Saints Bubble- BJ's take-+ Full Interview from H-S

[saintbrat]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/s ... 5884003424
Mark Robinson From: Herald Sun June 25, 2010 12:00AM

ST KILDA star Brendon Goddard says self-belief in the face of crisis after crisis has propelled the club ahead of tonight's blockbuster against Geelong at the MCG.
Goddard calls it the "St Kilda bubble".

Whether it was the Andrew Lovett situation, losing skipper Nick Riewoldt, the Mick Malthouse stoush, the schoolgirl affair and, this week, accusations of police interference over the Stephen Milne rape investigation six years ago, he said the team's mental strength had kept it on track.
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He was a good player. Now he is elite, and a favourite for the Brownlow Medal.

"When I got drafted I thought I worked harder than any footballer I played against," he said. "But once you're at a footy club, everyone's got that attitude. So I just set myself to be the best, be the best trainer, the best no matter what. The best players are the best trainers. "
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[Beej]

You know I can tell if a thread is created by you before even looking at your username.

[saintbrat]

also Hirdy's take
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/w ... 5883985521

It got me thinking two things - firstly, that if a soccer referee had umpired last year's Grand Final, he would have finished the game on his own such was the brutal nature of the physical contest.

And, secondly, that in football we don't punish one mistake with the loss of a game, as they do in soccer.

Last year's Grand Final was one for the ages. It was not a pretty game but, having watched it again this week, it is up there with my all-time favourite games.
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For the Saints to win tonight they will need to be at their strangling best all over the ground.

They must win the 50-50 ball by a considerable margin and cause Geelong to turn the footy over through the middle of the park.

The Cats will always give you a chance with the way they move the ball. The problem is that the chance may be only very slight and, if not taken, will cost you the game.

We have been waiting for this game since September last year, and in the midst of World Cup fever it is time to focus on what should be one of the great sporting match-ups of 2010.

And thankfully there will be no red cards to spoil it.

[SaintPav]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/s ... 5884003424
Mark Robinson From: Herald Sun June 25, 2010 12:00AM

ST KILDA star Brendon Goddard says self-belief in the face of crisis after crisis has propelled the club ahead of tonight's blockbuster against Geelong at the MCG.
Goddard calls it the "St Kilda bubble".

Whether it was the Andrew Lovett situation, losing skipper Nick Riewoldt, the Mick Malthouse stoush, the schoolgirl affair and, this week, accusations of police interference over the Stephen Milne rape investigation six years ago, he said the team's mental strength had kept it on track.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
He was a good player. Now he is elite, and a favourite for the Brownlow Medal.

"When I got drafted I thought I worked harder than any footballer I played against," he said. "But once you're at a footy club, everyone's got that attitude. So I just set myself to be the best, be the best trainer, the best no matter what. The best players are the best trainers. "
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You can add the Luke Ball thing plus losing the 09 GF to that list.....That's seven major disappointments that we have had to overcome.....

[saintbrat]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/g ... 5884015413

There are plenty of words to describe Goddard; gifted, skilled and grumpy, according to teammate Jason Blake, tongue in cheek.

Yet, there is one word that resonates from his actions on the field and preparation off it: driven.

"The Grand Final drives me because I don't want to go back to that place and I don't want to experience those feelings again," he said.
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"I'm always trying to improve," he said. "Once you feel satisfied, you go backwards. I always believe no matter good you are, you can get better.

"Harvs (Robert Harvey) used to say that. And (Saints coach) Ross (Lyon) says that about Harvs.

"I'm a perfectionist. I wanted everything to be perfect, and it's something I've realised over the past two years that everyone is different."Everything can't be perfect. I got some good feedback, honest feedback from teammates, which I won't go into."

Was that to chill out?

"Along those lines. I realised everyone doesn't have that motivation or discipline of myself or Nick (Riewoldt), so you have to deal with each individual differently. It's something I've worked on really hard."
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a very open interview from someone who is such a private person..

Have a great Night BJ