http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25296269-661,00.html
St Kilda president Greg Westaway said of the TV fixture: ``We're disappointed with it. It's less than desirable and a lot worse than what we would have liked.
"We'd like to know what the system is. How do they work it out?''
Greg,
I have a simple explanation for you - it also explains why we had 14-15 games telecast during 2004-05-06-07 (as a hangover from previous years - as can now be proven by this year's schedule) for instance.
Its called - playing exciting and entertaining (and attacking by the way) football.
It brings in the members, brings in the money, and ultimately sees your (our) team getting telecast more on TV.
Greg, do you recall several of the St. Kilda v Sydney games over recent years? I do, I can tell you - they were boring.
Or how about the Hawthorn v St. Kilda game at the MCG a while back. 4 goals to 2 goals at 3 Quarter-time! Are you kidding me! That was an absolute disgrace.
Its no wonder our telecast numbers have dropped - despite another Top 4 finish last season. If your a club like St. Kilda, known for your flair and enterprise, if you play lock-down footy you're going to get shunted out of prime-time, and that's exactly what's happened this year.
The solution is there and obvious, play attacking enterprising footy and you'll be rewarded with increased members, increased coverage, and increased money in the kitty to spend on additional coaching and fitness related requirements for the players. It all adds up.
So, in essence, the lack of telecasts of the Saints this year can be laid squarely at the feet of Ross Lyon. And that's where responsibility lies, of course, for turning this around.
In fairness to Ross, it looks like he has modified his game plan to emphasise a more attacking mindset this year - the recruitment of Farren Ray, and the running players like Gram, Fisher and Goddard are doing through the midfield are obviously a very positive sign.
If Lyon sticks to his guns and really promotes are hard-running and attacking game style throughout this year, St. Kilda will be rewarded this year, with a better shot at the Premiership, and in following years with increased presence on TV and increasing memberships as fans are excited to see the team play.
The jury is still out on Lyon, but at least it now looks like he's going in the right direction, instead of trying to copy the Sydney game-plan of extensive, and frankly, excessive, defensive pressure.
Rewards will come his way if he keeps this up, its just a pity that the last two years have been so boring!
Including, missing the finals in 2007 - if we had made the 2007 finals we would now have a club record 5 successive finals series under our belt (2004 - 2008). Instead, we are now shooting for back-to-back finals instead of a "sixpack."
St Kilda president Greg Westaway said of the TV fixture: ``We're disappointed with it. It's less than desirable and a lot worse than what we would have liked.
"We'd like to know what the system is. How do they work it out?''
Greg,
I have a simple explanation for you - it also explains why we had 14-15 games telecast during 2004-05-06-07 (as a hangover from previous years - as can now be proven by this year's schedule) for instance.
Its called - playing exciting and entertaining (and attacking by the way) football.
It brings in the members, brings in the money, and ultimately sees your (our) team getting telecast more on TV.
Greg, do you recall several of the St. Kilda v Sydney games over recent years? I do, I can tell you - they were boring.
Or how about the Hawthorn v St. Kilda game at the MCG a while back. 4 goals to 2 goals at 3 Quarter-time! Are you kidding me! That was an absolute disgrace.
Its no wonder our telecast numbers have dropped - despite another Top 4 finish last season. If your a club like St. Kilda, known for your flair and enterprise, if you play lock-down footy you're going to get shunted out of prime-time, and that's exactly what's happened this year.
The solution is there and obvious, play attacking enterprising footy and you'll be rewarded with increased members, increased coverage, and increased money in the kitty to spend on additional coaching and fitness related requirements for the players. It all adds up.
So, in essence, the lack of telecasts of the Saints this year can be laid squarely at the feet of Ross Lyon. And that's where responsibility lies, of course, for turning this around.
In fairness to Ross, it looks like he has modified his game plan to emphasise a more attacking mindset this year - the recruitment of Farren Ray, and the running players like Gram, Fisher and Goddard are doing through the midfield are obviously a very positive sign.
If Lyon sticks to his guns and really promotes are hard-running and attacking game style throughout this year, St. Kilda will be rewarded this year, with a better shot at the Premiership, and in following years with increased presence on TV and increasing memberships as fans are excited to see the team play.
The jury is still out on Lyon, but at least it now looks like he's going in the right direction, instead of trying to copy the Sydney game-plan of extensive, and frankly, excessive, defensive pressure.
Rewards will come his way if he keeps this up, its just a pity that the last two years have been so boring!
Including, missing the finals in 2007 - if we had made the 2007 finals we would now have a club record 5 successive finals series under our belt (2004 - 2008). Instead, we are now shooting for back-to-back finals instead of a "sixpack."
