Saints 2008 season preview

[Darren]

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NewsArticle/ ... wsId=56512


ST KILDA


2007 in brief
Played: 22
Won: 11
Lost: 10
Drawn: 1
Finished: 9th

Played every game (4)
Nick Dal Santo
Aaron Fiora
Jason Blake
Stephen Milne

AFL debuts (4)
R3, No.38: Clinton Jones (6 games)
R8, No.20: David Armitage (3)
R8, No 37: Justin Sweeney (1)
R8, No. 30: Brad Howard (1)

Best and Fairest Award
1 Nick Riewoldt - 529
2 Sam Fisher - 488
3 Leigh Montagna - 442
4 Nick Dal Santo - 436
5 Lenny Hayes - 442

Leading goalkickers
Fraser Gehrig - 59
Nick Riewoldt - 42
Stephen Milne - 32
Justin Koschitzke - 26
Aaron Fiora - 12

All-Australians
None.

Departures
Retired: Matthew Clarke, Aaron Hamill, Andrew Thompson, Brett Voss
Traded: None
Delisted: Fergus Watts, Barry Brooks, Andrew McQualter (later rookie listed), Phil Raymond, Justin Sweeney.

2008 in brief
President: Greg Westaway
Chief Executive: Archie Fraser
Coach: Ross Lyon
Captain: Nick Riewoldt
Coaching staff: John Barker, Anthony Rock, Stephen Silvagni (assistant coaches), Tony Elshaug, Danny Sexton (development), Greg Hutchison (development/Casey Scorpions coach), Dave Misson and Peter Mulkearns (fitness).

Arrivals
Father-Son selection: None
Trade: Adam Schneider, Sean Dempster (Sydney), Steven King, Charlie Gardiner (Geelong)
Rookie elevation: Jarryn Geary, Clinton Jones
Scholarship elevation: None
NAB AFL Draft: Ben McEvoy (9 - Murray Bushrangers), Jack Steven (42 - Geelong Falcons), Fraser Gehrig (57 - re-drafted), Eljay Connors (70 - Bendigo Pioneers)
International rookie selection: –
Non-registered for three years selection: –
NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft: – None
NAB AFL Rookie Draft: Glenn Chivers (8 - Oakleigh Chargers), Luke Miles (24 - Swan Districts), Andrew McQualter (39 - St Kilda), Khan Haretuku (51 - UNSW Eastern Suburbs - NSW Scholarship holder).

The year ahead
Expectation can do funny things in football. Despite an inglorious history, lately, St Kilda seems to be frequently described as ‘perennial contender’ – almost as if some form of success is inevitably going to come their way.

Critics may argue that type of expectation has sat with the Saints for nearly five years, but there is something different about 2008. There is a feeling that the past summer has been a time of healing, learning and growing. Indeed, it was a fitter, smarter St Kilda which clinched the NAB Cup.

They are well equipped with former and future All-Australian players on every line, so they’re going to go close. The kids of 2004 are now men, leaving no qualms about experience this time around.

Unfortunately, Riewoldt, Koschitzke, Maguire, Hudghton, Ball, Harvey, Hayes, Goddard, Gehrig, Gram, Gardiner, Sam and Leigh Fisher, Xavier and Raph Clarke have all crossed varying injury problems in the past few years. Simply keeping them fit just has to be the club’s biggest priority.

Premiership readiness
Ready? Try full, juicy, bursting - just ripe to picked from the league tree and dropped into the premiership basket. There is arguably no club better prepared to win the flag than the Saints right now.

They’ve put together a silverwear tipped pre-season, but that’s not unusual at St Kilda. They are the most successful pre-season team over the past 13 years with three night premierships, but have largely been unable to translate that into September glory.

If they’re going to reach the top four, which most pundits think they will, then they’ll need to find that steel which went missing during their recent finals campaigns. They played in six finals, led five of them at three-quarter time, but, most tellingly, would win just two of them. Their new-found depth could be the difference.

Who to watch
Adam Schneider – the secret’s out about the Schneiderman, but St Kilda fans will be hoping he can provide a consistent link between the midfield and the forward line that the Saints have lacked since Heath Black’s departure. Brent Guerra filled it, briefly and spectacularly, but there’s hope the ex-Sydney star will provide a more reliable spark.

Predicted ladder finish
1st-4th. Anything in the top four would be a credible result, particularly if they can finish the year strongly. Finishing first or second is certainly not out of the question.

Premiership betting:
$6.50

From the club:
"There's a lot of ingredients that go into baking the cake. Fundamentally it comes down to team work and effort." – Ross Lyon

The final word
Up and running, it’s hard to see St Kilda not going close. Even with some injuries, and you’ve got to allow for them, the Saints can and will go stride-for-stride with any club in the competition. If Geelong experience even the slightest flag hangover, the Saints are instantly the team to beat.

[saintDal]

Played every game (4)
Nick Dal Santo
Aaron Fiora
Jason Blake
Stephen Milne

Really need to improve on this stat. Just not good enough.