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Hayes set for St Kilda captaincy
The Saints will make the official announcement tomorrow, with the 24-year-old Hayes set to be named as Aaron Hamill's successor. The honour follows on from Hayes's superb 2003 season, in which he played every game, won the club's best and fairest award and was named in the All-Australian team. The St Kilda board formally ratified coach Grant Thomas's recommendation over the weekend. While club officials remained tight-lipped over the appointment, it is believed Hayes is a near certainty to get the nod.
The Article - FoxSports - 08Feb04

Thomas flags new approach to skipper
"We're all a little bit bemused by the attention that the captaincy thing is getting. The leadership group is a little bemused as well, because in essence they're the guys that run the club, and the captain isn't even in charge of the leadership group. Maybe one day down the track everyone will find out what we're about, because I don't think the penny's dropped yet," Thomas said.
The Article - Samantha Lane in Hobart - afl.com.au - 05Feb04
Images - Hobart 1 - saints.com.au
Images - Hobart 2 - saints.com.au
Milne & Baker Chat Transcript - saints.com.au

It's Lenny Hayes for Saints job
All Australian midfielder Lenny Hayes is poised to be announced captain of St Kilda. In what will be the second skipper in his rotation policy, it's understood Saints coach Grant Thomas will recommend Hayes, 24, to the board of management as early as tomorrow. Hayes, who won the honour ahead of full-forward Fraser Gehrig and mainstay backman Max Hudghton, is expected to be officially appointed early next week.
The Article - Mark Robinson - HeraldSun - 05Feb04

Putting the bite on Hamill
St Kilda's Aaron Hamill suffered a mystery bite last week, causing the club's departing captain to miss five days of training. Hamill, who will relinquish the captaincy under the club's rotation policy, developed a lump on his groin about the size of a golf ball last Monday, and is still on antibiotics for what he suspects was a whitetail spider bite.
The Article - Samantha Lane in Hobart - afl.com.au - 04Feb04

Bulky Saints flex muscles, attitude
Hamill, who played with his much-admired attitude, said with strength came belief. "The young blokes have put on 70kg between them, so that only helps their confidence," he said. "They all know they can play super football, it's just a matter of getting that belief in themselves." Thomas argued that last year the issue was not intent, but the inability to execute.
The Article - Mark Robinson - HeraldSun - 04Feb04

Powell endorses trip to Tassie
St.Kilda's Stephen Powell believes the club's AFL Community Camp in Hobart will serve several purposes - helping the team bond, feeding an AFL-hungry Tasmania and giving the locals a chance to get an up-close-and-personal look at their heroes. The Saints arrived in Hobart on Tuesday, were greeted with a civic reception hosted by Premier Jim Bacon at Parliament House - a sandwiches and tea affair - before heading down to North Hobart Oval for an intra-club practice match.
The Article - Jordon Chong - afl.com.au - 03Feb04

Player previews: St Kilda
In the lead-up to the new season, afl.com.au presents its 2004 player previews. afl.com.au's Matt Burgan takes a look at every player from every club and sums up neatly where they're at and what they have to offer. Today, it's St Kilda:

Steven Baker - Underrated, nuggetty run-with player who is an integral part of the Saints' midfield brigade. Expected to make his presence felt in 2004. 24 in 2004. Luke Ball - Outstanding young midfielder who made his debut in 2003, playing 16 games. Is set to play a greater role in 2004 and looms as a ten-year player for the Saints. Heath Black - Classy midfielder almost traded back to Fremantle, but remains a Saint. Will be looking to reconfirm his spot in the 22 after tapering in 2003. Turns 25 in 2004. - All payers and rookies included on this list.
The Article - Matt Burgan - afl.com.au - 01Feb04
Saints revel in camp capers - Peter Ker - The Age - 02Feb04

Saint has no fears about heading home
St Kilda ruckman Barry Brooks is ahead of schedule and should be right to tackle his demons when he returns to Hobart next week . . . "I'm a couple of weeks ahead of schedule. The target is still Round 1, but I am back doing all the training flat-out at the moment," Brooks said. "It is fine. I can jump off it and everything like that. I reckon I could do the competitive work but they want to hold me back a bit" . . . "I have been in the gym more than anyone and been working with Fraser Gehrig a fair bit," he said. "I reckon I have got stronger but I'm still around the same weight."
The Article - Brett Stubbs in Hobart - HeraldSun - 31Jan04

Herald Sun Saints Update
The Saints had their largest attendance on the track this week, with all but four players taking part in light work in the lead-up to next week's intense training camp in Hobart. The four were Justin Koschitzke, Daniel Wulf, Matthew Ferguson and rookie Dylan Pfitzner. Koschitzke is on a modified program with some cross-training; Wulf will start training again next week, starting with some running; Ferguson is nursing a hamstring; and Pfitzner is recovering from back problems.
Victorian clubs Update - Geoff Poulter, Rebecca Williams, Emily Power - HeraldSun - 31Jan04

Saints look globally
Rod Butterss said without complete humour this week that the club would not have been able to send Waldron in a cab to Collins Street two years ago . . . (Brian) Waldron has spent his week mingling with presidents and chief executives from the major sporting leagues in the US (Chicago) listening to them discuss how they do things. "Being financially and operationally more mature, it's now very important for the club to look outside the traditional boundaries," (Rod) Butterss said. "It's now logical, for us and therefore for Brian, to look at what the rest of the world is up to."
The Article - Stephen Rielly - The Age - 30Jan04
Coaches primed for conference - Matt Burgan - afl.com.au - 30Jan04

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