x re-signed

bigcarl · Post: # 669212Post **bigcarl** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 1:11am

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

ST KILDA yesterday ended speculation over Xavier Clarke's future when they signed the indigenous midfielder for another 12 months.

Clarke, 25, had another mixed year as he battled form and injury worries, as well as dealing with his father's health concerns.

There was speculation the No. 5 draft pick of 2001 might be traded, but the club will today announce the contract extension.

Emerging defender James Gwilt, 22, will also get a one-year contract after playing 13 games from Round 11 onwards this year.

Clarke played just eight games this year for 105 in total. After a poor qualifying final he was dropped for the rest of the finals series.

Beekay · Post: # 669213Post **Beekay** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 1:46am

25 geeeeeeeezaz.

One could wonder if he'd still be on the list if he was selected in the 3rd round.

Fulham_Sainter · Fri 31 Oct 2008 3:39am

Stating the obvious but last chance next year. Lets hope he puts it all together and has a great year, for any chance at the flag we need the whole team to shine and play to their best abilities.

saintsrus · Post: # 669219Post **saintsrus** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 6:54am

This guy injury free is in our top 5, all the talk of last chances/trading is just bollocks imo

spiral2 · Post: # 669220Post **spiral2** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 7:28am

I really hope he puts it all together this year.
must be a real fright to be so close to going. one year contract sounds pretty do or die. must be concerns about his body.

go X!

Moccha · Post: # 669226Post **Moccha** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 8:48am

Only decent thing I've read on this site in the last 2 weeks

Mr Magic · Post: # 669228Post **Mr Magic** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 8:50am

spiral2 wrote:I really hope he puts it all together this year.
must be a real fright to be so close to going. one year contract sounds pretty do or die. must be concerns about his body.

go X!

Actually he's in a similar position to the one he was in at this time last year, except for being a year older.

He signed a 12 month contract last year also.

The Club obviously feel he has something to contribute but are wary of his continued injury problems. Maybe they are giving Misson and the medical team 12 more months to get him right?

joffaboy · Post: # 669232Post **joffaboy** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 8:56am

Glad to see Gwilt get another go. Still only 22, never had the grounding of the TAC cup and is only just starting to show a bit.

I reckon the guy could be a real honest contributer and in our top 22 in a year or two if he keeps developing.

Different type but remember Andrew Thomson only started to kick on at age 24, Sam Fisher was drafted at age 23 etc.

As for X. Well I hope that now his personal issues have subsided he can get fit and contribute. Might want to look at the kid brother and see that he has been overtaken. Might spur him on.

heres hoping.

super dooper · Fri 31 Oct 2008 9:29am

saintsrus wrote:This guy injury free is in our top 5, all the talk of last chances/trading is just bollocks imo

i know everyone is entitled to their opinion and all but, gees, are you serious?? TOP 5???

When has he been fully fit for a decent amount of time to justify that he belongs as part of our core group of players?

Round 1 of 2006 he was awsome, but thats about it. Just a bits and pieces player that has shown flashes.

Unfortunately "flashes" of brilliance does not equate to winning finals or crunch games. Which raises the question, when has he played well in a big game (if he wasnt injured that is)??

So is he ahead of??

Roo
Hayes
S.Fish
Max
Hayes
Goddard
Ball
Dal Santo
Joey
Kosi
...

i think not

I hope all comes good after being in the system since he debuted in 2002, you'd think he has had a long enough apprentiship.

In that time as supporters we have seen us get smashed, come within brent guerras right foot of a premiership and now on a slow decline. We need to be sure we are investing for our next premiership team, when ever that may be.

Obviously by keeping him on the list for another 12 months is not jepoardising the position of a young player that we can blood so the decision seems perfectly logical. Surely this will open his eyes a bit that his career and lifestyle are on the line here and he must deliver!

St Marcus · Post: # 669240Post **St Marcus** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 9:29am

saintsrus wrote:This guy injury free is in our top 5, all the talk of last chances/trading is just bollocks imo

Agree, hopefully he will show his full potential in 2009 and be injury free

GO X

stinger · Post: # 669241Post **stinger** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 9:31am

saintsrus wrote:This guy injury free is in our top 5, all the talk of last chances/trading is just bollocks imo

Saints Media · Fri 31 Oct 2008 9:38am

[quote]Xavier Clarke and James Gwilt have signed new deals that will see them remain with the Saints for at least one more year. The 25-year old Clarke played eight games in an injury interrupted 2008 season while Gwilt played 13 including St Kildaâ€™s three finals.

Matthew Drain, General Manager of Football & List Management said â€œWe are delighted that Xavier and James have put pen to paper and committed to at least another year at the Saints. They are both young, valued members of the squad and we believe they have a lot to offer going forward.â€

saintbrat · Post: # 669246Post **saintbrat** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 9:41am

Good work guys- thanks James and Xavier

Bad luck Aaron.

clarky449 · Post: # 669247Post **clarky449** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 9:42am

Fiora i thought they might of given him 1 more year

Life Long Saint · Fri 31 Oct 2008 9:55am

Saints Media wrote:
The Club also made the difficult decision to delist Aaron Fiora.

Aaron was drafted by Richmond with pick three in the 1999 AFL Draft and played 78 games before St Kilda acquired his services in a three-way trade in 2004. The midfielder went on to play 62 games with the Saints, kicking 32 goals to give him a career tally of 58.

The Club thanks Aaron for his contribution and wishes him all the best for the future.

Do we have to pay his salary next season?

saintly · Post: # 669259Post **saintly** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 10:00am

Life Long Saint wrote:
Saints Media wrote:
The Club also made the difficult decision to delist Aaron Fiora.

Aaron was drafted by Richmond with pick three in the 1999 AFL Draft and played 78 games before St Kilda acquired his services in a three-way trade in 2004. The midfielder went on to play 62 games with the Saints, kicking 32 goals to give him a career tally of 58.

The Club thanks Aaron for his contribution and wishes him all the best for the future.
Do we have to pay his salary next season?

yep. it would be in the salary cap for next year.

GrumpyOne · Post: # 669266Post **GrumpyOne** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 10:09am

Sanity has prevailed.

BAM! (shhhh) · Fri 31 Oct 2008 10:30am

saintly wrote:
Life Long Saint wrote:
Saints Media wrote:
The Club also made the difficult decision to delist Aaron Fiora.

Aaron was drafted by Richmond with pick three in the 1999 AFL Draft and played 78 games before St Kilda acquired his services in a three-way trade in 2004. The midfielder went on to play 62 games with the Saints, kicking 32 goals to give him a career tally of 58.

The Club thanks Aaron for his contribution and wishes him all the best for the future.
Do we have to pay his salary next season?
yep. it would be in the salary cap for next year.

Is that 100%, or can the Saints pay it out and count it against this years number (assuming there's room)?

SainterK · Post: # 669273Post **SainterK** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 10:30am

Fair enough, wish him well for 2009.

saintly · Post: # 669274Post **saintly** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 10:32am

BAM! (shhhh) wrote:
saintly wrote:
Life Long Saint wrote:
Saints Media wrote:
The Club also made the difficult decision to delist Aaron Fiora.

Aaron was drafted by Richmond with pick three in the 1999 AFL Draft and played 78 games before St Kilda acquired his services in a three-way trade in 2004. The midfielder went on to play 62 games with the Saints, kicking 32 goals to give him a career tally of 58.

The Club thanks Aaron for his contribution and wishes him all the best for the future.
Do we have to pay his salary next season?
yep. it would be in the salary cap for next year.
Is that 100%, or can the Saints pay it out and count it against this years number (assuming there's room)?

they can pay him out, but i think it will come out of 2009 salary cap payment.

saintspremiers · Fri 31 Oct 2008 11:03am

Great news about X and Gwilt, very happy....2009 can only be better for X you'd hope!

Good luck

ace · Post: # 669359Post **ace** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 1:27pm

I had Fiora down to come out of contract at the end of 2009.
Fiora's and his management would be foolish not to have the contract paid out.
If Fiora is picked up by another club, St Kida may only have to make up the difference.
That difference would count against the 2009 salary cap.

If St Kilda pay him out before they put in their final payments sheet for 2008 they could add the payout to the 2008 cap payments.
Then they only need to count any surplus against 2009.
That assumes they have any room left in the 2008 payments cap.

Either way it is a botch up to give a player a 2 year contract and dump him after 1.
But then there have been a lot of changes in off field personel and hence opinions within the club in the meantime.

St. Luke · Post: # 669433Post **St. Luke** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 3:43pm

You can't cut a team to ribbons because people think a player is too old. X is nowhere near too old IMO! Not comparing him to Harvs but there is an oldie and a bloody goodie! Overcame a spate of hamstring injuries and worked his body OUT!

We would have lost Raph if it was up to half the whingers on here, and guess what, the kid shined last season! Never burn your bridges before you know where they lead! Get up em X! Glad to see you back on board next season you good thing!

jays · Post: # 669487Post **jays** » Fri 31 Oct 2008 5:40pm

one day i hope x proves me wrong and becomes a star

Saintschampions08 · Fri 31 Oct 2008 6:07pm

St. Luke wrote:You can't cut a team to ribbons because people think a player is too old. X is nowhere near too old IMO! Not comparing him to Harvs but there is an oldie and a bloody goodie! Overcame a spate of hamstring injuries and worked his body OUT!

We would have lost Raph if it was up to half the whingers on here, and guess what, the kid shined last season! Never burn your bridges before you know where they lead! Get up em X! Glad to see you back on board next season you good thing!

He shined in the last 5 games of the year ...

He didn't shine last year, he's played a few good games...