Grant Thomas

[boncer34]

Just wondering what St Kilda supporters really think of him? Obviously you ask anyone from any other club and you hear how ******** he is and personally I think you guys should've already won a flag and if you dont in the next 2 years questions probably have to be asked. But what do you guys rekon? Is he the real deal or is he holding you guys back? Not looking for abuse here just a general idea of how you guys feel.

[Axcellence]

He's probably 2nd best coach in Saints history after Allan Jeans.

And otherwise as well, he got the team from where it was in 2000-01 to where it is now. Tell me how many other coaches have done that?

[narthola_04]

He's probably 2nd best coach in Saints history after Allan Jeans.

And otherwise as well, he got the team from where it was in 2000-01 to where it is now. Tell me how many other coaches have done that?

I think people forget that a lot of things have to go your way to win the flag, only one team does it each year. Noone expects a team to walk into their first finals campaign and win the flag, but somehow those expectations have been planted on us. People forget we've only played two seasons of finals, we went from 10th in 03 to 3rd in 04.

As a fan who sat through crap including Tim Watson (wtf!) and a 'master coach' who played golf instead of turning up to training and club functions i'm bloody happy to have a coach who loves the saints as much as i do. People who stick the boots in should get down to training and have a chat to GT, the way he is portrayed in the media baffles me.

He's not in the best 5 game day coaches out there, we know that but we also know that he's aware of his faults and i'm very excited about our new assistants this year! very happy with those changes in the offseason.

[Kildonan]

St Kilda's 1997 Grand Finalist team had been decimated by Tim Watson. He took what was essentially our grand finalist team and left when he had coached them to the wooden spoon. Watson frequently overruled our recruiting officer and our squad was in bad shape.

Tim Watson’s resignation late in 2000 was the trigger for a changing of the guard across the board, and Andrew Plympton followed suit by stepping down as President after a reign, which had seen the Club’s financial situation turned around completely.

Late 2000 / early 2001, flush with all this money, incoming President, Rod Butterss, and his administration were able to score a coup by signing Malcolm Blight as coach. He was reluctant at first, but committed himself after officials and a few young stars flew up to the Gold Coast and met with him. On Malcolm’s advice the club initiated trade deals that secured the services of Aaron Hamill, Fraser Gehrig, Steve Lawrence, Craig Callaghan, Matthew Capuano and other fresh blood into the team. The priority pick and first draft pick netted us Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke.

The “Class” of 2001 (http://saints.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=248169). Five years is a long time in Football
7:23:36 AM Tue 28 February, 2006
Allan Grant

Malcolm Blight was recruited in the off season, and given his record, there were huge expectations. The list had been pruned and with significant new additions to the list many pundits had us firing on all cylinders. Respected columnist Rohan Connolly had us in the eight when he wrote “There’s not much doubt that most eyes will be on St Kilda’s progress after a recruiting splurge the likes of which has not been seen for decades.”

Robert Walls wrote “New recruits, plenty of dough, lots of hype and of course Malcolm Blight is a sure fired recipe to lift the Saints. Just how high and for how long, only time will tell”.

Dermott Brereton was more circumspect when he wrote, “The landscape has changed at Moorabbin and they will be better. But monumental ascendancy into the eight by seasons end just will not happen”.


One of the amazing facts of the pre 2001 season was the $1.90 being offered by Sportsbook about the Saints making the Final 8. This price was undoubtedly influenced by the recruitment of Blight as well as the 12 new arrivals.

So who had departed and who were the new recruits besides the expected messiah Malcolm Blight? From the 2000 list 15 players had departed. Some had retired, others had moved on to other clubs while others drifted into obscurity. They were;

Matthew Carr: To Fremantle where he is still playing well.
Sam Cranage: To Carlton as part of the Aaron Hamill deal.
Joe McLaren: Off to the Roos where he was to play a few more AFL games.
David Sierakowski: To the Eagles
Darryl Wakelin: To the Power where he was to become a Premiership player.
Fred Campbell: Unknown
Damien Monkhorst: To a brief sojourn in minor football
Ben Thompson: Retired
Tony Brown: To the SANFL
Jason Heatley: Bobbed up in the Tasmanian VFL team
Kurt Heazlewood: Unknown
Gavin Mitchell: Did he return to the West?
Murray Pitts: Unknown
Steven Sziller: To the Tigers for a brief extension of his career.
Shane Wakelin: Delisted and on his way to the Pies.

The arrivals were expected to add enough to the Saints firepower to have us in contention for a finals berth come late August. They were:

Craig Callaghan: From the Dockers and expected to add much needed grunt.
Matthew Capuano: It was hoped he would free up Spider and allow him to spend more time up forward.
Fraser Gehrig: Coming home after success with the Eagles.
Aaron Hamill: To the Saints after his well publicised spat with “Jack” Elliott.
Steven Lawrence: To his Dad’s club after some up and down years with the Lions.
Brett Moyle: From the Rookie list.
Mark Gale: Ex Docker.
Justin Koschitzke: Number 2 in the national draft.
Robert Powell: From the Tigers.
Nick Riewoldt: Number 1 in the national draft
Daniel Wulf: Taken in the national draft
Brett Voss: Picked up in the pre season draft from the Lions.

The Rookies in 2001 were, Justin Berry, Chris Oliver, Mark Wittison and Stephen Milne.

So what happened in 2001? Perhaps the events of 2001 are best summed up by Rowan Connoly when he wrote pre season 2002, “ Nothing that happens to the Saints in 2002 could possibly be more surprising than the events of the past disastrous year. The Saints have lacked class, application and discipline. Turning that around won’t be easy for the AFL’s greenest coaching panel.”

We as supporters entered 2001 with a sense of euphoria. We had lured the guru Blight to Moorabbin and had picked up the two top recruits. We had strengthened our list with a group of players expected to add strength and versatility to a previous good but unsupported nucleus. 2001 proved that confidence is one thing, luck is another but the most important thing to understand is that nothing is certain, anything can go wrong and that opportunities must be taken when they are offered.

The players who didn’t survive into 2002 were Barry Hall, Sean Charles, Jason Trianides, Mark Gale, Robert Powell, Damien Ryan, Matthew Young, Tim Elliott, Brett Knowles and Ben Walton.

From the list of 2001 the players gearing up to represent the Saints in 2006 are Justin Peckett, Aaron Hamill, Andrew Thompson, Lenny Hayes, Max Hudghton, Fraser Gehrig, Nick Riewoldt, Brett Voss, Justin Koschitzke, Jason Blake, Steven Baker, Rob Harvey and Troy Schwarze. It would be remiss of me not to add Stephen Milne from the 2001 rookie list!

This nucleus of experience will be the base of the Saints push for the 2006 flag. A lot does happen in five years of football, 2001 is light years in the past. Go Saints 2006.

Finishing last had been a degrading experience and the club were desperate to improve their fortunes. There was a feeling that two Victorian clubs were to be culled from the competition and Butterss was trying to ensure that
St Kilda, a foundation member of the AFL, was not going to be one of them.

Blight’s coaching stint ended controversially 15 weeks into the season after it was decided that his commitment was not commensurate with the St Kilda committee’s expectations nor the huge salary they were paying him.

Grant Thomas became “caretaker coach” while they searched for a replacement. At that stage, (Round 16, 2001) the Saints had lost 41 of their last 49 games.

Grant Thomas empowered the recruiting officer, John Beveridge, to use his own judgement.
Trades: Heath Black(Fremantle) for pick #17, Trent Knobel (Brisbane) for pick #45, Draft pick #13 for Barry Hall and Draft pick #53.
Pre-Season Draft: #1 Brett Voss (Brisbane)
National Draft Selections:#2 Luke Ball, #5 Xavier Clarke, 13 Nick Dal Santo, #21 Matt Maguire, #37 Leigh Montagna, #49 Josh Houlihan

In 2002, after deciding that they could find no-one better, GT was appointed as the Coach. The team had finished 16th and 15th in its last two seasons. This year St Kilda suffered tragic injuries to many of the key senior players and were forced to play kids as replacements for these. The squad was improving but the results were invisible because of the loss of the senior players. St Kilda again finished second last (5 wins, 1 draw), having missed out on a priority pick by half a game – this indicated that despite the dismal performance, we were trying to win rather than collect highly ranked recruits. This is the year that Carlton were penalised their priority pick and first 2 rounds draft picks for repeated salary cap infringements. St Kilda initially had pick #3 as their first pick, this became pick #1 after the penalties were put in place.
Trades: Draft picks #6 and #22 for Peter Everitt, Luke Penny for Draft pick #17, Barry Brooks for Draft picks #6 and #31.
National Draft Selections: #1 Brendon Goddard, #22 Matthew Ferguson, #46 Leigh Fisher.

In 2003 the Saints had a break-even year (11 wins, 11 losses) with wins over highly ranked Adelaide and Brisbane. After the win against Brisbane we had a drop in form. Injuries to a few key defenders showed up our lack of depth. The improvement being shown by all players but especially the younger brigade augured well for the future. The Saints finished the season with four impressive wins and a narrow loss to Geelong. After the season they traded for depth.

In 2004 the Saints started like a bull at a gate, winning the Wizard Cup, then going on to win the first ten in a row of the H&A season. There was a mid-season slump followed by a recovery that saw them fail by a goal in making an appearance in the Grand Final. The early season success focused a lot of attention on the Saints. For the first time since 97/98 they became the hunted. They had a long season of intensity and gained finals experience. After the season they again traded for depth whilst gaining the services of a young gun in Andrew McQualter.

In 2005 the Saints were preseason favourites for the flag, but the first half of the season was dominated by injuries. Just past the half way mark of the season, St Kilda remained out of the top eight and many had decided that they couldn't figure in the finals. They proceded to win 8 of the next 9 H&A games, their only defeat being against Fremantle at Subiaco with a kick after the siren. That game saw a number of players injured and was contraversial due to remarks made supposedly by one of the umpires officiating the match. They played the qualifying final in Adelaide against Adelaide FC and won, then returned to Melbourne with a week off before playing Sydney in the preliminary final. Sydney overran the Saints in the final quarter. St Kilda recruited youth and a mature VFL ruckman, Michael Rix.

[mad-saint-guy]

Great post. StKildonan you really gotta become a journo or something. (Although seeing as you know something about footy, you're probably over-qualified...)

[Kildonan]

Grant Thomas's Coaching Record:

2001 - 7 games 1 win (14%)
2002 - 22 games 5 wins 1 draw (24%)
2003 - 22 games 11 wins (50%)
2004 - 25 games 17 wins (68%)
2005 - 24 games 15 wins (62.5%)


Note that the true measure of Grant Thomas's coaching (or influence) on St Kilda cannot be measured just in the improved on-field performance.

He has changed the "culture" of the club. He has given the players a belief in themselves and he has developed the players in more ways than just their footballing ability.

He has won the respect of the playing list because he not only tells it how it is but backs his players to the hilt. He gives them "ownership" of their own futures.

He has done a fantastic job to this point in time because he has addressed the issues on and off the field that needed to be sorted out. The players would walk through walls for him and he'd do the same for them.
Much to people's chagrin he is big on corporate speak and one of the big buzzwords is empowerment. He wants the players to be able to take charge. If there is a loose player in defence, he wants the players to recognise it - to not wait until they are moved back there by him (which may be why some feel that he is not doing enough in the coaching box). His coaching ethos is based on a very successful past coach. His belief is that the normal (accepted) system of Back/Midfield/Fwd coaches isn't ideal. He is of the belief that there are 3 separate parts to the game (regardless of where the ball is) Defensive (they have the ball) Offensive (we have the ball) and Neutral (umpire has the ball, or loose/contested ball) in this situation we are setting up a structure to win the ball - offence. The coaches work together in the box, rather than focussing on their separate part of the game, and continually throw up suggestions on Structure/Match-ups to GT.

It's tactically that people see as his major weakness but when asked to cite where he has performed poorly, at most the protagonists can come up with are one or two moments in a season and usually the actions suggested were not credible due to other requirements / problems.

[Kildonan]

Great post. StKildonan you really gotta become a journo or something. (Although seeing as you know something about footy, you're probably over-qualified...)

Thanks MSG. :D

[boncer34]

Thanks for this guys it has really opened my eyes up in relation the him. I still think you should've beaten Sydney and perhaps if you had a better "match" day coach then you would've been in the GF. However he does deserve more credit then I originally thought.

[kosi_23]

Yeah we shouldve beaten Sydney for sure

[sainter]

Thanks for this guys it has really opened my eyes up in relation the him. I still think you should've beaten Sydney and perhaps if you had a better "match" day coach then you would've been in the GF. However he does deserve more credit then I originally thought.

Possibly but do you really think the result would have been any different had Kevin Sheedy, Mick Malthouse or Denis Pagan been coaching us? And when answering please bear in mind that 6 of our starting 22 were not available for that preliminary final.

[Kildonan]

Thanks for this guys it has really opened my eyes up in relation the him. I still think you should've beaten Sydney and perhaps if you had a better "match" day coach then you would've been in the GF. However he does deserve more credit then I originally thought.

We could have had Malthouse, Sheedy, Pagan, and Matthews in the box, it wouldn't have changed a thing. The players were stuffed, we'd lost our ruck, Luke Ball was on the bench with OP or limping half paced about trying vainly. We just didn't have the fit players left to halt Sydney.

In fact, I doubt that any of those coaches would have got them to the prelim in the first place.

"perhaps if you had a better "match" day coach then you would've been in the GF" is a falacy. GT has the match day skills in spades. Don't rely on popular opinion, decide things for yourself by analysing moves and asking yourself why that St Kilda player is there when it looks as if the opposition have failed to man up someone. How did Milne get free? Koschitzke taking a mark in the forward 50 (where's his opponent?) It happens all the time - just few people are smart enough to notice.

Thomas is a master at moving key opposition players away from where they want to be - especially key defenders.

The official Saints site (http://saints.com.au/default.asp?pg=coaches) has been updated, this is an excerpt:

Grant Thomas began coaching at St Kilda Football Club in Round 16 in 2001. Now in his fifth full season at the helm, Grant Thomas became only the third St Kilda coach to reach the 100-game milestone in last season’s preliminary final. The other two men to have achieved this feat – Stan Alves and Allan Jeans – both guided the Saints to the Grand Final, with the latter tasting premiership glory. Under Thomas, the Saints have played an attacking, fast flowing football that has made them one of the most exciting teams in the AFL to watch. In the past two consecutive years, the Saints have come within touching distance of a Grand Final berth and have finished 3rd. The Club’s published aim is to finish in the Top 4 and to be a great team. If Thomas continues to deliver on this surely he will steer the Saints to the success they crave.

http://saints.com.au/cp2/c2/webi/person/013834av.jpg

[moosha]

Talking to a well connected bloke the other day who believes Grant Thomas has been told to deliver this year or will be given marching orders.
WHat do people think of this, by all reports the bloke is a great motivator but not much of a coach.
I for one have never been a fan, and no several people that will not be members agian until he is gone.
Does any one rate him? I think we would have seen sucsess with some one like Eade at the helm.
The other rumour was he has somthing pretty big over rod butters, so possibly the answer would be them both going? How long can we wait with the current list before we no longer have the ablility to achieve the ultimate?

[mad-saint-guy]

I think we would have seen sucsess with some one like Eade at the helm.



No chance in hell. Thommo is better tactically than Eade, just watch round 14 vs Bulldogs. The best coaching performance I've ever seen.

Thommo does make mistakes, but he doesn't repeat them (eg: double teaming Scott Wset after he cut us up in '04, letting Riewoldt run around on a wing after struggling with physical pressre at CHF, playing Kosi as a ruckman drifting forward so more pressure would be take off Gehrig, and we did better in the ruck). GT is treated savagely by the press because he isn't a media darling. The one's the media like are the ones who open up and tell the media everything about the team, are interviewed often, and treat the media with more respect.

GT doesn't give a crap about the media, so they get their revenge by making things up and warping idiot's minds who are incapable of forming an opinion of their own by themselves.

If we had your boring old Wallace/Eade type coach who does everything conventionally, loves the media and copies other coaches we'd still be struggling for a spot in the finals.

Coaches copy other good coaches. GT introduced a leadership group, now I don't think there's a single team without one, GT introduced the rotating captain, Roos copied but put his own little twist on it and is praised for thinking of such a brilliant idea. GT even started the overseas training camp, as opposed to the overseas drinking contest, every club that can afford to is now doing that as well. He's also gone into a new level of player management that no coach before him has reached.

The good coaches of the (recent) past (Sheedy, Malthouse, Pagan) are all out of date now. They don't have the players respect and trust. They just go out, yell a bit, tell the players where to run and who to kick to, get their pay-check and leave. GT goes out of his way to make sure the players are comfortable at St Kilda and with their role in the team. Both Aussie Jones and Fraser Gehrig were on the verge of quitting in 2002, but GT got them in the right mindset, and they produced the best footy of their careers.
Anyone who is a negative influence on the other players is out. Everitt is a prime example of this. Certainly a great player, but he's an absolute moron, and would be a shocking role model for the young guys at Hawthorn.

I'm very happy with GT at the helm, and certainly wouldn't want anyone else.

[Kildonan]

My sentiments exactly Mad-Saint-Guy :thumbsu:

[karnaby]

The other rumour was he has somthing pretty big over rod butters, so possibly the answer would be them both going?
Maaate, that's old news. Your buddy hasn't been keeping you in the loop, GT has got photos (Sshhh) don't tell anyone tho.

Maybe you'd best tell the "... several people that will not be members agian until he is gone." that they're being petty tw ats. If they truly supported the club they'd still back it financially & hope for the best rather than try to white ant the coach. Maybe it's time you went back to TBV & contemplated how bad life really will be when the Saints do win the flag.

[sammm]

No chance in hell. Thommo is better tactically than Eade, just watch round 14 vs Bulldogs. The best coaching performance I've ever seen.

Thommo does make mistakes, but he doesn't repeat them (eg: double teaming Scott Wset after he cut us up in '04, letting Riewoldt run around on a wing after struggling with physical pressre at CHF, playing Kosi as a ruckman drifting forward so more pressure would be take off Gehrig, and we did better in the ruck). GT is treated savagely by the press because he isn't a media darling. The one's the media like are the ones who open up and tell the media everything about the team, are interviewed often, and treat the media with more respect.

GT doesn't give a crap about the media, so they get their revenge by making things up and warping idiot's minds who are incapable of forming an opinion of their own by themselves.

If we had your boring old Wallace/Eade type coach who does everything conventionally, loves the media and copies other coaches we'd still be struggling for a spot in the finals.

Coaches copy other good coaches. GT introduced a leadership group, now I don't think there's a single team without one, GT introduced the rotating captain, Roos copied but put his own little twist on it and is praised for thinking of such a brilliant idea. GT even started the overseas training camp, as opposed to the overseas drinking contest, every club that can afford to is now doing that as well. He's also gone into a new level of player management that no coach before him has reached.

The good coaches of the (recent) past (Sheedy, Malthouse, Pagan) are all out of date now. They don't have the players respect and trust. They just go out, yell a bit, tell the players where to run and who to kick to, get their pay-check and leave. GT goes out of his way to make sure the players are comfortable at St Kilda and with their role in the team. Both Aussie Jones and Fraser Gehrig were on the verge of quitting in 2002, but GT got them in the right mindset, and they produced the best footy of their careers.
Anyone who is a negative influence on the other players is out. Everitt is a prime example of this. Certainly a great player, but he's an absolute moron, and would be a shocking role model for the young guys at Hawthorn.

I'm very happy with GT at the helm, and certainly wouldn't want anyone else.

you forgot he started the community camp concept. went to warrnambool i think in his first full year as coach. In his 2nd year, the AFL broguht in the concept.

[mad-saint-guy]

you forgot he started the community camp concept. went to warrnambool i think in his first full year as coach. In his 2nd year, the AFL broguht in the concept.

I did remember that, but I wasn't positive it was the first one. (Had a great time then! I got the first photo known to man in which GT was smiling!)

[sainter]

Former Geelong great Steve Hocking has rejoined the club in a full time capacity. Hocking, who has spent the past two seasons as the chairman of the Cats' match committee, will fill the new role of Training Services Manager

http://saints.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=afldisplay&articleid=245150


Keep up the good work GT! :D

[Axcellence]

Delete

[moosha]

The good coaches of the (recent) past (Sheedy, Malthouse, Pagan) are all out of date now. They don't have the players respect and trust........... Both Aussie Jones and Fraser Gehrig were on the verge of quitting in 2002, but GT got them in the right mindset, and they produced the best footy of their careers.

to say somthing like that about some of the greatest coaches ever is just stuipidity, those type of blokes are respected by all and are absolute greats of the game.
Also good to see that aussie jones played the max. amount of AFL games he had the ability to play.
Any way i will definatley be signing up agian this year, and i hope we win one soon, thomas or no thomas

[della]

I have no doubt if u guys had no injuries last year you would of won the flag and i feel that as a Cats fan you guys for sure are the team to beat and i am not confident of beating u guys at full strength even though we match up ok youre tall forwards scare the ******** out of me.

In regards to Thomas, i feel he is a very good communicator it seems, has respect of most players but i feel when u guys have a few injuries he fails to adapt enough and struggles with key moves during the game.
Look if u have all the cattle on the park he doesn't need to do much coaching, just watch the lips of lethal tape and he barley saids a word during thoise 2 grand finals against the pies, why would u when u have such good cattle out there.

I know most of u guys supported Blighty being axed but that year was just a write off as i remember at one stage u guys havin only 26 players to chose from and it was only Rnd 8, i am one who feels that if Blight had stayed on in his 2nd year and saw the talents of Reidwolt, kosi, Gehrig fit and co he would of got excited and possibly won u a flag by now, actually i am very confident u guys would of had at least 1 flag under blight. He did seem to lose interest at times but he was different no doubt but he had the runs on the board i feel to have at least been given the chance to finish his contract esp after u went to all the trouble to pay him 2 million over 2 years.

anyway thats just my thought, u guys r the team to beat but if Thomas does fail this year then the pressure is on for him to be retained no doubt next year.

[sammm]

anyway thats just my thought, u guys r the team to beat but if Thomas does fail this year then the pressure is on for him to be retained no doubt next year.

he has a contract until end of 2007. doubt very much they will sack him before the end of his contract. A rider on that though is if they don't make the finals this year, then there might be a possibility.

[Kildonan]

I know most of u guys supported Blighty being axed but that year was just a write off as i remember at one stage u guys havin only 26 players to chose from and it was only Rnd 8, i am one who feels that if Blight had stayed on in his 2nd year and saw the talents of Reidwolt, kosi, Gehrig fit and co he would of got excited and possibly won u a flag by now, actually i am very confident u guys would of had at least 1 flag under blight. He did seem to lose interest at times but he was different no doubt but he had the runs on the board i feel to have at least been given the chance to finish his contract esp after u went to all the trouble to pay him 2 million over 2 years.

anyway thats just my thought, u guys r the team to beat but if Thomas does fail this year then the pressure is on for him to be retained no doubt next year.

Just so you know. Blight had virtually a full list to select from, it was the next year that the Saints suffered numerous injuries to key personnel - and it was Grant Thomas who had to cope with those injuries. The positive of this though is that it fast-tracked many of our talented youthful recruits as they had to play whether they were ready or not.

[scottydeewah]

I think his biggest fault is the rotating captaincy. Didnt work last year I think it crippled St Nick to a point it was sometimes VERY painful to watch. You can blame injuries but it had more to do with the weight on his shoulders not a bung one. Okay so he may be outcoached sometimes but who isnt. Really though he made a mistake last year with St Nick and giving it to ball is a BIG risk in my opinion.

I always think the take on blightly is interesting. Lot of falsehoods I think.

[Kildonan]

I always think the take on blightly is interesting. Lot of falsehoods I think.

Such as ...??

[scottydeewah]

It wasnt all one way traffic. Similar to when Ben Graham left the cats, most supporters think he just got up and walked, it wasnt actually quiet that black and white.

[Kildonan]

Grant Thomas is interviewed on Sport 927 on the Luke Ball Captaincy, Kosi, The NAB Cup squad and the coaching staff

Link (http://www.sport927.com.au/gateway/Daily_Audio/Sound%20Grabs/GT_210206.asx)

[Kurtis G]

Talking to a well connected bloke the other day who believes Grant Thomas has been told to deliver this year or will be given marching orders.
WHat do people think of this, by all reports the bloke is a great motivator but not much of a coach.
I for one have never been a fan, and no several people that will not be members agian until he is gone.
Does any one rate him? I think we would have seen sucsess with some one like Eade at the helm.
The other rumour was he has somthing pretty big over rod butters, so possibly the answer would be them both going? How long can we wait with the current list before we no longer have the ablility to achieve the ultimate?
You absolute idiot.

Coaches are talked about in that regard when their side has been down the bottom of the ladder for a while and they just "arent deliveing" such as Danny Frawley was and now Chris Connoly who is struggling to take the next step with Freo. If a club sacked a coach because the side kept finishing 3rd every year they would be total morons and the laughing stock of the AFL. Even if you dont win a flag in ten years, if you are consistantly at the top end of the ;adder, your hardly going to lose your job.

You sir, are an ungrateful d*ick.

Personally I like the look of the Saints list. I backed them to win the flag last year and I think they once again threaten this year, the year after and the year after. They are a strong side all round and are recruiting youth at the same time which is important. On the verge of something great. Even if Richmond cant win the flag at the moment, id rather it back in Victoria where it belongs!

[della]

my memory must be wrong but my recollection was u guys were just torn by the injuries during Blights stint, i remember a game against the pies at the G and u were in front all day but were over run late dure to injuries.

All i can say is if u go to so much effort to get someone of Blights talent at least see what happens until his contract runs out.

He may not of turned things around but i'll say this, if he was coaching in any of the previous 2 years he win u guys a flag and i don't care what u say, yes he was different and unorthatdox but he was always like that, just look at his record and how he did things

did many a strange thing at geelong, called players pathetic, walked around the boundary early etc etc but he had a great record

did thomas make that much of a diff and develop the list quicker, highly unlikely from where i am standing but each to there own and this game would be boring if we all agreed on everything.

1 thing most of us would agree is barring major injuries u guys should win it this year handsdown

[Kildonan]

Bla bla bla Blight bla bla

did thomas make that much of a diff and develop the list quicker

St Kilda is recognised as one of the most highly skilled teams in the competition.
This is not something Blight would have been capable of equalling from the 17th green at Royal Melbourne.

Whether you like it or not, Grant Thomas has done an exemplary job in developing the young hopefuls into highly skilled players (including several all-Australians). Most of the kids at Thomas's disposal were recruited after the batch of kids at Geelong. The Saints came from considerably behind Geelong in skill, to go past them. I credit Thomas with this feat.

[della]

I doubt that youre kids have come from behind geelong and r now in front, both teams have played in finals the last 2 yrs and haven't achieved anything at all.

U guys had top draft picks everywhere and we have had very little top 10 picks so i don't know what u r saying. Bomber took over a club with an ageing list going knowhere but some good smart recuiting efforts have helped us out,

In terms of blight not sure how u compare his records with thomas but Blight was a great coach for sure and sure he did a few thing diff but overall he had the runs on the board.

I just feel that if u had another experienced coach esp Eade then u would of won a flag, u guys can say all u want but Thomas is just an average coach and if u need proof of that get in contact with N.Burke or Daniher and get them to explain a fe things, Burke wasn't at all impressed with Thomas.

hey if thomas is the best coach for u good luck but speaking to most Saints fans theres always that though in the back of there minds of what could of been with someone else at the helm, theres no doubt he will be gone if he doesn't get a flag this year regardless of contracts etc, that u can be sure of.

[Molky Saint]

What has Eade won? As for Burkey it's amazing how opposition supporters divine things out of thin air (you got ESP:rolleyes: ) If you had've listened to the 3AW pre-match programme before our first NAB cup game, you would find Nathan and GT are great friends. They chatted freely and with great affection. I would just worry about Gee-long if I were you:eek:

[della]

it's working with the list u have not always records, if Matthews had won 1 flag at or even 2 he would of underachieved.

I do worry about Geelong don't u worry, our tall forward line is my biggest worry i promise u.

With u guys and the list u have something is wrong in u guys not at least making a grand final the last 2 seasons i don't care what u say, Thomas is a good peoples person no doubt but lacks footy smarts, maybe the additin of mcGuane which i think is the best thing to happen to that club in a decade may help u out as i rate him very highly and have seen him close up in the country.

What i would be ********ed of as a saints fan is afterl ast years prem loss, i was there, walking out of the ground not to many supporters seemed that upset, maybe its a cultural thing i don't know,

u won't have a better chance then now and u guys need to win it whilst that monster of a thing, the "G" Train is still there, i doubt u wil win it once he goes, just my thoughts and i am not biased when it comes to my team or any team in the league, i just call it as i see it and if u read my views on my club u would know that.

[mad-saint-guy]

What i would be ********ed of as a saints fan is afterl ast years prem loss, i was there, walking out of the ground not to many supporters seemed that upset, maybe its a cultural thing i don't know,


Not many people would've seemed that upset because we simply weren't good enough.

I 2004, we were by far the best team on the day (prelim against Port), and every saints fan was absolutely devastated.

Last year, I was extremely dissapointed, but we had our chance and blew it. In 2004 we made the most our chance, but a combination of home-ground umpiring, injuries, bad goal-kicking, and the famous oval-invasion when we had all the momentum was too much for us to overcome. We deserved to win in 2004, but we weren't good enough in 2005.

[della]

Yeah fair call about 2004, i was there in Adel with my girlfriend who is a saints fan and u guys looked the more dangerous side all night but youre backline let u down, really should of been a cats vs Saints Grand Final that year.

i hope its that case this year.

[Cudaman]

Come on - it is a coincidence St.Kilda has gone from basket case to successful AFL team with a huge supporter base turning a very nice profit, since he and Buttress took over power - without winning a premiership?

The man played AFL - roughly the same amount of games as Jeans and Hafey - and represented Victoria. Is the problem that was a successful business man, has connected friends, and dares to think and act differently?

Thomas has changed the entire thinking of AFL coaching;

- empowering his staff (and giving credit) - just look at the look at the recruitment manager's ability to attract great players who are not in the magical top ten of the draft. Just look at the staff turnover at the old fashioned despots....
- rotating captaincy - which actually means expanding the leadership group, as every club has copied in the past 3 years. Look at the debate over Cousins...what will they do without their leader...he is still their spiritual leader blah blah blah. Thomas has moved the focus from the individual to the team.
- You don't do it all yourself - Thomas looks after Leadership - Rendell looks after tactics - Mifsud and McGuane will look after the spirit.
- Overseas trips and expanding horizons - enough said - they all do that now!

Of course St.Kilda has a great list and we all expect the moon. But just take one step back and ask how did we get such a great list, keep them together, and keep turning a very tidy profit! But like all high profile jobs...he is a premiership away from being a genius or another preliminary final away from being an unfulfilled new thinking wannabe!

At the end of the day in 2006, I will put my money on Thomas to deliver.

[panthers]

Great post Cudaman

[Kurtis G]

theres no doubt he will be gone if he doesn't get a flag this year regardless of contracts etc, that u can be sure of.

Worst call ever.

[Kildonan]

Saints coach dreams of dynasty (http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Saints-coach-dreams-of-dynasty/2006/03/06/1141493594040.html)
The Age March 6, 2006 - 3:17PM

St Kilda has no more divine right to win the 2006 AFL flag than any other side, but coach Grant Thomas is thinking about a dynasty even though he has not sipped from a premiership cup.

Coming up to 40 years since the club won its sole flag, many believe the stars might be poised to align again in the Saints' favour, especially given that the core of a silky side which reached successive preliminary finals is still intact.

The detractors say St Kilda must strike while the iron is steaming, as the battered bodies of forwards Fraser Gehrig and Aaron Hamill and onballer Robert Harvey won't be around forever.

Thomas is confident St Kilda will still succeed beyond its older stars, as young guns Nick Riewoldt, Luke Ball, Nick Dal Santo, Justin Koschitzke, Matt Maguire and Lenny Hayes (old in that group, having just turned 26) are entering their footballing prime.

Favouritism did not sit well initially with the Saints last year, as they were in the red and only just in the eight at the halfway point of the season.

Injuries - notably to the key-position players Riewoldt and Koschitzke and Hamill, still the heart of the side - hurt, which Thomas uses to claim the Saints over-achieved in 2005.

Historically, St Kilda finishing third is a great result for the club.

With this playing list though, another preliminary final defeat might not be good enough to quench the long-held thirst of supporters for a premiership or a grand final appearance.

"If that means we have to play in finals for the next 10 years and we finally win one somewhere along the line, well, that's a s***load better than we've been in the past 100 years," Thomas says.

St Kilda's journey from laughing stock in 2000 to contender began left-field, as the club built up its playing stocks via early draft picks (the rewards for mediocrity) and appointed Thomas from a more managerial background than a coaching one.

Thomas believes many observers are willing St Kilda to fail because of its unorthodox rise and his philosophical personality, and he believes the theory the same naysayers spruik - that it's now or never time - is borne from ignorance.

"It's possibly earned disrespect from the fact that we've never been able to deliver in the past, apart from one game by one point (the 1966 grand final win over Collingwood)," he says.

"In history we have a very meagre record and because of that we're entitled to cop criticism ... (but) people don't have an internal appreciation of where we're at and don't understand where we're heading.

"There's that old footy mentality of a time clock, which doesn't exist here and no one's been able to give me a logical reason to why it should exist.

"If you want to apply a time clock on it, OK, I heard (Western Bulldogs coach) Rodney Eade say that 29 of his players on his list are under 24. Well, we've got 31. So does that make us better than them? No.

"All it means is we've got some older players - Harvey at 34 - but we've got a truckload of young guys who are in the prime of their careers at 60, 70, 80, 90 games and that was always the model that we wanted to build."

St Kilda's obvious riches are in attack, as Gehrig's 78 goals and Stephen Milne's 61 helped the Saints crack the 100 points 14 times in 2005, most at home sweet home Telstra Dome.

The midfield is a formidable combination of talent, pace, depth and grunt, while in Cain Ackland and Koschitzke the ruck stocks are much healthier than from a couple of years ago.

The premature retirements of Luke Penny and Austinn Jones leave the biggest challenge finding a settled defence.

Aaron Fiora and Xavier Clarke are two candidates to grow into Jones' old role as a sweeping half-back, while the pressure is on Sam Fisher to become a long-term key defender after a breakthrough season.

Off field, former Collingwood premiership players Mick McGuane and Craig Starcevich are useful additions, the former given his reputed tactical nous and the latter as a proven fitness coach (ex-Brisbane), who might solve the Saints' scourge of soft tissue injuries.

Thomas is adamant favouritism won't hamper his players, and admits anyway, there's no point running.

"You can't ignore it because it's everywhere you go," he said.

"The media will ramp up and do whatever and if we have a poor couple of weeks they'll smash us with it, if we have a good couple of weeks they'll probably more so smash us with it."

[Kildonan]

AFL follows Grant Thomas' ideas (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23146222-19772,00.html)
Mark Stevens
Herald-Sun Superfooty
Feb 02 2008 12am

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5869924,00.jpg
GLENN Manton was brave enough in his playing days to question the herd-mentality of coaches. "You can't be a sheep, you can't follow the pack," Manton mused, openly attacking some coaches' training methods.

Manton was a sheep of the black variety.

Grant Thomas has no body-piercing that we know of, but in many ways he was the Manton of coaching game.

The former St Kilda coach has been silent over summer, but is no doubt sitting back having a private chuckle.

Clubs are making headlines for putting their players through confronting, public polls to elect their leadership groups.

Collingwood has been at the South African university town Potchefstroom finetuning at high-altitude.

From Monday, clubs start to embark on what the AFL now strongly brands "Community Camps".

Could've sworn we've seen it all before.

Anyone who closely follows the Saints knows what I'm getting at. Thomas, never one to follow the sheep, can lay claim to all three concepts.

While other clubs were simply letting us know who was skipper and who was vice, Thomas in his early days at Moorabbin openly spoke about the club's leadership program.

The Saints, as far back as four years ago, asked their players to rank every peer on the list from 1 to 38.

Final results were there for all to see. A bit like the tennis rankings. If you were on the slide you copped a wake-up call.

It was Thomas that pushed the term "leadership group" like never before.

Now, endless stories are written about the make-up of leadership groups. Clubs put out press-releases about it. Heaven forbid, it even becomes a media event these days.

At the same time as Melbourne is making headlines for a 5-4-3-2-1 leadership vote, players are spread all over South Africa.

Newspapers are full of photos of players mingling with under-privileged kids. Then there's the obligatory training shots in the heat. The standard clinics.

Yet again, the Saints were there first. Thomas, with the help of friend, Olympic decathlon champion Daley Thompson, put the club through a training camp at "Potch" in late 2004.

Thomas drove the idea. It was about life-experiences as well as fitness.

And how about the community camps? Another major media event this month.

Thomas started that, too. He took the entire Saints team to Warrnambool in November, 2001.

At the time, it was a major shift in thinking. There were no SAS guys, just lawn bowls, sand-castle building and of course hospital visits. Thomas' plan was simple. Training in the morning; community visits in the afternoon.

Caught on didn't it.

Whatever you thought of Thomas the coach, the guy deserves credit for breaking from the herd.

[Joffaboy]

I wonder if sue your former club for a quarter of a mill is going to innovative and followed by all coaches in future? :rolleyes:

[JeffDunne]

He's not the first to do it JB and he won't be the last.

[NeXus_Helen]

Nothing against Lyon but GRANT THOMAS should still be coaching the Saints. He is the best coach St.kilda have ever had, (in my life time). It is because of him that St.kilda are now out of danger from folding, merging or relocation. It is because of him that we have so many leaders at the club.

The only thing he failed at (and ultimately it cost him his job), was injury prevention. If he had've got that right the Saints would have won at least 2 premierships since 2004.:(

[bubblegoose]

Nothing against Lyon but GRANT THOMAS should still be coaching the Saints. He is the best coach St.kilda have ever had, (in my life time). It is because of him that St.kilda are now out of danger from folding, merging or relocation. It is because of him that we have so many leaders at the club.

The only thing he failed at (and ultimately it cost him his job), was injury prevention. If he had've got that right the Saints would have won at least 2 premierships since 2004.:(

Our best coach was our premiership coach, Allen Jeans.

Thomas certainly took us from a dark & scary place to being competitive & ready to take the next step. He had some great concepts and is definitely one of our great coaches.

Imo, if we still had Thomas as coach I wouldn't be confident of winning a premiership. I have confidence that Lyon can give us the best crack at winning a premiership.

[superfreak]

Nothing against Lyon but GRANT THOMAS should still be coaching the Saints. He is the best coach St.kilda have ever had, (in my life time). It is because of him that St.kilda are now out of danger from folding, merging or relocation. It is because of him that we have so many leaders at the club.

The only thing he failed at (and ultimately it cost him his job), was injury prevention. If he had've got that right the Saints would have won at least 2 premierships since 2004.:(

well now we know your under 7 years old.

he failed at many things, not all of which were publicly known.

it is because of rob butterss and the board that we are out of danger from folding, merging or relocation, not grant thomas.

[FredNurks]

well now we know your under 7 years old.

he failed at many things, not all of which were publicly known.

it is because of rob butterss and the board that we are out of danger from folding, merging or relocation, not grant thomas.

My thoughts exactly

While Thomas was undoubtedly innovative he was severely lacking in the tactical area. a point in fact was that he just couldnt counter flooding in any way and only seemed to have the single game plan which when countered left him high and dry.

Thomas couldve worked harder on the injury front but chose not to. i dont think he had much faith in it

to state that we wouldve one a couple of grannies is just looking at the world through rose coloured glasses

His time has passed please Nexus move on RL is there now and he is looking the goods

[bubblegoose]

to state that we wouldve one a couple of grannies is just looking at the world through rose coloured glasses

f*! That my friend is bloody funny & i almost fell off my seat! :D:thumbsu:

[hotdish]

Thomas couldve worked harder on the injury front but chose not to. i dont think he had much faith in it

Care to elaborate. That is a strong assertion...

[FredNurks]

f*! That my friend is bloody funny & i almost fell off my seat! :D:thumbsu:

Yeah i couldnt help myself

[FredNurks]

Care to elaborate. That is a strong assertion...

GT had a very tight reign over most things in his time at St Kilda but the spending in this area couldve and sholudve been a lot more. IMO i think this was partly due to GT's business background and possibly RB's fiscal policies

[Squizzy1970]

What is his problem?

16 possessions and 4 tackles from Harvs in a half - what the hell was wrong with that?

He got caught by Davey, but only after Roo had kicked it backwards and put him under the hammer.

Does Grant Thomas not write about anyone else?

[Look2Me4Guidance]

What is his problem?

16 possessions and 4 tackles from Harvs in a half - what the hell was wrong with that?

He got caught by Davey, but only after Roo had kicked it backwards and put him under the hammer.


Does Grant Thomas not write about anyone else?

Yeah and he fails to mention that when the game is up for grabs in the final qtr, Harvs was everywhere for about a 5 minute period. He has totally lost me after this crap.

[35Harvs]

I read somewhere he made these comments while "commentating" with Dermie ... FFS, 16 possies in a practice match ....

I am seriously over GT.

[FredNurks]

How anyone can have a go at this out and out champion is beyond me let alone a man who coached the great man and has stated on numerous occasions he bleeds red white and black

i to wish he would just feck off and talk about some other team for a change

i did feel for him when he was dumped but now he just seems to be a sad and bitter buffoon

i wonder how NH will spin this complete and utter crap from the former coach

[Sir Robert]

How anyone can have a go at this out and out champion is beyond me let alone a man who coached the great man and has stated on numerous occasions he bleeds red white and black

i to wish he would just feck off and talk about some other team for a change

i did feel for him when he was dumped but now he just seems to be a sad and bitter buffoon

i wonder how NH will spin this complete and utter crap from the former coach

NH is Grant Thomas. Makes sense now!

Also re-read previous pages on this thread and laughed at how right Della was at saying GT would be gone at the end of 2006 barring a premiership. Lol. Good call.

Agreed as well feck off Grant. No-one talks bad of Sir Robert!

[mad-saint-guy]

What is his problem?

16 possessions and 4 tackles from Harvs in a half - what the hell was wrong with that?

Does Grant Thomas not write about anyone else?

I think GT is in the media trap of feeling to constantly say things controversial to keep his job. He made an excellent start in the media, since he was fresh out of the game and provided plenty of insight that no one else could. However he's said everything worth saying and now he's stirring up trouble just to keeps his name in the news.

[sainter35]

Grant Thomas is a used car salesman. He sold Butters and now I bet Rods regrets having being conned - dont worry Rod - this snakes a pro at it.

Nice to see the awesome 35 shove it fair up his clacker.:thumbsu:

[celtic_pride]

Talking to a well connected bloke the other day who believes Grant Thomas has been told to deliver this year or will be given marching orders.
WHat do people think of this, by all reports the bloke is a great motivator but not much of a coach.
I for one have never been a fan, and no several people that will not be members agian until he is gone.
Does any one rate him? I think we would have seen sucsess with some one like Eade at the helm.
The other rumour was he has somthing pretty big over rod butters, so possibly the answer would be them both going? How long can we wait with the current list before we no longer have the ablility to achieve the ultimate?

Gee whiz, your mail was right on the money ..

I do think in hindsight, the lack of drafting a quality ruckman probably cost GT his job in the end ..
I think all things considered this year, if the Saints have a decent luck of injuries for a change, they probably should be a decent chance at the flag, would love to see Harvey win a premiership medal in his final year, just a marvel on the field, and a great guy off it ...

[saintharvs]

I used to have a lot of respect for Grant Thomas but his comments about our champion Robert Harvey was uncalled for. Being caught does not mean he is slow or finished. I can see a large serving of humble pie being dished up by the end of the season.

[Persevering Saint]

I used to have a lot of respect for Grant Thomas but his comments about our champion Robert Harvey was uncalled for. Being caught does not mean he is slow or finished. I can see a large serving of humble pie being dished up by the end of the season.
He got his first platefull of that pie last night at Football Park, I can tell you!

[NeXus_Helen]

How anyone can have a go at this out and out champion is beyond me let alone a man who coached the great man and has stated on numerous occasions he bleeds red white and black

i to wish he would just feck off and talk about some other team for a change

i did feel for him when he was dumped but now he just seems to be a sad and bitter buffoon

i wonder how NH will spin this complete and utter crap from the former coach
Grant Thomas is correct, Harvey should have retired last year. Actually, Gehrig should have retired as well. I admit that Harvey played well last night but he will not be able to sustain it over the whole season. Father time catches up to everyone, even champions!!!!!

As far as Gehrig is concerned, he will be a hinderance to the team when he is selected. At best, Gehrig should only be used when one of Rievoldt or Kosi are injured. You can not have the 3 of them playing in the same team.

[southern star]

Grant Thomas is correct, Harvey should have retired last year. Actually, Gehrig should have retired as well. I admit that Harvey played well last night but he will not be able to sustain it over the whole season. Father time catches up to everyone, even champions!!!!!

As far as Gehrig is concerned, he will be a hinderance to the team when he is selected. At best, Gehrig should only be used when one of Rievoldt or Kosi are injured. You can not have the 3 of them playing in the same team.

why not td made for dry weather and were are you going to find backmen for starters to stop 3 of them how do you know harves wont sustain it for the year 40 degrees last night and played a good game

[HoldenMCaulfield]

Grant Thomas is correct, Harvey should have retired last year. Actually, Gehrig should have retired as well. I admit that Harvey played well last night but he will not be able to sustain it over the whole season. Father time catches up to everyone, even champions!!!!!

As far as Gehrig is concerned, he will be a hinderance to the team when he is selected. At best, Gehrig should only be used when one of Rievoldt or Kosi are injured. You can not have the 3 of them playing in the same team.

Yeah, right - and:

- you don't need quality ruckmen in todays game

- Milne and Schneider can't play together

- flooding should be ignored as far as tactics and gameplan are concerned

- Butterss sacking Thomas has ruined our chances of winning a premiership

- if Sheedy was still coaching Essendon, they would have won last week comfortably

- St Kilda will end between 10th and 14th on the ladder...

[NeXus_Helen]

Yeah, right - and:

- you don't need quality ruckmen in todays game

- Milne and Schneider can't play together

- flooding should be ignored as far as tactics and gameplan are concerned

- Butterss sacking Thomas has ruined our chances of winning a premiership

- if Sheedy was still coaching Essendon, they would have won last week comfortably

- St Kilda will end between 10th and 14th on the ladder...
I never said all of those above!!! What are you on about Dominique?

[Hugh Jars]

Cmon guys, PLEASE stop dignifying NH's posts with a response. You are being fished :D

[mick13]

Yeah, right - and:

- you don't need quality ruckmen in todays game

- Milne and Schneider can't play together

- flooding should be ignored as far as tactics and gameplan are concerned

- Butterss sacking Thomas has ruined our chances of winning a premiership

- if Sheedy was still coaching Essendon, they would have won last week comfortably

- St Kilda will end between 10th and 14th on the ladder... but still manage to beat the 2004 run!

Fixed.

[NeXus_Helen]

why not td made for dry weather and were are you going to find backmen for starters to stop 3 of them how do you know harves wont sustain it for the year 40 degrees last night and played a good game
When you learn how to speak proper English, I may consider answering a couple of your questions. Until then, I think I will ignore you because I have no idea what you are trying to say and or ask.

[ChrisFooty]

Grant Thomas was a poor coach. The selection processes to hire him were rubbish. It was clear they were always going to select him and not the best applicant. He also has shown to be a greedy man, as well as a foolish man.

I wish this man could just go away.

[ChrisFooty]

Grant Thomas is correct, Harvey should have retired last year. Actually, Gehrig should have retired as well. I admit that Harvey played well last night but he will not be able to sustain it over the whole season. Father time catches up to everyone, even champions!!!!!

As far as Gehrig is concerned, he will be a hinderance to the team when he is selected. At best, Gehrig should only be used when one of Rievoldt or Kosi are injured. You can not have the 3 of them playing in the same team.

It's a good thing your not on the St.kilda selection committee.

[NeXus_Helen]

It's a good thing your not on the St.kilda selection committee.
You need to learn how to spell.

[seanoff]

was a complete and utter fraud as an AFL coach.

Had NFI about almost anything to do with gameday decisions. Can't tell you the number of times my friends and I watching Saints games would look at each other and just laugh, go WTF? or wonder why he'd not done something obvious.

Might have been close to the players but, really not a clue as an AFL coach.

Lyon seems to have at least have a plan, like it or not, at least it's a plan and the players seem to have adjusted now. Thomas had nothing.

[Fehring]

AFL follows Grant Thomas' ideas (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23146222-19772,00.html)
Mark Stevens
Herald-Sun Superfooty
Feb 02 2008 12am
While other clubs were simply letting us know who was skipper and who was vice, Thomas in his early days at Moorabbin openly spoke about the club's leadership program.

The Saints, as far back as four years ago, asked their players to rank every peer on the list from 1 to 38.

Final results were there for all to see. A bit like the tennis rankings. If you were on the slide you copped a wake-up call.
.

NOTE: I edited Kildonan's entry for brevity.

Stan Alves actually introduced the players ranking back in the mid 90s. Alves tells the story about how Spider Everitt was shocked when he was ranked dead last by his team mates the first time around.

Ray McLean was working with the Saints during that period, so it may have been him who came up with the idea, rather than Alves. It sure wasn't GT although props to him for bringing it back. Otherwise, the article was spot on.

[varcoe]

grant thomas is the single biggest joke i have ever seen in regards to coaching, i mean not being able to win a flag with u guys is the biggest disgrace in all sports ever, his coaching in prem final against sydney was the worst coaching i have seen in my life and now he has a go at harvey during a pre season game, this is some kind of joke, this man has caused so much pain and heart-ache for youre club i ts sad, stabbed blighty in the back cause he though he couild do better them someone who has a track record matched by few others, get a life thomas, u destroyed the fabric of that club and i know most saints fans will never forgive him for butchering at least 1-2 flags, lucky for u guys come sep 08 youre drought will finally be over i feel!

[Savatage]

grant thomas is the single biggest joke i have ever seen in regards to coaching, i mean not being able to win a flag with u guys is the biggest disgrace in all sports ever, his coaching in prem final against sydney was the worst coaching i have seen in my life and now he has a go at harvey during a pre season game, this is some kind of joke, this man has caused so much pain and heart-ache for youre club i ts sad, stabbed blighty in the back cause he though he couild do better them someone who has a track record matched by few others, get a life thomas, u destroyed the fabric of that club and i know most saints fans will never forgive him for butchering at least 1-2 flags, lucky for u guys come sep 08 youre drought will finally be over i feel!


I hope your last line is true but as for the rest, SPOT ON.

[Squizzy1970]

Bite the big one Grant - well done Harvs.

[WASaintsFan08]

how can anyone think harvey is done? he still plays aswell as he did the year he won the brownlow. the only problem is the afl style has changed since then its not about your stars anymore, its about the team.. but he still does amazing things and amazingly blends into that. posessions mean nothing anymore. its what you do with them that counts.

The day he or his body gives up is when he's done. As for now i enjoy watching him play and can pretty much walk around his opponent

[north of the river]

how can anyone think harvey is done? he still plays aswell as he did the year he won the brownlow. the only problem is the afl style has changed since then its not about your stars anymore, its about the team.. but he still does amazing things and amazingly blends into that. posessions mean nothing anymore. its what you do with them that counts.

The day he or his body gives up is when he's done. As for now i enjoy watching him play and can pretty much walk around his opponent


It's like thinking your Sister is very good looking - you think it, but no way would you say it!

If he gets injured during year and some of the young guys are picking up, take it from me, he will retire if this is happening - always the team player.

[Rough_Edges]

FWIW after the Harvey comments...

I hate the prick.

[FredNurks]

When you learn how to speak proper English, I may consider answering a couple of your questions. Until then, I think I will ignore you because I have no idea what you are trying to say and or ask.


if you are going to correct someones grammar you should probably ensure your own is OK.

I am sure what you meant to say was speak English properly

Pot kettle black

[WASaintsFan08]

make sure ur nglsh is proper b4 correcting it ppl wats wrng wif u!!!!!!

Its a footy forum not an english class!!!

back onto the topic the quicker grant in away from the club the better..

is his law suit against it still going?

[ChrisFooty]

is his law suit against it still going?

Yes, which is Unfortunate. This greedy man wants more money in the bank.

[Rough_Edges]

The 'man' can get ****ed.

[NeXus_Helen]

if you are going to correct someones grammar you should probably ensure your own is OK.

I am sure what you meant to say was speak English properly

Pot kettle black
Hey FredNurks, re-read what I said. What I posted is exactly what I meant to say. I think you will find you should practice what you preach!!

[WASaintsFan08]

Damn that old grumpy guy that never smiled!!!!

He's just p!$$ed that in his time with the club he did nothing at all useful

poor hammill fell victim too his stupidity.... he wouldve slotted in nicely this year :(

[FredNurks]

Hey FredNurks, re-read what I said. What I posted is exactly what I meant to say. I think you will find you should practice what you preach!!

point taken

re-read and my immediate thought is that you are a flog

[YearOfTheXMan]

Hi everyone. Long time viewer but newly registered. I have been interested in the debate on Grant Thomas.

IMO his recent actions against the club and individuals shows that he thinks he is bigger than the club.

I am not allowed to post my own threads yet so am gonna head this debate on to a tangent. ;)

Which coach do you think has done the most damage to the club while either there or after their tenure was completed? I'm going with Tim Watson but Alex Jesaulenko would be up there. I remember a game at Waverley where he passed the ball after the siren when 40 metres out from goal....the most bizarre thing I have seen.

[boncer34]

Gee whiz 2 years later and my little thread popped up again.

[ultimate hater]

I can sum up nexus in 2 posts he/she/it made within 5 hours of each other...

...At best, Gehrig should only be used when one of Rievoldt or Kosi are injured. You .

You need to learn how to spell.

ahhh irony..

[NeXus_Helen]

point taken

re-read and my immediate thought is that you are a flog
My sentiments precisely.

[NeXus_Helen]

I can sum up nexus in 2 posts he/she/it made within 5 hours of each other...





ahhh irony..
What has spelling of a German name got to do with correct English spelling you dimwit. I guess you just summed up yourself ultimate hater:D:D:eek::eek::thumbsd::thumbsd:

[FredNurks]

My sentiments precisely.

Excellent we are in agreement then

[SpInNeR]

Stkildanon...You still reackon GT was a good coach....

IE. He should still be coaching us now?

We had many an opinion in the past and I would truly like to know what you still think (...plus I have matured during my days....much to my dislike)

[Sir Robert]

The 'man' can get ****ed.

Agreed with this post right here.

In fact why don't we close this thread.

Also I forget what station this to$$ bag announces on... But why don't we all (excluding NH of course) just not listen to it. A ratings drop will see him out of the commentary box quicker than he left Moorabbin:)

[Rough_Edges]

Agree, close this thread imo.

Not helping anyone, if he 'loved' the club as much as he did he wouldn't constantly bad mouth it.

[ChrisFooty]

I can't wait for Ross Lyon to prove why he is ten times the coach GT ever was. I'm very confident Ross is a better game day coach, in fact a better coach all round.

The sooner we get into this footy season the better:thumbsu:

[NeXus_Helen]

Agree, close this thread imo.

Not helping anyone, if he 'loved' the club as much as he did he wouldn't constantly bad mouth it.
So if you're working as a contractor when your contract comes to an end, if you don't get all your entitlements you will just sail off into the sunset? Wake up and smell the coffee you id107. The man only wants what is his.:mad::mad::mad::mad:

[Squizzy1970]

He wants what's his, and hush money, and long service leave (as a contractor!), and love & cuddles from Roo, and the right to bag the Saints more than any other team in the comp.

[NeXus_Helen]

He wants what's his, and hush money, and long service leave (as a contractor!), and love & cuddles from Roo, and the right to bag the Saints more than any other team in the comp.
St.kilda is where they are because of Thomas.

[sainter]

So if you're working as a contractor when your contract comes to an end, if you don't get all your entitlements you will just sail off into the sunset? Wake up and smell the coffee you id107. The man only wants what is his.:mad::mad::mad::mad:

Yes, and the point that we have made is that he signed a form saying that he had received his full entitlements.

Now he is saying that he was pressured into signing that document.

Does Grant Thomas seem like the kind of person who would be pressured or coerced into signing anything?

[WASaintsFan08]

how can you be pressured into signing the papers when the media was all over it.... he couldve claimed them for much more.. but no he signed....

and st kilda is where it is 2day.... because of gt? what with hamill gone completely, austin jones leaving afl because he was expected too much of
and body wanted to leave before his body failed him too badly

our younger talent full of re occuring injuries because they werent dealt with... and he didnt recruit the young players...

in fact everytime recruiting was being done... he was in other countries/states etc...