Archives

2003 ROUND 20 - Page 1

Can the Saints rise to the challenge?
St Kilda is quite rightly being hailed the most exciting up-and-coming team in the AFL at present after demolishing West Coast and Richmond by a total of 141 points in the past fortnight. But while a finals berth still looks at least another year away despite their great end to the season, another big test in the development of Grant Thomas' exciting side awaits them over the last three weeks of the season - regardless of whether or not they qualify for the September action. And that is can the Saints learn how to win away from Telstra Dome?
» More - Paul Gough - afl.com.au - via saints.com.au site - 12Aug03
» Membership Forum report - saint66au - Sainsational.com
» player discontent - Roger -Sainsational.com

Saints ready to re-write history
"A lot of statistics that people throw up don't really matter to this side at the moment, because probably 90 percent of the blokes haven't been involved in those games that have been played. So we can attack each game as if the previous statistics don't matter," Jones said. "One in forty years is not a great stat, but every team's different. The 22 running out is going to be different to any 22 that's played at Optus before and I know a lot of guys haven't played senior footy there, so they won't even be thinking about so it'll be a different St Kilda side than has played there before."
» More - Samantha Lane - saints.com.au site - 15Aug03
» Body maintenance serves Aussie well - Samantha Lane - saints.com.au site - 15Aug03

Samurais on a mission
The Samurais, as they are called, were a little bloodied and well beaten, but made a line at match's end and bowed to the crowd. They also honoured tradition by insisting that their best player down a can, to shouts of "ikki, ikki" - "scull, scull" - but baulked at singing their theme song, which is St Kilda's with the word "samurais" substituted for "saints" and is sung in Japanese.
» More - Greg Baum - TheAge RealFooty - 13Aug03

The bubble is back: Beaumont
"I think there's definitely a bit more vibrancy and bubble around the club. Denis has taken the shackles off a little bit and really encouraged us to take a few more risks and run and back ourselves, so it's been good," Beaumont said before training on Tuesday.
» More - filth.com.au - 13Aug03

Riewoldt receives written apology
Fleming, who pleaded guilty to the charge, told the hearing he had leapt to try to smother a Riewoldt handpass. "I was going in to bump and at the time I felt I got him with my bicep. It was only when I reviewed the incident that I saw my arm was raised a bit," he said. "That was not my intention. It actually shocked me when I saw it. I'm not that sort of player and I was genuinely apologetic to Nick and sent him a note." Riewoldt, who came back on to kick three goals in the last quarter, is fit to play against Carlton on Saturday.
» More - Bruce Matthews - HeraldSun - 13Aug03

Fleming's season over and career in doubt
Tim Fleming's season is over and his career in jeopardy after the rugged Richmond on-baller was suspended for three matches by the AFL Tribunal last night.
» More - Chris Lines - TheAge RealFooty - 13Aug03

Carlton v St Kilda, Optus Oval, Saturday, 2.10pm
Could this finally be the day when Saints fans celebrate a rare triumph at Optus Oval? Everything points to a Saints' victory - they have annihilated West Coast and Richmond in their past two games - and remain an outside chance of making the eight. And they face a Carlton side that has won just four of 19 games for the season. But how could you confidently tip the Saints when you consider their incredible record against Carlton at Optus Oval. In 89 meetings they have won there just seven times and only once (in 1993) in the past 40 years..
» Early Openers - Round 20 - Paul Gough - saints.com.au
» Fevola finds form pays - Mark Stevens - HeraldSun - 12Aug03
» Pagan unfussed by player 'whingeing' - Emma Quayle - TheAge - 12Aug03
» Carlton Stats Round 19 - HeraldSun

Record Breakers
David Friend: "Many football supporters think about membership as a football ticket but loyal supporters of a football club should buy a membership regardless of performance. It is important for supporters to understand that being a member of a football club is not only about going to the football. Membership is about belonging to a club."
» More - saints.com.au site - 12Aug03

Young Saint finds secret to happiness is No. 3
Unofficially, it has already started. Clarke wore one of his newly numbered jumpers for the first night at training and he has already ordered the 323-game club legend out of the locker he has inhabited for more than 15 years. Burke said: "He's given me three days to get out of my locker, which I thought was a little bit harsh. But I've vacated that and he's moved in and he's nice and comfortable. Luckily there was a spare assistant coach one, so I've jumped in that."
» More - Emma Quayle - TheAge - 14Aug03
» Clarke to wear #3 this week - The Statsman -Sainsational.com

Guiding hand of Burke returns
ST KILDA warhorse Nathan Burke was back in harness yesterday, directing traffic in the middle of Moorabbin just days after retiring. It was his latest foray into the world of coaching, a profession he has made no secret of his intention of permanently joining. Burke, the veteran of 323 AFL games and 17 playing seasons, sent the Saints through a training drill.
» More - Geoff Poulter - HeraldSun - 14Aug03

When success and money take over . . . Clarke is so chuffed he wants to wear the No. 3 this week against Carlton . . . Burke's moment late Saturday night at Telstra Dome sat beautifully with the past. Clarke said it was a match that he would never forget. The St Kilda people will long remember it, too. It was a throwback, though, to the days when you played for the love of the jumper. Football is now played for the love of success and money. That means there is precious little room for sentimentality. We'll see that shortly in trade week.
» More - Fatprych Smith (Fatpryck) - TheAustralian - 12Aug03

Saints' exciting future arrives
It has taken 19 rounds, but by 10pm on Saturday even the sceptics would have been convinced. St Kilda is the real deal and will become a special team. Any remaining doubts were wiped away at Telstra Dome as the Saints toyed with Richmond, realising the promise they have shown at stages of the past year or two. Even allowing for the fact that the Tigers looked dispirited, lethargic and, at times, inept, the Saints had the pace, skill and movement to make their long-suffering fans tingle with excitement.
» More - Geoff Poulter - HeraldSun - 11Aug03

Saints have crucified my son
St Kilda team of the century defender Barry Lawrence believes the Saints have applied double standards in dealing with his son Steven since an off-field misdemeanour two weeks ago. Lawrence Sr said he did not condone Steven's actions, which resulted in him crashing a car after a drinking session, but was critical of the club making an outcast of him.
- Damian Barrett - sants.com.au - 10Aug03