I am still amazed !!!

[StrengthThroughLoyalty]

* Aug 2000 - The worst season I can remember, (I never wanted to go back to the early 80's)
* Aug 2000 - No hope no future (according to the media hacks)
* Plympton given the push from the board
* Saints in chaos (according to the media hacks)
* Dennison calls for a board split, Saints in turmoil.
* Rod Butters, Grant Thomas and Brian Waldron (We have a plan, Britain is the man)
* Talk of Gherig coming to the club, pies are front runners, former coach, $$$, doubt it.
* 151 candidates for coach (media hacks laugh), any chance of us picking up the best available, doubt it.
* Wayne Britain turns us down, who else is there
* Royle, Connell (I'm sick of this shit)
* Publicity stunt sending up new president, board members, best players, Malcolm Blight to coach the Saints, doubt it.

It was about this time when I started to excited, Blight had not refused.

* Lawrence for third round draft pick (hard at it and son of a gun)
* Sierra to Eagles for Gherig, a good club man but not in the same class as Gherig.
* McLaren for Capuano (a premiership ruck man for a midfielder that has had enough opportunities)
* Callahan for Carr (a hard in and under ball player for a player that may never be good enough)

Like all saints supporters I was hoping for the best but not really believing it, Blight was not confirmed, but I was reading every article and hanging on every tv and radio announcers update of the sports news.

* COUP DE GRACE (1)- HAMILL TO THE SAINTS, Waldron plays the "if you dont trade him we'll pick him up for nothing in the pre season draft" card. John Elliot has burnt one of Carltons future leaders and gun players. His pig ignorant manners and contempt of everything bar Caaaarlton, has cost him and the club dearly.
Ohhhhh how sweet it is.
John Elliot demanded that St Kilda should fold when we had a debt crisis, remember the 7C in the dollar. He called us 'rabble', 'why would any carlton person go there?' he muttered. I laugh when I hear Carlton people talk about cheque book players, and how Hamill left for the money. Before the salary cap Carltons success was gained by who they could buy, to see that club in despair for losing a gun player fills me with a sense of satisfying justice.

* COUP DE GRACE (2)- BLIGHT TO THE SAINTS.
Blight talks about the desire to take one of the foundation clubs to the ultimate success. He is positive that this club is moving forward due to it's new board, positive recruiting, and desire for success.

* Brett Voss (hard running and looking to prove himself)
* The best 2 young players in the country

Blokes that I know who are part time Saints supporters are jumping on the wagon. Everyone is excited and is looking forward to the ride in 2001.

Lets keep the momentum going.

Saints 2001

 

[jod23]

Too True. All credit to the saints.

 

[Arch]

COUP DE GRACE 1 being the reason that most footbal fans are laughing long and hard at Caaarlton.

I myself as a Bombers fan have been pissing myself laughing at the obvious hypocracy of Carlton accusing The Saints of using the "cheque book" philosophy.

Heres to Carlton winning the wooden spoon (by Just pipping Collingwood for it- hehehe)

A.

 

[SS11]

hmm at the end their you worte "blokes ar ejumping on the bandwagon"..
Its a pity it takes some good signings to get supporters
but u summed up your off-season pretty well
us pies fans are still crying over our trading efforts...

 

[sainter]

StrengthThroughLoyalty,

You mean everything that has happened over the past 6 weeks is not a dream?

Who would have thought we could be feeling this positive after such a disgraceful season?

Great post!

 

[sandie]

Sainter & STL
It's an amazing turn around from the start of this season, you can go into next season with optimism & I don't think you will be disappointed.

------------------
Mantis

 

[Spidergirl~RiCkChiCk]

yep look at round 22 the whole club was being laughed at from the players down to the supporters but now come round 1 Saints will be feared!!! It's probably gonna be a bit like how Melbourne had that big turnaround season coming from a poor one the previous year. Now why can't Collingwood take note of this and have a massive clean out and i dont just mean of players. kick ass Spider and the Sainters in 2001!!!!

sPiDeR eVeRiTt and RiCkY oLaReNsHaW
~kewlest players round!!!

 

[CJH]

It was certainly a good month for St Kilda. Quite easily the off season premiers. Butters has said it is last roll of the dice for them. I just wonder it they are going for broke. Many are questioning how they can afford to keep Harvey/Burke/Loewe/Everitt and also keep all there new high priced recruits under the salary cap? Maybe they can't. Maybe they also have no intention of doing so. If they are going to go down, go down with glory... And if they succeed, then well and good.

 

[sainter]

CJH,

I don't think we are in any real danger of dying at this stage. Our off-field situation has improved remarkably over the period of the Plympton/Hanly reign.

In regards to the salary cap, I don't think we need to worry about being over it.

- The list has been reduced from 42 to 38
- The salary cap has increased from approx $4.75 million to $5.25 million
- Burke and Loewe, two of the highest paid players, are both on the veterans list where only half their wages count in the salary cap
- Gehrig and Hamill have both been signed to 4 year deals that have both been structured so that they earn the majority of their money in the 3rd and 4th years
- Blights pay packet will be more than adequately covered by an expected membership increase or 10,000, increased sponsorship and some donations from high profile supporters.

All we are doing is trying to ensure our long-term future by achieving some long awaited success. This moves are fantastic for the club but I wouldn't say it is our last roll of the dice. Another 3 or 4 years on the bottome of the ladder, and then it would be a different story

 

[karnaby]

CJH every side has to spend a minimum of 95% of their salary cap, and lots have gone so that is not an issue. As well Burke & Loewe are both on the Veterans list & therefore only 50% of their pay is considered as part of the capped salary.
We've no need to cheat, I'll take our next flag untainted, thank you.

------------------
FQF

 

[karnaby]

sainter you summed that up heaps better than me. Aint no way we'll be propping up the ladder for 3-4 yrs, much n all as trade week was a bit of a blast holding the 1st 2 draft picks. The laugh of it all is that we've still got them, bloody ripper!

 

[Danni]

I have always had a soft spot for the Saints, and am glad to see how well the off-season is treating you. Just for the record - myself and a number of friends cheered you on each week last year, and celebrated when that long awaited win did finally arrive! Probably not as much as you did, but we were happy for you anyway.

But sorry folks, my barracking for you stops when you play my beloved Lions. Can't help that one!

Good Luck in 2001.

 

[servo]

I suspect the excitement and expectation at the Saints has permeated to almost all supporters of all clubs. It will surprise me if St Kilda is not most peoples second club this season.

I am sure all Crows fans will be watching the Saints with keen interest given the strong SA flavour introduced. I believe Peter Jonas will be the next coach there in about 2-3 years and even that excites me.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Remember the optimism

Remember when we thought it would be the dawn of a new era?

 

[The Phat Side]

Rabble.

 

[Mudholian]

Well I'm not sure why this is back but at the time I thought the magnitude of the changes the Saints were trying to bring about would have a downside. Trunover 15 players and half the board and half the non playing staff and things will not just click. The thing is, sometimes Clubs panic in the downside and just keep trying changes and they are always in the downside.