Mission Malcolm

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sainter

sainter

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Veteran 10k Posts St Kilda Saints - Tom Ledger 2012 Player Sponsor St Kilda Saints - Nicholas Heyne 2011 Player Sponsor St Kilda Saints - Nicholas Heyne 2010 Player Sponsor
Mar 5, 2000
14,403
33
Melbourne
AFL Club
St Kilda
Other Teams
Southampton,Victory,Storm
I realise the chances are pretty slim but congratulations to new St Kilda President Rod Butterss and the rest of the football department for doing the best thing by the members and going after the best coach available.

I am very encouraged to see that the club have not only sent the President and Director of Football to Queensland but a large delegation of senior footballers including Burke, Harvey, Everitt, Thompson, Hall and Hudghton.

The only regrettable thing is that Stewie Lowee is very conspicuous by his absence and that he may fall 6 games short of reaching the 300 games at St Kilda (and 7 from the record)

Apparently Gerard Healy on 3AW have rated Blight a 60-40 chance of accepting the position after being a 10-90 chance last week.

It has been said that the lure of having a good young squad combined with the possibility of a Fraser Gehrig, Steve Lawrence, the first two draft picks and possibly the fourth pick may have caused him to rethink this position.

It is also thought the position would offer him the challenge that he has never had. Not to say that he didn't do a great job at Geelong and Adelaide, but at St Kilda will have the opportunity to completely rebuild a football club.

Personally I don't think he will be able to convince him to change his mind and we will appoint either Chris Connolly or Brian Royal either tomorrow or on the weekend. However, I am very pleased to see the club making a strong prescence in both the trading period and in chasing a legendary coach like Malcolm Blight.
 
Just as a matter of interest, if Blight does turn down StKilda, what will the incoming coach think knowing that he was only the second choice of the new board?

My gut feeling is that Malcolm Blight will coach StKilda next season and beyond. How could you say no to half a dozen senior players who have flown from Melbourne to Brisbane to personally ask for you?

When he came to Geelong, he denied it at first, when he went to Adelaide, he denied it as well. He loves to hold out for more MONEY, and everyone knows that he enjoys a challenge. This would be his biggest victory if he succeeded, and I reckon he thinks that as well.
 
gocatsgo,

This is one time that I hope you are right!

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As for the scenario that Malcolm Blight turns down the position, it would make absolutely no difference at all to either Connolly or Royal that they weren't the first choice if they were given the job.

These guys are career coaches and they are only too aware of how difficult it is to get one of the coveted 16 senior coaching positions.

By the way, Danny Frawley was about the 3rd choice at Richmond and it didn't seem to make a difference to him.

Please take the job Malcolm!
 

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Its great to see someone like Blight have the courage to put his money where his mouth is.

He has been a vocal critic of the club in the past - very vocal in fact. He has criticised evrything from the Alves incident to the club culture to its premiership record, I even think he is on record of not even liking the jumper !

So now he has been given an opportunity to take over at the club and re-do it the way he thinks it should be.

I thought his criticism of the club was not fair, but now he has an opportunity to address his own criticisms in a very practical and direct way.

The Saints could turn it all around next year with some great recruitment, a new board and a highly respected coach - look out the rest of us !
 
I don't know, Saints fans.

Malcolm Blight seems like psychotic ego-maniac if you ask me.

I guess that may work at St Kilda though. Tim Watson was Mr Nice Guy and failed to get the Saints to perform, whereas Stan Alves used to frighten them into playing well.

Malcolm Blight thinks he is God, therefore I expect he will try to put the "Fear of God" into the Saints.

Who knows? It may just work, but if it doesn't, expect a mass player exodus next year.

But maybe, that's not a bad thing either.
 
I wouldn't be suprised if he does coach the Saints. He has said one thing & done another many times before.

How long he lasts is another thing. He certainly did loose the plot during his last year at the crows. I also agree he is a ego-maniac/control freak/whatever.

Most importantly he is AN OUTSTANDING COACH

Sainter. If you get him & he is committed to the job, then you know you have the best.
 
From what I have heard since getting home, it is looking pretty good at the moment.

Looks like it is going to come down to the decision of Mrs Blight when she gets home.

Please say yes!

We are reportedly offering him double what Tim Watson was earning and that was $400,000. And we are ridiculed for being a poor side!

BSA, he has annoyed the hell out of me in the past few years with his attack on the board and the club in general over its handling of Stan Alves. But he is exactly what we need to get our club back in shape. I think we have swallowed our pride enough this year so appointing Blight won't be any different.

Rice, if we were lucky enough to get him I hope there is a very large cleanout. The following players should get their marching orders in my opinion, bearing in mind that the list has to be shortened to 35 players anyway -
Brown
Cranage
Elliott (please!)
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Heatley (might be worth keeping with new coach)
Mitchell
Monkhorst
Ryan
Sierakowski (to West Coast)
B Thompson
Young

Plapp, Charles, Heazlewood, Peckett and Pitts should get one more chance in my opinion.

Drakey, that's my thinking as well. Someone on our forum called him selfish and will walk out on the club whenever it suits himself. Gee, if he won two premierships for us and then left, I would be hailing him as the greatest coach of all time.

Bernie, good one

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Getting out while they can you reckon?
 
"Where as with Malcolm, we had maybe Eccles? I think that was it? Not sure?"

Bluecrow, we also picked up Bassett, Goodwin, Burton, Marsh and Mark Stevens under Blight.

"He left with a year to go on his contract, and said he was 'burnt out.' The club even offered him a year's break and then come back. If he does coach again, it's certainly not fair on the AFC. They stuck by him, put up with crap decision regarding good players (Connell, Mods, Rintoul, Sampson) and he walked out. Why couldn't he have a year off?"

Or he could have stayed on for the 2000 Season and delegate more responsibility to Darel Hart. Blight could have then resigned at the end of his contract and allowed Darel to take over. Now that would have been sweet...but even Pitman says that Blight was "gone" in 1999. I'm also not sure how much more the players could stand of some of his mad antics...making the players face a wall and then stand on a ladder behind them and scream at them, no thanks!
 
Please make a decision soon Malcolm, the suspence is killing us!

According to the latest update on the AFL website, Blight will take another two to three days to make his decision.

The impression that we have been given from the media since Friday is that he is almost a certainty to coach.

I am not sure if this is the case.

From all reports, Fraser Gehrig is expected to announce his club of choice today. The Herald-Sun even suggested that Hamill and Allan are reportedly very interested in playing for St Kilda under Blight. (Although this could just be another media beat-up orchestrated by Dave Allison). The trading period ends tomorrow.

Surely prospective players deserve to know who their coach will be.

I am beginning to think that he may have committed himself before the weekend but is now having second thoughts.

I think the time is nigh to make your decision Malcolm. While almost all of our supporters would be shattered if he refused the offer, at least we will know where we stand.

I have been rapt with our pro-activeness this trading period. The decision to send up a contingent of senior players to convince Blight to coach us could be a masterstroke.

I am just worried that the Blight and Gehrig deals could come apart at the last moment, through no fault of the club.

This is unbearable!
 
Jerome

Goodwin was drafted when Shaw was coach.

No matter how you look at it, Adelaide's best period for recruiting was under Shaw.

Since Shaw we have recruited 1 gem in Burton, a couple of likelies in Marsh, Eccles & Biglands, some steadies in Bassett & Stevens and some real crocks.
 
Good news for saints fans with Fraser Gehrig signing with the club for 4 years.

Along with getting Steven Lawrence, I can not believe how well our football department have done considering we don't even have a coach.

Another trade that looks likely is the trade of the Wakelin twins back to Port Adelaide for the no 4 draft pick. Obviously we are chasing a player out of the deal, as losing two very good defenders for 1 draft pick is not fair.

And who knows, Hamill and Allan seem to be keen as well.

What a remarkable change in the fortunes of the club. Amazingly, our supporters are already talking about buying/renewing memberships.

Final target - Malcolm Blight (Sadly, things are starting to fall into place and therefore the inevitable disappointment is on its way)
 

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Sandie,

It was his choice and he chose St Kilda.

There was an in-principle agreement between St Kilda and West Coast last Tuesday. However, this trade was only going to go ahead subject to Fraser's approval. Apparently he was leaning towards Collingwood for most of the week but the lure of Malcolm Blight possibly coaching, a very healthy bank balance and the fact that we had already signed Steven Lawrence were contributing factors. Also, I don't think people realise that we not only have the first two draft picks but some good young kids like Hayes, Blake, Moyle, Beetham and a few guys like Everitt, Harvey who had injury interrupted seasons.

I'm still a little pissed off by Rohan Connolly's latest article on St Kilda, describing us as the 'basket case' of the AFL.

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Drakey,

This has come totally out of the blue. I can't believe how things are starting to turn out for us.

I am still very concerned that Blight may not accept the offer.

Some saints fans are talking about a kind of smokescreen, whereby he will delay his decision until we sign up some good quality players and then reject the job. It would be clever tactics but we all are hoping like anything that he will coach us next year.

[This message has been edited by sainter (edited 11 September 2000).]
 
Mission Accomplished!

Blight has just signed to a 2 year deal in a press conference at Colonial Stadium. (At his request)

It is a little strange that he would only sign for 2 years but I have no problem with that as long as he brings up some success.

First time we have felt optimistic about the future for quite a few months!
 
Congratulions Sainter things are looking up for you. Blighty only signed for 2 years because he thinks that if he doesn't achieve good results in that time, he'll probably get the chop anyway.


------------------
Mantis
 
Congrats sainter

Based on his experience here he probably only thinks he's got 2 years in him.

As to leaving Adelaide. As devistating as it was at the time the fact is if he doesn't want to do it then he wont do a good job.

Also I would think that he beleives if he can't do the job in 2 years then someone else should have the chance.

I remember when he took over in Adelaide he said if he didn't make the 8 in his 1st year he would quit. Everybody thought how is he going to get out of that. He got out of it by going top.

Hang on sainter. no matter what happens your in for a hell of a ride.
 
The Saints' efforts rival the legendary '70's "10 year rule" coup by North, which set them up for at least 10 years ( remember Barassi was the key recruit there ).

I can see the Saints getting at least another 'class act' with the lure of Blight and the general buzz ( plus those draft choices ). The team is now a top four candidate as the pressure is off the existing core of champions. There are now a number of players that are difficult to match up - Everitt, Gehrig, Harvey - so it gives the coach plenty of scope. These guys will get the same benefit from Blight as Ablett and Jarman did. He's good with classy enigmas. If Gehrig doesn't realise his 'potential' in this environment, he needs to take a good look.

All this is really a triumph for the Draft system - where the salary cap has forced this on the clubs. I guess the Saints will have some 'creative' accounting to do to squeeze this lot in.

The only downside - memories of the Barassi 5 year plan at Melbourne.
 
BLIGHT IS A ****EN TRAITOR AND SHOULD BE SHOT WHEN HE RETURNS TO FOOTBALL PARK TO PLAY THE CROWS IN 2002 - THATS IF HE HASN'T SPIT THE DUMMY BY THEN OF COURSE
 
Thanks guys,

They say footy is a funny game and the last two weeks have been unbelievable.

We have gone from a club with its future up in the air to a club that seemingly has a bright future.

Great recruits, champion coach, an endless money supply coming from rich backers and hopefully a membership of increase of at least 10,000.

Davo, you mean that you are not coming over to Colonial in Round 15?
 
Well done to your club Sainter! After the last two seasons, you deserve to go into next season with some hope and optimism.

I don't know about you, but it was only last night when the magnitude of what St. Kilda has done hit me. From the other thread on trades, that Collingwood fan commented that his club were unable to attract top talent. I don't think anyone here will disagree, but the Saints as a club looked like a total rabble just a month ago....finished bottom, an administration in disarray, and without a coach. In fact, you were probably in a worse state than what Collingwood were when McGuire took over. But now, you've picked up some great recruits, have the first two draft picks, and got Blight.

Back in 1993, there was a footy club that also didn't have a coach, didn't have a sponsor, didn't have a captain, got rid of a favourite son, had huge question marks over their playing list, and had an administration that seemed headed for disarray. That club was North Melbourne.

You've kept the faith all year Sainter, so I hope you get some rewards!
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Best of luck to the saints but I don't like the way they sacked all three assistant coaches. Some of the players had better watch their backs.
At least we get spared the dummy spits on channel seven
All we need now is a club to make Mike Shehan their coach. Well I can dream can't I ?
 
chill out davo

and stop SHOUTING

Blight delivered for you guys - BIG time, so what if he walked out, would you rather he stayed on when he didn't want to ?

Could you imagine how moral would have slumped at the Crows if they had been caoached by somebody who couldn't be bothered and was just there to fufill contractual obligations (and collect pay cheques) ?

Ayres isn't the greatest coach in the world, I agree but at least he wants the job, more than you could say for Blight surely ?
 

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