http://sportal.com.au/afl-news-display/ ... ties-44235
Saints stars no certainties
3/03/2008 3:35:05 PM
Paul Gough Sportal
St Kilda is weighing up whether to bring back experienced defender Max Hudghton and key forward Justin Koschitzke for Saturday night's NAB Cup grand final in Adelaide.
The star pair missed the Saints' thrilling semi-final victory over Essendon last Friday night, after coming off with leg muscle tightness during the previous week's quarter-final win over Geelong in Canberra.
While both players are clearly in the Saints' best side and could do with another hit-out before the start of the season, the Saints also have to weigh up the risk of playing the injury-prone pair in what will be the highest-tempo game of the pre-season competition against the Crows when there will be a trophy at stake.
"We have to assess them but they are in strong contention to play," St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said of Hudghton and Koschitzke.
However Lyon has made it clear that he will not risk injuries to key players - ahead of the Saints' season opener against Sydney on March 22 - just for the opportunity of lifting the NAB Cup.
"Our overriding objective is to come into round one fit and healthy and hopefully build some momentum into the season proper," he said.
"While NAB is a wonderful sponsor and we get to play on good grounds (during the pre-season competition) - it's not the real thing yet."
Hudghton and Koschitzke are two of St Kilda's most valuable players but also two of their most injury-prone.
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new news or regurgitated- Saints stars in doubt
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saintbrat
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new news or regurgitated- Saints stars in doubt
StReNgTh ThRoUgH LoYaLtY
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Same old same old. Kosi said on Friday night during half time that he will definitely play.
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saintsRrising
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RL said a while back that if we had to play interstate that it would intefere our preparation for the H&A...
Would not surprise me at all if they rest a few more of the more mature players and play an extra kid or two.
I think Kosi would love to play though.
Would not surprise me at all if they rest a few more of the more mature players and play an extra kid or two.
I think Kosi would love to play though.
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bigcarl
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if they are fit then play them imo.
it is a grand final (of sorts) and silverware (albiet slightly tarnished silverware) is at stake along with pride, prestige and prize money.
we've come this far in this poxy competition without any catastrophic injuries and or ever even putting our best team out there.
now we really should try to win it.
a nab cup premiership will boost memberships and send us into the season proper with huge momentum. it is worth winning
and if anyone goes down with a big injury who is to say it wouldn't have happened in round 1 anyway
they are footballers, not china dolls, even though they seem to break just as easily at times
it is a grand final (of sorts) and silverware (albiet slightly tarnished silverware) is at stake along with pride, prestige and prize money.
we've come this far in this poxy competition without any catastrophic injuries and or ever even putting our best team out there.
now we really should try to win it.
a nab cup premiership will boost memberships and send us into the season proper with huge momentum. it is worth winning
and if anyone goes down with a big injury who is to say it wouldn't have happened in round 1 anyway
they are footballers, not china dolls, even though they seem to break just as easily at times
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saintspremiers
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was the win on Friday night really that "thrilling"???
It was a good win, but not orgasmic!
Anyway, I'd like to see Kosi play, if only for 30% of the match.
Given it's a six man bench, players like Kosi and perhaps Roo can sit out most of the match.
Ross can flog the young guys, many of whom will be predominantly Casey players come the real season, so it doesn't matter if they're buggered after the Crows match.
It was a good win, but not orgasmic!
Anyway, I'd like to see Kosi play, if only for 30% of the match.
Given it's a six man bench, players like Kosi and perhaps Roo can sit out most of the match.
Ross can flog the young guys, many of whom will be predominantly Casey players come the real season, so it doesn't matter if they're buggered after the Crows match.
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saintsRrising
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Though it is not about if they are fit this week....but about getting players to be at their best for the H&A....bigcarl wrote:if they are fit then play them imo.
So from that point of view it is not about playing your best team....but in playing a team that will best prepare individuals for the H&A...
Ball, Hayes and BJ are all underdone and need game time.
BJ could well come in and play a quarter...
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iwantmeseats
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saintly
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old news.
see the australian
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 32,00.html
Greg Denham | March 04, 2008
ST KILDA will welcome back several big names for Saturday night's NAB Cup final against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.
Certain to be recalled for the match, worth $385,000 to the winner, are key players Justin Koschitzke and Sam Fisher.
Saints general manager of football operations Matthew Drain yesterday said both would "definitely" play after being rested against Essendon.
With full-forward Fraser Gehrig out with a calf strain, the returns of Koschitzke and Fisher will bolster the Saints' chances of winning their third pre-season final in the past 12 years after victories in 1996 and 2004.
The Saints were yesterday quoted at $2.20 with Adelaide favourite at $1.67, but St Kilda is now expected to firm.
Drain said defender Max Hudghton and utility Brendon Goddard were available, but they were not certain starters.
"We've got to weigh up if it's worth flying Max to Adelaide," Drain said. "He was rested last weekend, but pulled up with hamstring tightness in our previous NAB Cup game."
Hudghton, 31, has a history of soft-tissue injuries and last season missed 12 premiership matches.
"Brendon is available, but we're not sure at the moment," Drain said. "He has not played since he wrecked his knee in round seven last year which required a reconstruction."
Drain said he expected teenager Jarryn Geary to return after missing the narrow semi-final win over the Bombers with an ankle problem.
Matt Maguire, who has had a wretched past two seasons because of a fractured leg and foot, is on target for a return early in the premiership season, but his comeback seems certain to be delayed until he has played at least a few games for St Kilda VFL affiliate club Casey.
Drain said it would be a match committee decision later in the week as to who would drop out for the return of Koschitzke, Fisher and Geary.
Victory should ensure the Saints make another healthy profit this season after five years of $1m-plus results under their previous board, headed by former president Rod Butterss, that left the club debt free.
Before this season's pre-season series, St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser had budgeted for a modest $300,000 profit in 2008 after the club's new directors invested more than $1 million extra in its football department.
Football department expenditure at Moorabbin will rise to about $13.6 million in 2008, with about 60 per cent of the increase on football expenditure since last season on improved medical, fitness and conditioning services following another horrendous run of injuries in 2007.
St Kilda added former Sydney strength and conditioning manager David Misson, another doctor, an additional physiotherapist, a sports psychologist and a former Australian Institute of Sport expert to assess statistical analysis of players.
A near full-strength Adelaide pulled up well from its win over Hawthorn on Saturday night and will name a similar squad.
Forward Nick Gill has been ruled out again with a calf injury, while Trent Hentschel, who sustained multiple serious injuries to his knee 18 months ago, will not be ready to resume at the elite level for at least another three months.
Hawthorn last night confirmed that Beau Muston tore the anterior cruciate graft in his left knee on Saturday night and will miss the rest of the season.
see the australian
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 32,00.html
Greg Denham | March 04, 2008
ST KILDA will welcome back several big names for Saturday night's NAB Cup final against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.
Certain to be recalled for the match, worth $385,000 to the winner, are key players Justin Koschitzke and Sam Fisher.
Saints general manager of football operations Matthew Drain yesterday said both would "definitely" play after being rested against Essendon.
With full-forward Fraser Gehrig out with a calf strain, the returns of Koschitzke and Fisher will bolster the Saints' chances of winning their third pre-season final in the past 12 years after victories in 1996 and 2004.
The Saints were yesterday quoted at $2.20 with Adelaide favourite at $1.67, but St Kilda is now expected to firm.
Drain said defender Max Hudghton and utility Brendon Goddard were available, but they were not certain starters.
"We've got to weigh up if it's worth flying Max to Adelaide," Drain said. "He was rested last weekend, but pulled up with hamstring tightness in our previous NAB Cup game."
Hudghton, 31, has a history of soft-tissue injuries and last season missed 12 premiership matches.
"Brendon is available, but we're not sure at the moment," Drain said. "He has not played since he wrecked his knee in round seven last year which required a reconstruction."
Drain said he expected teenager Jarryn Geary to return after missing the narrow semi-final win over the Bombers with an ankle problem.
Matt Maguire, who has had a wretched past two seasons because of a fractured leg and foot, is on target for a return early in the premiership season, but his comeback seems certain to be delayed until he has played at least a few games for St Kilda VFL affiliate club Casey.
Drain said it would be a match committee decision later in the week as to who would drop out for the return of Koschitzke, Fisher and Geary.
Victory should ensure the Saints make another healthy profit this season after five years of $1m-plus results under their previous board, headed by former president Rod Butterss, that left the club debt free.
Before this season's pre-season series, St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser had budgeted for a modest $300,000 profit in 2008 after the club's new directors invested more than $1 million extra in its football department.
Football department expenditure at Moorabbin will rise to about $13.6 million in 2008, with about 60 per cent of the increase on football expenditure since last season on improved medical, fitness and conditioning services following another horrendous run of injuries in 2007.
St Kilda added former Sydney strength and conditioning manager David Misson, another doctor, an additional physiotherapist, a sports psychologist and a former Australian Institute of Sport expert to assess statistical analysis of players.
A near full-strength Adelaide pulled up well from its win over Hawthorn on Saturday night and will name a similar squad.
Forward Nick Gill has been ruled out again with a calf injury, while Trent Hentschel, who sustained multiple serious injuries to his knee 18 months ago, will not be ready to resume at the elite level for at least another three months.
Hawthorn last night confirmed that Beau Muston tore the anterior cruciate graft in his left knee on Saturday night and will miss the rest of the season.