which was expected to field a near full-strength side, has lost vice-captain Josh Fraser with the knee injury sustained while playing for Victoria while key forward Anthony Rocca was named but is far from a certain starter with his on-going ankle problem. Rocca has also been named for the Pies' past two matches, only to be a late withdrawal on both occasions, but coach Mick Malthouse is optimistic his star forward will finally return for a game the Magpies must win to maintain their place in the top eight ... Hudghton, who has a long history of soft tissue injuries, was surprisingly named despite missing just one game with a hamstring strain while King returns after missing two matches with the same injury.
Saints, Pies set to rumble
It's judgement time for St Kilda and Collingwood on Friday night. The Magpies, preliminary finalists last season, and St Kilda - this year's NAB Cup winners and finalists from 2004-06 - were considered certainties to be part of the September action at the start of the 2008 season. But after seven rounds things are looking shaky for both clubs. The Saints might be sitting fifth with four wins from seven games but they are just a game clear of 11th-placed Carlton, which has virtually an identical percentage. And while the Saints beat Richmond in their last outing, prior to that somewhat-fortunate victory they had lost three of their previous four matches. Collingwood, meanwhile, is precariously placed in eighth spot with three losses in four games and is coming off a 65-point hiding from unbeaten Hawthorn. And both sides have their injury problems, particularly St Kilda. While the Magpies are sweating on the fitness of key players Anthony Rocca, a late withdrawal from the past two matches with an ankle injury, and Josh Fraser - who injured his knee while playing for Victoria - both are a chance to play on Friday night. However, the Saints have been decimated by injury with skipper Nick Riewoldt (knee) heading a list of absentees that also includes key defenders Max Hudghton (hamstring) and Matt Maguire (foot) as well as Xavier Clarke (hamstring) and Sam Gilbert (shoulder) while Steven Baker (knee) is also in doubt. But the Saints are ready to pair Steven King and Michael Gardiner in the ruck for the first time this season, which will allow Justin Koschitzke to play in attack in the absence of Riewoldt. Both clubs are in no doubt as to the importance of the game, particularly given the Magpies will go above the Saints on the ladder should they win.
Saints sign a number 4, thanks to JELD-WEN
St Kilda's Aaron Fiora has often been described as a player with great speed, however today he came face to face with another sportsman renowned for being fast - V8 Supercar driver James Courtney. The Saints midfielder met Courtney, from JELD-WEN Motorsport, at Telstra Dome to present him with the number 4 St Kilda guernsey and a 2008 St Kilda membership, which is also the same number car in which Courtney races. Fiora and Courtney both had a kick on the Telstra Dome surface and Fiora was impressed with Courtney's football skills. "James would definitely fit into the Saints midfield as a rover" he said. Courtney however, was more content to leave the ball work to the AFL professional, saying he was more comfortable to observe from the sidelines. Although Courtney would prefer to watch the Saints from afar, research undertaken in 2006 by Exercise Research Australia, the Victorian Institute of Sport, Intel Health and Stone Brothers Racing (SBR) revealed that JELD-WEN Motorsport's James Courtney is at the equivalent fitness level of any elite footballer. The results of this test showed James to be similar in aerobic fitness to athletes performing at an elite level in Australian football, soccer, rugby league and tennis. James has invested significant training hours in order to perform at the highest physical level under extreme conditions," Dr Melissa Arkinstall, Director of Exercise Research Australia said.
Steven King, Michael Gardiner to resume partnership
Finally, there was some good news yesterday for the battered St Kilda. Three days before playing Collingwood at Telstra Dome, Saints got the nod from its medical staff that ruckman Steven King should be ready to resume following a hamstring injury. But the news of King's availability was slightly offset by the likelihood of St Kilda losing Steven Baker with a knee injury. Facing the Magpies without their No1 ruckman Josh Fraser, St Kilda will have King and fellow ruckman Michael Gardiner up and going against the inexperienced Cameron Wood. King, a premiership ruckman last year with Geelong, and Gardiner, who was recruited from West Coast at the end of 2006 but did not play last season due to injury, have a 100 per cent winning record together. The pair combined for St Kilda successes in round one against Sydney and the following weekend against Carlton before Gardiner hurt his calf and resumed in a victory against Richmond in round seven. King strained his hamstring in round five, but the Saints were yesterday confident he would be back on Friday night. The luxury for the Saints of having their best two ruckmen fit is that Justin Koschitzke can replace the injured Nick Riewoldt at centre half-forward and Fraser Gehrig would retain his place at full-forward ... However, after being confident the defender/tagger would be right after the Hall of Fame tribute match break, Lyon yesterday said Baker's knee was healing more slowly than anticipated.
Baker not likely to play against Pies: Lyon
St Kilda defender Steven Baker is unlikely to play against Collingwood this week as the Saints fight a spate of injury concerns. Baker was expected to make a quick recovery after injuring his knee in the match against Richmond last week, but coach Ross Lyon says the knee has healed slower than expected. "He is in severe doubt. We were more confident early in the week that he would play," Lyon said. "He banged his knee and it is still bleeding internally. He is not as fluid as we'd like - that may change later in the week but at this stage it is more unlikely than likely." Baker joins Nick Riewoldt, Xavier Clarke and Matt Maguire as casualties from the narrow victory over the Tigers. Clarke and Riewoldt are expected back in a matter of weeks but Maguire has been ruled out for the season after injuring his foot ... Lyon said the Saints were eagerly anticipating the clash against the Magpies this Friday night. "Friday night football is a really big stage against a powerhouse Melbourne club - a team that finished top four last year. Everyone talks about an eight-point game but if we were to win we could put a distance between us and Collingwood."
Week off allows Dal to recover: Lyon
St Kilda has come through the week's break for the Hall of Fame match revitalised and looks like going into Friday's clash against Collingwood with some fresh personnel, according to senior coach Ross Lyon. The Saints were one of three clubs - Essendon and Melbourne were the others - without Dream Team or Big V representation, and Lyon was not complaining. "All signals out of most camps was that everyone was appreciative of the week off to nurse some sore spots and analyse where you're at and put a good training performance together," said Lyon at Moorabbin on Tuesday. "We're no different." Lyon described as sensible the decision to exclude midfielder Nick Dal Santo from the Victorian squad on fitness grounds, and said the week off had allowed the 24-year-old to recover fully from his shoulder problems. Dal Santo, according to Lyon, would be a definite starter against the Magpies, while the club's No.1 ruckman Steven King is a chance to return after straining a hamstring against Essendon in Round 5. Lyon said the Saints had missed King's presence and the veteran would add some flexibility up forward in the absence of injured skipper Nick Riewoldt. If King should come up short, however, then young ruckman Ben McEvoy, the club's top selection at last year's National Draft, may be a chance to debut.
Justin Koschitzke's time to stand tall
There are days when Justin Koschitzke looks as if he were born to play football. When, as a physically imposing, athletic, capable, brave and passionate player, he ticks all boxes. When he looks exactly what you would expect of the Rising Star of 2001 now in his mid-20s and his eighth season. Then there are days, sadly, more frequent days, when you wonder if Koschitzke ever will be the player he was expected to be. When he fails to rise to the challenge when St Kilda needs him most. When he seems lost, even disoriented, on the football field. Most recently, he was run down by Richmond ruckman Troy Simmonds as he ambled round the boundary line at Telstra Dome on May 3 ... It was a reminder of the day at the same place in 2006 when Kosi was seriously hurt in a collision with Western Bulldog Daniel Giansiracusa as the big Saint jogged along watching Bulldog Nathan Eagleton run round the boundary ... Koschitzke has played 104 games since his debut in 2001 at 18, the year he won the Rising Star Award from Daniel Kerr and Mark McVeigh. He is yet to finish in a place in the club's best and fairest award. Hang on, his best return in his own club's major award is ninth -- in his first season. That beggars belief. That's actually embarrassing for someone of his capabilities and application. Given St Kilda's current injury predicament, the moment of truth has arrived for Kosi.
Maguire makes no bones about his desire to return to the playing field
There was a touch of the podiatrist about Matt Maguire yesterday as the St Kilda defender explained the break in his left foot that has ended his 2008 season. Amid the talk of navicular bones, bone spurs and metatarsals, the young man who fronted the media at Moorabbin yesterday sounded more like a foot doctor than a 23-year-old footballer. Maguire has had to listen to a lot of talk about that left foot in the past two years as he overcame stress fractures to the navicular bone sustained in the opening game of last season and now faces a long comeback from a fracture to the fourth metatarsal of that same foot. Maguire said he first became aware of the injury when he felt "significant pain" in his left foot during the third quarter of the Saints' round-seven victory over Richmond. "I know my body pretty well and I could actually feel something, as I was walking, I could feel something just clicking in my foot. I knew something was wrong," he said yesterday.
Finals loss a relief for Kosi
St Kilda ruckman Justin Koschitzke has revealed his battle with constant injury grew so torturous he was "relieved" when the Saints lost the 2006 elimination final. Koschitzke has seemingly won his battle with injury and has played 31 of the past 34 games for St Kilda, dating back to late 2006. But during that horror season he fractured his skull, suffered knee and quad injuries, and was concussed after a collision with a VFL umpire. He returned to senior football in Round 19, but as an injury-ravaged St Kilda lost to Melbourne at the MCG, he received another head knock. In an interview with new football magazine 4 Quarters out this week, he said the turbulent events of the year became overwhelming. "I don't think I've said this publicly before, but when we lost the final to Melbourne, there was something in me that was just unbelievably relieved," he said. "I remember sitting on the bench and I couldn't see the other side of the ground and it was all blurry, and I kept saying: 'What am I doing? I'm making a fool of myself. I'm not doing the team any justice'. And then when we lost, there was that devastation of losing a final, and heartache for the guys, but deep down there was a massive sigh of relief that I could just take a deep breath and go: 'Let's just get that year and wipe it off the table, get on with it, and get myself healthy again'." Koschitzke said he believed his teammates would have been aware of his negative mindset at the time.
Fraser unlikely to ruck on Friday night: Larkins
Fraser injured his right knee playing for Victoria in the late stages of Saturday night's match when he collided knee to knee with Dream Team opponent Dean Cox at a centre-bounce ruck contest. Victorian doctor Andrew Jowett, who is also Fraser's club doctor, knew immediately Fraser had sustained the dreaded "ruckmen's knee", a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear. Fraser did not return to the game but that was more as a precaution rather than as a result of pain or limitation ... If Fraser does play, expect to see him play a different role rather than as a centre-bounce ruckman. He will need to avoid direct blows to the front of his knee to avoid pain and minimise the risk of extending the tear to a more severe grade.
Maguire digs deep - again
St Kilda defender Matt Maguire says he is determined to return from his latest foot injury. Maguire had metatarsal surgery last week after experiencing discomfort in St Kilda's round seven win over Richmond and will miss the rest of the season. "I've got to get my head around the rehabilitation process which I've been through before. I know I can come back from this sort of thing," Maguire said. "It's something I've had to deal with since the break. It has been an ongoing thing but it is nothing that many players wouldn't play with throughout the season or during their careers."
New boot may have saved Goose
A new Australian-designed boot will hit international stores later this year that may save players like Goose Maguire from his recent metatarsal injury. "Concave", developed by former Socceroo and all-round legend Micky Petersen, has already impressed medical experts with its potential to stop metatarsal injuries. Since some recently developed design adjustments the new boots are now being shown to AFL clubs and it is believed that six Western Bulldogs players including Jason Akermanis are currently trialling the boot.
Source: Matthew Hall/SMH/11May08 - Some editing and additional material by WoM

Goose seeks alternative treatment
SEN reported on Tuesday afternoon that Goose may seek some alternative treatment for his recent metatarsal injury and is considering travelling overseas to have some 'stem cell' treatment. A number of stem cell treatments are available, although many are still experimental and costly, with the notable exception of bone marrow transplantation. Speculating that he goes ahead with this treatment and it is successful we could see Goose earlier than expected. WoM Ed

Matt Maguire ready to start over
... "If I thought I was no chance I'd just give it away because what's the use in training and doing all that hard work just to come back and play one or two games. It's something that being the age of 23, I'm still quite young ... even if worst-case scenario, I had a full year to get over this injury ... I'd only be coming back at the age of 24 and still have at least you'd say five or six very good years ahead of me". One small positive from the latest operation was that surgeons were able to take the opportunity to clean up some issues lingering from the compartment syndrome, as well as remove some bone spurs. Remarkably, Maguire played out the game in which he sustained the latest injury, being cleared by doctors to return to the ground and it was at his later request that he was X-rayed. "With a little bit more review of it after the game and with all doctors and physios on hand they thought it might be a good idea to have an X-ray, or I actually requested the X-ray on that night, so we just went to emergency at the Epworth (Hospital) so I'd be able to sleep," he said. Even on the way to the hospital, Maguire said he suspected the worst, given the thorough knowledge of his body attained through his experience with injury. He said he now planned to spend some weeks away from the club, before again starting the long rehabilitation path.
Saints fit to burst
It was the mid-season break last year that helped St Kilda turn around a season rapidly heading nowhere. The Saints had won just four games of 11 and lost their past four straight when they took their mid-year sabbatical. They returned a different team, losing only three more for the season and missing out on the finals by just half-a-game. This year, a week off has come a month earlier, and at 4-3, the situation superficially doesn't seem quite as grim. But St Kilda will be praying that a free weekend has again proved a precursor to a dramatic change in form and good fortune. Because only one-third of the way through the season, Friday night's Telstra Dome clash with Collingwood already presents a grand final of sorts. One which, should it lose, might just about finish St Kilda off as a credible premiership contender, not only this year, but for who knows how long? Certainly, the symbolism would be writ large. Defeat against a team hardly overflowing with confidence itself, Collingwood leapfrogging the Saints on the ladder as a result, along, potentially, with four other rivals. A truckload of injuries, other key players struggling badly for form. And the prospect of the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba, the barnstorming Western Bulldogs and Sydney at the SCG to follow.
Dal Santo set for Pies clash
St Kilda midfielder Nick Dal Santo says his shoulder injury is not serious enough to keep him out of Friday night's match against Collingwood. Dal Santo was dropped from the Victorian team, meaning St Kilda went unrepresented in last night's tribute match. But after training on Thursday, he was confident of returning to take on the Pies. "I had a light run with a little bit of a sore shoulder, but the concern wasn't to the point where they told me not to play," Dal Santo said. "I got this knock three weeks ago against Essendon, so we just erred on the side of caution. If I was right and they selected me, I would have played and not been too concerned about it." The Saints can ill afford to lose Dal Santo, with their injury list swelling by the day. Matt Maguire will miss the rest of the season with a broken foot. Xavier Clarke, Steven King and Max Hudghton have hamstring injuries. Captain Nick Riewoldt will be out for up to a month with a knee, but Dal Santo has warned critics to hold fire. "It's a big month ahead and we've got a few big games," he said. "It happens to everybody. As soon as you get a few injuries people want to write you off. Hopefully, the injuries aren't too bad and hopefully it goes well for the rest of the year." Dal Santo, who was sporting a black eye after a collision with Tiger Brett Deledio at training, said he had offered encouragement to Maguire on the eve of an operation. "He went in (for the operation) last night (Wednesday). He was a bit flat obviously, but I spoke to him yesterday morning and he'll be OK," he said.
Fraser eyeing off Saints
Collingwood's Josh Fraser remains confident of playing against St Kilda on Friday night despite injuring his knee in last Saturday's Hall of Fame tribute match. The ruckman saw a specialist this afternoon, who confirmed he had strained a ligament in his right knee. The Pies had feared he would miss up to a month of the AFL. Fraser says he hopes to be able to prove his fitness later in the week.
Watching this space since '66
There was an intriguing space on a shelf of the St Kilda trophy cabinet when I visited Moorabbin early last month. Alongside the club's only premiership cup from 42 years ago and the weeks old pre-season trophy was a small plaque. It bore a bold and simple statement: "This space has been reserved for the 2008 Premiership Cup". The cabinet is next to the reception desk, so it pretty much declared itself to all visitors. Although St Kilda officials and coaches now claim it was placed there without their knowledge, they did not seem to have any issue with it when I mentioned it to them after wins in the first two rounds of the season, and the victory in the NAB Cup.It was only when we tried to photograph it that the club intervened, preventing our photographer from passing reception. That was after losses to the Western Bulldogs and Geelong. Then, after St Kilda's round-five win over Essendon, club chief executive Archie Fraser told us the plaque had been removed. In an explanation later supported by his coach, Ross Lyon, Fraser said the plaque was placed there by a woman who worked at reception. The chief executive said it had only been in the cabinet for a week or so after the NAB Cup win. By our calculation the time frame was close to a month. "It was a bit of an emotional thing after the NAB Cup," Lyon told The Sunday Age last week. "Some people got a bit overexcited, I didn't even know it was there." He explained he bunkers down in a separate compound at the club. "I know what you're getting at," Lyon said. "You're talking about the weight of expectation and we all feel that weight. Of course we do. We're all trying to win it."