2009 Media Thread

[SaintsSeptember]

Re: Media Thread

Who is the poor bastard with Hudgeton playing against him in the VFL?

 

[Squizz]

Re: Media Thread

Who is the poor bastard with Hudgeton playing against him in the VFL?

Nathan Thompson has been playing a few games for Werribee, so Max might get quite a decent hit-out (Thommo has kicked a few I believe). Podsiadly (who would have been a tough opponent) moved across to Geelong this year.

 

[Squizz]

Re: Media Thread

Max Hudghton to return through VFL

Michael Horan | May 14, 2009

Max Hudghton will finally play football this weekend, but there is no guaranteed fast track back to senior ranks.

The popular 32-year-old defender, for a decade an automatic inclusion in the Saints’ side, will need to find match fitness, form and then an opening in the unbeaten line-up to build on his 227-game career.

''We're pretty keen to keep those that are delivering … It's as simple as that, really, and everyone has to bang down the door to get back in. The reality is its no difference for Max,'' St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said today.

Rejuvenated former Hawk Zac Dawson has held down a key defensive role in impressive fashion and with the Saints enjoying top-of-the-table status with seven straight wins, they are in no rush to re-arrange the side.

Hudghton missed the entire pre-season competition and the first seven games due to a severe calf injury and despite being considered a part of the club's best 22, it’s uncertain how long his return will take.

''How long is a piece of string? He's going to need at least two (VFL games) you would think and then we'll sit down as a match committee and review his form and fitness from there,'' Lyon said.

''It's been a significant rehabilitation and it’s going to take a little bit of time … but he's highly respected and we're obviously keen to get Max in at the right time.''

Matt Maguire, who has been anchored on 99 senior games all season, was used as forward with success in the VFL last weekend and Lyon admitted it could be an option at senior level somewhere down the track.

''Eventually. Obviously our preferred structure is our two legitimate talls and then work around the rest but - touch wood - you're only an injury away from that,'' he said.

''If we can continue with Matt in that way it’s good for him and its good for the club. It also freshens him up a little bit mentally where he doesn't have to follow someone down back, he can take the game on, which he was rapt about,” Lyon said.

''It's good we're working together to try to get him back.''

 

[Squizz]

Re: Media Thread

St Kilda ruckman Steven King could return after missing two games with a hamstring injury. "We thought he'd get through last week and he didn't (pass a fitness test), but we're confident again this week," Lyon said. "Once he's available for selection we'll make a decision on him or (Ben) McEvoy."

Lyon confirmed veteran defender Max Hudghton would play with Sandringham in the VFL this weekend — his first game since suffering a pre-season calf injury.
However, on the back of seven wins in a row and a defensive set-up conceding an average of just 54 points per game, the coach said the 32-year-old would need to "bang down the door" before being elevated. "We're rapt to have Max back and hopefully it will go well for him. "He'll need at least two (games at reserve level) and then we'll sit down as a match committee and review his form and his fitness … obviously we're keen to get Max in at the right time.

"He's a good AFL player, he's respected here and come off a terrific season, but he's missed all the practice match series and the first seven rounds, so it's not an insignificant period of time. "We're pretty keen to keep those that are delivering … it's as simple as that really, and everyone has to bang down the door to get back in (and) it's no different for Max."

 

[bubblegoose]

Re: Media Thread

http://bigpondvideo.com/afl/128210

Luke Ball takes you a tour through the training areas at Moorabbin. (will need to open in IE or have the right FF plugin)

 

[bubblegoose]

Re: Media Thread

OLD AGE

Saints see another one bite dust

ANOTHER challenge. Another big tick. St Kilda continues to rack up the wins and the credits in equal measures, precocious Essendon the latest challenger to bite the dust.

Last night's win over the Bombers at Etihad Stadium wasn't nearly as authoritative as last Monday's demolition job on Collingwood, but did it need to be? What mattered more was that the Saints held off, again, an opponent coming at them like a bull at a gate.

More: http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/saints-make-it-eight/2009/05/17/1242498638955.html


Lyon says team will learn from its fighting win

ST KILDA'S close win over Essendon would prove a more valuable experience to the still unbeaten Saints than the obliterations they had been dealing out in previous weeks, coach Ross Lyon said last night.

The 19-point final margin was not the smallest of their season, but after a devastating six-goal opening term the Saints were outscored by a bold Bombers' side that refused to be shrugged off until late in the final term.

More: http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnew...ts-fighting-win/2009/05/17/1242498638946.html


Saints, Bombers wiser for match

AT MATCH'S end, both sides were clapped from the ground. If anything, the applause for the Bombers was slightly louder, slightly more heartfelt. The sense was of a game with one-and-a-half winners.

This is the place to which St Kilda has unexpectedly taken the game this season. At first, the question was about their bona fides as premiership contender. Now it is about how they can be beaten. IF they can be beaten. By whom.

More: http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/saints-bombers-wiser/2009/05/17/1242498638949.html


Hudghton, Maguire fit and firing

ST KILDA'S season will be bolstered even further with the imminent return of key defenders Max Hudghton and Matt Maguire after a dominant display for Sandringham in its 30-point win over Werribee Tigers yesterday.

Hudghton is in line to return to the undefeated Saints after keeping his former West Brisbane teammate Marty Pask goal-less, while blossoming with 11 disposals and five marks at full-back.

More: http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/hudghton-maguire-fit-and-firing/2009/05/17/1242498638967.html


Young Dons show the right stuff

ST KILDA strolled to the quarter-time huddle yesterday evening in familiar fettle, 28 points to the good and content that Essendon was trapped in the path of a steamroller that has been flattening all-comers. That the course of events changed so unexpectedly in the ensuing two hours was embraced by a large, appreciative crowd.

More: http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfmat...how-right-stuff/2009/05/17/1242498638952.html

 

[bubblegoose]

Re: Media Thread

Don't those media people love harping on about how many games we've won in a row? I bet they've already got their headlines of doom prepared for when we drop one, screaming about how Saints & supporters got ahead of themselves - too busy watching the number of consecutive wins tick over to focus on taking on each challenge as it's presented before them!
Is there any Saints out there that think this is really an important aspect of our season this year - how many wins we can string together? Surely there's a bigger picture to be more concerned about? Hmmmm?


Saints unbeaten at top of ladder

published in some insignificant paper

St KILDA were challenged, but lifted to beat a courageous Essendon by 19 points at Etihad Stadium today and maintain their unbeaten AFL record this season.

... blah blah blah, read it all in other papers ...

St Kilda have now won their opening eight matches of the year and remain clear of Geelong at the top of the ladder on percentage.

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Re: Media Thread

Hahaha....Goosey all over the written medium.

Any chance we got a write up in Il Globo?

 

[bubblegoose]

Re: Media Thread

Hahaha....Goosey all over the written medium.

Any chance we got a write up in Il Globo?

I'll check brother

 

[Squizz]

Re: Media Thread

Hayes: Saints can get better

20/05/2009 Sportal

Eight games without a loss and a percentage close to 200 is a pretty impressive way to start a season, but St Kilda midfielder Lenny Hayes believes the best is yet to come. The Saints currently sit on top of the AFL ladder and are considered near certainties to finish the season in the top four given their three-game break on third-placed Western Bulldogs.

But whether or not the Saints can win their first premiership since 1966 - and second in their 113-year history - remains to be seen given the strength of last year's runner up in Geelong. Both teams are yet to be beaten this season, but Hayes feels the Saints are yet to peak in 2009. "There is definitely a lot of improvement left in us," Hayes said prior to St Kilda's training session at Moorabbin on Wednesday. "One thing that has been really good this season has been our pressure, but I still think we can move the ball a lot better." "Even still there has been periods in games where our intensity has dropped off a little bit, like we saw last weekend (against Essendon)."

One of the most pleasing parts of St Kilda's unbeaten start to the year has been its stability at the selection table, with only 25 players used through the first eight rounds. But the Saints have numerous players in the VFL that are capable of slotting in to the senior side when required, with Matt Maguire, Max Hudghton, Raph Clarke, Ben McEvoy, David Armitage and Robert Eddy all capable of performing at the highest level.

Maguire and Hudghton in particular would be considered certain selections in St Kilda's best 22 and Hayes believes it will only be a matter of time before the duo are seen at senior level. "There is no doubt that those two guys will play a pretty significant role for us," Hayes said. "It just depends at what stage they will come back into the side and how they are going to structure it up." "Matty has been playing up forward in the VFL the last couple of weeks and doing really well ... and Ross (senior coach Ross Lyon) has said that he might even throw him in the ruck." "And I have no doubt that Maxy will be back in the side in the next couple of weeks." "There is definitely room for both of them."

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Re: Media Thread

http://www.saints.com.au/season2009/news/newsarticle/tabid/5315/newsid/77295/default.aspx

Some intersting stuff by Mr Gwilt.

 

[Sunday Red]

Re: Media Thread

Saints Official Facebook Page

Just discovered this recently. A good way to hear about what the boys are up to in the media.

 

[Squizz]

Re: Media Thread

Full-back Max Hudghton played in the VFL yesterday and Lyon said he was on track to return to the side, as was another key defender Matt Maguire.

"Max played VFL (and) we are planning to return him before the bye," said Lyon. "That is the aim, but it puts some pressure on spots. Maguire is part of the mix, but I challenge anyone to bring him in at the minute."

 

[Squizz]

Re: Media Thread

Thought these were interesting comments (pleasing even) :

Nick Riewoldt played an important part in the win with four goals, but Lyon revealed there had been serious doubt about his availability in the lead-up to the game.

"It was an enormous effort. He probably won't like me talking about it, but he was in bed all week, didn't train and was unlikely to play for most of the week with a virus," he said.

"I can talk about it now because he played well, but he was always going to get out of bed for Lenny Hayes.

"He really nailed those last quarter goals, so it was really a great captain's game today."

 

[CHBench]

Re: Media Thread

Jason Gram's rehab linked to Saints axing

Nothing story, but maybe could've chosen a more discreet headline. For a second there...

 

[bubblegoose]

Re: Media Thread

Jason Gram's rehab linked to Saints axing

Nothing story, but maybe could've chosen a more discreet headline. For a second there...

Oh yes, the drama of it all. I wonder who he's referring to: "sources close to the Saints"? Does that relate to my best guess - or Saints fans on footy forums pondered questioned...?

Maybe these journo's should be suspended from rehashing crap for a few weeks. Hutchy gets the life ban - no value.

 

[Squizz]

Re: Media Thread

I wonder who he's referring to: "sources close to the Saints"?

Probably BrianSpeaking

 

[krusden]

Re: Media Thread

Oh yes, the drama of it all. I wonder who he's referring to: "sources close to the Saints"? Does that relate to my best guess - or Saints fans on footy forums pondered questioned...?

Maybe these journo's should be suspended from rehashing crap for a few weeks. Hutchy gets the life ban - no value.

- seconded

 

[oneandone]

Re: Media Thread

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/77701/default.aspx


Saint Dempster set for comeback via the VFL
By Luke Holmesby
5:48 PM Wed 27 May, 2009
ST KILDA defender Sean Dempster is set to make his return from a knee reconstruction for Sandringham in the VFL this week.

Dempster ruptured his ACL in the round 22 match against Essendon last year but has made a steady recovery since.

He was given the final tick of approval from surgeon Ian Henderson on Wednesday afternoon.

"I saw the surgeon and finally got the green light to be able to play a game. I'm definitely lining up this week," he said.

Dempster missed the finals series and the first nine weeks of the home and away season, but he says it still felt like a long and frustrating time off.

"It's hard to explain how it feels. If you told someone they are out for nine months, they might think it is not that long. I suppose I've only missed 10 weeks but I can't wait to get back and get into it," he said.

Dempster paid tribute to teammates Lenny Hayes and Brendon Goddard, who have both made successful returns from knee reconstructions, and said he got through by setting small goals for himself.

"It would do your head in if you thought, 'Okay it's nine months' and you start again," he said.

"It's the little goals along the way that have kept me sane. Being able to ride the bike after two weeks was my first goal. After that it was being able to run, then it was being able to do a bit of agility, then it was to kick the footy. Those are the steps along the way that have kept me sane."

To read the full story at saints.com.au, click here.
Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network


Will be good to see him playing footy again, hopefully he is in contention for games in the next month or so, BJ and Lenny have shown that you can comeback from a knee and be prominent so good signs

 

[Signd Sealed Saint]

Re: Media Thread

I don't think we really have a spot for Dempster anymore, which is a shame because he was pretty good prior to the injury. We have enough trouble trying to fit in Max and Maguire as it is.

 

[Squizz]

Re: Media Thread

Thought this was a decent article from the other day :

Kosi reaching and kicking his 2009 goals
The Australian - Courtney Walsh | May 26, 2009

A change in rucking philosophy at St Kilda has not only helped spark the Saints' unbeaten start to 2009, it has also rejuvenated key forward Justin Koschitzke.

While St Kilda reclaimed top position with its 16-point win over Brisbane on Sunday, Koschitzke also recorded an achievement of personal significance in the match by contributing four goals. For the first time in his nine-year career, the key forward has managed to kick at least four goals in a match four times in a season.

Koschitzke's average of 2.5 goals a game this year is far superior to his previous best of 1.8 in 2005, when he kicked 24 goals from 13 games. Last year he managed the feat once in 22 matches, did it twice from 19 games in 2007 and failed to kick more than two goals during an injury-plagued 2006.

The reasons for Koschitzke's improved consistency in attack are two-fold. Most importantly, the 2001 Rising Star has been able to regularly string together matches to establish form and momentum, having played 49 of St Kilda's past 56 matches. In the three preceding years under Grant Thomas, he managed just 37 of 70 games.

Under Thomas, Koschitzke, who stands 197cm, was often used in the ruck and not simply as a back-up given the then-coach's view of the importance of playing established ruckmen.

But Lyon views the rucking position differently, which has allowed Koschitzke to play forward on a more regular basis. The key to this has been St Kilda's ability to resurrect the careers of once-elite ruckmen Michael Gardiner and Steven King.

The 30-year-old King, who captained Geelong and rucked their 2007 premiership side, has played 29 of a possible 34 games in two seasons at St Kilda after managing just six, including the grand final, a year earlier.

Gardiner, a former All-Australian ruckman, managed just 18 games at West Coast in his final three seasons and missed all of 2007 with a foot injury before playing nine games last season. He is yet to miss this year.

Lyon said there was an established trend showing outstanding sides in recent years featured a durable ruck combination. "That has been gold for us," he said. "As the day unfolds, it is a big ask, one ruckman against quality. It came to the fore (against Brisbane) and gave us a chance to get proactive at ground level. "That is why Port has been so good (with) Brendon Lade and Dean Brogan. You look at premiership teams. Darren Jolly and Jason Ball (at Sydney). Dean Cox and Mark Seaby (at West Coast), really Brad Ottens and King, Ottens and Mark Blake (at Geelong), it is significant for mine."

It is an area Lyon is determined to develop further, with 2007 draftee Ben McEvoy continuing his development in the reserves. "Do we develop him a little bit more in the seniors?" Lyon pondered. "We feel that we are planning for the future with McEvoy and we have Rhys Stanley, who is 200cm and an elite athlete. "We have started a production line so that when King goes and Gardiner goes, it just doesn't stop. "They certainly won't be at that level (yet), but we feel we are planning for the future while dealing with the current."

 

[krusden]

Re: Media Thread

I don't think we really have a spot for Dempster anymore, which is a shame because he was pretty good prior to the injury. We have enough trouble trying to fit in Max and Maguire as it is.

At the least we now have another person for back up in case of injury

 

[Squizz]

Re: Media Thread

It would have been great to have Dempster play on Lovett whilst CJ was giving Stanton nightmares. Some seem to have Bakes on the outer (maybe he is, although I'd pick him at this stage), and Seany D is someone who can run with the Judds etc (if CJ is otherwise occupied).

This is assuming he hasn't lost any pace which I don't think will be the case given surgery tends to be successful these days (soft tissue problems seem to be the major risk after a comeback from an ACL).

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Re: Media Thread

I don't think we really have a spot for Dempster anymore, which is a shame because he was pretty good prior to the injury. We have enough trouble trying to fit in Max and Maguire as it is.

Rubbish.

Would be an ideal matchup for Mark Williams at Hawthorn or Steve Johnson from Geelong.

 

[Signd Sealed Saint]

Re: Media Thread

Who would you drop for him L2M4G?