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2003 ROUND 13 - Page 1

Round 13 - St Kilda vs Melbourne
Melbourne: 4.3, 8.6, 17.7, 21.10 (136)
St Kilda: 4.3, 8.6, 10.8, 14.10 (94)
Goals: Riewoldt 4, Koschitzke 3, Powell 2, Jones, Black, Gehrig, Harvey, Clarke. Best: Riewoldt, Jones, Hayes, Koschitzke, Powell. Injury: Knobel (cut eyebrow)

Koschitzke explains restrictive ankle
"If I had the spring that I normally have in my left ankle I would have played in the ruck for sure," Koschitzke said after his first senior match in six weeks. "It's a pretty big ask for 'Goose' (Matt Maguire) to get in there with White with his leap, and the plan wasn't for me to play in the ruck because of my ankle. But it ended up that way and they got on top in the middle and got the first hand to it. Maybe it might have been the difference."
» More - Samantha Lane - saints.com.au - 30Jun03

Saints' 'worst loss' this year
GT: "Yes, it is the worst defeat we have had," a dejected Thomas said after the Saints were belted 13 goals to six in the second half, from being level at the major interval. "The game was there to be won and we believed in our ability to move forward as a club. We failed." "I thought we were way beyond that (suffering a massive game swing), but obviously we aren't," Thomas bemoaned. "The body language was not good, but you just have to cop it on the chin."
» More - Rod Nicholson - HeraldSun - 29Jun03
» Neitz stars as Dees' leading man - Emma Quayle - The Age - 29Jun03

Well . . . What a Shocker . . .
dan warna: We lost by 7 goals, and we lost the game in 6 minutes, just 6 minutes of brilliant confident football by the Dees. Qtr1 and Qtr 2 we were dead level, we lost Qtr4 by 1 pt, and we got done in Qtr 3 in time-on by 7 goals. . . . but yes GT was outcoached, and I wonder if the umpiring was consistent would Melbourne have got that confidence spurt? As for the Dees, they have won only 3 games, but one of them was against Port Adelaide. They are a good team down on confidence, they are older and stronger than us. Its up to GT to regroup this side now, the talent is there, and Hamill should be back next week. Its a sad indictment of the team, but YES we do play 15 to 20 percent better when Hamill is there. Who knows what makes a leader, by his stats alone he should not have such a big impact as he does, but the fact is he does. The question is which saints side will come out next week?
Forum Thread - Saintsational Fan Forum

Thomas laments 'worst defeat'
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas has labelled his side's 42-point loss to lowly Melbourne as its worst this season. Having beaten back-to-back premiers Brisbane just three weeks ago, the Saints were shaping as genuine finals contenders this year, but a disappointed Thomas said on Saturday his side had failed dismally against a team that had not won in seven weeks.
» More - Samantha Lane - saints.com.au -28Jun03
» Leadership lacking in loss: Thomas - Chloe Saltau - The Age - 29Juno3

Dee-molition answers critics
On the stats sheet coach Grant Thomas will be able to detect at least eight players who were unable to contribute much. St Kilda looked good when its players took risks, attacked the ball relentlessly and put doubt in Melbourne's mind that this game could turn around its season. A spark from Stephen Milne might have helped later on, but that wasn't coming. Fraser Gehrig had minimal impact, while Andrew Thompson was quiet but could be excused after returning to action after delicate surgery.
» More - Scot Palmer - HeraldSun - 29Jun03
» Demons' burst sinks Saints - Lyall Johnson - The Age - 29Jun03

Saints sunk by Demons burst
It was the sort of game, against a side already out of finals contention, that the Saints simply had to win, but they had no answer to the dominance of Melbourne skipper David Neitz at full-forward. The Saints' running players also had a down day with even Aussie Jones fading after a brilliant first half while Robert Harvey - a star in recent weeks - was kept well in check by in-form Demons' tagger Simon Godfrey. This left Lenny Hayes to carry far too much responsibility while in attack the Saints relied almost solely on Nick Riewoldt. Even Steven Milne was kept goalless ending his run of at least one goal in more than 35 successive matches.
» More - Paul Gough - saints.com.au -28Jun03

St Kilda's big men woes
St Kilda started with a forward structure designed to cause Melbourne's height-challenged defence all sorts of problems - Riewoldt, Koschitzke and Fraser Gehrig all loaded up and ready to fire. But the Saints either couldn't get the ball down there, or spent too long doing so, enabling Melbourne to block up space and make life as uncomfortable as possible.
» More - Rohan Connolly - The Age - 29Jun03
» Relief, and glimpse of future Dees - Chloe Saltau - The Age - 29Jun03

Neitz fires Demons resurrection
St Kilda went into this match knowing a victory would put them inside the top eight with just nine rounds remaining. A devastating six minute burst by a Melbourne side fighting to regain its respect following five straight losses may well have put paid to St Kilda's finals hopes for yet another year. The Demons went into Saturday's clash against the improved Saints under enormous scrutiny following a dreadful run which has seen the future of coach Neale Daniher bought into question. But after an even first half, the Demons produced their best football of the season after the break with their brilliant five goal burst in only six minutes late in the third term proving decisive as they recorded a much-needed victory at the MCG.
» More - Paul Gough - afl.com.au (via saints site) - 28Jun03

Demons back to winning ways
St Kilda trailed by five points at 23 minutes in the third term when ruckman Matt Maguire was penalised under a rule introduced this year, for hitting the ball out of bounds on the full at a ruck contest. Melbourne midfielder Travis Johnstone goaled from the free kick and that sparked the Demons' surge after scores were tied at quarter- and half-time.
» More - AAP - TheAge - 28Jun03

Grand offer to legends
The AFL has invited greats Bob Rose, Charlie Sutton, Darrel Baldock and Kelvin Templeton to present awards at this year's Grand Final. AFL chief executive Wayne Jackson announced yesterday four-time Collingwood best-and-fairest winner Rose would present the premiership cup to the winning coach and captain. St Kilda's 1966 premiership captain Baldock will present the Norm Smith Medal to the best player on the ground.
» More - Rebecca Williams - HeraldSub - 28Jun03

A tick for state-of-origin
Last week we were without footy due to the mid season bye and it was a good opportunity to recharge the batteries for all including coaches who rarely get a chance to relax during the season. For the boys from interstate or the country it gives them a chance to go home and see their families. For the rest, it remains a chance to escape from the rat race for a brief moment before preparing for their assault on the second half of the season. Most importantly for some players, it is the chance to get over little niggles or injuries and get themselves right for the second half of the season.
» More - Andrew McLeod - afl.com.au via (saints site) - 29Jun03

Poor clubs to cash in on $5m lifeline
It is believed the AFL plans to meet the Western Bulldogs administration in a bid to specify the club's plans to strengthen its list for the 2004 season. The Bulldogs are not only working to re-sign key players, but have indicated they plan to trade more aggressively at the end of the season. While the league has said it will not restrict the Bulldogs' salary cap to 95 per cent next season, it is expected to urge some restraint.
» More - Caroline Wilson - The Age RealFooty - 28Jun03

Melbourne wins by 42 points
St Kilda threatened an unlikely comeback with the first two goals of the last term to trail by five goals before Melbourne steadied. Demons skipper David Neitz put his embarrassing early-morning incident a fortnight ago behind him, kicking seven goals. St Kilda trailed by five points at 23 minutes in the third term when ruckman Matt Maguire was penalised under a rule introduced this year, for hitting the ball out of bounds on the full at a ruck contest. Saints key forward Nick Riewoldt continued his fine season with 10 marks and four goals, while midfielders Lenny Hayes and Heath Black were prolific.
» More - AAP - HeraldSun - 28Jun03

St Kilda and a kilo of butter....poll
We have to get rid of a few players that's obvious-but like all things it's very much a Catch-22 situation. De-listing and bringing more kids through like Ferguson, Fisher and next year's draft picks might be a better solution than bringing in another Lawrence or Voss (who play well once in a blue moon). Thought we'd had a fair crack at the cherry over the last few years with the high draft picks and the senior players brought in like Hamill, Gehrig and that should have set us up nicely. But the same old things just keep reappearing. What we don't want, as far as players go and what we want to keep is very much a vice versa situation for any other club. Will have to give up some of the kids. And that's what everyone has promised not to do. I don't know what the answer is all I do know is that with so much to play for and offering such a dispirited non-existant performance was really disappointing.
» Forum Thread - mischa - Saintsational Fan Forum