Under-strength Saints beat Tigers
... Midfielders Nick Dal Santo and Leigh Montagna were impressive and Justin Koschitzke (two goals) dangerous as a marking target in attack, but coach Ross Lyon would have also been pleased with the improvement in his side's depth of talent. Ex-Eagle Michael Gardiner provided strength in the ruck, ex-Cat Charlie Gardiner (no relation) was useful around the ground, forward Clinton Jones set up a couple of goals and youngsters Luke Miles and David Armitage showed some spark. Their showing will be vital in St Kilda's campaign in 2008 given stars Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes, Luke Ball and Matt Maguire were among a long list of absentees ... St Kilda will now play the winner of Saturday's Geelong-Melbourne game in a pre-season quarter-final in Canberra next weekend ... For St Kilda, Fraser Gehrig and Stephen Milne each booted three goals while Montagna dobbed a nine-pointer.
Convincing win spurs NAB Cup campaign
... The highlight of the first half came late in the second quarter when speedster Leigh Montagna intercepted a handball and ran on to boot a sensational goal from outside 50m. It was initially paid as a six-pointer but was deemed a supergoal on review at the half-time break. The Saints were relentless in their attack on the ball and pressure on the man in possession. Dal Santo was one who chased and tackled all day. Sam Fisher was providing his usual run out of the defensive 50, while rookie list player Luke Miles started at fullback on Brett Deledio and did a good negating job as well as providing plenty of drive. Charlie Gardiner was prominent in his first game since being traded from Geelong, pushing up from half forward. St Kilda led by 25 points at half-time and despite a Richmond flurry early in the third term, never looked like letting it slip.
Fisher forecasts improvement
St Kilda defender Sam Fisher has no doubt the Saints will improve this season in their second year under coach Ross Lyon as the players become more accustomed to their new game plan. The Saints missed the finals last year for the first time since 2003 but despite finishing ninth they still only conceded 32 points more over the entire home and away season than they did in 2004 when they came perilously close to winning the flag under former coach Grant Thomas. Lyon insisted on a far more defensive game plan last year than used previously by the ultra-attacking Thomas and this was reflected in the fact they scored just 1874 points last season - nearly 600 less than that 2004 season. Fisher, one of the key players of the Saints defence in the past three years, says the players now have a better idea of what is expected of them under the uncompromising Lyon. "Definitely early on last year we obviously struggled in the first part of the year while Ross was getting to know our playing group and we were getting to know Ross' structures and so on," Fisher said on Thursday, on the eve of Friday's first round NAB Cup clash against Richmond. "But now we have got another pre-season under our belt we have got to know his game-plan and structures a lot better so we are definitely a lot more confident going into this year."
Footy's back and David's jumping
The footy is back, and a lean and fit David Armitage is jumping out of his skin in anticipation. The former Mackay player will suit up for the start of his second season with St Kilda in the opening round of AFL's pre-season NAB Cup at Melbourne's Telstra Dome tonight. "I'm in the squad and I'll start off the bench in the midfield," he said yesterday. I've had a really good pre-season, I'm the fittest I've ever been and the leanest I've ever been." He's been in training, mostly weights and running, since October 20 and has fined down to 82kg from 85kg at the start of pre-season and is looking forward to the NAB Cup as his chance to make an impression and build on his three games from last season ... "I know a lot more than I did last year and I'm a lot fitter so I hope I get some more runs this season," he said. "We've got some top players come into the team so I'll just have to do my best and see what happens" ... "It could be tough to get a run this season but the pre-season gives a lot of opportunity to prove myself." Armitage's contract is up for negotiation at the end of this season, and he knows the importance of getting more AFL games under his belt. "It depends how I go this year," he said.
Saints look forward to twin talls
St Kilda is eagerly awaiting the competitive debut of new ruck partnership Michael Gardiner and Steven King when it launches its NAB Cup challenge against Richmond on Friday night at the Telstra Dome. King was recruited just weeks after winning a premiership with the Cats last season, while a foot injury has prevented Michael Gardiner from playing his first game for the Saints since he was traded from West Coast in 2006. "We had a glimpse of Kingy and Gardy last weekend in our intra-club game," defender Sam Fisher said. "They both put on really good performances, so we’re really looking forward to seeing how they go tomorrow. They’ll be a great asset to our side, not only on the field, but Kingy’s come to our club and shown great leadership around the club as well. Being an ex-captain at Geelong, he’s brought a lot of good things to the club." The 25-year-old defender says the most encouraging thing about the Saints’ pre-season is the amount of players in full training. "Everyone’s up and going at this time of year. I was watching the rehab group train yesterday and there’s only five people in that so it’s a really positive sign for us… we’re a long way from where we were in previous years."
Squads for Week One of the NAB Cup
St Kilda (List updated 14Feb08 pm): Steven King , Xavier Clarke, Max Hudghton, Fraser Gehrig, Leigh Montagna , Michael Gardiner, Raphael Clarke, Aaron Fiora, David Armitage, Shane Birss , Justin Koschitzke, Sam Fisher, Nick Dal Santo, Jason Blake, Charlie Gardiner, Michael Rix, Brad Howard, Jack Steven, Robert Harvey, Jarryd Allen, Clint Jones, Luke Van Rheenen, Robert Eddy, Glenn Chivers, Jarryn Geary, Stephen Milne, Luke Miles. (Bold= inclusions replacing: Baker, Gwilt, McQualter, Dempster, Riewoldt from previously advertised list)
Richmond: Chris Newman, Brett Deledio, Andrew Raines, Troy Simmonds, Graham Polak, Nathan Brown, Jack Riewoldt, Shane Edwards, Joel Bowden, Matthew Richardson, Jordan McMahon, Kayne Pettifer, Kane Johnson, Mitch Morton, Shane Tuck, Daniel Jackson, Jay Schulz, Adam Pattison, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, Richard Tambling, Chris Hyde, Greg Tivendale, Jarrod Silvester, Travis Casserly, Tristan Cartledge, Kelvin Moore, Nathan Foley, Jake King.

Riewoldt out for St Kilda
Co-captain Nick Riewoldt is among five withdrawals from St Kilda's squad for Friday night's AFL NAB Cup match against Richmond at Telstra Dome. Steven Baker, Sean Dempster, Andrew McQualter and James Gwilt are also out, all because of injury. According to a Saints media release, Riewoldt's corked thigh has resulted in knee tendonitis and he will be out of action for a fortnight. Dempster has needed knee surgery and will miss three to four weeks, while Baker (ankle), McQualter (thigh) and Gwilt are all expected to miss only one match. Meanwhile, the main focus will be on the big men on Friday night when the Saints and Tigers open their AFL pre-season campaigns. Troy Simmonds will make a much-anticipated senior return for the Tigers at Telstra Dome, while Steven King and Michael Gardiner will play their first senior games for the Saints. Richmond sorely missed Simmonds last year as he was restricted to only 10 senior games, with a pre-season ankle injury delaying his start and a blood clot on his lung before round 19 ending his season prematurely.
Pleasure in the process for Gilbo
'Enjoyable' is not a word commonly used to describe the gruelling stretch that is pre-season training. St Kilda's up and coming star Sam Gilbert admits that the most 'enjoyable' part of the last few months has been an end to the hard-running phase of the regime. However, as brutal as off-season can be, the 21-year-old manages to take small pleasures from the most difficult of tasks and admits that competitive wrangling between the playing group keeps him motivated. "In the time trials, you definitely let someone know if you beat their time," Gilbert laughs. "In one of the runs I got (David) Armitage and was giving it to him for a few weeks. But then in the final run he got me. As he was coming up behind me, he was saying, 'I couldn't let you beat me again'. He got me by a second I think." The gruelling sessions are something that Gilbert hopes will arm him well for a season where much will be expected of him. After playing only two games in his debut season of 2006, last year saw him clock up 18 games under new coach Ross Lyon, as well as a Rising Star Nomination for his round 16 performance in the Saints' win over the Hawks.
AFL's NAB Cup Preview St Kilda vs Richmond
Medical room: Key defenders Luke McGuane and Will Thursfield are likely to miss for the Tigers, who may also rest some more senior players. No. 2 draft pick Trent Cotchin is recovering from ankle surgery and has been added to the long-term injury list - he will not debut until at least round three of the home and away season. Key Saints Brendon Goddard and Matt Maguire are still making their way back from long-term injury and are expected to miss.
Match overview: Richmond is throwing everything at this one, while St Kilda does not appear too concerned about the result. Former Bulldog Jordan McMahon starred in the Tigers' recent intra-club match and should be an important part of his new club's midfield. Brett Deledio is expected to spend more time up forward and could trouble the Saints with his speed off the mark and strong hands. St Kilda coach Ross Lyon noted that anyone who missed last week's intra-club match would be unlikely to play, which means we'll have to wait several more weeks at least to see the likes of Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes, Luke Ball, Max Hudghton, Jason Gram and Sam Gilbert. Youngster Jarryn Geary has impressed good judges at Moorabbin with his endeavour and is expected to receive some game time. Ruckman come forward Justin Koschitzke was being groomed to be Fraser Gehrig's successor until the 'G-Train' announced a comeback, although Koschitzke will still become more of a focal point up forward and could have a big season ahead.
AFL's Pre-NAB Review of St Kilda
... "We have a few that won't play but not with any major problems," - says football manager Matthew Drain. "They're players who probably would play if it was the home and away season but given it's 22 weeks and you'd be hoping to play finals, we're still six weeks away. Matt Maguire we've said won't play from the outset but he'll hopefully be ready at some stage of pre-season. He's the only one that's had problems but he's back running now. The rest of the squad have had really strong pre-seasons" ... Jarryn Geary was promoted from the rookie list after last year and hasn't looked back. He has impressed many with his hard run and ball-winning ability. He was a solid performer in the Saints' intra-club match and should make his senior debut early in the season. Robert Eddy is still just a rookie list player but was at the front of the pack for the running drills and may earn a promotion if a spot opens up during the year. ... "We'd really like to get as much game time into as many of our senior based players as we can in preparation for round one of the season," Football manager Matthew Drain said. "We also see it as a great development opportunity for players who may have played a few games last year or have stepped up in the pre-season and three fold, it's a competitive situation, so if you get through the first few rounds then you're in it to win it. But you've really got to get through those first few rounds before you start thinking like that. All in all, it's in preparation for round one and you want to hit round one at a good pace."
Saints name luckless stars
St Kilda might be without a host of big names for its NAB Cup opener against Richmond at Telstra Dome on Friday night but the fact that injury-plagued trio Justin Koschitzke, Raphael Clarke and Xavier Clarke are all up-and-running is certain to bring a smile not only to the face of coach Ross Lyon but all Saints fans. The Saints named a 28-man squad on Wednesday to face the Tigers - a line-up which includes former Geelong pair Steven King and Charlie Gardiner, as well as ex-Swan Sean Dempster and former West Coast Eagles ruckman Michael Gardiner, who will all make their first appearances for the Saints. But the 2004 NAB Cup winners will be without several stars, including Lenny Hayes, Luke Ball, Jason Gram, Brendon Goddard and Matt Maguire, although Nick Riewoldt, Max Hudghton and James Gwilt were all named despite missing last Friday night's intra-club hit-out at Moorabbin. However, it is the presence of the Clarke brothers and Koschitzke in a St Kilda side so early in the year that has provided a big morale boost at Moorabbin after the club missed the finals last year for the first time since 2003. Koschitzke has played just 97 games in seven injury-plagued seasons while Clarke has played the same number in six injury-hit years and his younger brother just 30 games in four seasons. But according to Saints coach Lyon all three are in great shape heading into 2008.
Fire no impact on St Kilda development
AFL Victoria and the St Kilda Football Club have pledged to help a VFL club south-east of Melbourne after fire destroyed its historic grandstand, causing more than $1 million worth of damage. Police and firefighters are investigating the fire at Frankston Oval - the new base for St Kilda. Members of the Frankston club, known as the Peninsula Dolphins, say they are devastated at the loss of what they call an "icon". St Kilda Football Club chief executive Archie Fraser said the club would consider integrating a new grandstand and change rooms for the Dolphins into its own building works at the ground. "We're absolutely committed to Frankston and while this fire will have no impact on the development of our elite community training and development facility, we'll be working with the local council and the Frankston Football Club to help with a speedy return of their facilities," Mr Fraser said. He said a Saints family day planned at the ground for March 9 would go ahead as scheduled. "We expect around 7,000 people to attend our family day and will be encouraging everyone to donate towards to Frankston Football Club," Mr Archer said. AFL Victoria this afternoon said it would rally behind the Dolphins, who play their first VFL game at the ground on March 30.
Can we be better than the Cats?
While some say that they were lucky to have an injury free year and won the flag as a result ... luck had very very little to do with it. Also it is myth that they had an injury free year as they did not field their best 22 for the GF. Now yes they did have a low injury rate year ... but not "injury free" ... ...
(Geelong vs St Kilda) - At both teams best:
Backline - The Cat's backline is better defensively, but offensively the Saints can have a point of difference with the run and bounce of Gram, the precise kicking of BJ and the star quality of S Fisher.
Forwards - The small forwards of the Cat's are superior, but this balanced by the Saints have superior talls. The addition of Schneider helps a great deal....as will being able to play Kosi as a permanent forward. If only X and Fiora were more accurate at goal?
Mids - The Saints mids have many question marks. Will Ball be back near his best? Can Armo or Geary emerge? Can Harvey play well for one more year? Will Fiora continue on with his good form? Can Baker come back from being a marked man? Can Birrs improve and will Dempster be able to take some rotations including as a tagger. If it is left to Hayes, Dal and Joey it will not be enough. If many of those question marks have positive answers then we could have a very very good midfield. But it could easily go away.
Rucks - An interesting one here ... a fit King/Gardi combination is arguably superior to Ottens/Blake. But can G&K deliver week in week out. If not then there is a big gulf in stepping down to Rix ... Kosi may be drawn away from the forward line ...
MRI scan boosts Goose's confidence
... Chris Judd and Luke Ball swapped notes on how to deal with the debilitating effects of osteitis pubis. For quality St Kilda defender Matt Maguire, the answers he sought were about recovering from a leg badly broken late in 2006 at a time his name was being raised as a contender for All-Australian selection. One of football's biggest names, Brisbane's Michael Voss, and talented Tiger Nathan Brown, who have both suffered similar injuries, provided the advice. "Having had a chat to two guys who have broken their legs, with Nathan and Michael, they always talked about the time thing," Maguire said. "When you first come back into the game, you are not going to be as good as you are 12 months to 24 months down the track. It is one of the things that is tough to get your head around when you have a long-term injury like a broken leg or a knee. They say it is a nine-month recovery, or a six-month recovery and you expect to be back at your best, but it actually takes time to build your confidence and put the work through the legs that have lost the years of conditioning from beforehand." Maguire admits it has taken until now for that advice to sink in. His initial recovery was quicker than expected, and he returned for the Saints' opening match last year, only to break his foot. He played the final nine games of the year without reaching to his best, but then had another setback when he was diagnosed with a stress fracture of the foot in November. But the most recent news is good for both Maguire and St Kilda. The 23-year-old has been running solidly for the past month, with a recent MRI scan boosting confidence that the injury woes are behind him.
King resisted Cat pressure to retire
New St Kilda ruckman Steven King has revealed Geelong withdrew an offer for him to stay at the club midway through trade week then tried to convince him to retire. But 29-year-old King says he has now come to terms with his controversial departure from Geelong and is determined to add another chapter to his remarkable career as a Saint. The former Geelong captain was traded within a fortnight of his exceptional Grand Final performance but says becoming mired in bitterness would only affect his performances with St Kilda. Recently engaged to partner Danielle Atkin, settled in at Moorabbin, and ready to fight for a spot among the cluster of St Kilda ruckmen, King said he was not at the club simply to extend his career. He said his Grand Final performance had convinced him he could play a role in what he hoped would be St Kilda's path towards its second premiership. Geelong ultimately chose to re-contract young ruckman Mark Blake over veteran King, and the dual best-and-fairest winner said he was more confused than angered. "To be honest, I am not really sure what happened. I know on the Monday of trade week I had a one-year deal on the table and by Wednesday it had mysteriously disappeared and by the Thursday I was getting calls from Geelong people telling me it might be a good idea if I retired," he said.
Forward-thinking Saints give Ex-Cat a new lease of life
Charlie Gardiner has spent much of the past year living in the shadows. First, it was a frustrating time, trying and failing to break into Geelong's powerful forward line as the team steamrolled its way to the club's first premiership in more than four decades. And over summer, it has been the towering frame of teammate Steven King that has obscured Gardiner as the pair moved together to St Kilda. While the premiership ruckman has grabbed all the headlines, this time, sitting in the background has suited Gardiner. While having King along for the ride has made the transition from Cat to Saint all the easier, it also has allowed Gardiner to find his feet in the new surrounds. "I have never wanted to make a big deal of it, I have got one year and I will just have a crack and hope for the best," Gardiner said this week. The 24-year-old is honest and raw. A commerce/law student at Melbourne University, Gardiner clearly thinks long and deep about his football and his future. He is candid in his own self-assessments. The forward admits he did not want to leave Geelong at the end of the year. But even before the Cats' great season started to unfold, Gardiner knew he was on his last chance with the club, maybe the game. "It wasn't something that I was thinking about during the year, that I wanted to move clubs, but the way that things have turned out, yeah, in hindsight, it has probably been the best thing for me. Time will tell but I have enjoyed it. Of all the clubs I could have gone to, I have ended up in one of the best positions I could have hoped for," Gardiner said.
Hayes keen to keep a leadership role
While Luke Ball has decided to give up his role as St Kilda co-captain, Lenny Hayes is keen to maintain his leadership position with the Saints this season ... The 28-year-old midfielder is now one of the most experienced players at Moorabbin and said he had grown into the role of a mentor for younger players over the past two years. Hayes said he felt more comfortable in his role as leader now than at any previous time in his career.
Riewoldt tipped as sole leader
St Kilda forward Nick Riewoldt has declared he wants to captain the Saints. The club is expected to make an announcement this week. Riewoldt as a stand-alone skipper is expected to be the preferred option over shared captaincy with last year's other co-captain Lenny Hayes. "I relish the chance to lead," Riewoldt said. "Sharing the job with Luke and Lenny was terrific. We all complement each other really well. It's definitely something that I thrive on. However the club wants to go, whether it's one or two captains, I'll support what's best for the club."
Injury curse tackled head on
St Kilda has bolstered its football department, adding several new personnel in a bid to improve the players' physical management in a bid to stop the constant run of injuries that has derailed its premiership campaigns in recent years. The Saints have possessed arguably one of the best lists in the AFL competition in recent years but injuries have hindered hopes of premiership success. Last year, Luke Ball battled osteitis pubis and could not capture his best form, while other senior players such as Brendon Goddard, Max Hudghton, Matt Maguire and Raphael Clarke all missed big parts of the season because of serious injury. And former captain Aaron Hamill and recruit Michael Gardiner could not get on the field all season because of long-term injuries. Chief executive Archie Fraser said greater stability at the club and a commitment from the new board led by Greg Westaway had allowed the Saints to expand the staff to tackle the medical issues that had dogged the club. "We feel like we came back in October and that we have got our act together," Fraser said. "When the players came back at the end of October-early November, they came back to a fully professional football set-up, which with the appointment of Matthew Drain, David Misson, Dr Tim Barbour, Andrew Wallis, the physio, all of them have been additional people that have high levels of credibility and professionalism. I think the playing group have come back with the realisation that we really have settled down and delivered," he said.
No stars, no worries
If St Kilda coach Ross Lyon is at all concerned about the approaching season, he is doing a good job of disguising it. The Saints coach rested many of his stars in Friday night's intra-club match at Linen House Oval, but it seems just about all of them should be fit for the season. Lenny Hayes, Luke Ball, Nick Riewoldt, Max Hudghton, Jason Gram, Brendon Goddard, Adam Schneider and Sam Gilbert all watched on as the probables took on the possibles. Lyon said it was important not to be too carried away with form and injuries in February. "We've really got to put it in context," Lyon said. "There's a bit of 'he's up and running' and 'he's flying' but the reality is we've just played 80 minutes amongst ourselves and half of Casey (Scorpions) is playing. We got through injury-free and we got rid of the cobwebs. That's really where it sits." Lyon denied any suggestion his stars were under an injury cloud. Riewoldt should be available for the first week of the NAB Cup but for several reasons was unavailable for the intra-club game.
Saints stalwart holding out for a flag
St Kilda head trainer Ken Whiffen has been awarded AFL life membership after 44 years of loyal service, but he almost didn't reach his milestone season. At the end of last season he decided to retire and would no longer be involved if it wasn't for the intervention of players and officials at the club. "A couple of the players came up to me and said, what's this about you giving it away?" Whiffen said. The 80-year-old was insistent he was going to give the game away, but a call from football manager Kenny Sheldon finally convinced him to do another year. After a persuasive chat, Whiffen said Sheldon again asked him to stay with the Saints. "I said I'd love to," the trainer said. Whiffen says whatever words he used to describe what the award means to him, it would still be "an understatement". "It's one of the greatest things that's happened to me in football and I think undeserved because St Kilda Football Club and football in general doesn't owe me a thing. I couldn't buy what I've got out of it." And there's certainly no doubting his dedication to the club. "My wife comes first, my daughter comes second and St Kilda comes next ... I love St Kilda," he said. "I love the people, people make a club ... the group we have today are one of the best we've had in the 44 years I've been at the club. They're a great bunch of blokes these young boys and they'll take us places."
Saints unveil twin talls
... The two veterans have played over 320 games between them with both enduring injury-plagued careers but both moved well on Friday night in front of a crowd of about 4000. St. Kilda coach Ross Lyon was pleased with the form of the veteran duo. "It's nice to see Michael out there," Lyon said. "He has fought significant injury problems but he has been in full training for a while now and Kingy has obviously come off a rock solid year and they both contributed well. I was on record as saying as long as they stood up today, they would play next week." The other bonus for the Saints was the strong form of another injury-plagued big man Justin Koschitzke, who booted four goals and not only marked strongly but most importantly looked fit. "He has put on two or three kilos and he has had a solid pre-season and is injury free," Lyon said of Koschitzke, who has managed just 97 games in seven seasons.
Saints open wallet to fix old wounds
St Kilda's new president Greg Westaway and his Footy First board have already delivered on last year's promise to boost the football department significantly in an attempt to avoid last year's horrendous run of injuries. Westaway and his directors, who replaced Rod Butterss and most of his board in a bloodless coup late last year, have boosted St Kilda's football department by $1million. Football department expenditure at Moorabbin will rise to about $13.6m this year, a huge increase on the club's 2006 spend of $11.28m, which was almost $1m below the average of the 16 clubs. Saints chief executive Archie Fraser yesterday said about 60 per cent of the increase on football spending since last season was on improved medical, fitness and conditioning services after injuries cruelled the 2007 season. "We've addressed our injury problems, particularly soft-tissue issues, and we are already confident of having a better availability of players and more games played by our best 22," Fraser said. St Kilda has added former Sydney strength and conditioning manager David Misson, another doctor, an additional physiotherapist, a sports psychologist and a former Australian Institute of Sport expert to assess statistical analysis of players. The Saints retained senior conditioning coach Phil Mulkearns, who started with the club last season, but have revamped their operation. "The reality is that (coach) Ross Lyon drove a lot of the thinking for change last year and worked on the structure," Fraser said. "And with the new Footy First board, we've been able to implement the structure after identifying where we thought our weaknesses were last year." Fraser said that players under Misson had undergone their most strenuous pre-season in a decade, with many of them shedding as much as 5kg.
Gardiner is ready to start again
Former West Coast ruckman Michael Gardiner will tonight take his first steps towards resurrecting his AFL career when he plays in St Kilda's intraclub match at Moorabbin. New Saints football manager Matthew Drain said last night that Gardiner had completed an virtually uninterrupted pre-season and was likely to be pitted against new recruit, Geelong premiership player Steven King. "He's training well and he's actually been training well for quite a period," Drain said. "He's been good and he's grown a lot of confidence in himself and his body, but the true test is obviously playing games. We had half a match last week and he got through that and played well, but this will certainly be a step up." Gardiner's distant football past has belied that of more recent times. West Coast selected him as their No. 1 draft pick way back in 1996 and he was a Rising Star nominee during his debut season the following year.
Luke Ball set for a big 2008
Luke Ball this week informed the Club of his intentions to step aside as a captain for the 2008 season, opting to focus on returning to peak physical condition and playing his trademark explosive style ... Players voted on the leadership team while in Ballarat on Tuesday and the results are expected to be collated and announced in the coming weeks. In the meantime, there is no change to the existing captaincy structure. Audio Luke Ball Announcement saints.com.au (zip file)

St Kilda primed for big season
The young Saints looked big, the new recruits looked keen and the old hands are excited about their prospects in season 2008. The Saints finished their three day community camp in Ballarat today and are headed back home injury free and ready to start the pre-season competition full of confidence ... Over the last decade injuries have been the Saints stumbling block, probably more so than any other club. After starting the new century slowly, finishing 11th or worse for four years running the Saints recruited well and were touted as a real premiership hopeful. But they have never been able to keep their key players healthy enough to be a force in September. Justin Koshitzke won the rising star award in 2001 and was considered one of the most exciting young talents in the AFL but since bursting onto the scene he has battled a number of serious injuries and struggled for consistent form. In 2005 Nick Riewoldt was the first Saint to fall to the captain's curse breaking his collarbone twice and missing the majority of the season. Then as captain in 2006 Luke Ball was the second cursed victim battling Osteitis Pubis for most of the season. In the same year fellow midfield leader Lenny Hayes required a knee reconstruction and key defender Matt Maguire topped off a horror 2006 for the Saints seriously breaking his leg. Maguire also suffered stress fractures in his foot last season missing the first half of the year and in round 7 classy utility Brendan Goddard ruptured the ACL in his left knee ending his season. Putting this dreadful run of injuries behind them and keeping a full list of players available will be the key to the Saints success in 2008 says Montagna. "At the moment we've got a really talented playing list and the key to winning a lot of games is player availability, if you've go the best team on the park you have got the best chance of wining," he says. "Touch wood that all our players can stay injury free and we've got some good depth so if we play up to our ability we will see what happens at the end of the year." Creating good depth in the side has certainly been one positive to come out of St Kilda's long run of injuries. Several players such as Montagna have been forced to step up to the next level and take on leadership roles that may not have been available if the Saints had a full list. St Kilda is now a team full of leaders and appear to have all position covered, particularly after the off-season recruiting of experienced ruckman Steven King from Geelong and small forward Adam Schneider from Sydney. They look the real deal.
Harvey sees gold at end of rainbow
Saints veteran Robert Harvey is comfortable with the prospect of reduced game time as his search for gold continues. Nearing the start of a 21st and final season, Harvey feels fit, strong and hungry for premiership success. His 36-year-old body has so far stood up well under the rigours of another pre-season campaign. "I can imagine my game time overall will get shorter rather than longer," Harvey said yesterday in gold mining territory, Ballarat. Rotations become really important. "I've got to try to get out there and just run and run and run and do my job when I come on. I hurt my calf in an early time-trial, but I've pretty much done everything, so I'm happy. Physically I feel all right. That's the thing that's surprised me most as I've got older is how good I've felt. That's been a contributing factor for why I've played on."
Saints look similar to Cats: Steven King
... The Saints of 2008 look a lot like the Cats of 2007, says the one man who should know. New St Kilda recruit Steven King yesterday described the Saints playing group training in Ballarat as part of the AFL Community Camps as "pretty similar" to the Geelong team that started the journey to the AFL premiership flag this time last year. King and his St Kilda team mates had a light training session at AUSTAR Arena yesterday along with a selected group of North Ballarat Rebels players. The giant 202cm ruckman said, with luck, the Saints could enjoy a similar march to glory. "It's a pretty similar feel really," King said. "As an outsider looking in at the Saints when I was at Geelong, the team had a similar list to ours. Now the club has improved its resources and coaching staff, I think we are in a similar position to last year with the Cats." After being part of Geelong's drought-breaking premiership win in September, King secured a trade to St Kilda to improve his opportunities in the ruck. The former Cats captain struggled at times to break back into a Geelong team last season that boasted two other ruckmen in Brad Ottens and Mark Blake ... King said the Saints had a "monster" four-hour skill and weights training session at its Moorabbin home on Monday before the players came up to Ballarat.
The Saints return to former heartland
Yesterday the Saints came marching into Ballarat to embark on a three day community camp that includes a football clinic and visits to schools and hospitals throughout the area. The Saints certainly were not marching into foreign territory. Ballarat has over a 100 year history with the Saints and it has been the heartland of St Kilda territory in the past. "We have a terrific history with Ballarat that goes back to 1902 when we had a boy from Ballarat Charles Barker who played for us and led the goal kicking at the end of the year with 30 goals, he actually kicked 47 per cent of the saints goals that year," says St Kilda CEO Archie Fraser. "To put that into perspective the best that Tony Locket kicked was 37 per cent in 1987, when he kicked 117 goals." From that point on Ballarat continued to foster many more St Kilda greats. Former South Ballarat vice-captain Dan Feehan made his VFL debut with the Saints in 1904 and in 1913 Ballarat's George Morrissey was a member of St Kilda's first grand final side. Paul Dodd was another Ballarat Saint, as was Alan Killigrew who coached Golden Point and ended up coaching the Saints in 1956. The connection between Ballarat and the Saints is forever in the history of the St Kilda football club. This was all before Ballarat became part of St Kilda's country recruiting zone, and since that time no less than nine Ballarat locals won the Saints best and fairest award. Graeme Gellie won in 1978, Jeff Dunne 1979 and 1980, Peter Kiel 1982, Gregg Burns 1984, 1986, Tony Lockett 1987 and 1991 and Danny Frawley in 1988. "The connection between Ballarat and the Saints is forever in the history of the St Kilda football club," says Archie Fraser.
Saints set up camp
Fraser Gehrig: ... "It was always the goal to play in the big one. I haven't done that and this team has only won one in 100-odd years. I think the playing group, with the recruiting that's happened and the natural progression within the group, means there's an opportunity for us to achieve that. There's definitely a correlation (with what's happened with premier Geelong). Over the last few years there's never been any question if we have our best side out there we can beat any team on our day." The Saints have enjoyed the club's best pre-season, in terms of player availability, for a number of years. Player stocks have been boosted with the recruitment of Geelong premiership ruckman Steven King, and handy former Sydney premiership pair Adam Schneider and Sean Dempster. The two players who have missed significant parts of the pre-season are Matt Maguire, who is recovering from stress fractures in his foot, and Schneider with a quadricep injury. Robert Harvey said Maguire should return to training soon following scans on the area. Harvey said there had not been a decision on the captaincy but the team would vote on who would be part of the leadership group while on the camp, and that the future captain would most likely come from that group.
Saints to rest players before season
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon will sacrifice a full tilt at the NAB Cup to have his side peaking for Round 1. Lyon said nine of his best 25 players would not be included in Friday week's pre-season opener against Richmond at Telstra Dome. While veterans Robert Harvey and Fraser Gehrig are likely to play, a cautious approach will be taken with those who have suffered setbacks. "We'll play everyone that's available, but theoretically nine out of your best 25 will be missing," Lyon said yesterday at the club's community camp in Ballarat. (Lenny) Hayes won't play, (Jason) Gram won't play, (Luke) Ball won't play, Leigh Fisher won't play, (Matt) Maguire won't play, (Brendon) Goddard won't play, (Sam) Gilbert won't play . . . just because they've had a little hiccup along the way. Most of those will be available the week after."
Saints all present and accounted for
St Kilda is hopeful that the injury curse that has troubled the club for so long is finally lifting, with many of the team’s long-term absentees returning to training, healthy and ready to take part in the team’s Telstra AFL Community Camp at Buninyong near Ballarat. Spearhead Fraser Gehrig says changes to this year’s pre-season training regime should make a difference. "We have had a lot of problems with soft-tissue injuries in the past, but hopefully with the new strategy the fitness staff has brought in we can keep our best side on the paddock," he said. "We have done a lot more core work and leg-strengthening exercises in the gym. We’ve definitely focused more on that this year. It looks like we’ll have our best side available, so it’s a big, intimidating, powerful side." Former Eagle Michael Gardiner is back in training after missing last season with a foot injury and Gehrig believes the ruck area will be a key to the Saints' success in 2008, with the Saint who is yet to play a game for his club a major contributor. "Three or four years ago he was the best ruckman in the competition," Gehrig said.
Twelve new AFL life members
Eight current players headline the group of new AFL life membership inductees. Nine players automatically qualified for the honour during the 2007 season by reaching 300 games of service: Brownlow Medallist Jason Akermanis, former Fremantle captain Peter Bell, Sydney ruckman Peter Everitt, Essendon full-back Dustin Fletcher, Norm Smith Medallist Shannon Grant, triple Brisbane Lions' premiership player Nigel Lappin, 2007 All-Australian captain Andrew McLeod, current Kangaroos' captain Adam Simpson along with retired Carlton captain Anthony Koutoufides. The commission also recognised outstanding service to the game by three people, awarding life membership to Geelong and former West Coast CEO Brian Cook, former Richmond captain and president Neville Crowe and Adelaide chairman Bill Sanders.

St Kilda's Ken Whiffin has also been awarded the Jack Titus Service Award for conspicuous service to game.
Lew Mutch from the Western Saints was awarded an AFL Community Award in recognition of 25 years service to the game.

St Kilda arrives in Ballarat
A fighting fit St Kilda arrives in Ballarat today with a full squad for an AFL community camp. St Kilda football general manager Matthew Drain said the Saints were easing a handful of players back from "slight" injuries, but on the whole they had a clean bill of health. The injury-free status has St Kilda buoyed as they set their sights on a second AFL premiership, and first since 1966. Second-year coach Ross Lyon has already stated he believes the upcoming season promises to be among the most competitive in history - opening the premiership door for St Kilda. Drain said St Kilda would have a couple of light days in Ballarat before stepping up with a full-on training session at Ballarat Grammar School on Wednesday morning. This is when St Kilda and other football fans in Ballarat will get an opportunity to see how the Saints are shaping up. Their only other ball work will be a light skills session at AUSTAR Arena tomorrow. "It won't be much more than a `touch' session," Drain said. "It'll give people a chance to see and meet the players."
Fast lane opens for also-rans
... St Kilda came home with a rush last season, has its head round coach Ross Lyon's philosophies now, and with the addition of five ready-made senior players in recruits Steven King, Charlie Gardiner, Adam Schneider, Sean Dempster and a rehabilitated Michael Gardiner, has imposing depth and evenness.
St Kilda favourites for NAB Cup
St Kilda may be the favourites to win this year's NAB Cup but the Kangaroos have been the best backed team to take out the pre-season AFL competition, which starts tomorrow. But the field looks wide open, with clubs eyeing off a positive start to the year and the $385,000 prizemoney that will be awarded to the Cup winners. St Kilda, pre-season champions in 1996 and 2004, are at $6 with the TAB, with Geelong and Hawthorn just behind at $7.
$4,000 St Kilda bet on flag
... We took a $4000 bet on St Kilda to win the flag, and they've firmed up a bit and they're on the second line at $10. The word from a couple of guys is that for the first time in a long time they've got a completely clean bill of health, no injuries whatsoever. They're pretty confident and starting on the right foot," he said.
Umps pleased with feedback
... In the only rule change to apply for the first time in 2008, emergency umpires have been given the authority to call an end to play. "If the siren goes and the emergency umpire hears it and the field umpires don't, he can notify them and finish the game at the point he heard the siren," Sawers said. "That's one subtle change following on from (the St Kilda v Fremantle match in) Tasmania a couple of years ago." Meanwhile, veteran field umpire Darren Goldspink has been selected to officiate in Friday night's NAB Cup Round 1 clash at Telstra Dome between St Kilda and Richmond. Last year, Goldspink had trouble meeting the umpires' fitness standards and was not cleared to officiate until Round 10 of the premiership season. "We're working through all the fitness standards the same as we have with every umpire," said Sawers of Goldspink. "There's still fitness benchmarks that all umpires have to meet going through and he's umpiring this weekend."
Saints for sports paintings at Dome
Major sports venues, charities and councils have put their hands up to display millions of dollars worth of works locked away in Victoria's art gallery vaults. The National Gallery of Victoria has only enough room to display 5 per cent of its 65,000 works, with some not being shown since the 1950s. Telstra Dome, St Kilda Football Club, Victorian Deaf Association, Port Phillip and Hobsons Bay councils are among those offering to give the works a wider audience. St Kilda Football Club would like to see sports-related works displayed during home games at Telstra Dome. "I'm sure that Saints members and fans who attend our functions would appreciate the opportunity to see the art," said club spokesman Matt Schmidt. Telstra Dome said it would be keen to talk to NGV about the logistics and security involved.