359 AFL Senior games have passed for Robert Harvey, and coming into Season 2008, Robert Harvey has finally called that 08 will be his last season of AFL Football as a player. 21 years after making is debut with the St.Kilda Football club at the age of 16, Robert Harvey has lived Red, white and black.
The 37 year old, feels it is the right time to hang up the boots, as playing games are getting harder and the game is getting so much faster to keep up with.
Harvey told the Herald Sun that "I will play out the whole of 2008 barring injury. I have enjoyed myself a lot over the last 2 decades, but the game is changing so much, that i can't keep up with the speed of the game now a days. It is time for a young generation to take over the St.Kilda Football club, so i've decided to retire at the end of the season. It has been a wonderful experience being at the one club for so long. I have made many friends at the club, and have played with many great players, and i am thankful for that.
It will certainly be strange not going to training, not waking up early and the excitment before a Footy game, but in another sense there will be a relieve i will never have to do that again". Harvey said.
After 21 years, he will be sorley missed by all St.Kilda supporters, Harvey is certainly a popular role model around the whole AFL game and not just to St.Kilda, so the 37 year old will have one more season with the Saints. Will the Saints try and win a premiership for their superstar in Harvey.. We join them in their quest.
So here it is, the opening round of the AFL season. The NAB cup finished seeing the Cats win the trophy after beating Brisbane by 8 points. This is where the real stuff begins.
St.Kilda and Sydney in round 1 clash at the Telstra Dome. This match is set to be a cracker. All the new recruits for the Saints will be playing except, Steven King.
Adam Schneider, Charlie Gardiner and the speedster in Clint Jones will be on show today. For the Swans Martin Mattner makes his debut for the Swans after being traded from the Crows at the end of the season. Henry Playfair is also playing for the Swans as he was axed by 2007 premiers Geelong.
Sydney will try and lock this game up, as that is there style of play, well it has been for the last few years. It's been critized as wrecking the game, they should play attacking football. But they can do whatever they like, just as long as it suceedes. Which it certainly did in 2005 when they won the Premiership. This shall be a cracking match of Football. The Saints you would think would have too much power up forward, with one of the best forwards in the competition in Nick Riewoldt. He has some help from Koschitzke up there, and they have a handful of rovers to crumb the forward line, Milne and now Schneider who is playing against his old side today.
The Swans defence will have trouble trying to hold this Saints forward line, as Nick Riewoldt is super fit, so they would need a player with speed, a big engine to run with him, maybe Craig Bolton is the best match for him. Leo Barry should go to Koschitzke.
Robert Harvey has been named on the bench and Ross Lyon said, thats how we're going to play Robert this season, on and off the bench. Try and use him in different situations of the game, as he is a player who can come on and make a inpact straight away.
In a woeful display for kicking for goal from both sides. St.Kilda just managed to sneak home against the Swans at the Telstra Dome. A total of 31 points were scored for the match with the Saints kicking 15, and the Swans kicking 16. A shocking display off kicking was on show, when the roof was closed for Saturday night footy. It certainly showed it was the first game off the season, as most players were missing targets with the boot, and certainly the goal kicking was woeful.
The Saints came off with the win though, winning by 17 points in front of a healthy crowd of 27 thousand.
It was the new recruit for the Saints in Adam Schneider who stole the show from the Swans (as last year he would of been playing for them) but Schneider kicked 2 late goals for the Saints, to snatch the victory against his old club, and wouldn't he off loved that.
His crumbing mate, Stephen Milne was on show again kicking 2 goals, as he is always handy for a couple of goals a match, and arguably the best forward in the league, Nick Riewoldt kicked 2.
There was only one target down forward for the Swans and that was Barry Hall who finished with 4 goals. It was a good tussell between himself and Sam Fisher, who tried to run off Hall and use the ball as much as possible and that's why he was the Saints main ball getter having 32 touches from Full Back. Fisher tried to frustrate Hall, and make him get out of the 50 by chasing Fisher out, but Hall was smart, and stayed back, and he nearly won the game off his own boot. But the Swans were too inaccurate and lost the game themselves.
The Swans had 100 more disposals then the Saints, which in this state of the game, that is a massive amount of possesions, but the Saints were just more cleaner and more accurate with their disposal, which ended up the result at the end of the day. [/FONT]
Round 2 AFL Premiership Season: St.Kilda vs Carlton @ Telstra Dome
Both St.Kilda and Carlton won their opening match of the 2008 Premiership season last week. They come up against each other this afternoon at the Telstra Dome. St.Kilda who had a win against the Swans last week are coming in favourites for this match, playing the Blues who had a win against the Tigers by 27 points at the MCG last friday night.
This shall be a cracker of a contest as both teams would want to start the season off with 2 wins early on.
There is only one change for the Saints from their round 1 team. Jason Gram has been omitted and in comes veteran Max Hudghton, both defenders, but with Brendan Fevola who kicked 5 goals last week, Hudghton comes in to make it another defender Fevola has to contend with.
There is also a change for the Blues, as Irishmen Sentanta OAilpin comes in for Darren Pfeiffer who was traded to Carlton last season at the expense of the Adelaide Crows.
There will be many key match up's. One to watch for the Saints is certainly there skipper Nick Riewoldt. Had a quietish game last week but was still good, he'd certainly be looking to make a better ompact this week. Chris Judd always brings a lot of attention to opponents as the new skipper was pretty good last week in his first game for the Blues after being traded to Carlton from the Eagles last year. Adam Schneider was great for the Saints last week kicking 2 goals and playing a vidal role for the Saints, so he'll be one to watch again this week for the Blues.
So Round 2 of the AFL Premiership kicked off and with the Saints hosting the Blues at the Telstra Dome, this was shaping up to be the match of the round. It didn't really come that way in the end as the Blues came away with a comfortable 5 goal win, but the game was still played in great spirit.
The inaccurate Saints will rue the day with their shots on goal, but so can be said with the Blues as they kicked 10 goals 20, and in the end should have buried the Saints.
Young gun Marc Murphy was the best afield in the match and had a major day out. Murphy had a whopping 37 possesions, as well as kicking 3 goals for the Blues which ended up being their highest goal kicker. Brendan Fevola slotted home 2, as the Blues showed they don't need their number 1 forward to kick a bag of 6-7 goals to win a match each week. Chris Judd in his 2nd game for the Blues provided something, and was sort of back to his best while Jarrad Waite looked in career best form.
For the Saints, defender Sam Fisher had another brialliant game. Fisher had 32 disposals last week against the Swans, and had another 35 this week against the Blues, as he is becoming one of the best defenders in the competition along side Matthew Scarlett from the Cats. Fisher gets a lot of the ball down in the back half for the Saints, he is usually the man who generates any forward thrust for the Saints will his ball skills. Charlie Gardiner and Stephen Milne were the goal scorers for the Saints with Cpatain Nick Riewoldt not firing a shot mostly all day, which give credit to Jarrad Waite who kept Riewoldt quiet.
St.Kilda's Sam Fisher has been in blistering form in the opening 2 Rounds of the AFL Premiership Season. Fisher, who has been playing at a steady defender for the Saints, is coming 7th in the AFL for disposals with 67, and is 3rd in the AFL for Rebound 50's.
Even though it has only been 2 rounds into the season, Sam Fisher is on track to havnig his best season with the Saints throughout his career. The 26 year old has played 73 games for the Saints, and might be pushing for selection in the All- Australian team at the end of the season.
Fisher talked with the Herald Sun this morning, and said "I would agree this is the best i have been playing throughout my career. Ross Lyon has given me a lot of chances during the pre season and now i am giving back what he wanted. I have been pretty consistant during the pre season. I am trying to become the best player i can get out of myself, so hopefully i can be injury free during the year so i can get a full year out of myself.
Round 3 AFL Premiership Season, Western Bulldogs vs St.Kilda - Friday Night
The Saints have made 2 changes in their team with their clash with the Western Bulldogs in their round 3 clash at the Telstra Dome. Into the team comes speedster Jason Gram who should booster the Saints backline, and in comes Premiership player with the Cats last season, Steven King who should play a big role in the ruck for the Saints.
Out of the team goes, Max Hudghton who isn't getting a break with Sam Fisher dominating as the main backmen now, and out goes Jason Blake who only managed 4 possesions last week and only 6 hitouts.
Robert Harvey has been named on the Forward Flank, the first time he has been named on the ground this season!
The Western Bulldogs famous "running game" was off display last night against the Saints at the Telstra Dome. The fast moving Bulldogs, couldn't get their running game going last night, which they have been known for over the last few seasons, as there way to defeat teams.
The Saints played the Bulldogs well last night, and didn't give them the opportunity to get their style going, and that's why the Saints ended up with the victory.
The Saints led by youngster Sam Gilbert who had a career high game, won their 2nd game of the season marking their spot in the top 8, and stamping a spot in the finals early. Gilbert who had a career high 33 possesions was brilliant from the Half Back line, where he and Sam Fisher who had another 30+ disposal match were the best on ground for the Saints. Fisher who has been in All-Australian form this year, had another good game, racking up 31 disposals after playing on Dogs star, Brad Johnson who finished the match with 4 goals.
It was a great tussel between both those players, as Johnson is the Dogs best player and dangerous forward, while Sam Fisher has been the Saints best player throughout the season, and would of loved the job on Johnson. It was a even contest really.
The Saints forward line performed well with both Justin Koschitzke and Nick Riewoldt kicking 3 goals each, with goal sneak Adam Schneider, and midfielder Lenny Hayes breaking through with 2 goals each. Veteran Robert Harvey kicked a goal for the Saints which was good to see.
Charlie Gardiner has been a good pick up for the Saints since crossing from the Cats at the end of last season, he also was one of the best for the Saints, and the Saints may have found a real steal here with Gardiner.
8. Sam Fisher
7. Sam Gilbert
6. Nick Riewoldt
5. Adam Schneider
4. Charlie Gardiner
3. Lenny Hayes
2. Justin Koschitzke
1. Leigh Montagna
Sam Gilbert and Max Hudghton of St Kilda contest the ball against Will Minson of the Bulldogs during the AFL Round 03 match between the Western Bulldogs and the St Kilda Saints at the Telstra Dome.
St.Kilda big man, Justin Koschitzke has notched up his 100th AFL Game against the Bulldogs on the weekend. After making his debut in 2001, Koschitzke finally reached 100 games after being a 1st Round pick in the 2000 Draft.
Koschitzke, who played his 100th game on the weekend had 15 possesions, kicked 3 goals and was one of the better players for the Saints in their round 3 win against the Doggies at the Dome.
The 26 year old played 20 games in his debut season, which was the most games his played in a AFL season. The worst years he played were 2004, and 2006 where he only played 11 games in total for both years. He has started the year off very well playing all 3 games, and kicking 5 goals.
Koschitzke has played most of his career in the forward line, but has a lot of stints in the ruck, but with the recruitment of Steven King and the emergence of young ruckmen Ben McEvoy, Koschitzke will play most of the 2008 season as a forward.
Round 4: St.Kilda vs Geelong @ Telstra Dome - 12th, April. Saturday Afternoon
St.Kilda have made 3 changes to their Round 3 line-up against the reinging Premiers in Geelong. Some young players have come into the side, replacing some Senior players, which is a huge move by Saints coach Ross Lyon.
Sean Dempster will play his first match for the Saints after being traded to them at the end of last season, from the Sydney Swans. Michael Rix, and youngster Jarryn Geary have all been added to the side that will face Geelong tomorrow afternoon.
Out of the side goes, Goal sneak Stephen Milne, who was very quiet last week and didn't do much. Jason Gram and Shane Birss who have been playing pretty well for the Saints, but Lyon rekons a couple of weeks in the VFL will do those 2 players some good. Gram is a sensational player when he is fit and firing. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem Jason is at that level as of yet, so he will go back to the VFL and try and get some form back, and hopefully come back firing.
Geelong have won tthe battle between the Cats and the Saints at the Telstra Dome yesterday afternoon. With their woeful kicking, the Cats won the match by 32 points, but could of blown away the Saints if they had kicked straight as the score line reads, 14.23...
Match winning preformaces from the Cats 2 best midfielders in Jimmy Bartel and Gary Ablett jnr who had 87 disposals between them (Bartel: 45, Ablett: 43) both dominated the game and shared the ball between themselves.
The Saints kicked 6 goals in the last quarter, but they still fell 5 goals short of the target. Aaron Fiora was good for the loosers, kicking 3 goals, whilst Justin Koschitzke is starting to play some good footy, kicking another 2 goals after his 3 goal performance last week. 1st gamer Jaryn Geary kicked a goal with his first kick in AFL footy, and he joins that exclusive club. James Gwilt had to help down forward insteead of in defence, and provided handy by kicking a goal. With the exclusion of Milne, the Saints found it hard to score a goal.
The Cats on the other hand found it hard to score a goal aswell, as they kicked 23 behinds. Paul Chapman was good kicking 3 goals, while 3 players kicked 2 goals, with all of them being midfielders, Jimmy Bartel, Cameron Ling and Shannon Byrnes. The Geelong big men, Tom Hawkins and Cameron Mooney only managed 2 goals between them, which just shows what a good team this Geelong side really is.
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