Lyon on the Train
The "G-Train", St Kilda's leading goalkicker for the last four seasons, a two-time All-Australian and two-time Coleman Medallist, provided one of the shocks of this draft when he decided to come out of retirement. "It wasn't a 'oh beauty, Fraser, I will see you on Monday' - it was never that - it was a lot of in-depth discussion," Lyon said. "We thought there's enough upside for Fraser and the club, without compromising ourselves, that we could bring him on board. There's probably a couple of full-backs who won't be thrilled to be playing on him" ... He admits Gehrig's request caught him a little off-guard, but Lyon certainly did not fall off his chair. "It was a bit of shock" (he said with) a wry smile "it didn't totally surprise me - there were a lot of mitigating circumstances why Fraser retired and I'm not about to go into his private life. But he's a really hard trainer and his form was really strong in the second half of the year. I said 'as long you still love the game and love competing, we'll bring you back in'."
Clubs after the third list lodgment November 30 AFL

The Draft: Ross Lyon's view
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says sentiment and a desire to keep a champion in the game were critical factors in the decision to select full-forward Fraser Gehrig with pick 57 at the NAB AFL Draft. Despite selecting young ruckman Ben McEvoy with pick 9, hard-nut onballer Jack Steven (42) and Eljay Connors (70), all talk centred on Gehrig. After retiring from football after round 22, Gehrig had a change of heart last week when he surprised the football world by nominating for the draft. "I'm more from the Kevin Sheedy school of thought in that we lose our champions pretty quick and if you can keep them involved in the game then do that and that's exactly what we've done," Lyon said. "It took a number of discussions. You throw a lot of curve balls in and you have to paint the potential downside but as you get older in life you realise that nothing is black and white and there are a few more grey areas. There is the human side of people who you respect in your club and he's got game milestones in front of him. Whatever happens, if things don't go exactly as planned, it doesn't matter. He's been a great player, and he'll always be considered a great player and he gets a wonderful opportunity. He's really determined to have a positive contribution." After a slow start to the 2007 season the 31-year-old Saint finished the year strongly, averaging four goals a game in the last 10 matches. Lyon said age, and the fact Gehrig was likely to play only one more season, was not a factor.
Gehrig back home and ready
Fraser Gehrig is back in Melbourne and ready to return to the training track. The St Kilda full-forward quietly flew in from Switzerland on Saturday night, just hours after he was re-drafted. He now appears certain to start the pre-season within days, but Gehrig remained tight-lipped when contacted by the Herald Sun last night. "I haven't spoken to the club yet. I can't really say anything until I've done that," he said. But the fact a fresh Gehrig is already in town is a major positive for the Saints, who only learned of his intention to make a comeback a week ago. As late as draft day, the Saints remained unclear on when Gehrig would be returning from Europe.
Trading over, trade bait remain
... St Kilda yesterday announced the delistment of Barry Brooks, Phil Raymond, Justin Sweeney and Fergus Watts, with rookie James Wall also making an exit from Moorabbin. Jarryn Geary and Clinton Jones have been elevated to the senior list while Jayden Attard, Robert Eddy and ruckman Luke van Rheenen have been retained on the rookie list for 2008.
More Stephen Rielly and Jake Niall/RealFooty/18Oct07

Matthew Clarke ruck coach with Crows
Ben Hart and Matthew Clarke will join Adelaide's coaching panel next year - subject to negotiations with the Crows today. Ruck coach Michael Redden will leave the club - to take care of demands on his farm - giving Clarke his first job since retiring from football last month. Defence coach Peter Jonas will hand his portfolio to Hart, but the Crows insist the SANFL premiership coach will stay in Neil Craig's match-day team. Jonas, however, will have a greater say in Adelaide's critical development program. "Our decisions - which are still to be finalised - are based on getting extra resources to Neil on match day and into development," said Adelaide football operations manager John Reid. "Peter Jonas will have a role on match days in the box. We hope to finalise the appointments (today)." The return of Hart and Clarke to the front line of the Adelaide football team comes a year after Craig ushered both out of the playing list. Hart kept playing, with North Adelaide, Clarke at St Kilda
More Michelangelo Rucci/AdelaideAdvertiser/16Oct07

Hamill hobbles into retirement
St Kilda forward Aaron Hamill has pulled the plug on a football career plagued in its later years by a degenerative knee injury. Hamill, who is overseas, told the club yesterday he had retired. His decision ends a career that spanned more than a decade and included 98 games with the Saints and 92 with Carlton. Hamill missed the entire 2007 season after further surgery to an injured right knee that limited the bustling forward to just nine games in 2006. Former coach Grant Thomas said Hamill, 30, would be devastated to end his fierce playing career in such a tame fashion. "He was a great asset to the club and it would be gut-wrenching for him that he couldn't finish in a manner that more befitted his career," Thomas said yesterday. "To miss the last couple of years and dwindle off into the sunset isn't really what Aaron deserves. Unfortunately that's life. We all can't write our own scripts." Hamill joined the Saints in 2001 after five seasons with the Blues. He finished third in the best-and-fairest in his first year at Moorabbin and captained St Kilda in 2003. Thomas said Hamill was the prototype for today's breed of power forward . . . is the fifth Saint to retire, along with Andrew Thompson, Fraser Gehrig, Brett Voss and Matthew Clarke. Justin Sweeney and Phillip Raymond have been delisted, while rookies Jayden Attard and Clinton Jones have been elevated.
More Gareth Trickey/HeraldSun/04Oct07

Brett Voss retires from game
St Kilda utility Brett Voss has announced his retirement from AFL football at the age of just 29. Voss' decision was made following discussions with senior coach Ross Lyon and the Saints' coaching panel. "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with St Kilda Football Club and leave the game extremely proud of what I have achieved, and confident that I have given myself every opportunity to make the most of my time as an AFL footballer," Voss said. Drafted to the Saints from the Brisbane Lions in 2001, Voss finished 10th in the 2006 Best and Fairest. "I would like to thank all the players I have been involved with in my time at both St Kilda and Brisbane who, along with the dedicated off field staff, make the clubs what they are," he said. "I would especially like to thank all of my family for their support during this time and I am particularly indebted to my wife Carley who has supported me both in the good and the tough times. Without Carley and my children, my achievements would mean little. Lastly, a big thank you to the St Kilda supporters who have been fantastic in my seven years at the club." Voss wore the lucky No.13 in 170 AFL matches including 35 with the Lions.
More Sportal/18Sept07

Saints farewell Fraser Gehrig and Andrew Thompson
St Kilda won a thrilling last round encounter with Richmond at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, handing a deserved send-off to retiring veterans Fraser Gehrig and Andrew Thompson. The Saints triumphed 14.18 (102) to 13.14 (92) after Gehrig revealed before the match that he was hanging up his boots. Gehrig capped off a fairytale ending to a stellar career, kicking his fifth goal on the siren to stretch the Saints' winning margin to 10 points. The Saints looked a spent force in the final quarter as the Tigers bravely held a slight lead for the majority of the last term. But it was St Kilda's big names once again including big man Gehrig, Justin Koschitzke and Nick Riewoldt who edged them back into the contest, handing the Saints the lead with only seven minutes remaining. Riewoldt's late goal was contentious, as he looked to have a complete air swing at the football before it trickled over the goal line after a handball from Gehrig.
More ABCNews/01Sept07

Fish fails medical examination
Sydney dropped off recruiting St Kilda's Leigh Fisher after the defender failed a medical examination. He has a history of hamstring problems. However, Swans pair Adam Schneider and Sean Dempster will be at Moorabbin next year. St Kilda last night confirmed it would today pass on its second-round draft pick, No26, to Sydney for the pair. Sydney, despite receiving AFL funding of $680,000 this year above the salary cap limit for every other club, is understood to be in need of cap relief, and it may have to also sacrifice out-of- contract midfielder Jude Bolton. The Swans yesterday interviewed Geelong key-forward Henry Playfair, who played for most of 2007 in the VFL.
The Article Greg Denham/TheAustralian/12Oct07

• According to an unconfirmed source, Fish didn't fail the medical examination and that he was hesitant in leaving St Kilda and that the deal involving him was dropped when Pick 26 was offered. WoM Ed

Schneider, Dempster headed for Moorabbin
Goaksneak Adam Schneider and defender Sean Dempster, members of Sydney's 2005 premiership team, are likely to be traded to St Kilda as the Swans continue their aggressive post-season dealing. While Schneider was in Bali last night and is yet to agree to the trade, an agreement in principle has been reached between the clubs that would see Schneider and Dempster join former Swans assistant coach Ross Lyon at Moorabbin in return for the Saints' second-round draft pick (No.26 overall). Schneider, 23, a favourite with Swans fans since his dynamic debut season in 2003, when he played all 24 games, has been a talented but sometimes erratic contributor for the Swans in recent seasons, mixing some brilliant performances with occasional spells in the reserves. Dempster, 23, whose form has tailed off since 2005, is a victim of the club's decision to recruit Adelaide defender Martin Mattner in exchange for a second-round draft pick. Having fallen behind Tadhg Kennelly, Nick Malceski and Mattner among the Swans' rebounding half-backs, he is likely to be given a chance to regenerate his career with the Saints. The trade means the Swans have swapped Schneider and Dempster for Mattner, while improving their second-round draft pick from No.28 to No.26.
The Article Richard Hinds and Jake Niall/RealFooty/11Oct07

Saints' Sydney raid
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon's raid on his former club is set to land two Sydney premiership players. Lyon, who was an assistant coach at the Swans until joining the Saints this year, wants goalsneak Adam Schneider and running defender Sean Dempster at Moorabbin. The Swans are happy to deal with St Kilda's second round draft pick (No.26) likely to be enough although Saints defender Leigh Fisher may be part of the equation. Both clubs were last night waiting for Schneider's approval given he had initially been against a move away from Sydney. The 23-year-old is currently on holiday in Bali with his girlfriend but is believed to be warming to the idea after Swans coach Paul Roos made it clear he would better off elsewhere. Lyon has swooped on the Swans after they announced on Monday they were going to be a major player in trade week. Sydney is keen to rejuvenate its list and get in more speed with Roos making it known to his players at the end of the season that no-one was safe. Schneider, Amon Buchanan and out-of-contract midfielder Jude Bolton were the three premiership stars originally floated.
The Articles Scott Gullan/AdelaideAdvertiser/11Oct07

Swans ask good price for stars
Swans coach Paul Roos last night remained adamant the club would not be giving away any premiership heroes after a fruitless day at AFL trade week. Roos admitted that midfielder Jude Bolton and small forwards Amon Buchanan and Adam Schneider were more than likely to stay at Sydney despite their names being floated by the club during trade talks.
The Article Tim Morrissey/DailyTelegraph/11Oct07

Josh Kennedy will agree to Chris Judd trafe deal
Josh Kennedy will today agree to move to West Coast, finalising the greatest recruiting coup in a decade - Chris Judd's trade to Carlton. Judd will sign a five-year, $6 million contract with the Blues which will complete the biggest player transfer since Tony Lockett left St Kilda for Sydney in 1994. Judd's move will formally be announced at a media conference today, where it also might be revealed which number he will wear in 2008. The favourite is Kennedy's old number, No. 5, followed by either No. 10 or No. 12, vacated by the retirement of Matthew Lappin. No. 1 draft pick Marc Murphy wears Judd's old number, No. 3. The much-hyped deal for Judd, on the fourth day of trade week, will be for selections No. 3 and No. 20 and West Australian Kennedy.
The Article mark Robinson/HeraldSun/11Oct07

All clubs looking for ruckmen: Elshaug
... "All the clubs are looking for a ruckman," said (Tony) Elshaug. "If you've got a long-term strong ruckman at your club you've got a better chance of being successful. That's been proven with Ottens and King and Lade and Brogan and, in previous years, with Jolly and Ball. Everybody's convinced you need two strong ruckman to win a premiership and if we can't be looking down that road you've got to have something else special going in your team. I think everybody's looking for that sort of player if they can, but they may not be there."
Saints aiming for tall trades Angus Morgan/Sportal/08Oct07