Hysteria has habit of twisting reality
... Take another famous Australian sporting photo, that of St Kilda's Nicky Winmar lifting his jumper and pointing to his stomach at Collingwood in 1993 after a memorable win by the Saints. Winmar, like teammate Gilbert McAdam, and plenty of indigenous players before them, had born the brunt of racist jibes that afternoon. His raising of his guernsey was a defiant "up yours" to the hecklers. But there's plenty of conjecture about what he actually said when doing so. The accepted truth, and far more romantic conclusion, became Winmar claiming: "I'm black, and I'm proud of it". Yet teammates and opponents near Winmar that afternoon claim that, if he said anything at all, it was a reference to guts. Commentator Dwayne Russell backs that up. He says Winmar told him shortly afterwards that while he intended to make a statement about race, the words which accompanied it were nothing quite so Martin Luther King-esque as has become accepted, but about having the guts to get out on the ground and perform in the face of that abuse. If that spoils a good story, some of the commentary which continues to accompany that photo 15 years on distorts it out of recognition. The Winmar moment is frequently cited as "a moment that changed forever the issue of racism in football". It did nothing of the sort. It was two years and several revealing faux pas by officials like Magpie president Allan McAlister later, that Collingwood's Damian Monkhorst's "black c---" comment to Essendon's Michael Long sparked the first real action against racism. Even then, the Long-Monkhorst incident took some time to come to light and its significance to be grasped. Importantly, there were never any lasting images of that moment. But let's not let the truth get in the way of a convenient and glib "grab".
Healthy Saints ready to rise
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says the 2008 AFL Premiership race is wide open, with all 16 clubs entering this season with a realistic chance of achieving the ultimate prize. Speaking at Moorabbin on Wednesday before his side took part in a skills session, Lyon said despite Geelong's dominance of 2007, the upcoming season promised to be among the most competitive in history. "There's no cellar-dwellers really anymore," Lyon said. "I think there wouldn't be a team in the competition that's not looking to make the eight, which I don't think you could have said the last few years. I think it's going to be a great year of football." The Saints narrowly missed the finals last season and, like seven other clubs in 2008, will be doing their utmost to remedy that this year. But Lyon doesn't believe that will be as easy as some might think. "Clearly Richmond have already signalled their intent with their aspirations, and Carlton with [Chris] Judd and Stevens back [from injury], Essendon are looking to play finals, [too]. I don't think there's anyone thinking, 'Geez we're easy-beats' ... so it's going to be a fantastic year of footy and the possibility for everyone at this stage of the year is a premiership and [playing] finals. We want to make sure we're doing the hard work to give ourselves the best possible chance to compete against those teams."
Rarified air with Saints fit
Fingers are crossed, toes . . . the whole lot down at St Kilda at the moment because the new year has brought something new - fit players. The Saints have been haunted by injuries in recent times but 39 out of a possible 45 players took part in a time-trial around Princes Park. Co-captains Nick Riewoldt and Lenny Hayes were two who didn't take part but that was more precautionary than anything else. The Saints big men - Justin Koschitzke, Fraser Gehrig, Michael Gardiner and recruit Steven King - also didn't do the 3km run and instead jogged around a near-by grassed oval. That was part of a new alternative program which has been devised to ensure they all get to the start of the season in perfect shape. The trial was won by rookie Robert Eddy who went well under the 10-minute barrier with Jason Blake coming in second. Veteran Robert Harvey was up the front of the pack, while Brendon Goddard showed his return from a knee reconstruction was on track. Football manager Matthew Drain said there was a confidence around the club that the players fitness levels were at a new level. The Saints have lured former Sydney fitness guru Dave Missen to Moorabbin this year and are hopeful his magic touch - he was an integral part of the Swans 2005 premiership success - rubs off. With fitness levels improving, coach Ross Lyon is looking to some of the old names to provide a spark for his side as the Saints try to reverse their fortunes in 2008.
Another brief report on:
St Kilda's new Communications and Community Relations
... Another Schmidt for AFL. After a period working for the Fosters Group, former Robertstown resident Matt Schmidt has moved into the AFL. Just before Christmas, the older brother of Chris (who is with Brisbane) and the cousin of Tim (Sydney), is ready to make his mark with the Saints. He joined the St Kilda Football Club as their general manager of Communications and Community Relations.
Saints on the rise
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon hopes a couple of old names can help provide a new impetus for his side as the Saints try to reverse their fortunes in 2008. The Saints, who finished ninth last year and well below the lofty expectations of many football observers, will be hoping to launch themselves up the AFL ladder. A large part of St Kilda's anticipated rise will rest on the shoulders of its new-found ruck strength. An area of concern in recent years, largely because of injuries to key big men, the Saints' ruckmen look to be in good working order heading into the 2008 home and away season. They were on display on Monday when the Saints tackled a 3.2km time-trial around PrincesPark, followed by a brief skills session. Michael Rix, Justin Koschitzke and Jason Blake are likely to enjoy far more help from a fit Michael Gardiner, while former Cat Steven King has also traded in the blue and white for the red, white and black. Lyon knows the importance of having a formidable on-ball brigade. "It's an opinion business and everyone has different thoughts on it, but if you look at the premiers over [recent years] ... West Coast, Sydney, Port, Brisbane, they all had two ruckmen with 200-plus hit-outs," Lyon said. "I mean you can get by, but you know if it's an area that you're strong in, it definitely helps you."
St Kilda Players and Coaching staff get ready for 2008 campaign
The players and coaching staff have returned today and apparently there was a time trial held this morning with Robert Eddy recording the fastest time, followed by Jason Blake and Jarryn Geary. I believe that there will be an open training session on Wednesday but this can not be confirmed as the club's administration staff will remain on leave until 14th January. Over one hundred and twenty newly drafted AFL players and rookies are taking part in the AFL/AFLPA player induction camp at the Melbourne School of Sport and Recreation Management at Albert Park today (Monday 7th), tomorrow and Wednesday. WoM Ed.
St Kilda Players and Coaching staff get ready for 2008 campaign
The players and coaching staff have returned today and apparently there was a time trial held this morning with Robert Eddy recording the fastest time, followed by Jason Blake and Jarryn Geary. I believe that there will be an open training session on Wednesday but this can not be confirmed as the club's administration staff will remain on leave until 14th January. Over one hundred and twenty newly drafted AFL players and rookies are taking part in the AFL/AFLPA player induction camp at the Melbourne School of Sport and Recreation Management at Albert Park today (Monday 7th), tomorrow and Wednesday. WoM Ed.
Saints Central Website
The St Kilda Football Club appears to be busy working behind the scenes on the new club website 'saintscentral.com.au'. The website is an initiative of the newly installed Westaway board which has responded to supporter requests and complaints of the AFL/Bigpond website during supporter meetings prior to their installment. It will be run by a club staff member who was hired specifically for this task and run independently to 'saints.com.au'. It is planned to include breaking news, blogs, social networking and club announcements along with a library of video and audio clips. The media library will be showcasing historic moments, current news and extended press conferences. The website is planned to include a daily documentary of the club and a no cost networking element which will allow registered users access to exclusive behind the scenes footage, competitions and online chats with Saints staff and players. In their membership brochure it is also mentioned that a fan social network will be included for supporter discussion but it is not clear whether this will be in a format similar to saintsational.com. When the new website is up and running the St Kilda Football Club should have the broadest internet presence and coverage of any sporting club in Australia. Essendon have already developed their own independant website - essendonfc.com.au. (WoM Ed)
John Wade wins St Kilda co-hosted Pro-Am at Keysborough
Victorian golfer John Wade fired a course record-equalling 64 to claim the $5400 winner's purse at last Thursday's Keysborough Pro-Am. While Wade's early-morning birdie blitz was enough to stave off a challenge from an elite field of touring professionals, it was the tournament's less-polished competitors who attracted the biggest galleries at Keysborough Golf Club. With the St Kilda Football Club co-hosting this year's event, the fairways were awash with Saints players and staff. The football contingent included St Kilda coach Ross Lyon, assistant Steve Silvagni and stars Nick Riewoldt, Sam Fisher and Sam Gilbert. The day's amateur title was won by Keysborough member Garry Smith with 41 stableford points.
Kicking goals for those in need
Neil Stanley (Stan) Alves, OAM
Stan Alves basked in stardom as a footballer and enjoys still a profile in Melbourne as a commentator on the winter game. His relationship with the code at the highest level, be it as a wingman with Melbourne and North Melbourne in the '60s and '70s, coach of St Kilda in the '90s or contemporary radio pundit, is into its fifth decade. Among the many joys the game has offered him, it could be said the most valuable is the understanding that little in life is achieved alone. "Footy, as a player, is pretty much all about you and it's not until you come to the end, when you reflect on your career, that you realise that without the help of other people, lots of good and talented people, it wouldn't have happened," Alves says. "I'd like to think that if I've made a contribution, it has been to help other people help other people; that in some small way I've encouraged some good and already committed people to succeed in what they have been doing." Those Alves has helped, and continues to, include the Sacred Heart Mission, the Christie Centre, which provides training and support for people with intellectual disabilities, the Bayside youth mentoring program and the Barwon bereavement service. Which is why the 61-year-old's Australia Day recognition is as much for service to the community as to football.
Bench limits for NAB Cup
The AFL's use of the NAB Cup as a tool of experimentation will continue this year with the league trialling restrictions on the use of the interchange bench. A cap of 16 interchange rotations per quarter, and 64 per match, per club will be introduced for this year's pre-season tournament. As a result, due to the potential for hotter weather in February and March, the amount of interchange players that teams are allowed has inreased from six to eight. "The number of interchanges has risen substantially in recent years, jumping from 17 per team in 2000 to an average of 58 per team in 2007," AFL general manager of football operations Adrian Anderson said. "With players on the ground for less time and covering less distance, but travelling at significantly faster speeds, there is a concern about the potential increase in collision injuries and also the impact of player congestion caused by players being able to get to more contests." In addition to the interchange limitations, the AFL has also announced that a 'no-go' zone will be added to the centre of the ground. Players won't be allowed to enter the designated area at any stage during an umpire's bouncing process.
New rule to ease umpire injuries
The AFL Umpires' Association yesterday backed a NAB Cup trial rule protecting umpires after collisions between players and officials increased five-fold last season. The new rule will enforce a two-metre "no-go zone" behind an umpire backing away from a centre bounce. A free kick will be paid against a player entering that area. Last year there were 17 reportable incidents involving players making contact with umpires, compared to three the previous season. All collisions involved centre or field bounces, and most occurred when players started directly behind the umpire. The AFL Umpires' Association fears an umpire will be seriously injured by a collision and is open to the rule's introduction in the home-and-away season. The zone, which extends 6.5m back from the centre bounce, will see players barred from going behind the umpire. They will be allowed to pass in front of the umpire once he backs away.