Loss has Saints wary
By Luke Holmesby
ST KILDA is unlikely to take Adelaide lightly this Friday night despite the two teams going into the clash with contrasting form lines.The Saints have won six of their past eight games while the Crows have lost seven games in the same time span. But St Kilda assistant coach Robert Harvey says the memory of the round six loss at AAMI Stadium was still fresh in the Saints' minds. "We went over there early in the year and didn't come home with four points. We know how they can play and they've got a dangerous forward structure and midfield," Harvey said. "We are going to have our work cut out this week. We feel like we're building but we know that at their best, they are really dangerous and we have seen that first hand in round six. We have got to be at our top this week."
The Australian
St Kilda will be without James Gwilt until midway through next season
By Greg Denham
ST KILDA defender James Gwilt will miss the first half of next season after electing to have traditional reconstructive surgery on his left knee. Saints coach Ross Lyon yesterday said Gwilt's young age of 24 was a factor in not opting for LARS surgery, which can significantly cut rehabilitation time. He could be out of action for the next 12 months. Gwilt, who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the third quarter of Saturday night's win over West Coast during an innocuous shepherd, is the second St Kilda player to undergo a reconstruction this year, following Lenny Hayes' breakdown in April. The absence of Gwilt from the vastly improved Saints however will not force Lyon into a major reshuffle of his back line. "The downside of course is that we'll miss his kicking, he's a beautiful kick," Lyon said. "We've got enough tall defenders, Sam Gilbert, Sam Fisher, Zac Dawson, Raph Clarke and Brendon Goddard so we don't have to automatically bring in a tall."
Saints.com.au
Physicality pleases Lyon
By Luke Holmesby
ST KILDA'S courage and physical sacrifice was a key factor in handing West Coast its first loss in seven weeks, according to Saints coach Ross Lyon. While conceding height and weight to their opponents, Lyon said his team's physical application proved to be invaluable. "Sometimes we underestimate, even from the coaches box, how physical and courageous players have to be in the modern game," Lyon said after the win. "They've got some big men and there were some big hits but I don't think we flinched at all. We stood up and it was a significant part of the game." One of the many St Kilda defenders to have an impact on the game was Raphael Clarke, who has spent much of the season alternating between the Saints and VFL team Sandringham. The Saints led by as much as 43 points early in the second quarter but a scoreless third term and a resurgent West Coast saw them concede the lead at the final change.
Saints building: Gilbert
By Luke Holmesby
ST KILDA defender Sam Gilbert says he is feeling his confidence in his own game lift along with the team's, but that both are a while from reaching their peak. The Saints managed to hang on for wins over North Melbourne and the Eagles after going entire quarters without scoring. Gilbert said the team was aware of the need to see out a game over four quarters. "We do feel that we're getting a bit of consistency back. We're not completely there, there are still a few hiccups along the way like the scoreless quarter," he said. "We've still got to work on those kinds of things. We are building to be a good side again."
The Sydney Morning Herald
Gwilt's season over
By Matt Murnane
ST KILDA'S late-season surge to the finals has been hit a big blow, with in-form defender Jimmy Gwilt set to miss the rest of 2011 due to his knee injury. Saints coach Ross Lyon confirmed the club's worst fears yesterday, that Gwilt had damaged anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and would require surgery, leaving the club without one of its key defensive posts. ''We've had that confirmed … I spoke to Tim Barbour our doctor, it's definitely an ACL with some sort of lateral meniscus damage,'' Lyon said on 3AW yesterday.
