St Kilda Football Club
Profile by Scott Heinrich
foxsports.com.au
EVERYTHING looks in place for St Kilda to give the AFL premiership a big shake. That's the good news for fans.
The bad news is it’s looked that way for four or five years now, and promise has yet to translate into performance.
In fairness, only last year’s ninth-place finish was the real blip on what otherwise has been profile of slow, but sure, progression after the dark years of 1999-2003.
But with rebuilding complete, the time is now for the Saints to deliver. They have already done so to a small degree, winning the pre-season NAB Cup from Adelaide, but nobody at the club needs telling there are bigger fish to fry.
Of course, the club will be praying for a better run with injuries. Fate was not kind at Moorabbin in 2007, with key players such as Max Hudghton, Matt Maguire, Raphael Clarke, Michael Gardiner and Brendon Goddard (to name a few) reduced to virtual bystanders. With these players back and firing, and midfield star Luke Ball’s osteitis pubis problems behind him, St Kilda will have few excuses to hide behind this season.
Fraser Gehrig’s decision to play on after retiring can only be a plus for a forward line that misfired in 2007 but is already stocked with talent. Nick Riewoldt, should his knee problems subside, will again be of critical importance at centre half-forward, but look for goals from Justin Koschitzke and Stephen Milne. And goals will be needed: St Kilda were the lowest-scoring outfit last year for goals and total points.
St Kilda ranked 16th in 2007 for total disposals, but their game isn’t about excessive possession – and what they lack in quantity, they make up for in quality. Should ex-Geelong recruit Steven King and Gardiner form the kind of ruck combination St Kilda anticipate, runners the likes of Leigh Montagna, Nick Dal Santo, Robert Harvey and Ball will get plenty of opportunity to show what they can do.
Throw mature-age recruits Charlie Gardiner (ex-Geelong) and Sydney premiership players Adam Schneider and Sean Dempster, and a playing list emerges that should be capable of a top-four finish at least. Injuries permitting, of course.
Star man – Leigh Montagna
Montagna really came of age in 2007, blowing opponents away with his great pace off the wing and collecting the most possessions (502) of anyone at St Kilda.
The 24-year-old, who came third in the Saints’ best-and-fairest award, also led the club for inside-50s as well as figuring prominently for tackles made. Entering his sixth season in the AFL, Montagna is probably also entering his best days as an Australian Football player.
big wrap for leigh
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big wrap for leigh
.everybody still loves lenny....and we always will
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yep to the last part.
I must admit Im a monty fan.
he was quite small and light when at st kilda first and the majority of supporters bagged him as a wasted pick.
IMO CJ has more fans than monty did 4 seasons ago.
IMO monty is sort of like the bentley, he doesn't have the big name of the roller or the mercedes, but its still an elite vehicle.
I must admit Im a monty fan.
he was quite small and light when at st kilda first and the majority of supporters bagged him as a wasted pick.
IMO CJ has more fans than monty did 4 seasons ago.
IMO monty is sort of like the bentley, he doesn't have the big name of the roller or the mercedes, but its still an elite vehicle.
Bewaire krime, da krimson bolt is comeing to yure nayborhood to smach krime
SHUT UP KRIME!
SHUT UP KRIME!
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fonz_#15
- SS Life Member
- Posts: 3804
- Joined: Tue 30 May 2006 7:34pm
- Location: the new home of the saints :)
probably a deserved one as well.
i anticipate that he will have a huge year. I still don't know how a team including a back to full fitness luke ball, nick dal santo, leigh montagna, adam schneider, lenny hayes and some unknown bloke called harvey all rotating through the midfield can be stopped.
Its so difficult for teams, tag montagna and dal santo and you still must worry about luke and lenny carving you up in the contested situations, shift your attention to those 2 blokes and you have dal and Monty, as well as harves in bursts and schneider on a wing.
give these blokes first use and a metre of space and they deliver to a forward line of Kosi, roo, G, charlie and milney all around the 50, add Goddard, x.clarke, jones etc and we are looking great.
Touchwood of course that we have beaten the injury curse, because we are looking great.
i anticipate that he will have a huge year. I still don't know how a team including a back to full fitness luke ball, nick dal santo, leigh montagna, adam schneider, lenny hayes and some unknown bloke called harvey all rotating through the midfield can be stopped.
Its so difficult for teams, tag montagna and dal santo and you still must worry about luke and lenny carving you up in the contested situations, shift your attention to those 2 blokes and you have dal and Monty, as well as harves in bursts and schneider on a wing.
give these blokes first use and a metre of space and they deliver to a forward line of Kosi, roo, G, charlie and milney all around the 50, add Goddard, x.clarke, jones etc and we are looking great.
Touchwood of course that we have beaten the injury curse, because we are looking great.
Robert Harvey- Simply the best
didn't you hear? carlton are going in hard against st kilda lolfonz_#15 wrote:probably a deserved one as well.
i anticipate that he will have a huge year. I still don't know how a team including a back to full fitness luke ball, nick dal santo, leigh montagna, adam schneider, lenny hayes and some unknown bloke called harvey all rotating through the midfield can be stopped.
Its so difficult for teams, tag montagna and dal santo and you still must worry about luke and lenny carving you up in the contested situations, shift your attention to those 2 blokes and you have dal and Monty, as well as harves in bursts and schneider on a wing.
give these blokes first use and a metre of space and they deliver to a forward line of Kosi, roo, G, charlie and milney all around the 50, add Goddard, x.clarke, jones etc and we are looking great.
Touchwood of course that we have beaten the injury curse, because we are looking great.
probably putting tape over nick stevens manicured fingernails right now
actually would ahve liked to see them go hard on rocket keogh roving to lazar video-vic back in the 90s.
about a month of suspensions from that one
Bewaire krime, da krimson bolt is comeing to yure nayborhood to smach krime
SHUT UP KRIME!
SHUT UP KRIME!
i think Monty is close to, if not, our best mid... Dal and Hayes get the cudos, Ball gets the Judd Hodge Ball comparisons, Monty just keeps getting the pill and hurting sides..
He gets the ball forward of the centre alot of the time, and has great weapons, a lethal mix... And he is getting better.. Is my tip for the brownlow this year, and our B&F... Suffice to say, i am a fan...
Not sure if it is coaching or just the way they play, but Dal gets a lot of the ball in the back half, and doesnt have any mongrel in him whatsoever.. Joey is more in the mould of Ablett Jnr IMO... Dal is a neater footballer, but joey is the lethal weapon..
He gets the ball forward of the centre alot of the time, and has great weapons, a lethal mix... And he is getting better.. Is my tip for the brownlow this year, and our B&F... Suffice to say, i am a fan...
Not sure if it is coaching or just the way they play, but Dal gets a lot of the ball in the back half, and doesnt have any mongrel in him whatsoever.. Joey is more in the mould of Ablett Jnr IMO... Dal is a neater footballer, but joey is the lethal weapon..