Herald Sun - Riewoldt, Maguire, Goddard news

[Oh When the Saints]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/ ... 42,00.html

Mark Stevens | February 22, 2008

THIS is the picture St Kilda wanted you to see. The Saints kept the "closed session" sign up at Moorabbin, but later posted footage of Nick Riewoldt on their website. The Saints' move to air training footage on the internet was a calculated bid to kill off rumours dogging the superstar.

Riewoldt and St Kilda officials have become increasingly frustrated by speculation they are hiding an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Security turned away our photographer at the gate at the start of the Saints' 2pm session, but club staff filmed Riewoldt.

The footage shows Riewoldt running at full tilt, twice charging into tackle bags and several times marking on a lead.

It appeared on St Kilda's website late yesterday, with the enthusiastic blessing of Riewoldt himself.

St Kilda football manager Matthew Drain confirmed last night Riewoldt would miss tomorrow's NAB Cup clash with Geelong in Canberra, but resume the week after.

"He did the full session today," Drain said.

"There was only a few minutes on the website, but he's part of the group doing what he needs to do.

"If he had an ACL, he wouldn't be doing that."

Asked if Riewoldt would play tomorrow if it was the home-and-away season, Drain said: "No doubt."

Rumours about Riewoldt's right knee started a fortnight ago, with innuendo suggesting a scan had shown a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament.

There had been talk Riewoldt had severely jarred the knee and narrowly avoided a season-ending reconstruction.

Speculation followed that he was facing a similar dilemma to Bulldog Daniel Giansiracusa, who can play on after a partial tear of the ACL - but only after about 10 weeks of rest.

Riewoldt was a late withdrawal from the Saints' first intra-club hitout, with what the club termed both a virus and a corked thigh.

He had been set to play in St Kilda's opening NAB Cup clash against Richmond, but pulled out.

The Saints said Riewoldt was suffering from knee tendinitis.

But the footage from Moorabbin yesterday provided definitive proof that the man favoured to win the captaincy this year is not being hobbled by injury.

Despite the latest batch of rumours, St Kilda is sticking by its decision to have blanket closed sessions during the summer.

Coach Ross Lyon sees it as an invaluable way of tinkering with game style away from prying eyes.
If St Kilda fans were allowed in yesterday, they would have been pleased on several fronts.

Lenny Hayes, Adam Schneider and Luke Ball are a strong chance of joining Riewoldt in the Saints team next week.

Brendon Goddard, returning from a knee reconstruction, could also be back. If not, he will make a long-awaited comeback the week after.

Matt Maguire, struck down by a foot stress fracture, is further behind. Maguire is unlikely to play before Round 1, and that will be for VFL affiliate Casey Scorpions.

Those hoping for Steven King to front up against his old side Geelong tomorrow will be disappointed. He was left out, with Drain saying he was simply rested.

[Otiman]

Despite the latest batch of rumours, St Kilda is sticking by its decision to have blanket closed sessions during the summer.

Interesting to note, whilst I would have liked to get to training over summer more times than I did (went once, for that 30 minute session), I now value the privacy that the coach and players needed. Especially given the detailed training reports from last years summer break, with drills essentially given in full detail, and I think there was even a few posts with diagrams.

I would still have liked to see a few weekend training sessions open to public over summer, with merch on sale and generally treated as mini-family days, to boost early membership numbers, raise some funds, and keep interest ticking over on the off season.

[hAyES]

Even though it was unlikely he had done an ACL, it's still good to hear that Riewoldt was running around at full speed.

[saintsRrising]

So...

We assume that for Round 1 that roo will on all 8 cylinders..

BJ on about 6 or 7...may play...or may be eased back via Casey

Goose4 or 5 cylinders and will be eased back via Casey.
Dempster due to his knee will also bea bit underdone and so may be at Casey too...

So Backline Round 1??

Geary/L Fisher Max Gilbert

Gram Sam Raph/Blake

[Eastern]

Did anyone else notice that the main pic of Rooey shows him wearing a 2007 Vodafone/skins training top. The mustn't have any new pics. If we persist with "closed" training sessions this will be the norm !!

[riccardo]

I was not impressed with the unfriendly sign advising security would be patrolling training to eject any prying eyes.

Sure, this discourages spies and jurnos, but how about the doe-eyed 8 year old wanting to meet his heros?

I know this is "profesionalism" and such, but I don't really like it.

[Eastern]

I was not impressed with the unfriendly sign advising security would be patrolling training to eject any prying eyes.

Sure, this discourages spies and jurnos, but how about the doe-eyed 8 year old wanting to meet his heros?

I know this is "profesionalism" and such, but I don't really like it.

I agree that the sign looks unfriendly & unprofessional but the club has gone out of its way to inform everyone that (almost) all training sessions this summer were "CLOSED SESSIONS".

The only criticism I would have surrounds the sign itself. Surely the club could get a signwriter to knock up something that looks 1/2 professional !!

[riccardo]

Seems like its getting a bit out of hand.

Hopefully when they build at Frankston the ground will have either an indoor ground, a la Lexarse Centre, or high gates they can lock so at least its an obvious closed session.

I used to love going to summer training, but if closing the sessions helps us win flags, me and the doe-eyed 8 year olds will surely get over it!

[plugger66]

Ive got to say I think the club owes it to the supportors to have one open session a week. I know if we win a flag it will all be worth it but if we dont it does nothing for the young kids who want to see their heroes train.

Another thing is I think the closed sessions are a waste of time IMO.

[saintbrat]

[Ralphy]

Ive got to say I think the club owes it to the supportors to have one open session a week. I know if we win a flag it will all be worth it but if we dont it does nothing for the young kids who want to see their heroes train.

Another thing is I think the closed sessions are a waste of time IMO.

Young kids!

LOL i still wanna see the boys train haha

[Teflon]

The clubs said that during season there will be 1 open session a week - thats enough.

Footys a tough game if we want to tinker and trial game plan changes etc then fair enough IMO - close em.

[plugger66]

The clubs said that during season there will be 1 open session a week - thats enough.

Footys a tough game if we want to tinker and trial game plan changes etc then fair enough IMO - close em.

Didnt hurt the Pies or the Roos not having closed sessions last year.

[Teflon]

The clubs said that during season there will be 1 open session a week - thats enough.

Footys a tough game if we want to tinker and trial game plan changes etc then fair enough IMO - close em.

Didnt hurt the Pies or the Roos not having closed sessions last year.

And theres many examples of sides who have also used closed sessions - Geelong also used it a bit last year.....it proves little. IF the club feel (and theyd know whose watching or who wants to) necessary to shut down a session while leaving another open to fans Im happy with that.

[Solar]

hey teflon don't use logic with plugger66, when he speaks it's the truth

[plugger66]

hey teflon don't use logic with plugger66, when he speaks it's the truth

I have an opinion which is neither right or wrong unlike other people who have no brains at all but do have eyes that roll.

[linz]

If Ross the Boss wants closed sessions: I Agree:

BECAUSE:
It's not about keeping 300 diehards happy anymore & selling tickets for a meat pack for a buck a ticket.

West Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide have closed sessions. They seem to have been reasonably (cough, cough, splutter, splutter) successfull over the past few years. They are also teams constantly under the microscope. They are teams who have dominated the competition.

Need I say more?

Let's let the rest of the competition guessing !!

[plugger66]

If Ross the Boss wants closed sessions: I Agree: BECAUSE:
It's not about keeping 200 diehards happy anymore & raffling a meat pack for a buck a ticket.
[size=0]It's about winning a flag.
[/size]
West Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide have closed sessions.
Need I say more?

But they also have one open session a week which Ithink is fair enough.

[Teflon]

If Ross the Boss wants closed sessions: I Agree:

BECAUSE:
It's not about keeping 300 diehards happy anymore & selling tickets for a meat pack for a buck a ticket.

West Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide have closed sessions. They seem to have been reasonably (cough, cough, splutter, splutter) successfull over the past few years. They are also teams constantly under the microscope. They are teams who have dominated the competition.

Need I say more?

Let's let the rest of the competition guessing !!

Must say I agree.

Frankly I couldnt give a stuff about "seeing the boys at training" and yes I realise its nice for kiddies...but trust me kids..........sippin red cordial from the Big Cup in September is gonna have you racing till 4am....if a closed session or 20 gets me close to it......do it.

[linz]

If Ross the Boss wants closed sessions: I Agree: BECAUSE:
It's not about keeping 200 diehards happy anymore & raffling a meat pack for a buck a ticket.
[size=0]It's about winning a flag.
[/size]
West Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide have closed sessions.
Need I say more?

But they also have one open session a week which Ithink is fair enough.

Sorry plugger 66. I was doing too much editing. We are offering some open sessions aren't we?

[The OtherThommo]

As I understand it the aim is to have one open session per week. There will be variations. Good. Keep every other bastard guessing.

I spent numerous hours in the Social Club watching training while on the business end of a cold drink, over many, many years. I got conned. Reflection tells me training was generally soft over those years, with too much celebration of training track stars.

We now have a fella in charge who has forged a bond with the players that is second to none in the AFL. This man can coach. They came from a mile back last year, with bugger all base.

Now they've got a base. RTB knows he's got the basic list. It's now about getting advantage. These days I don't give a rat's freckle about being let in to see training. I just want them to win a flag, that's all.

[yipper]

As I understand it the aim is to have one open session per week. There will be variations. Good. Keep every other bastard guessing.

I spent numerous hours in the Social Club watching training while on the business end of a cold drink, over many, many years. I got conned. Reflection tells me training was generally soft over those years, with too much celebration of training track stars.

We now have a fella in charge who has forged a bond with the players that is second to none in the AFL. This man can coach. They came from a mile back last year, with bugger all base.

Now they've got a base. RTB knows he's got the basic list. It's now about getting advantage. These days I don't give a rat's freckle about being let in to see training. I just want them to win a flag, that's all.

Totally agree. The coach knows what he wants to do and why. I've seen training over the years heaps of times - I now want to see a flag instead!! Carry on RL and get the job done.