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"They are the bastards - not me?"
I very often feel disappointment, despair, hopelessness, hatred, hurt and horror, then when we get a couple of quick goals I feel jubilance, warmth, joy, unlimited optimism, pride and even love. Sometimes I can go through these emotions many times in one quarter of a match, even if common sense and logic has pre-warned me that 'We don't have a hope in hell of winning this game'.
» The Peanut - A Saint in the West - This site - 29Jul03

Harvs motors on to 2004
Robert Harvey: "We've got to get something really positive out of this year and we've got five weeks to do that. We play some good sides and it's a good chance for us to build a platform for next year," he said. "It has been frustrating. But it has been positive to see what we can do in periods. And that's a snapshot of where we want to be next year." "We've obviously played disappointing footy in patches and how we have lost on occasions."
» More - Bruce Matthews - HeraldSun - 31Jul03
Some interesting news on the Saints
Lawrence has played his last game. He was drunk when he crashed and it was his third drinking offence in the past 12 months. The club want to tell the media that they are giving him the rest of the season off and puting him through counselling. However, Lawrence told them yesterday that he doesn't think he needs counselling and wants to play now. Waldron said that the players don't want Lawrence back and he will be delisted at seasons end. Said it was a tough decision as he is Barry Lawrence's son and is a good bloke but just a bit crazy . . .
» More - Mega - Saintsational Fan Forum - 30Jul03

Milne gets a week for striking
St Kilda forward Stephen Milne will miss his club's round 18 match with West Coast, after receiving a one-match suspension from the AFL Tribunal for striking Adelaide's Andrew McLeod. nMilne pleaded not guilty to the charge, laid by field umpire Colin Rowston just before half-time of Sunday's match at AAMI Stadium. But he was found to have made late, reckless and unnecessary contact to McLeod's head
» More - Samantha Lane - saints.com.au - 27Jul03
» Milne out, two in clear - By Roger Vaughan - TheAge RealFooty - 30Jul03
Young gun's Saintly pledge
Scarcely has the 20-year-old faced one opponent since. It is not defenders but defences now assigned the task of curbing Riewoldt, strategies that work to the basic idea that more often than not, St Kilda will not win if he is checked. Even when the Saints do, it is a theory difficult to dismiss. The Saints avenged their first-round loss to the Roos in round 16 but with Riewoldt injured and again peripheral, it required Fraser Gehrig's nine goals to win by less than a kick, an extraordinary solo performance that Thomas can hardly factor into his weekly plans.
» More - TheAge RealFooty - 30Jul03
Pagan v Thomas
we are not a great side, but we might be, and you can thank GT. Timmy had a GF side and destroyed it, Roos and pagan inherited loser sides and turned them into finalists, over in the west coast the smiling assassin took the same side almost that Judge had and turned it around . . . GT may not be the best coach in the league, but one day, he could be, and for that matter name which coach would have achieved more last year and this year given the injuries, youth, games etc. Only Brisbane won after playing in the west, and that was by one goal, so thats 4 games that no other team in the comp has won for a start . . .
» More - Dan Warna - saintsational.com

Verdict puts wind up Thomas
Perhaps the answer is that after playing so much in the sheltered Telstra Dome, St Kilda captain Aaron Hamill has forgotten the real purpose of the toss of the coin before the match. Hamill yesterday surprised Adelaide captain Mark Ricciuto - and more critically, his coach Grant Thomas - by winning the toss at AAMI Stadium and choosing to play into a four-goal wind coming off West Lakes
» More - Michelangelo Rucci - HeraldSun - 28Jul03
» Shameful Saints let Burke down - Michelangelo Rucci - HeraldSun - 28Jul03
» No crowing from wasteful Adelaide - Michelangelo Rucci - HeraldSun - 28Jul03
Coaches join disapproving chorus
Adelaide coach Gary Ayres is tired of their poor bouncing, while St Kilda counterpart Grant Thomas is frustrated by the inconsistency of their decision making. The two critical issues surrounding AFL umpiring were at the forefront at AAMI Stadium yesterday, where SA-based umpire Colin Rowston struggled with field bounces. Thomas excused the lack of discipline from his players by claiming they were bewildered by the umpires. "I defy anyone not to be frustrated with the decisions that were going on out there," he said.
» More - Michelangelo Rucci - HeraldSun - 28Jul03

» Team Structure & Game plan: debate 1, backline - Saintsational FanForum
» [ Poll ] The Big Ruckman Recruiting Debate - Saintsational FanForum
Three alternatives to the current situation and the way ahead
1. what if Alves was given more time? - » More
2. What if Timmy was given more time? - » More
3. What if Blight could capture his best coaching? - » More
4. The way ahead. - » More
. . . For gods sake Reiwoldt is a team leader and 21, Lenny is 24, Black and Powell are 23 and 24, Hamill 25 and max 26 and these are our Veterans? GT has said No to trading young players for instant players. With Brooks and Knobel being 20 and 24 respectively, I think we have a pretty exciting future. - » More
-Dan Warna - Saintsational Fan Forum
Thomas apologises to Burke
Asked after the Crows' 57-point win whether he was disappointed the Saints couldn't put on a better show for Burke's feat in passing Stewart Loewe's 321-game tally (from 1986-2002), Thomas said: "Yeah, absolutely. We didn't really focus on it. We sort of don't need to focus on something like that with an icon like 'Burkey'."
» More - Alan Shiell - saints.com.au - 28Jul03
» Saints battle it out in Adelaide - Jason Phelan - saints.com.au - 27Jul03
» Saints out of their depth: Thomas - Alan Shiell - saints.com.au - 27Jul03


Hamill tosses Crows early advantage
Thomas was grim-faced when asked later about Hamill's decision to kick into the wind. "It wasn't pre-planned," he said. "It's not the ball game but it's probably something we want to address. It was the captain's decision and he made the decision. "We were surprised, but I'm not saying that was the total reason for the whole game, but very definitely we needed to get off to a good start, and I was just surprised by the decision. No, I haven't spoken to him - as yet."
» More - Alan Shiell - TheAge RealFooty - 28Jul03
WHICH ONE!
Ball, Dal Santo, Clarke, Maguire, Koschitze.
Because these are the guys we will have to give up for an established Ruckmen. Not average players. Opposition teams will not give up a wanted player for an unwanted player - or even 2 unwanted players. Personally if any of the boys above are traded - I will be cut to the bone, because these kids are the reason I am putting up with these **** performances at current.
» Fan Forum Thread - saintmarto - saintsational.com

D-Day looms for Lawrence
Crunch time for Steve Lawrence is fast approaching, with St Kilda officials planning to meet him this week. Murky future: Chief executive Brian Waldron said last night the club would chat with Lawrence "in the next couple of days". "We're giving him a bit of space at the moment," Waldron said.
» More - Mark Stevens - HeraldSun - 28Jul03

The old ring around with Saints' multi-skilled boss
Ha ha Patrick. OK, we get the message that you think that Grant Thomas is doing too much and is probably the wrong bloke to coach the Saints, but did you listen to Butters two weeks ago when he said that the cuts made to the football department were too deep? Is this not a reason why Grant takes on so much? Surely someone has to do it. I am a Saints supporter, just as peeved as you obviously are with some issues around the club; but the team thinks he's the man, the board thinks he's the man, and there are even those in the media who will admit (with only a little more effort than if you were pulling teeth) that he can match it with the best of them tactically. Which of Grant's many roles do you think that he should give up or maintain, or are you one of those bitter about his appointment to the role of St Kilda coach, and wanting to just get him out of there once and for all?
» More - Cornelius (Fatprych)- The Australian - 29Jul03
» Professional? You're kidding - Cornelius (Fatprych)- The Australian - 29Jul03
» Fatpryck has gone too far - Saintsational Fan Forum
Grant Thomas (on Fatpruch's article): Don't know, don't care. He has an opinion - I know it's not true so I don't consider it, in fact I never read the paper (not many do by the way which I think he is infuriated by because he is not a considered and respected factor in the industry) Let him have his fun - as long as he can sit on his bed by himself and have a giggle to himself that's OK! Really he is very insignificant and has a depressing past that haunts him - this is his chance in the schoolyard. Maybe the fact his brother (Brother Paul Smith - St Bedes College) taught me for 6 years and I gave him hell is coming back to haunt me!!!!
» Ask Thomo - saints.com.au - 30Jul03

Thomas mystified by umpiring
When asked after the match whether his players had a 'problem with discipline', Thomas said: "Look, you can only say discipline for the 50-metre penalties. In one of them, the ball was thrown back to the wrong player. It was just a mistake and the other one was just frustration from Harvs (Robert Harvey) with the umpires. "Obviously you've got to keep your gob shut and not say anything, but I defy anyone not to be frustrated with some of the decisions that were going on out there.
» More - Alan Shiell - saints.com.au - 27Jul03
W.A. SAINTS - What do you think about . . .
At our next Western Saints AGM which are usually a pretty dull and lifeless afair, we invite Craig Callaghan (Who we can safely say will be back in WA at seasons end) along to give us his views on his time at the saints and the direction we are heading. There are a million questions we could ask him over a couple of coldies i.e. His opinions on players such as Harvey, Hamill, Roo, Kossi, Goddard, Ball etc. The coaching panel - Thommo, Wallis, Rendall and possibly Burkie. His views on relationship between Thommo, RB and board etc. Rotating captains, Blight, Crapuano sacking, Direction we are heading, What we require player wise. The list of questions are endless and I'm sure Craig would provide us with some valuable insight into his last 3 years which have been bloody hard for us supporters and no doubt the players. Give me some feedback and I'll bring it up with Lew over the next couple of days.
» More - Rogerwa - Saintsational Forum - 28Jul03