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2003 ROUND 22 - Page 2


Stats tell fibs for Saints: Thomas
From a statistical viewpoint, St Kilda coach Grant Thomas rated his side's 19 point loss to Geelong as one of the club's best efforts for the year - the problem was however, it didn't convert on the scoreboard. Thomas denied his side, aiming for its fifth consecutive win, was flat in the ultimately meaningless game between two bottom eight sides, and said the result would inspire his talent filled team in the off-season.
» More - Samantha Lane - saints.com.au - 30Aug03

Ablett's buzz stings Saints
Maybe St Kilda had spent the week reading its publicity. Perhaps Geelong was sick of embarrassing capitulations. At Skilled Stadium yesterday Geelong pricked the bubble of an over-hyped St Kilda, with its 19-point win providing the Saints with a nasty reality check after a year of plaudits and lofty predictions. The Saints may yet become the champion team most people in football expect. But Geelong showed a fierce attack on the ball, a direct game plan and dangerous crumbing forwards will always get you by in wintry conditions.
» More - Jon Ralph - HeraldSun - 31Aug03

Cats give Saints reality check
"I told them it was a very important game to win today," Thompson said. "I said all week everybody had been writing about St Kilda and how good their young blokes were, and that maybe they should have been writing about us as well and that we've missed our opportunities, but that we could actually get a bit back today."
» More - Unknown Author - TheAustralian - 30Aug03

Cats end the record run
The Saints' much-vaunted youngsters, who were coming off a run of four consecutive victories of ten goals-plus, met their match in a bunch of Cats who had come through the system at much the same time.
» More - Angus Morgan - saints.com.au - 30Aug03

Cats stake claim to be the class of '04
The harm to St Kilda's chances was done in the first nine minutes of the third quarter, when the busy James Kelly, Gary Ablett and Steve Johnson all goaled from close range as the Cats cleared out to a 27-point lead. Aussie Jones got one back with another precision kick off his wrong side after breaking out of defence, and Harvey bobbed up with a free kick against Street for high contact, a common occurrence when you are 208 centimetres tall.
» More - Peter Hanlon - TheAgeRealFooty - 31Aug03

Thompson: Beware the Cats
Thomas: Not a True Reflection
The Saints have won 11 games for the year, which coach Grant Thomas said was a true reflection of where the team is at. "We've had some ups and downs and it's disappointing we didn't finish on the up," he said. "But I think that will give the guys some steely resolve to know that we're not as good as everyone thinks we are. We've got a lot of work still do and that'll keep everyone prickly enough over preseason."
» More - Jackie Epstein - HeraldSun - 31Aug03

Cats hype smile off Saints
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas rejected the suggestion that his young team 'got ahead of itself' following so much positive publicity. "I don't think it had anything to do with the result today. We had a real crack, and they had a real crack. Oh no, I wouldn't say that it was our downfall. Our key indicators said that we went inside 50 metres 14 more times than Geelong. "We lost (Luke) Ball pretty early in the game and then (Steven) Baker, who'd held Ablett, got injured, and that let him off the hook." Thomas said yesterday's defeat would detract from St Kilda's past four victories. "We are not as good as everyone thinks we are, so we have got a lot of work to do."
» More - Patrick Bartley - TheAgeRealFooty - 31Aug03

Thomas: success coming our way
GT: "If I'm sitting opposite "Barney" (Leigh Matthews) and he makes a move, I'd like to think I could quickly make a move and negate it to the point where he says, 'No, that's not going to work. Let's change it back . . . I love it to death. The more I get into it, the more I enjoy it. And the more I do it, the better I'm getting at it. But it's not so much the coaching. I'm really passionate about St Kilda footy club and I'm very determined to build a successful team".
» More - Trevor Grant - HeraldSun - 29Aug03

Saints make flag pact
Clarke: "It's become like a second home, I've really gotten close to the boys and the coaching and support staff."  Onballer Murray, dropped to the VFL for the Saints' final match against Geelong at Skilled Stadium today, said he aimed to cement a regular place in the line-up in 2004. "It's a good opportunity for me to play a few more senior games over the next couple of years. I'm setting myself to play 22 senior games next year. I'll try to have a big pre-season and just take it from there," said Murray, elevated form the rookie list earlier in the year.
» More - Shannon McRae - HeraldSun - 29Aug03

Flying high in 2006
It began in Round 4, when Thomas said his team was, by any measure, better than Richmond. St Kilda had just been beaten by 26 points and, true, it was a poorly worded, untimely comment that reflected a certain naivety. The meaning behind the assessment was lost in the ensuing hullabaloo, although when the Saints trounced the Tigers by 80 points in Round 19, Thomas was seen to be spot-on. By year's end, St Kilda was 10th, Richmond 12th.
» More - Gerrard Healy - HeraldSun - 29Aug03

Thomas wary of danger game
GT on R22: "We know what can happen, and it's amazing when 22 people forge together for a last ditch effort and pride kicks in a hell of a lot. Obviously Geelong are desperate for a win. There's no benefit for them if they lose in relation to draft choices or anything like that," Thomas said before the team's final training session at Moorabbin on Friday morning. "I know that they're setting themselves for this game and we're in no doubt of the frame of mind they'll be in."

. . . And about the Captaincy
GT on Rotating Captains: "That penny's taking a really long time to drop. A lot of the questions I actually get asked tell me that people haven't entirely understood what it's all about. It's about leadership, it's not about captaincy. They're not necessarily directly related," Thomas said. "I think Harvs' leadership this year has been the best I've seen and he actually hasn't had the stamp of captain over his head. There's no doubt that Aaron won't take his bat and go home next year when he's not. He'll still be an outstanding leader and a better leader."
» More - Samantha Lane - saints.com.au - 29Aug03

Premier billing
Saturday's game between Geelong and St Kilda might hold no interest for season 2003, but it will provide a showcase for two sides who should give next season a real shake. St Kilda, in particular, I think will emerge as a genuine premiership contender. It's a big call, but I believe their player list is fast approaching being one of best in the competition, as far as the number of games played by emerging potential superstars.
» More - Ken Hinkley - Geelong Advertiser - 28Aug03
» Rooke and Rahilly set to return - Scott Morton - Geelong Advertiser - 27Aug03
» Lord may return for milestone - Jordon Chong - gfc.com.au - 27Aug03

Young Saints talk finals, flags & destiny
"We speak quite often about being the best side ever and we're pretty keen on doing that. So we're just trying to put the steps in place to achieve it," Dal Santo said on Friday. "We're pretty keen to be the most successful St Kilda side that's been around." Clarke, who inherited the number three guernsey from the club's games record-holder Nathan Burke three weeks ago, shares his team-mate's ambition. "Hopefully down the track I'll stay here a lot longer and win a few premierships with the side. We certainly want to stick together as a young team. We all came together last year, six draftees and certainly want to make a successful side. We want to play finals footy and play in a grand final and really make this place a successful side."
» More - Samantha Lane - saints.com.au - 29Aug03

Saints re-sign key youngsters
Youngsters Nick Dal Santo, Xavier Clarke, Leigh Montagna, Matt Maguire and Allan Murray have either signed new deals or extended the terms of existing deals, tying them to the club for another two seasons. Defender Brett Voss has also signed a new contract that binds him to the club until 2005.
» More - Barry Levinson - saints.com.au - 28Aug03

Luke Ball reflects on his second AFL year
The lengthy AFL season and discipline required at AFL level was not a surprise for 19 year old Ball, who comes from a strong football family. "I expected it. You hear from others who have been through it. I saw what my brother went through at Hawthorn, and a couple of uncles that played. You don't have much time to relax. Getting into a good sleeping pattern is something I haven't been able to nail yet. You've got to try and get your rest somehow. You're involved in the club everyday of the week. We get Thursdays off, but even then I'm usually down here, doing a few extra weights".
» More - Megan Burns - saints.com.au - 28Aug03

Saints' Best & Fairest
St Kilda Football Club invite all members to join all the players on Wednesday, 1st October for an eventful evening with the Club's Trevor Barker Award being awarded at the Victory Room, Telstra Dome, 7.00pm for 7.30pm. Cost is $140 (inclusive of GST) per person. Contact Belinda Borrie for more details (03) 9559 6673 or Email Belinda; belindab@saints.com.au.
» saints.com.au - 28Aug03

Skipper Hamill ready to handover
St Kilda skipper Aaron Hamill has said he would 'love to be captain' again next year, but concedes that under the Saints' leadership rotation, he is unlikely to get the nod again in 2004. Hamill, who has developed into an inspirational leader in his only year as captain at Moorabbin, is set to lead St Kilda for the last time, when the Saints play Geelong this Saturday at Skilled Stadium.
» More - Matt Burgan - saints.com.au - 27Aug03