Rock looks forward to rolling back into town with Saints
Sy Kilda assistant coach Anthony Rock is looking forward to catching up with some old friends in Ballarat next week when he returns for the Saints' three-day community camp. Rock spent three years as North Ballarat Rebels coach. "I made a lot of good friendships (in Ballarat). I spent three years of my life there so it will be good to catch up with some old folk I met on my journey," Rock said ... New St Kilda recruits Steven King, Charlie Gardiner, Sean Dempster and Adam Schneider will be on hand for football supporters as will club stalwarts Robert Harvey, Nick Riewoldt and Fraser Gehrig. While the club does not have any former Ballarat players on its list, the Saints have strong links with football champions Tony Lockett and Danny Frawley originating from Ballarat when it was in the heart of St Kilda's country zone. "If you look back at the history a lot of great players have come through Ballarat," Rock said. "Players like Tony Lockett, Danny Frawley and Greg Burns prove it is a good breeding ground." St Kilda will be putting the finishing touches to its pre-season in Ballarat, with its opening NAB Cup match against Richmond only 14 days away.
AFL follows Grant Thomas' ideas
Glenn Manton was brave enough in his playing days to question the herd-mentality of coaches. "You can't be a sheep, you can't follow the pack," Manton mused, openly attacking some coaches' training methods. Manton was a sheep of the black variety. Grant Thomas has no body-piercing that we know of, but in many ways he was the Manton of coaching game. The former St Kilda coach has been silent over summer, but is no doubt sitting back having a private chuckle. Clubs are making headlines for putting their players through confronting, public polls to elect their leadership groups. Collingwood has been at the South African university town Potchefstroom fine-tuning at high-altitude. From Monday, clubs start to embark on what the AFL now strongly brands "Community Camps". Could've sworn we've seen it all before. Anyone who closely follows the Saints knows what I'm getting at. Thomas, never one to follow the sheep, can lay claim to all three concepts.
Early money on Saints but Cats start favourite
St Kilda, despite finishing in the bottom half of the ladder last season, has been the best-backed club to win the 2008 premiership. The Saints, rated from $14 to $11 with betting agencies, have the advantage of beginning their season, which starts against Sydney on March 22, with nine of their first 11 games at Telstra Dome. Leading bookmaker Norm Short, of Flemington Sportsbet, yesterday said professional punters had supported St Kilda largely on the strength of its favourable early draw. "The Saints are probably the best Victorian team at Telstra Dome and punters should know their fate early," Short said. "They play there 14 times this season, one more than last year and they open with their first five games at Telstra Dome. St Kilda's run home is not easy, but they are a definite top-four chance, in my opinion." Short has Geelong a clear-cut favourite to win back-to-back premierships, at $3.40. "Geelong plays some ordinary teams at Skilled Stadium and I'd be surprised if the Cats did not finish top two," he said. While Short predicts Victorian clubs will play off in the grand final for the first time since 2000 when Essendon defeated Melbourne, he believes the big non-Victorian improvers this season will be Fremantle and Brisbane. The Dockers are an $11 chance, while the Lions are at $23.
Saints switch Community Camp training venue
AFL club St Kilda has switched its main training session during a community camp in Ballarat next week from AUSTAR Arena to Ballarat Grammar School. Victorian Country Football League south-west area manager Brett Anderson, who is co-ordinating the three-day AFL camp, said St Kilda was prepared to have a light skills session at AUSTAR Arena on Tuesday, but had ruled out using the ground for Wednesday's full-scale training session. "We had a good look around (AUSTAR Arena), but it wasn't up to standard. We're fortunate we were able to find another ground. The camp might have been compromised without a suitable venue." Mr Anderson and St Kilda logistics manager Peter Maddern inspected several grounds, including Buninyong, Eastern Oval (where the redevelopment of changerooms was a stumbling block), St Patrick's College, and Ballarat and Clarendon College. Mr Anderson said fortunately the Grammar surface was to St Kilda's satisfaction. He said while football grounds across the region were generally in better shape than 12 months ago, Ballarat lacked "one or two" premier venues.
A premiership comes before Gold Coast for Riewoldt
Nothing short of a premiership will drag star forward Nick Riewoldt away from St Kilda to play for a proposed Gold Coast AFL team. The Saints co-captain faced a barrage of questions on the Gold Coast today about whether he'd be willing to play for a 17th franchise likely to be up and running in 2011 in the booming city. As the best current player in the AFL to emerge from the Gold Coast, Riewoldt would be under enormous pressure to join the proposed club as its marquee signing. "It's certainly not pressure that I'm feeling at the moment," he told reporters at the launch of the AFL's 2008 program on the Gold Coast. All my energy and focus is on winning a premiership with St Kilda. That's what I signed up to do seven years ago and I was there when the club was at the bottom. Down the track if something was to happen with a side up here and pressure ensued, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it." But would Riewoldt return to the Gold Coast if the Saints won a flag before his current contract expired at the end of 2010? "If I was able to taste the ultimate success in the next few years then I suppose there would be that possibility (of playing on the Gold Coast)."
Thomas to take Saints to court
The saga that the sacking of Grant Thomas has become for St Kilda is now destined for the courts, with the former coach declining a third offer to settle his claim against the club for more than $270,000. A three-day civil trial is set to begin in the County Court on May 14. It is believed that after being rebuffed twice late last year, the Saints put a third and final offer to Thomas on December 21 in the hope of consigning the episode to the past and sparing the new administration of president Greg Westaway, and the football club at large, any further distraction. The offer, of a capped payment of $120,000 or $101,000 plus costs and interest, bettered the previous offer of $100,000 that was meant to resolve the first claim in Thomas' two-part writ, which was served on the club in the last days of the presidency of Rod Butterss, on September 5. The renewed offer came with what is believed to have been a final offer ultimatum and a 14-day sunset clause that effectively meant the former coach had until January 4 to consider and accept the deal. It was not. The rejection could mean that if Thomas wins the pending court case but is awarded less money than St Kilda has offered, he may be liable for the club's costs.
Saints ponder single skipper
St Kilda is reviewing its co-captaincy arrangement with the possibility of reverting to a stand-alone leader. Last season Lenny Hayes, Luke Ball and Nick Riewoldt shared the honours during coach Ross Lyon's first year. Should there be a sole appointment, it is believed Riewoldt would be favourite. Football manager Matthew Drain said a decision would be made soon ... Drain expects almost a full list available for the first NAB Cup match, but will be cautious with selection. Hayes has just resumed running after a calf niggle, while Ball and Brendon Goddard have started doing skills. "(Adam) Schneider also had a niggle, but he's OK," Drain said. Defender Matt Maguire is also progressing well, but won't be rushed back. Having fit players has been a luxury for the usually injury-ravaged Saints. Lyon indicated earlier this year he expected a far greater output from former Eagle Michael Gardiner, who has been hampered by injury since joining the Saints. "Michael Gardiner said before Christmas it is the best he's felt in four years," Lyon said. "He had the early operation and it is sort of starting to pay dividends now. There's a bit of water to flow under the bridge, but we're really positive about his prospects for '08."
Saints ready for Lyon share of NAB Cup
St Kilda's determination to hit the home-and-away season at full pace will see veterans Robert Harvey and Fraser Gehrig play its Round 1 NAB Cup clash against Richmond. While St Kilda has taken a cautious approach to its stars and given them tailored regimens, the club is intent on being in peak form for Round 1. That means Harvey, Gehrig, veteran full-back Max Hudghton and new ruckman Steven King are likely to be unleashed if fully fit. Harvey is in excellent shape after an early hiccup when he tore his calf in the first session of pre-season, and Gehrig has completed most sessions since reversing his decision to retire. Coach Ross Lyon wants to get plenty of football into his stars and says he will not hold them back if they are fit. Football manager Matthew Drain said yesterday there was no point fit players missing the opening NAB Cup game.
St Kilda intra-club match on 8th February
This will be the first chance for the players to publically show off their strength and skills after a gruelling pre-season training. The teams will be selected with some of our biggest guns going head-to-head in a friendly but competitive match-off! This will be your first opportunity to see some of our new recruits and star rookies in action! King, Schneider, Dempster, C Gardiner and our rookies including Chivers, Miles, McQualter and Haretuku are all chomping and the bit to prove their metal. Our coaches and development staff will be watching eagerly to see how the boys perform as the expectations and stakes are high for 2008. So don't miss the first chance of the season to be at Linen House, Moorabbin to personally see the 2008 story unfold! As usual, there will be refreshments, including a BBQ and drinks, available for purchase at the oval and an opportunity after the game for fans to get autographs of their favourite players.
Date: 8th February 2008 from 5:30pm - 7:00pm at Linen House Oval, Moorabbin
Clubs on the hunt for brains
The market for footballers closed with the pre-season draft. Not so, the market in football intelligence. The intra-club trade in off-field expertise - assistant coaches, recruiters, fitness advisers, executives and the like - has continued at a brisk pace. Yesterday, Melbourne replaced Craig Cameron as recruiting manager with Barry Prendergast who will inherit a network missing Cameron's second-in-command, Paul Collins, who has been lured to St Kilda to re-unite with former Essendon colleague John Peake, who is the Saints recruiting manager. On Tuesday, Port Adelaide announced that it had appointed Daniel Comerford as it's new head fitness coach. Comerford, who worked for some time as an assistant to David Buttifant at Collingwood, replaces Darren Burgess who now works with the Socceroos. Last week it was Collingwood's veteran forward scout John Wardrop leaving Mick Malthouse's side for Hawthorn, not to mention the move of Eugene Arocca to take the chief executive's post at North Melbourne.
Saints drop into the Sacred Heart Mission
Xavier Clarke and Matt Maguire dropped into one of our key community partners this week, the Sacred Heart Mission in St Kilda. Xavier and Matt had collected nine garbage bags of training gear and football boots from the Club to give to the Sacred Heart Mission's football team - the Hearts.
Maguire ready to go for 2008
Matt Maguire is confident his 2008 comeback will be better than last year's version. It can only be a good sign he is running laps and completing an intense cross-training program only two months after treatment for stress fractures in his left foot. He returned from a broken leg to play 10 games, but by November was struck down again. "Last year I was 100 per cent, but there are some things that you just couldn't quite see," Maguire said. "It's a different injury. A broken leg is a lot different to having a broken foot. I'm taking it very slowly, but bones just heal over time. With the pin being in it, you can really go as hard as you want, but with this foot break it's more of a loading issue through the leg, just to make sure that you're not putting too much weight through it when you shouldn't be." Maguire has been working with the Saints' new doctor, Tim Barber, who came across from the Victorian Institute of Sport. Recently Maguire cut a lonely figure in the rehab group with the list healthier than it has been in years. The defender, who hopes to become more versatile by playing on talls and smalls, is aiming to be fit for Round 1.
Lyon starts new year full of confidence
Typical of Ross Lyon's wry outlook, the St Kilda coach says the AFL club had "interesting circumstances" when he joined them as senior coach last year.But after a tumultuous debut season that featured a horrific run with injuries, numerous internal problems and a board takeover, Lyon starts the new year with justified confidence. Most importantly for the Saints' on-field prospects, they overhauled their football department and so far appear to be finally making headway with their injury management. Matt Maguire is back running, Michael Gardiner is training well and Brendon Goddard has had no setbacks in his comeback from a knee reconstruction. "We're controlling the controllables, we've appointed a really good team of people and added resources," Lyon said. "We knew we needed to do (it), at this stage we're getting results, but time will tell." Maguire in particular has had a terrible run of luck, following the broken leg he suffered late in the 2006 season. He managed 10 senior games last year, but is now recovering from a foot stress fracture. Lyon said Maguire and Richmond's Nathan Brown, another player who has had to overcome a broken leg, would eventually return to top form consistently because they had the right attitude.
Interchange rules hurt: Swans
The AFL's decision to trial restrictions on teams making interchanges has put a severe dent in Sydney's hopes of finally winning a pre-season cup match. Swans coach Paul Roos made it clear yesterday that Sydney now would be forced to play a weakened team against Hawthorn on February 17 in Tasmania. Sydney has yet to win an opening-round match of the pre-season competition since Roos took over as coach in 2002. Having exited the finals early last year and having three extra weeks to prepare for the coming season as a result, Roos indicated recently that several star players would be likely to play in the NAB Cup match. But the AFL announced this week that while the number of interchange players for each team will be increased (from six to eight), each club can have only 16 interchanges a quarter, a total of 64 a game in the cup. The AFL's reasoning is that with interchange numbers rising significantly, there is a concern over the possibility of more injuries.
St Kilda Football Club
Notice of Annual General Meeting/Proxy Form
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company will be held on 6 March 2008, at 7pm. A Notice of Meeting will be mailed to Members entitled to attend the AGM. At the AGM six Directors will be retiring in accordance with the Companys Constitution. The Board has declared that the six Directors positions will be vacant, and are to be filled, at the AGM. Nominations for each of the six vacancies have been received from the retiring Directors. Greg Westaway, Ross Levin, Nathan Burke, Simon Grant and Andrew Thompson are seeking election, and John Gdanski is seeking re-election, at the AGM. Any additional nominations for election to the Board of Directors must be in writing and must include the names and signatures of the nominee and three Voting Members of the Company (Voting Members are Ordinary Members and Life Members). Nominees may use the form available from the Secretary. To be valid, nominations must comply with these requirements and be delivered with a signed consent to act as director to the Secretary at the Companys registered office (Linton Street, Moorabbin, Victoria 3189) prior to 5.00 pm on 1 February 2008.
Marcus van Lint Secretary 18 January 2008
Source: HeraldSun/18Jan07

Saints set to star at pro-am
Some of Australia's finest golfers and footballers will pace the fairways of Keysborough Golf Club next week in the lucrative Keysborough Pro-Am. This year's event, to be held on Thursday 24 January, is being hosted in partnership with the St Kilda Football Club. A star-studded field of professionals - including Scott Laycock, James Nitties, Kurt Barnes and Scott Draper - will tee it up for a shot at the $5400 winner's purse. Some 90 professionals have entered the event this year, with the pro-am providing an ideal preparation for the Victorian PGA Championship at Sanctuary Lakes beginning on 31 January. Meanwhile, the celebrity contingent will be led by Saints Robert Harvey, Sam Fisher and Brendan Goddard, and media personalities David Schwartz, Anthony Hudson and Robert Walls ... spectators are welcome at the course throughout the day. The pro-am field will be split into two shotgun starts, at 7.45am and 12.45pm.
Clubs won't play stars under new interchange limit
The AFL's leading clubs have warned the league's new capped interchange rule will dramatically strip star power from next month's NAB Cup. Victorian power clubs Collingwood, Hawthorn and Essendon said yesterday the rule would make it impossible to give veterans and stars limited minutes in the pre-season competition. Instead they will be forced to wait for the NAB Challenge, where interchange is unlimited, to ease in their best players. Sydney coach Paul Roos attacked the trial rule and said as many as five Swans stars would now be ruled out of the club's clash against Hawthorn in Launceston on February 17. Many clubs give players with limited preparations short bursts of action in the NAB Cup, but the new cap of 16 interchanges a quarter makes it hard to tailor game time. A host of stars and players returning from surgery were expected to be given graduated game time during the cup. They include Chris Judd, Anthony Rocca, Peter Everitt, Scott Lucas, Shane Crawford, Robert Harvey and Justin Koschitzke. TRAINING REPORTS - SS Wed 16th January reports