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Saints may resurrect Daniher
Terry Daniher, dumped from Collingwood's coaching panel following its grand final defeat, is favoured to win the vacant assistant coach's position at St Kilda. Daniher, a former Essendon premiership captain and assistant coach, has been interviewed by the Saints a second time and is the clear-cut favourite to replace another former Bomber, Dean Wallis, as the fourth member of the St Kilda coaching panel. "We've spoken to Terry twice and he's certainly impressive," said St Kilda coach Grant Thomas. "We're hopeful of making an appointment prior to Christmas. Terry's right in the mix."
The Article - Jake Niall - TheAge - 10Dec03
Crazy John's Family Twilight this Sat! - saints.com.au - 10Dec03
AFL rates $1m camps a success - Angus Morgan - afl.com.au - 10Dec03

The Improvers
St Kilda: The Saints are ready to take the competition by storm and if they don't make the finals in 2004, it will be a disappointing result for coach Grant Thomas and his team of up-and-coming stars. From two wins and a draw in 2000 to four wins in 2001 to five wins and a draw in 2002 to 11 wins in 2003 - this is a team on the rise with some of the best young players in the competition. And with Robert Harvey back to his best and Lenny Hayes and Aaron Hamill at the peak of their careers to complement the exciting young talent such as Nick Riewoldt, Justin Koschitzke, Brendon Goddard, Leigh Montagna and Xavier Clarke - the Saints looked poised to return to the finals for the first time since 1998 next season.
The early call on 2004 - Paul Gough - afl.com.au - 11Dec03

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Goddard on his bike for a big 2004
"I don't think you can tell anyone what it's going to be like. One thing I learnt was how much you should listen to people. That's something I probably didn't do enough last year, listen to the experts around the club as much as I should have." "I had all my own thoughts on what I wanted to do and I had all these goals in my head I wanted to do, so I probably didn't ask enough advice. That's what I think you should do, as long as you can go off after that and make up your own opinion." Much about Goddard has changed in the past year. He has gained about eight kilograms, felt his posture change, and is noticeably broader across the shoulders, "but still like a little twig next to everyone else." At first, he could bench-press about 50 kilograms; now, he is up to about 80kg, something that didn't really hit him until he saw the Saints' latest draftees, Raphael Clarke and Sam Fisher, struggle through their first gym sessions. "I just keep saying to them, 'That's all I was doing last year, don't worry about it'," he said. "You feel a bit embarrassed lifting all these puny little weights and you're next to Fraser Gehrig, who could lift two of you."
The Article - Emma Quayle - TheAge - 07Dec03
Saints set up camp in Hobart - saints.com.au - 09Dec03

Thomas supports change in structure
St Kilda coach Grant Thomas says he will welcome a football operations manager to the club, despite his belief that such an appointment is unnecessary. Since stepping in for Malcolm Blight midway through the 2001 season, Thomas has held the senior coaching post and headed the club's football department, which involved negotiating player contracts and managing the Saints' list. It has been reported that Saints president Rod Butterss, football director Mark Kellett and chief executive Brian Waldron decided last week that a football operations manager would be appointed.
The Article - Samantha Lane - saints.com.au - 28Nov03

Saints footy manager - Mark Robinson - HeraldSun - 29Nov03
Search for assistants - HeraldSun - 30Nov03
WA club after Saint, Tiger - Ross Lewis - TheAge - 02Dec03

Hayes wants to show way
St Kilda's star midfielder Lenny Hayes is hoping to play a bigger role in the development of the club's younger players this year, regardless of whether he is given the captaincy. As favourite for the role, Hayes said if the chance to lead the Saints next season was offered to him, he would 'grab it with both hands'. He is mentally preparing himself for the role - just in case - and has spoken to outgoing skipper Aaron Hamill about his experience in the job. It is a position the 23-year-old has coveted since the club announced it would rotate the captaincy each season.
The Article - Rebecca Urban - The Age - 04Dec03
Hayes ready - Geoff Poulter - HeraldSun - 04Dec03
Not fussed on leadership - Barry Levinson - afl.com.au - 01Dec03

Saints sweating it out
While much is expected from the talented young Saints, following their steady improvement in 2003, defender Max Hudghton told afl.com.au that hard work over the summer months is a necessity . . . "Pre-season is about getting yourself as fit as you can, working on your deficiencies - which for me is my opposite side - which I'm really working hard on. It's also about building camaraderie amongst the boys and training our butts off."
The Article - afl.com.au - Barry Levinson - 05Dec03

Draftees become public property
A crash course on all matters football was given to the AFL's newest batch of draftees yesterday, with one message delivered louder than others. More than 80 newly drafted players, many still 17 years old, and elevated rookies were told by football authorities their lives were no longer their own.
The Article - Damian Barrett - HeraldSun - 09Dec03
Draftees must adjust: AFLPA - Matt Brugan - afl.com.au - 08Dec03

Telecasts to go interactive
AFL fans will be able to bet on games through their televisions and keep track of individual players during live telecasts as part of a revolutionary digital service to be launched by Foxtel at the start of the 2004 football season. Fox Footy Channel subscribers will also be able to call up instant replays, choose between commentaries . . . with the necessary equipment will be able to split their screens four ways and choose between a variety of camera angles, such as behind-the-goals and wide shots. A "player-cam" facility will allow viewers to follow the progress of individual stars.
The Article - Caroline Wilson - TheAge - 10Dec03

No increase on ticket prices
General admission ticket prices for next year's AFL premiership season and Wizard Home Loans Cup will not increase for the first time in 10 years. In a boost for football fans, AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said on Friday the freeze on prices was to thank supporters for their strong attendances in 2003.
The Article - Barry Levinson - afl.com.au - 14Nov03
AFL bumper year, so no price bump - Peter Ker - TheAge - 15Nov03
The price is right - Damian Barrett - HeraldSun - 15Nov03

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