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Milne, Montagna up for selection
Stephen Milne will play in Round 1 and Leigh Montagna will be strongly considered even if sexual charges are laid against the St Kilda pair. Mentally, both will have to be "signed off" by professional counsellors, but this appears a formality. In what promises to be another explosive week at Moorabbin, Saints coach Grant Thomas confirmed last night Milne and possibly Montagna would be selected to play against Geelong at Telstra Dome on Saturday night. "Nothing's changed as far as Milney is expected to be playing this weekend, absolutely," Thomas said.
The Article - Mark Robinson - HeraldSun - 23Mar03
Milne, Montagna up for selection - Mark Robinson - HeraldSun - 23Mar03
Saints the big improvers, says Sheedy - Karen Lyon - TheAge - 23Mar03
St Kilda players in `sorry' claim - Greg Kelton, Shaun Phillips and Christine Caulfield - HeraldSun - 23Mar03
Saints confident on sponsors - Samantha Lane, Sportal - afl.com.au - 24Mar03
Green light for Saints pair - Samantha Lane, Sportal - afl.com.au - 24Mar03

Catty comments spur Saints
St Kilda will use lingering resentment over Geelong's failure to give it due respect after the Wizard Cup grand final as motivation for Saturday night's season opener at Telstra Dome. The two teams will meet exactly two weeks after the Saints won the pre-season final by 22 points at the same venue. The Saints took the lead in the final term, thanks to a free kick many observers regarded as soft - which resulted in a nine-point goal - because the ball had not been played into the 50-metre arc when the kick was awarded. Yesterday, Saints coach Grant Thomas said remarks by Geelong after the final indicated the Saints had not been given due credit. "There've been a few comments made, post-final, which I'd call disparaging," Thomas said.
The Article - Len Johnson - TheAge - 23Mar03
Time for Cats to produce - Peter Keenan, Geelong Advertiser
gfc.com.au - 23Mar03
via saints.com.au

Crackdown on head-high tackles
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson told afl.com.au tribunal chairman Brian Collis addressed the coaches for about ten minutes about what sort of contact would be acceptable and unacceptable this season.
The Article - Paul Gough Sportal - afl.com.au - 22Mar03
l.fisher & r.clarke - Saintsational Fan Forum

Saints' sponsors stick
St Kilda's major sponsor Mortgage House is expected to announce today that it will continue its association with the club despite the rape controversy. Saints officials flew to Sydney over the weekend for meetings with the finance company, which has been the club's major sponsor since late 2001.
The Article - Peter Ker - TheAge - 22Mar03
Saints' sponsors stick - Saintsational Fan Forum
This mess (Sponsorship) - Saintsational Fan Forum

Milne looks for quick resolution
The lawyer representing Stephen Milne said yesterday the St Kilda player had received no indication of how long the police investigation into rape allegations against him would take. George Defteros, who was instructed to act for Milne yesterday, said the 24-year-old was anxious to continue co-operating with police, but hoped the matter could be quickly resolved.
The Article - Emma Quayle - TheAge - 20 Mar03

Girlfriend: Why I have never doubted Stephen
The girlfriend of embattled AFL star Stephen Milne yesterday broke her silence, vowing to stand by her high school sweetheart. Melissa Rudling, 24, said she never doubted Milne - the St Kilda footballer at the centre of a police rape investigation. "I have always been there for him," she said. "The minute we found out about it I was there, because I knew he would need all the support he could get." Miss Rudling said she never believed the rape allegations for a moment. "He's just not that sort of person," she said.
The Article - Carly Crawford - HeraldSun - 21Mar03
Smart attacks pollies over comments - AAP - news.ninemsn.com.au - 23Mar03
Footy's subculture of misogyny - TheAge 23Mar03 - via Saintsational Fan Forum

Delight turned to despair
Thomas, some players and partners departed about 8.15 pm, leaving Milne, Montagna and about 15 others to continue their low-key celebrations. Soon after, Montagna received the first of what would be a series of fateful text messages on his mobile. A former lover was keen to catch up and implored Montagna to meet her and a friend for a drink. Over the next few hours Montagna received eight text messages from the woman and he finally agreed to meet the woman and her friend at a bayside bar. Milne tagged along.
The Article - Ian Haberfield - HeraldSun - 21Mar03
Disbelief on the news - "I'm Sorry" - Saintsational Fan Forum
Police seize star's phone - Ian Haberfield, Carly Crawford, Kelvin Healey - HeraldSun - 21Mar03
Accused Saint hires top legal gun - Michael Warner - HeraldSun - 20Mar03

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