Some news in the lead up to the big game.

Hamill to face Lions, and more game time The Age, Australia - 14 hours ago ST KILDA forward Aaron Hamill trained solidly yesterday alongside fellow forwards Fraser Gehrig, Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke and looks certain to line up against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Saturday night. Hamill set to tackle Lions AFL Saints star in doubt Courier Mail Hamill set to play, despite injury worry The Age AFL - Border Mail all 10 news articles » Voss keeps retirement decision quiet The Age, Australia - 20 hours ago Brisbane Lions skipper Michael Voss may play his last AFL game against St Kilda at the Gabba on Saturday but he won't make it official until after the grand final. It's all in the timing AFL, Australia - 22 hours ago Although St Kilda is yet to get on any great run this season, coach Grant Thomas is well aware it's all about timing your run heading into finals. Crackers' Rant sportal.com.au all 2 news articles »

[listening to: Hey Now Now - Michael Franti ]
3:32:30 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

The last round of the season is here. It's getting close. The Saints meet the Wounded Lions at the Gabba, which has not been a happy hunting ground for the team. They have only won there once.

Overall, the Saints record againts the Lions hasn't been that good either, but we have won the last 2 games againts them!

Since 1997	All Games	Last 5 Games	Highest Score	Lowest Score	Biggest Win
Brisbane Lions	12	3	154	44	97
St Kilda	6	2	186	52	139

Wednesday 30/08/2006

• 1.00p  Round 21 Western Bulldogs v St Kilda

Thursday 31/08/2006

• 1.00p  Last Time They Met 2006 Rnd 3 St Kilda v Brisbane Lions

Friday 01/09/2006

• 12.30a  Round 21 Western Bulldogs v St Kilda

Saturday 02/09/2006

• 10.30p  Round 22 Brisbane Lions v St Kilda

Sunday 03/09/2006

• 11.30a  Round 22 Brisbane Lions v St Kilda

Monday 04/09/2006

• 4.00p  Round 22 Brisbane Lions v St Kilda

[listening to: The Boogie Monster - Gnarls Barkley ]
9:56:50 AM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

What a round! Another draw and a few unexpected results.

Week 21
Home		Draw		Away
Bulldogs (13.14 92)				Saints (22.10 142)
Hawks (7.16 58)				Kangaroos (4.12 36)
Cats (14.10 94)				Demons (14.10 94)
Swans (14.13 97)				Lions (6.4 40)
Tigers (20.9 129)				Bombers (16.17 113)
Power (14.11 95)				Crows (11.15 81)
Magpies (24.12 156)				Blues (17.10 112)
Eagles (8.13 61)				Dockers (18.10 118)

5 correct tips this week gives me 104 correct tips for the season.

Unfortunately the result didn't benefit the Saints, as we are still in 7th spot. The cats didn't do us any favours this week. Grrrrr.

	Club		P		W		L		D		Home Wins		Away Wins		Points For		Points Against		Points
	Eagles		21		16		5		0		9		7		2084		1789		64
	Crows		21		15		6		0		8		7		2179		1546		60
	Dockers		21		14		7		0		8		6		1928		1821		56
	Demons		21		13		7		1		8		5		2052		1805		54
	Swans		21		13		8		0		5		8		1962		1586		52
	Magpies		21		13		8		0		8		5		2206		1894		52
	Saints		21		13		8		0		7		6		1966		1695		52
	Bulldogs		21		12		9		0		6		6		2164		2048		48
	Tigers		21		11		10		0		6		5		1842		2069		44
	Cats		21		10		10		1		6		4		1910		1869		42
	Power		21		8		13		0		4		4		1836		1993		32
	Hawks		21		8		13		0		5		3		1701		2068		32
	Lions		21		7		14		0		4		3		1787		2131		28
	Kangaroos		21		7		14		0		5		2		1683		2028		28
	Bombers		21		3		17		1		3		0		1896		2322		14
	Blues		21		3		17		1		2		1		1747		2279		14

[listening to: Believe Me Natalie - The Killers ]
7:46:50 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

This bit of news coming out of Melbourne has been quite sad for me, as an AFL fan based in Sydney.

Kevin Taylor over at Footystats Diary says it all ;

AFL is out of touch, and out of step

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou is quoted in an AAP report today in The Age and confirms just how out of touch he is with reality – "Everyone has got a free-to-air television set, and for us to be going into NSW and Queensland on a Friday night will be fantastic and we're looking forward to it."

Demetriou and his team may have gathered $780 million from the Seven-Ten consortium for a new TV broadcasting deal but are guilty of overseeing the death of the most important innovation for football – the Fox Footy channel.

The impact from the disappearance of the Fox Footy channel is incalculable and people in the south are simply not aware of what Fox has meant to the game and those who live north of the River Murray.

We were able to turn on at any time of any 24 hours and see our game being telecast, talked about, its history retold from vintage clips, but most of all it was its presence – which was not on the local radio, not in the local newspaper and not in the local TV newscast.

The AFL are guilty of lacking commercial savvy to have been party to all of this going under their noses.

And, to now come along with a proclamation befitting the great messiah of how wonderful it will be to see all eight games on free-to-air – WHEN ...

When will the shift workers in the early hours of the morning, or those in the rural areas – when will we see the replay of the Hawks-Kangaroo match?

Not bloody likely Mr Demetriou, ever again.

Farewell to Fox Footy and the dream that our game will ever be more than a curiosity piece outside of Melbourne.

More news on this story...

Border Mail Fox Footy's demise is irrelevant: Ten The Age, Australia - 4 hours ago ... all eight AFL games next year in a deal with Seven, but Ten was continuing to negotiate with Foxtel despite the imminent demise of the Fox Footy channel. ... Footy channel axing piles pressure on broadcasters ABC Online Fans left howling after Foxtel pulls plug The Age Footy fans furious at Foxtel The Age Sydney Morning Herald - The Australian all 35 news articles » Fox Footy channel set to be switched off Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 22 Aug 2006 While Foxtel is still trying to secure subscription rights beyond this year, it announced the Fox Footy channel would cease to exist. ... Siren blows for Foxtel Footy The Age, Australia - 23 Aug 2006 ... Oh yeah, and go EAGLES for the '06 Flag!! We should not forget why Foxtel is closing the Fox footy channel. ... We need a channel like Fox Footy. ... Ten and Seven shut Foxtel out of footy Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 23 Aug 2006 ... new rights partners Seven and Ten and its pay TV provider reached a new low yesterday when Foxtel announced the closure of the Fox Footy Channel and partially ... No more Fox Footy sportal.com.au, Australia - 23 Aug 2006 Foxtel will close the its AFL-only Fox Footy Channel at the end of the season because of the uncertainty over pay-TV rights to televise AFL football from next ... Our man at headquarters RealFooty, Australia - 20 hours ago Settled in for a quality night of television, with Channel Seven showing all these ... exasperated, then asked: "Do you realise the whole future of Fox Footy is at ... Broadcasters brawl as Foxtel axes AFL The Age, Australia - 23 Aug 2006 ... The big initial losers were about 50 staff at the Fox Footy channel, whose working futures are now uncertain, and AFL fans, who will lose their 24-hour service ... Coaches concerned over Fox demise AFL, Australia - 23 Aug 2006 Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade and St Kilda coach Grant Thomas have both expressed their disappointment over the demise of Fox Footy Channel – Eade going ...

[listening to: Zombie - The Cranberries ]
8:52:50 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies • TV

Outstanding win by the Saints on Friday night. They dominated the dogs. It was the most complete team effort for the season. And it was great to see Hamill, and Kosi up front with Reiwoldt and Gehrig.

Are the boys peaking at the right time of the year? A top 4 spot is looming.

	Qtr Time	Half Time	3 Qtr Time	Final
St Kilda	3. 4 (22)	13. 5 (83)	18.08 (116)	22.10.   142
Western Bulldogs	6. 3 (39)	9. 5 (59)	12.10   (82)	13.14.   092
St Kilda: Goals: - F.Gehrig 8, N.Riewoldt 5, B.Voss 2, S.Milne 2, R.Harvey 2, N.Dal Santo, J.Koschitzke, C.Ackland. Best: - F.Gehrig, N.Dal Santo, N.Riewoldt, L.Ball, R.Harvey, L.Montagna. Western Bulldogs: Goals: - B.Johnson 6, C.Grant, B.Montgomery, S.West, P.Street, M.Robbins, L.Gilbee, W.Minson. Best: - B.Johnson, D.Cross, S.West, C.Grant, M.Boyd. Injuries - St Kilda: nil. Western Bulldogs: L.Gilbee (knee). Reports - St Kilda: nil. Western Bulldogs: nil. Umpires - H.Kennedy, B.Allen, S.Jeffery. @ the Telstra Dome, Melbourne. Crowd: 47,120.

Advertiser Adelaide St Kilda flogs Western Bulldogs 142-92 The Age, Australia - 15 hours ago St Kilda key forwards Fraser Gehrig and Nick Riewoldt kicked 13 goals between them as the Saints roared back into form with a 22.10 (142) to 13.14 (92) AFL win over the Western Bulldogs to keep their top four hopes alive. Twin peaks dominate Dogs The Age Saints burn Dogs at Dome sportal.com.au Saints confirm finals spot ABC Regional Online SportsAustralia.com - ABC Online all 44 news articles » Umpires cop Eade rocket The Australian, Australia - 12 hours ago WESTERN Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade will approach AFL umpires' coach Rowan Sawers about the lack of protection star centreman Scott West received in the 50-point loss to St Kilda last night.

[listening to: Better the Devil You Know - Kylie Minogue ]
2:03:26 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies • My Interests

Another big week in footy coming up. The Saints meet the Bulldogs. The game is on Friday night, which means *another* delayed telecast. Oh, how I miss the footy on a Saturday afternoon!

The Saints have had a good recent record against the Doggies recently.

Since 1980	All Games	Last 5 Games	Highest Score	Lowest Score	Biggest Win
Western Bulldogs	24	1	154	30	79
St Kilda	20	4	157	34	65

However the Saints have had a crap record this season with night games. They have only won 3 of the past 9 night games - not a good record.

Tuesday 22/08/2006

• 8.30a  Round 20 Fremantle v St Kilda
• 11.30p  Round 20 Fremantle v St Kilda

Friday 25/08/2006

• 3.30p  Last Time They Met 2006 Rnd 6 St Kilda v Western Bulldogs
• 9.30p  Round 21 Western Bulldogs v St Kilda

Saturday 26/08/2006

• 12.30a  Round 21 Western Bulldogs v St Kilda
• 6.30a  Round 21 Western Bulldogs v St Kilda
• 9.30a  Round 21 Western Bulldogs v St Kilda

Monday 28/08/2006

• 8.30a  Round 21 Western Bulldogs v St Kilda

[listening to: Soul Kitchen - The Doors ]
9:28:23 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

Another crappy round for tipping. Just 3 correct tips this week. I am in a slump

Week 20
Home		Draw		Away
(12.15 87)				Magpies (12.17 89)
Bulldogs (16.9 105)				Crows (14.14 98)
Cats (14.6 90)				Swans (9.9 63)
Bombers (15.16 106)				Hawks (19.10 124)
Dockers (17.12 114)				Saints (7.14 56)
Lions (7.10 52)				Eagles (16.18 114)
Kangaroos (12.10 82)				Demons (20.12 132)
Blues (14.11 95)				Tigers (21.14 140)

99 correct tips for the season. There is no way I am going to win the tipping comp now, as I trail the leaders by 9.

[listening to: Rock & Roll Music [Live] - Mental as Anything ]
6:26:34 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

What a shocker of a game. It was a belting. I can't even watch the replay, it's so painful.

The Saints are now out of the top 4, and facing 2 more tough games ahead.

	Qtr Time	Half Time	3 Qtr Time	Final
Fremantle	6. 4 (40)	9. 5 (59)	14.10 (94)	17.12.   114
St Kilda	2. 1 (13)	2. 4 (16)	5.08 (38)	7.14.   056
Fremantle: Goals: - J.Farmer 4, M.Pavlich 3, S.McManus 3, J.Longmuir 2, D.Headland 2, B.Schammer 2, M.Carr. Best: - A.Sandilands, P.Bell, L.McPharlin, H.Black, M.Pavlich, S.McManus, B.Dodd, B.Peake. St Kilda: Goals: - F.Gehrig 2, J.Koschitzke, N.Riewoldt, R.Harvey, N.Dal Santo, B.Goddard. Best: - R.Harvey, N.Riewoldt, B.Goddard, L.Montagna. Injuries - Fremantle: J.Farmer (hamstring), R.Hayden (hamstring). St Kilda: nil. Reports - Fremantle: nil. St Kilda: nil. Umpires - D.Woodcock, S.McInerney, D.Goldspink. @ Subiaco Oval, Perth. Crowd: 39,069.

Freo dreaming of September The Age, Australia - 22 minutes ago Fremantle's surge towards September continued in impressive style tonight, the Dockers beating St Kilda 17.12 (114) to 7.14 (56) to burst into the AFL's top four and genuine premiership contention. Freo smashes sorry Saints 114-56 The Age, Australia - 23 minutes ago Fremantle's surge towards September continued in impressive style, the Dockers beating St Kilda 17.12 (114) to 7.14 (56) to burst into the AFL's top four and genuine premiership contention. Freo in seven heaven sportal.com.au, Australia - 35 minutes ago Fremantle has secured its second finals berth and a chance of a top-four finish after it thrashed an unimaginative St Kilda by 58 points at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

[listening to: Gimme the Car [UK Single] [*] - Violent Femmes ]
11:13:14 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

Go Sainters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fly That Flag

sportal.com.au

St Kilda ready to fly flag for Victoria The Age, Australia - 2 hours ago St Kilda coach Grant Thomas says the Saints are building towards their best form as September approaches and are ready to "fly the flag for Victoria" in the AFL finals series. Dockers looking for seven-straight ABC Online Never a dull moment when Saints play Freo The Australian New aim for Dockers is to keep it simple The Australian The Age - AFL - all 15 related »

sportal.com.au

Saints fly Vic flag sportal.com.au, Australia - 4 hours ago With St Kilda poised for another finals assault, Grant Thomas has urged his players to dig deep and take their game to the next level - even drawing up battlelines along state borders

[listening to: Andy, You're a Star - The Killers ]
9:39:02 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

A really really big round of footy coming up this weekend. The Saints and Dockers have played a few tight games recently. The one on Saturday night will be a beauty.

The Age

What next for Saints v Freo? AFL, Australia - 22 hours ago Is it any wonder St Kilda coach Grant Thomas' number one ... for this weekend's blockbuster clash against Fremantle is for ... As the Saints and Dockers prepare to do ... St Kilda carries Big V flag Melbourne Herald Sun Saints jump into top four ABC Online Freo aim anchor at the four Sydney Morning Herald Sydney Morning Herald - SportsAustralia.com - all 24 related »

RealFooty

The run home AFL, Australia - 13 Aug 2006 ... And if the Saints get over the Dockers, they will fancy their chances ... with their two biggest rivals for fourth spot in Fremantle and St Kilda squaring off ... Fremantle lurking as wild-card The Australian all 31 related »

[listening to: In This Life - Madonna ]
12:08:10 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

Saints prevailed on the weekend. They are now back in 4th place on the ladder.

Tough game next week, againts the rampaging Dockers. The game is on the telly, but it will delayed on Fox Footy. I don't think Channel 10 will show it live into Sydney.

Our record against them has been interesting and the last 3 games controvertial!

Since 1995	All Games	Last 5 Games	Highest Score	Lowest Score	Biggest Win
Fremantle	9	2	131	58	71
St Kilda	7	3	118	56	39

Tuesday 15/08/2006

• 1.30p  Round 19 Geelong v St Kilda

Wednesday 16/08/2006

• 6.00p  Classic Quarters 2001 Rd 1 Western Bulldogs v St Kilda

Thursday 17/08/2006

• 3.30p  Last Time They Met 2006 Rnd 5 St Kilda v Fremantle
• 9.30p  Classic Quarters 2001 Rd 1 Western Bulldogs v St Kilda

Friday 18/08/2006

• 7.30a  Classic Quarters 2001 Rd 1 Western Bulldogs v St Kilda

Saturday 19/08/2006

• 10.30p  Round 20 Fremantle v St Kilda

Sunday 20/08/2006

• 3.30a  Classic Quarters 2001 Rd 1 Western Bulldogs v St Kilda
• 11.30a  Round 20 Fremantle v St Kilda

5:26:57 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies • TV

My dreadful tipping run continues. This week I just got 4 right. But, the Saints won, so that's all that matters,

Week 19
Home		Draw		Away
Bombers (10.14 74)				Magpies (9.7 61)
Demons (10.3 63)				Swans (14.11 95)
Eagles (14.23 107)				Kangaroos (12.9 81)
Tigers (21.16 142)				Lions (8.12 60)
Bulldogs (13.13 91)				Power (14.21 105)
Crows (10.20 80)				Dockers (13.17 95)
Cats (11.14 80)				Saints (15.13 103)
Hawks (17.11 113)				Blues (13.12 90)

Overall I got 96 tips correct this season. Still 6 tips from the lead.

[listening to: Major Disaster - Original Soundtrack ]
6:28:18 PM    comment []  trackback []  G!   • My Hobbies

Go the Saints! A triumph over their recent nemesis the Cats.

I haven't seen the game yet. It's on the telly later tonight. Time to savour the victory.