ST KILDA 3.0 8.2 16.4 19.8 (122) GEELONG 4.1 5.4 6.7 9.7 (61)
Goals:
St Kilda: F Gehrig 7 S Milne 4 A Hamill 3 N Riewoldt 3 A Thompson A Jones.
Geelong: H Playfair 2 B Graham J Kelly J Corey P Riccardi K Kingsley D Milburn M Scarlett.
Best:
St Kilda: F Gehrig B Goddard N Dal Santo L Ball A Hamill L Penny A Jones.
Geelong: C Ling J Kelly J Hunt M Scarlett.
Umpires: B Rosebury G Dore D Margetts.
Crowd: 35,042 at Telstra Dome.

St Kilda coach Grant Thomas had said the turmoil of rape allegations against two of his players would galvanise his team, and the Saints proved good to his word with a thumping win over Geelong tonight.

The re-match of the Wizard Cup final combatants promised a match as intriguing and close as that game, but instead the Saints overcame a slow start to flog Geelong 19.8 (122) to 9.7 (61) in AFL round one at the Telstra Dome. [more]

10:49:53 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

St Kilda has opened the 2004 season in fine style, overcoming a slow start to belt Geelong by 61 points at Telstra Dome, 19.8 (122) to 9.7 (61). The Wizard Home Loans Cup premiers trailed by 19 points halfway through the opening quarter when they conceded the first three goals, and after recovering to within seven points at the first change, should have been at least three goals down again in the second. [more]

10:20:14 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

ST KILDA coach Grant Thomas had said the turmoil of rape allegations against two of his players would galvanise his team, and the Saints proved good to his word with a thumping win over Geelong tonight. [more]

10:14:01 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

Round 1			Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4
			G.B	G.B	G.B	G.B
	St. Kilda		3.0	8.2	16.4	19.8		(122)
	Geelong		4.1	5.4	6.7	9.7		(61)
Match Status: Completed			Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4		Full Time

ST KILDA 3.0 8.2 16.4 19.8 (122)
GEELONG 4.1 5.4 6.7 9.7 (61)
Goals: St Kilda: F Gehrig 7 S Milne 4 A Hamill 3 N Riewoldt 3 A Thompson A Jones. Geelong: H Playfair 2 B Graham J Kelly J Corey P Riccardi K Kingsley D Milburn M Scarlett.
Best: St Kilda: F Gehrig B Goddard N Dal Santo L Ball A Hamill L Penny A Jones. Geelong: C Ling J Kelly J Hunt M Scarlett.
Umpires: B Rosebury G Dore D Margetts.
Crowd: 35,042 at Telstra Dome.

10:01:59 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

Irony hits spot with Hamill 
ST KILDA will enter the season proper with the stifling burden of expectation after swamping brave Geelong with a five-goal final quarter at Telstra Dome last night.

Pleasure with pain 
APOLOGIES to Lisa Marie Presley, but it was torture missing the Saints strut their stuff last night.

Saints run down courageous Cats 
Magic night for Harvey
IT was far from the predicted runaway win, but the Saints last night capped an electric month of football by claiming the Wizard Cup.

Saints are Wizards 
New kids on block shine
St Kilda 1.14.5 (98) bt
Geelong 1.10.7 (76)
THE Saints came marching home last night as the Wizard Cup heralded a new football season of high hopes for underdogs.
Molly Meldrum: Pleasure with pain
Wizard Cup final pictures
Match report

Kids add true grit to their armoury 
ST Kilda has added the most dangerous of all ingredients to its talent-laden line-up: the will to win when all seems lost.

5:22:47 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

Boy from Sin City is one happy Saint
Lenny Hayes isn't bitter at being missed by Sydney. more

Saints coach faces a big test this season
The game of football, as we knew it, looked to be coming to an end on that Saturday night at Telstra Dome less than two years ago when Grant Thomas's young unfancied Saints defied the odds and drew with Sydney. more

Harvey steals the show
A rampant St Kilda staged a stunning final-quarter revival to win its first pre-season competition grand final since 1996 when it beat a gallant Geelong by 22 points at the Telstra Dome last night. more

Saints run all the way to the dais
St Kilda won the final of the pre-season competition last night by the sort of margin many had predicted, but not in the manner many had anticipated. more

Gehrig, Saints have the final say
The irony was inescapable, and almost cruel. For 95 per cent of the Wizard Cup grand final, Geelong's irrepressible full-back Matthew Scarlett was impassable. more

5:16:22 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

St Kilda coach Grant Thomas says his side’s triumph in the Wizard Home Loans Cup grand final on Saturday night is only a small step in the club’s bid to re-emerge as an AFL powerhouse.

The Saints lifted only their second senior AFL trophy since their one and only premiership win back in 1966, by overrunning Geelong in the final quarter at Telstra Dome on Saturday night, and their first since victory in this same competition back in 1996. [more]

11:30:12 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

1:53:32 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

ST KILDA'S 2004 pre-season AFL flag was a more deserved triumph than its previous piece of silverware, according to half-back Aussie Jones.

Jones, one of the survivors of the Saints' 1996 summer premiership and one of his side's best in tonight's grand final win over Geelong, rated this year's pre-season win much higher.

"Back then the Wizard Cup wasn't such a strong competition but this year a lot of sides have taken in full strengths sides so our 1996 win was probably a bit of a fake.

"So this is a much better win."

[more]

[listening to: Somebody Kill Me - Adam Sandler ]
11:44:56 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

St Kilda’s crop of exciting youngsters have lifted their first major AFL trophy but it was veteran Robert Harvey who inspired the Saints’ thrilling comeback victory over Geelong in Saturday night’s Wizard Home Loans Cup grand final at Telstra Dome.

The exciting Saints showed they have the grit and tenacity to match their undoubted potential by steamrolling over the top of the Cats in the final term after trailing for much of the second and third quarters.

In front of more than 50,000 fans – the biggest ever crowd for a pre-season final at Docklands – the Saints won 1.14.5 (98) to 1.10.7 (76) after having trailed by 11 points at the last change.  [more]

[listening to: Pretty Mary Sunlite - Jerry Reed ]
11:04:14 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

Good article from foxsports

St Kilda 1.14.5 (98) Geelong 1.10.7 (76)

ST KILDA have stormed home in the final quarter to beat Geelong in the AFL Wizard Cup final, denying the Cats their first silverware in 41 years.

St Kilda ran over a tiring Cats side in the final term, scoring five goals to none to win 1.14.5 (98) to 1.10.7 (76) to win their first cup since 1996 and add to the hype about their hopes in the upcoming premiership season.

Saints veteran and dual Brownlow Medallist Robert Harvey was best afield, racking up possessions and adding to his individual accolades by winning the Michael Tuck medal as best on ground.

The Cats led by 11 points at the last change, belying their status as rank outsiders for the final.

But they had no answer to a physically powerful Saints when it mattered.

The game had a physical opening, with St Kilda recruit Brent Guerra cannoning into key Cats midfielder Cameron Ling.

[more]

[listening to: Pass the Dutchie - Musical Youth ]
10:57:34 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

St Kilda 1.14.5 (98) bt Geelong 1.10.7 (76)

ST KILDA has stormed home in the final quarter to beat Geelong in the AFL Wizard Cup final, denying the Cats their first silverware in 41 years.

St Kilda ran over a tiring Cats side in the final term, scoring five goals to none to win 1.14.5 (98) to 1.10.7 (76) to win their first cup since 1996 and add to the hype about their hopes in the upcoming premiership season.

Saints veteran and dual Brownlow Medallist Robert Harvey was best afield, racking up possessions and adding to his individual accolades by winning the Michael Tuck medal as best on ground.

[more]

[listening to: Pacha's Homecoming/The Blue Plate Special [Score] [Score] - John Debney ]
10:52:13 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

Sportal rock! They are always the first site updated with the lastest news

St Kilda has captured its second pre-season title with a 22-point come-from-behind win over Geelong in the 2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup final at Telstra Dome.

After leading for much of the first three quarters of the game, the Cats were finally broken in the dying minutes, the saints overrunning them 1.14.5 (98) to 1.10.7 (76).

Seeking to emulate their March 1996 triumph, the Saints began the final term 11 points behind but attacked the margin with a fervour that indicated this title meant an enormous amount to the young side. [more]

[listening to: One Day I'll Fly Away - Nicole Kidman ]
10:27:12 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

ST KILDA 0.4.1 1.7.5 1.10.6 1.14.5 (98)
GEELONG 0.2.1 0.7.3 0.10.4 1.10.7 (76)

Nine-pointers:
St Kilda: L Montagna.
Geelong: B Graham.

Goals:
St Kilda: B Guerra 4 A Hammill 2 F Gehrig 2 N Riewoldt 2 A Jones L Hayes L Ball S Milne.
Geelong: K Kingsley 5 M McCarthy 2 B Graham B Haynes G Ablett Jnr.

Best:
St Kilda: R Harvey L Hayes P Guerra M Dal Santo B Voss L Ball.
Geelong: T Enright K Kingsley D Milburn J Rahilly M Scarlett C Mooney.

Umpires: M Vozzo S McLaren C Rowe S McInerney.
Crowd: 50,533 at Telstra Dome

10:27:11 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

10:18:08 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

The saints have beaten geelong in the pre-season grandfinal - 98 to 76

Robert Harvey wins the best on ground award

Lots of stories to follow!

10:09:07 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

Wow - everyday there have been heaps of stories about the saints, and they arent all negative.

Here's a selection from http://afl.com.au, http://saints.com.au, http://realfooty.com.au, http://heraldsun.com.au/footy

• Saints walking in right direction
• So far so cool as Saints prepare to 'have a crack'
• Slick deals put kids on block
• Bomber puts case for forgotten Cats
• Thompson says his young Cats can match St Kilda
• Saints to hold nothing back
• Saints embrace finals experience 
• Saints firming for Wizard glory 
• Thomas easy on Saints' celebrations
• Thomas notes draw irony
• Saints, Cats flag different approach
• In-your-face Saints make hefty impact
• Saints glimpse the Holy Grail 

[listening to: Lady Marmalade - Christina Aguilera ]
10:29:35 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

St Kilda 2.16.12 (126) Essendon 1.11.9 (84)

"THE word about St Kilda is spreading and at Telstra Dome last night the Saints showed they are on a mission. With bold, exciting and determined football they shook off their hoodoo against the Bombers. It had been five years between drinks for the folk at Moorabbin. Essendon had won each of the five encounters before this Wizard Cup semi-final: Round 8, 1999; Round 12, 2000; Round 11, 2001; Round 8, 2002 and Round 14, 2003 - and all by an average of 10 goals. Even more damning, they had won 31 of the past 36 encounters. From the opening bounce it looked like the lopsided tally would swing back. The Saints were aggressive, tough and unforgiving at every contest. " [more]

12:32:36 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

"THE changing of the football guard could not have been more rapid or complete. The bright new St Kilda outfit that has promised so much for so long finally clicked at Telstra Dome against Essendon, winning through to Saturday night's Wizard Cup grand final. In a stunning effort by the competition's most exciting young list, St Kilda set up a battle of the AFL's new breed with a 42-point win and will take on Geelong. " [more]

10:03:16 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

St Kilda's bandwagon is fairly charging after the Saints eclipsed Essendon by 42 points last night to reach their first grand final since 1997.

The Saints will play Geelong in Saturday night's grand final at Telstra Dome, and Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy for one believes they will play a role in September.

"(St Kilda coach Grant) Thomas has had a one-track mind," said Sheedy. "They've had to clear some good players to get that side together."

Sheedy said St Kilda had earnt its win last. "It was a rude awakening for Essendon tonight," he said. "That might be the best thing out of it. St Kilda came out and wanted to teach Essendon how to play footy and that's not the worst thing sometimes." [more]

1:46:39 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

Height on his side: St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt marks over Essendon's Adam Ramanauskas. The Saints won by 42 points, marching into next week's Wizard Cup final

12:13:20 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

11:19:58 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

11:19:30 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

11:19:01 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

St Kilda has confirmed its status as the AFL’s most exciting up-and-coming team by beating its 'bogy' side Essendon to reach its first pre-season grand final for eight years at Telstra Dome on Saturday night. In the clearest sign yet Grant Thomas’ side will be a serious contender for higher honours in 2004, the Saints thrashed Essendon 2.16.12 (126) to 1.11.9 (84).  

[more]

11:06:08 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

ST KILDA 2.16.12 (126) ESSENDON 1.11.9 (84)

THE Saints marched into the AFL Wizard Cup grand final after thrashing bogey side Essendon in tonight's second semi-final at Telstra Dome.

Electrifying from the start, St Kilda was never headed and recorded its first win over the Bombers since 1999 with a 42-point pasting, 2.16.12 (126) to 1.11.9 (84).

The Saints, who have won just the one night flag since their sole premiership of 1966, will now play Geelong in next Saturday's pre-season decider in a chance for both clubs to add to their bare trophy cabinet. [more]

10:47:36 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

Sportal tells the story:

St Kilda has confirmed its status as the AFL’s most exciting up and coming team by beating its ‘bogy’ side Essendon to reach its first pre-season grand final for eight years on Saturday night.

In the most obvious sign yet Grant Thomas’ side will be a serious contender in 2004, the Saints thrashed Essendon 2.16.12 (126) to 1.11.9 (84) with their star-studded forward line unstoppable for the second successive week.

In front of the biggest crowd of the Wizard Home Loans Cup so far of over 29,500, St Kilda dominated the game from the outset with a six goal to one first term setting up their victory.

The Saints victory not only set up a fairytale grand final against a similarly success-starved Geelong side at Telstra Dome next Saturday night but also showed that Thomas’ team is ready to compete against the AFL big guns.

Discounting pre-season and practice matches, the Saints had lost 31 of their past 36 games against Essendon – dating back to when Kevin Sheedy first took charge of the Bombers in 1981.

But from the moment Brendon Goddard scored a nine point super goal after just four minutes the result of this game was never in doubt as the Saints’ attack of Fraser Gehrig (five goals), Nick Riewoldt (four), Aaron Hamill (two) and goalsneak Stephen Milne (three) destroyed the highly-rated Bombers, just as they did Richmond the week before.

The Saints’ surprisingly easy demolition of the Bombers now sets up one of the most intriguing and potentially exciting pre-season grand finals for years – between two clubs who between them have lifted just one senior trophy in the past 38 years.

St.Kilda: 1.4.5 1.8.7 1.13.10 2.16.12 (126).
Essendon: 0.1.1 1.5.3 1.9.4 1.11.9 (84).

NINE POINT GOALS:
St.Kilda: Goddard, Thompson.
Essendon: J Johnson.
SIX POINT GOALS:
St.Kilda: Gehrig 5, Riewoldt 4, Milne 3, Hamill 2, Blake, Ball.
Essendon: Watson 2, J Johnson, Hille, Richards, McPhee, Lloyd, Rioli, M Johnson, Alvey, Fletcher.
BEST:
St.Kilda: Ball, Black, Riewoldt, Gehrig, Penny, Jones, Dal Santo, Blake,.
Essendon: J Johnson, Hird, McPhee, Watson, Rioli.

10:45:11 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

"St Kilda has confirmed its status as the AFL's most exciting up and coming team by beating its 'bogy' side Essendon to reach its first pre-season grand final for eight years on Saturday night.

In the most obvious sign yet Grant Thomas' side will be a serious contender in 2004, the Saints thrashed Essendon 2.16.12 (126) to 1.11.9 (84) with their star-studded forward line unstoppable for the second successive week." [more]

10:33:45 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

Woohoo - the Saints beat the Bombers. The Saints move into the pre-season grand final and meet Geelong next week.  Wow. The last time they made it to a grand final was 1997.

Gotta wait until mid-night before I can see the game - thanks channel 10 and fox footy!

9:58:34 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

I wrote an angry email to Fox Footy and guess what, I got a reply. However, it's pretty lame.  Now I need to write a nasty note to Channel 10.

Dear Mr Arrigo,

Thank you for your email regarding the broadcasting of St Kilda Wizard Cup games on FOX Footy Channel.

Unfortunately, FOX Footy Channel was contractually unable to broadcast the Rnd 1 & 2 St Kilda games any earlier than we did.

Channel 10 held the live rights to both the Rnd 1 & Rnd 2 St Kilda games and FOX Footy Channel is not permitted to broadcast a Wizard Cup Channel 10 (or Channel 9) game in NSW any earlier than either the scheduled end of Channel 9 or 10’s telecast, or 11.30pm.

If Channels 9 or 10 choose not to broadcast a Wizard Cup game until 11.30pm or later, then unfortunately FOX Footy Channel cannot show the game any earlier than 11.30pm. In the circumstance of last weekend, the decision to not broadcast the game until 11.45pm on Channel 10 was a decision made solely by the 10 Network. Likewise this weekend, the fact that Channel 10 will not screen the St Kilda match until 12.10 am on the Sunday morning is a decision solely made by the 10 Network.

FOX Footy Channel will be broadcasting that match as soon as we are contractually permitted to - that is 11.30pm. We appreciate your frustration, however, in this situation there is nothing that FOXTEL can do otherwise - in this instance, such decisions rest with the 9 & 10 Networks.

We certainly value your continued loyalty to FOX Footy Channel and trust that you continue to enjoy the 3 EXCLUSIVELY LIVE games during the home & away season as well as a great line-up of footy programming on the channel (commencing Monday 22 March).

Thank you again for contacting FOX Footy Channel - we hope that you enjoy FOX Footy Channel as part of your Essentials package for season 2004.

Regards,

FOX Footy Channel

12:44:42 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies