Koschitzke's time starts now
... with Koschitzke, everything is to do with team. In a long interview this week, Koschitzke revealed a lot about himself, what he's been through in seven years of senior football, how the disaster of 2006 forced him to remodel not just his playing style but his non-football life and why he will never take for granted the act of running out at an AFL venue to represent St Kilda ... "I have this fear that my teammates won't trust me to have a go every time, and it motivates me," Koschitzke said. "It's probably what drives me. I want to be respected and trusted by my teammates. When you're winning, there is no better feeling than running down the race with 22 blokes you care about and trust and respect, and I would hate for a teammate to run down the race and look over at me and ask himself, 'Is he going to give us an A-grade effort today, or his C-grade effort'? Seriously, it motivates me" ... "You think you are doing the right thing, that because you haven't been in the game for a while, you need to throw yourself in to get yourself going again. People always say to me, 'Oh, you will get yourself killed'. But I feel like I know where people are. It is just that I see the ball, and I like going for the ball. I feel, in a sense, dirty, if I don't go for it. I've spoken with Ross about it, and there has to be a team aspect to it. There is a kamikaze, and that is ridiculous. That isn't courageous at all, just stupid. I mean, why run backwards into a freight train when all you are doing is trying to get yourself going, trying to look like you're doing something special? He (Lyon) said, 'You're a courageous player, you are going to go when you need to, but you have to pick and choose'. And they are shocking words. Pick and choose should never be mentioned in footy. But you do have to weigh it up as to whether you are going to do the team and yourself any good. We worked on that. We did a lot of work on it. Pick the moments better."
St Kilda looks ready to me: Michael Voss
... It is too early in the season to tell if Butterss' big call to replace coach Grant Thomas with Ross Lyon at the end of the 2006 season is on the money but he might just be the messiah because the Saints loom as the main challenger to the might of Geelong. The NAB Cup champions, who have teased us in recent years, are a much better side following the addition of experienced ruckmen Steven King and Michael Gardiner, crumbing forward Adam Schneider, lead up forward Charlie Gardiner and shutdown onballer Sean Dempster. They are very solid through the midfield and have real power up forward. The question is whether their defence will stand up. Max Hudghton doesn't get the accolades he deserves but must stay healthy. Likewise, Matty Maguire. And I really like the role Sam Fisher plays. He's one of the league's underrated players. St Kilda looks ready to me. It is in a good phase of its list development, has a lot of strong, mature bodies, a good spread of experience, and its time will be in the next two to three years.
St Kilda's window is well and truly open
St Kilda always rekindle the debate as to whether their premiership window closed during the reign of former coach Grant Thomas. With Ross Lyon now in his second season, giving the players plenty of time to adapt to his style, and with two quality ruckmen newly available in Stephen King and Michael Gardiner, the answer is no, the window is well and truly open. If they have successfully eliminated their injury curse then there is no reason for the Saints to not march all the way to the Grand Final.
Saints to strike deal with Gram
St Kilda is poised to strike a new long-term deal with Michael Tuck medallist Jason Gram. Gram's manager, Ricky Nixon, said this week the Saints had begun negotiations before last week's NAB Cup grand final, in which the rebounding half-back gathered 33 possessions in a best afield display. "We are talking to St Kilda at the moment about extending his contract," Nixon said. "St Kilda had approached me prior to last Saturday night. Jason wants to stay, so hopefully we can sort it all out soon." Gram was the dominant player for the Saints in the thrilling win over Adelaide at AAMI Stadium and looms as a key player in the club's ambitious plans for the 2008 season.
Scorpions vs Frankston at Moorabbin Practice Match
Brendon Goddard 'saintsRrising' notes: Basically playing midfield ... and playing beautifully!!! winning the ball very well as well as receiving and with long precise kicking. BJ looks slimmer compared to last year ... so maybe midfield this year?? Looks like he could play Round 1 ... I don't know what the conditioning guys report will be ... but BJ was moving very well.
'plugger66' notes: BJ looked good in the first half
'spiral2' notes: BJ looked good, kicked well and got the footy
'nick' notes: BJ Looked fantastic. BOG by a country mile. Looked strong in the tackle, good hands, great skills at ground level and his kicking was phenomenal as we expect from him. No strapping at all around the knee either, and ran very well over the ground. Expect him there for round 1.

Saints eye 2nd flag
What's in their favour? The Saints have the profile of a team set to seriously challenge in 2008, good fortune (which has been an issue) permitting. The class at the top end is well-documented, Nick Riewoldt, Nick Dal Santo, Justin Koschitzke, Luke Ball, Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montagna and the ageless Robert Harvey the pick. But that's now supplemented by real depth via the recruitment of established senior faces in Steven King, Charlie Gardiner, Adam Schneider and Sean Dempster. St Kilda came home with a rush in 2007, a trend that should continue into this season.
What's not? The glut of senior players whose previous season had been severely disrupted by injury could take time to regain their full capacities, Brendon Goddard returning from a knee reconstruction, and Max Hudghton's continuing soft tissue injuries of particular concern. Midfield class notwithstanding, the Saints could probably still use some more dash, and the fitness concerns raised by another spate of injuries and some disturbing late fade-outs last season may not be alleviated overnight.
Saints skipper is all smiles
Nick Riewoldt said there was a growing sense of familiarity at Moorabbin as Ross Lyon approached his second season as coach. "Like players you grow with experience and I think right across the board our coaching staff is more confident this year. They're surer in themselves and the game plan. I think when you have more time to practice and grow into it, the coaches have learnt more about us as players as well. We're all growing into it." Michael Gardiner, who is also coming into his second year at the Saints, could prove to be one of the club's best pick-ups after he followed an injury-riddled 2007 with an impressive NAB Cup campaign. "He (Gardiner) has settled in really well," Riewoldt said. "I think playing in the pre-season has made him feel more a part of the group and the big challenge for him now is to keep his body right and if he can do that he'll be a great acquisition for us. With Gardi, Kingy (Steven King) as well as Rixy (Michael Rix) we've got three capable ruckmen. Hopefully that will allow Kosi (Justin Koschitzke) to spend a bit more time up forward and he's very capable up there."
Shuffling footy's deckchairs
Here we go again. A new beginning. Genuine hope in the hearts of supporters of 16 AFL clubs. Well, maybe 15, Richmond supporters seemingly already resigned to a long six months after the Tigers' feeble NAB Cup performance a few weeks back. New coaches, new players, stars returning or rising, others gone or going. Some team bound to surprise us all with an unlikely emergence. Another to shock with us an unforseen demise. Football seasons take on a distinctly different flavour. Just what changes will give season 2008 its own special aroma?
... STEVEN KING AND MICHAEL GARDINER?
Answer: Yes. At various times in the past couple of years, each of these two ruckman has had their durability, intestinal fortitude and commitment questioned, and their careers all but written off. Now they loom as the missing piece of a St Kilda jigsaw puzzle, which, put together completely, has that premiership look about it. And it's not just the undoubted ruck talents of the 29-year-old former Geelong skipper King or the 28-yearold 129-game former Eagle, finally fit after a season-long false start at Moorabbin last year. It's as much the flow-on effect. Clearly the pair will give the legion of quality Saints' on-ballers better and more prolific opportunities than those to which they've been accustomed up till now. But it also means St Kilda can play a forward line consisting permanently of Fraser Gehrig, Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke if it chooses. Play athletic big man Michael Rix as a key defender. Use Gardiner as a key forward. King also, for that matter. That's the sort of flexibility that coaches dream of and could quite possibly help Ross Lyon and co. land that elusive flag.
More cream for Cats?
Geelong was the best team by a mile in 2007. Nine All-Australian selections was a record and the humiliation of Port Adelaide in the grand final showed the world just how good the Cats were. The most compelling statistic to prove just how dominant they were over the rest was their whopping percentage of 153. Sydney had 120%, Port Adelaide 114%, Hawthorn 113%, West Coast 112% and Adelaide 110%. No team came within a bull's roar of the Cats ... Their biggest worry is not themselves but who among the opposition can lift their act to challenge. I sense a big lift in fitness, confidence, team cohesion and results will come from St Kilda, Fremantle and Hawthorn. Ross Lyon learnt a lot in his first season at St Kilda. He took on a team that was a long way down in base fitness and in accountability. Massive off-field changes have been made to correct the fitness problems. Even though the Saints missed last year's finals, they were the third-best performed team in the second half of the season. They were starting to get their systems and strategies into place. Lack of a quality ruckman has hurt this team in recent years. The acquisition of Steven King fresh from a premiership success and a finally fit Michael Gardiner looking the goods should have Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo and Robert Harvey licking their lips in anticipation. Fraser Gehrig's return from brief retirement will ease the load on Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke and if Brendon Goddard and Matt Maguire can return to defence after serious leg injuries then it is realistic to see the Saints challenge big time.
Preview: Plenty to like about the Saints
... St Kilda will be one of the most intriguing teams this year - does the Riewoldt-Ball-Dal Santo era still have a premiership in it? - but Lyon will not die wondering. "I feel more in control, obviously, I really know what to expect - forewarned is forearmed," Lyon said. "The group and I have made a lot of inroads into what we want to do and things we want to work on, in regards to attack and defence. We've put a lot of good people in place, added to the resources and therefore the systems are tighter, we're really hopeful of getting the results." That hope was given a further boost as St Kilda won the NAB Cup. Heading into the regular season, they are widely seen as the team best-equipped to challenge defending premiers Geelong. A month-long losing streak last year meant the Saints reached halfway with only four wins, but they won seven of their next 11 to miss the eight by half a game. Full-forward Fraser Gehrig's retirement only lasted a few weeks as Aaron Hamill, Brett Voss and Andrew Thompson were among those who had definitely ended their careers. Geelong premiership ruckman Steven King led the player recruits, but the most important personnel changes at the club could prove to be among the team's support staff.
Your club's pre-season
... St Kilda: It was pretty much a perfect lead-in to the season for the Saints. Their pre-season cup win provides form and confidence. More importantly, they were able to do it while gradually easing some of their big names into the team and avoiding any injuries of note. Fraser Gehrig strained his calf but is likely to be back for the start of the season. Brendon Goddard, Matt Maguire and Max Hudghton are yet to play for the senior team this year, but should be in round one, or soon after. New ruck duo Steven King and Michael Gardiner demonstrated they will improve the team's structure, while Charlie Gardiner showed he will add depth in attack and Adam Schneider will add run.
Write off battle-hardened Sydney Swans at your peril
... The footy world knows that what you see with the Swans is what you get. It has been that way for all of Paul Roos' 132 matches in charge, including the final 10 of the 2002 season when he took over from Rodney Eade. You know Brett Kirk is going to run himself to delirium every match and, provided he stays fit, that he will average 20-plus disposals a game. You know Goodes will remain the player all opposition coaches fear most on game day, that Barry and Bolton will continue to be fearless. That Ryan O'Keefe will run opponents in to the ground. That Tadhg Kennelly will give the club incredible drive out of the backline. That Roos himself will devise yet another way to provide incentive for his troops yet again to do the team thing, often at the expense of personal acclaim, on every single occasion the football comes their way. There is no doubt the Swans will use the recent AFL investigation of Roos to their benefit. Sydney, sometimes with full justification, has always been a club that operates on the belief that headquarters is out to get it.
$3.45 million State Government funding announcement
The Saints' on-field leadership structure remains unresolved despite strong speculation the club is likely to appoint a single captain for 2008 from one of last season's co-captains Nick Riewoldt and Lenny Hayes. St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser said the club's leadership group is still working through the issues just a week out form the start of the new season. "They wanted to get the NAB Cup final out of the way and I'm sure over the next couple of days they'll come up with a final decision between Ross (Lyon) and the footy department and the match committee," Fraser said. "Right now, as it stands, Nick and Lenny are the two captains." Riewoldt was reluctant to add to Fraser's comments, made on Tuesday morning at the announcement of a $3.45 million State Government funding package for the Saints' new training complex at Frankston. "I'm not sure what the hierarchy of the club is thinking," Riewoldt said. "Lenny is a terrific leader and he's proven that he can do that role as well before and ... the co-captaincy has worked well before. Whichever way the club want to go, I will support and get behind 100 percent." Meanwhile Riewoldt said his knee was coming good after a bout of tendonitis interrupted his pre-season.
Government kicks in for Saints
The Victorian Government has announced it will provide $3.45 million towards St Kilda's new home base in Frankston. The funding is part of a $10.25 million redevelopment of Frankston Park. St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser said, "This announcement keeps the project on track and will see the players training here in Franskton before the 2010 season begins." Forward Nick Riewoldt said the Saints had the full support of the Frankston community, with more than 5000 people attending its family day last Sunday. "It was a great opportunity for us to show off some silverware after winning the NAB Cup," he said.
Goddard sights on Round 1 return
St Kilda's Brendon Goddard is a chance to resume in Round 1 after completing a 60-minute VFL hit-out at the weekend. Goddard played across half-back and on a wing for Casey Scorpions in his first match since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Round 7 last year. The Saints will ramp up his game-time again this week in a VFL practice match. Although two lead-in matches is a less than ideal preparation for the home-and-away opener against Sydney at Telstra Dome, St Kilda football manager Matthew Drain refused to rule out playing Goddard. "He's a very good player. We'll weigh it up," Drain said. "It depends on how he shapes up after this weekend." Key defender Matt Maguire, returning from a foot stress fracture, is a strong chance to resume at Casey this weekend. But Maguire will not be rushed and is not in contention for the first round. Veterans Max Hudghton and Fraser Gehrig will both sit out the final weekend of the pre-season. Gehrig has started running, but the Saints will remain cautious with the treatment of his calf injury.
Coaches to confront tanking
The issue of tanking will be confronted by the AFL competition for the first time in more than a season later this week, with the league's 16 coaches officially debating whether it has damaged the integrity of the game. Should the coaches vote that the competition was being hurt by clubs deliberately losing matches to gain early draft picks, they will pass on their concerns to the AFL in the hope of a remedy ... The coaches also will debate the merits of awarding premiership points to future champion sides of the pre-season competition, although Daniher said he personally would oppose such a move. Daniher debunked the sentiment expressed by critics of the NAB Cup and supported the competition's format. "I think what we've got to keep in perspective with all this is that it is a preparation competition and from that point of view, I think it serves its purpose," he said. "There will be a number of issues I'll be putting to the senior coaches for a show of hands to indicate to me where they stand on it all. We'll ask them do they support it (the NAB Cup) as a competition and whether they will continue to support it because there has been a lot of debate and a lot of discussion. I think the fans really enjoy it, I generally think the players enjoy it, especially the young players, but I'd like to get a view from the coaches, now that the competition's over and we're in the clear light of day, on what they think of the competition."
There has been an unconfirmed report (ch10 News) that St Kilda have been fined $5000 for starting late the last quarter of Saturday night. WoM Ed

St Kilda's extended break reviewed today (Tuesday)
The AFL will also decide today whether to issue a "please explain" to St Kilda after it was late to start the last quarter of Saturday night's NAB Cup grand final. The Saints had retreated to the AAMI Stadium changerooms to escape the oppressive heat, leaving the Adelaide players waiting for them to return. A decision on whether to seek an explanation from St Kilda was delayed by yesterday's public holiday. It is understood the Saints are expecting to be quizzed by the AFL.
Paper trail leads groundsman on chase
The chief groundsman at AAMI Stadium was last seen on hands and knees, scouring the wing for bits of paper. Don't be surprised if he's still at it on the eve of Round 1, ridding the surface of confetti on steroids. Ticker tape has become a highlight of the real premiership celebration, but to unleash so much red, white and black paper on NAB Cup final night was over-kill. It's scary to think there was a stockpile of red, yellow and blue confetti on hand in case the result went the other way. We assume the back-up paper will be stored away in case Adelaide salutes on the final Saturday in September. If so, the fire brigade should be on red alert. There is no doubt it was a willing contest on Saturday night. Anyone who saw Stephen Milne's desperate spoil on Andrew McLeod and the looks of anguish on the coaches would agree ... Nick Riewoldt was interviewed, yet there was no question about how his knee was holding up. They nabbed Robert Harvey, as elusive off the field as he is on it, yet missed the golden opportunity to ask about those questioning his performance the week before.
Silverware won't weigh Saints down
Not Everyone takes the NAB Cup seriously, but St Kilda forward Stephen Milne believes the Saints' final win over Adelaide showed a determination to bounce back after a horror 2007. Last year St Kilda lost in the first round of the NAB Cup, then managed only four wins in their first 11 games of the regular season. They then made a late charge for a finals place before finishing two points outside the eight. It was the first time the Saints had missed the finals in four years. On Saturday night, St Kilda won the pre-season competition for the second time in five years with a five-point win over the Crows at AAMI Stadium. The Saints beat Geelong in the 2004 decider. After a tough start, where the visitors looked sluggish in attack in temperatures nudging 38C at the opening bounce, the Saints found their rhythm ... Questions had been raised about the extent to which either side cared about winning the competition, and while the St Kilda players were careful not to get carried away with the victory, Milne said it was a strong result. "We wanted to get all the guys up and going for round one, but once you're out there you want that win whether you're in Timbuktu or in the NAB Cup grand final," Milne said. "The club was really disappointed last season, and we've worked very hard this pre-season to get off to a good start. We wanted to get everyone doing their job and playing their roles and if we had a few wins along the way it's a bonus."
Schneider has a point to prove
Former Sydney forward Adam Schneider says he has a point to prove when St Kilda faces his former team in Round 1. The Saints recruit added a NAB Cup winner's medal to his 2005 premiership with a slashing 22-possession display on Saturday night. While Schneider bears no grudges towards former coach Paul Roos and the Swans, it was his inability to win a midfield spot that ultimately saw him cleared by Sydney. Against Adelaide, he played almost exclusively off the wing, and will hit Saturday week's clash against Sydney at Telstra Dome in top form and fitness. Schneider said he was glad the game against his former club was early in the season. "I am really looking forward to it. I am excited about the challenge," Schneider said. "I have got a bit to prove. It is going to help knowing the players on the other team, but I am looking forward to getting off to a good start to the season." While Sydney's logic in trading Schneider and run-with player Sean Dempster for the No. 26 draft pick may be questioned, Schneider said there was no animosity. "Look, there is no hurt at all. It's an opportunity and it's something that happened," Schneider said. "It is in the past, and I am with a new bunch of boys and absolutely loving it. I want to win Round 1. That is the main focus." The 23-year-old is aware he has come to the Saints when they are rated a red-hot premiership proposition.
Harvs plays for us, we'll do it for him
Saints co-captain Lenny Hayes says St Kilda is determined to give Robert Harvey a legitimate shot at the premiership that has eluded him during a remarkable 20-season career. Harvey's on-field actions against Adelaide on Saturday night silenced critics who wondered if he had gone on one season too long. The 36-year-old dual Brownlow medallist had 22 touches and three goal assists against the Crows, and played a key role in icing the clock in the dying minutes. Yesterday Hayes launched a spirited defence of Harvey, who enters his 21st season desperate for his first flag. "(The criticism) is a little bit weird after one or two games in the pre-season where he's not getting 30 touches. It's pretty harsh on the bloke," Hayes said. "I think people seem to be pretty quick to jump on him but he showed he's a big-game player. He's an amazing bloke and an amazing player." Hayes said Harvey's only remaining motivation was the ultimate team success.
Lyon cool on cup, hot on heat policy
Winning the NAB Cup grand final has given St Kilda vital momentum for its round-one clash with Sydney at Telstra Dome on Saturday week but coach Ross Lyon has yet to decide if the controversial competition was an ideal lead-in to the premiership season. Lyon did say that the AFL's extreme heat policy needs further attention and will be raised with the AFL Coaches Association. The AFL increased the length of the breaks in Saturday's night game, which St Kilda won by five points in temperatures in the mid-30s, but gave no concession on interchange restrictions being tested during the pre-season competition. "As part of the coaches' association, we'll come to a collective view and put something forward to the AFL," Lyon said at yesterday's St Kilda family day at Frankston Oval. "And if you do it in a formal setting, it's a chance to come up with a win-win for the AFL and the clubs. I thought there was a degree of flexibility ... (The AFL) increased the half-time and quarter-time breaks. So there was a degree of thought put into it." St Kilda, which still had two of its allotted 64 interchange moves left after the game, held its quarter- and three-quarter-time huddles in the changerooms. Star midfielder Luke Ball said the decision may have helped the players run out the final quarter. Ball said most of the players had lost about two kilograms during the game as a result of the high temperatures.