Saints look to emulate Cats
ST KILDA and Geelong have had one of the most intense rivalries of recent times. It started in the early 2000s when both clubs patiently assembled groups of youngsters they would entrust to take them back up the ladder.

Initially, many thought the Saints' batch of kids was superior. Having finished 16th, 15th and 15th from 2000-02, the Saints had plundered draft gems like No. 1 picks Nick Riewoldt (2000) and Brendon Goddard (2002) and No. 2 picks Justin Koschitzke (2000) and Luke Ball (2001).

The Cats, on the other hand, never truly 'bottomed out' after their 1995 Grand Final appearance, their earliest draft picks being the No. 7 selections in 2002 (Andrew Mackie) and 2003 (Kane Tenace).

When both clubs emerged as contenders in 2004, the Saints were still widely thought to have an edge in class. This perception clearly rankled the Cats. The day after their 22-point loss to the Saints in the 2004 pre-season Grand Final, Paul Chapman told a club family day: "We know we are much better than them."

As we now know, time would prove Chapman right. The Cats' class of 2004 provided the nucleus of one of the most dominant eras in League history. One that's claimed three premierships (2007, 2009 and 2011). And one that may not be done yet.

St Kilda, too, has been one of the past decade's best teams. But despite three Grand Final appearances from 2009-10, it has not been able to add to its sole premiership.

But the Saints are drawing hope from the example the Cats set in 2012. On the back of a 2010 preliminary final thrashing by Collingwood, many called time on the Cats' era. Even more doomsayers emerged when coach Mark Thompson and star midfielder Gary Ablett left the club just weeks later. 

Three weeks ago, Geelong underlined just how dangerous it is to write off a champion team - even one that's getting on in years.

The Saints hope to follow the same path in 2012. After all, they've just got a new coach, Scott Watters. Why can't his fresh voice rejuvenate them like Chris Scott's did the Cats?

St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt was the first to draw on the parallels between the Cats of 2010 and the current Saints' group. Following Watters' appointment, Riewoldt said he thought the Saints could follow the Cats' example and contend again in 2012. "I don't really subscribe to our premiership opportunity being closed," Riewoldt said.  

Saints small forward Stephen Milne echoed Riewoldt's comments as he prepared for the upcoming International Rules Series.

"Hopefully, like Geelong, (Watters) can come in and blood the younger guys and keep senior guys playing good footy," Milne said.

"We have a great group of leaders down at St Kilda who have held the club in really good stead over the last four or five years and it is going to be no different."

It will be fascinating to see how the Saints respond to the disappointment of bowing out of this year's finals series in the first week. It will be equally fascinating to see the style of football they play under Watters - will they add attacking verve to the extreme defensive mindset that evolved under Lyon's five-year reign?

One thing's for sure: by using the Cats as a benchmark, the Saints are setting their goals extremely high. 

Free agency no threat: Kelly
The end of next season will mark the start of free agency in the AFL.

The AFL Players' Association has been pushing for free agency for years. Predictably, they have encountered some opposition from the clubs, who have been reluctant to consent to a scheme whereby their long-serving players can walk out on them.

However, prominent player manager Craig Kelly tells the Herald Sun clubs need not fear free agency.

"Normally players don't want to leave, so for the scaremongers out there who say you will lose superstar players, most players stay if their club is successful and well run," Kelly said.

Kelly said free agency would primarily be utilised by players "who aren't in their club's long-term plans" and who wanted to extend their careers.

However, he said other players might be tempted to seek a new football home if they felt their club's premiership window was closing.

Draft countdown
For some, blanket coverage of the Spring Racing Carnival is a poor substitute for a daily footy fix. A bit like substituting tofu for steak.
 
If that's you, fear not. The countdown to this year's NAB AFL Draft has well and truly begun. With a month to go until the big night in western Sydney, the Herald Sun has begun a 30-part series profiling some of this year's brightest prospects.

On Monday, the tabloid's Jay Clark kick-started the series with a profile of Sandringham Dragons midfielder Liam Sumner, a player he likened to Collingwood star Dale Thomas.

Clark writes that Sumner is a quick wingman with good foot skills, who is "almost certain" to be nabbed inside the top 15 draft selections. If that's the case, he's odds on to land at Greater Western Sydney, which has 11 of this year's first 14 selections.

In short
Geelong speedster David Wojcinski told the Herald Sun he will be part of the Cats' premiership defence in 2012. The tabloid reports the Cats also expect ruckman Brad Ottens to play on next season under an individual program designed to ensure he is fit for the finals.

Collingwood defender Alan Toovey told the Herald Sun he was happy his trade week stand-off with the Magpies had ended with him signing a new two-year contract at the club. "[My manager and I] had to weigh up the options but as it stands now I am definitely happy to be at the club," Toovey said.  

Brendan Fevola's crusade to revive his AFL career received a boost when he kicked eight goals in the Northern Territory Football League on Sunday. After helping the Waratahs to an 89-point victory over Wanderers, Fevola told the Herald Sun he might play in the NTFL again before its season ends in March.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.