Saints sound the horns for new cult hero
Supporters flocked to Moorabbin and Docklands to watch them play.
But the athletic and courageous icons never had crowds donning viking helmets in their honour or blowing vuvuzela horns every time they flew for a grab.
That privilege will instead go to the Saints' latest blonde bombshell - Alix Tauru - as his cult status grows.
Of Swedish heritage, Tauru has already been dubbed the "Flying Viking" for his aerial presence and matched a St Kilda record with 14 spoils in the defeat to Fremantle last week.
The 18-year-old defender has offered Saints supporters a glimmer of hope for a bright future as Ross Lyon's men attempt to breathe life back into their season against Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
A group of fans plan to sell viking helmets at the game and sound plastic horns in support of their new hero, while major sponsor RSEA Safety will deck out the cheer squad in viking-themed hard hats.
"It's a low bar in AFL footy, isn't it? Fourteen spoils? It used to be 14 goals," Lyon quipped when asked about third-gamer Tauru's status as a fan favourite.
"We're excited by Alix. The best thing is he's very level, he understands he's only as good as his next moment at training and in games.
"At the end of the day, you come up against another fierce and formidable opponent, and he'll know he's alive.
"The challenges keep coming, but it is exciting."
St Kilda (5-10) have hit the skids after a positive start to the season, with a horror 2-9 record over the last three months ending their finals hopes early.
They will start underdogs against Sam Mitchell's Hawthorn (10-5), who are looking to extend a three-match winning streak and continue their push for a top-two spot.
"We're a club that needs to get better. We're off the pack, but we're fighting hard," Lyon said.
"We've got a strategy over a period of time that we're pursuing, but in the near time we want to win lots of games of AFL footy.
"(We played) three quarters against Collingwood, three quarters against Fremantle, albeit spirited and some good signs.
"We're looking to chase four quarters down, so that would be the aim this week."
Hawthorn have named key pair James Sicily and James Worpel to return from injuries, offsetting the loss of Josh Weddle and Sam Butler.
Former Hawks wingman Brad Hill returns for the Saints alongside Angus Hastie, with Jack Carroll and Tobie Travaglia omitted.
Ex-Richmond teammates Dan Butler and Mabior Chol will reach significant milestones on opposing sides.
St Kilda forward Butler will play his 150th AFL match, while Hawks tall Chol will line up in his 100th, nine years after his debut.
St Kilda legends Trevor Barker and Nick Riewoldt regularly left fans' mouths gaping with their aerial feats.
Supporters flocked to Moorabbin and Docklands to watch them play.
But the athletic and courageous icons never had crowds donning viking helmets in their honour or blowing vuvuzela horns every time they flew for a grab.
That privilege will instead go to the Saints' latest blonde bombshell - Alix Tauru - as his cult status grows.
Of Swedish heritage, Tauru has already been dubbed the "Flying Viking" for his aerial presence and matched a St Kilda record with 14 spoils in the defeat to Fremantle last week.
The 18-year-old defender has offered Saints supporters a glimmer of hope for a bright future as Ross Lyon's men attempt to breathe life back into their season against Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
A group of fans plan to sell viking helmets at the game and sound plastic horns in support of their new hero, while major sponsor RSEA Safety will deck out the cheer squad in viking-themed hard hats.
"It's a low bar in AFL footy, isn't it? Fourteen spoils? It used to be 14 goals," Lyon quipped when asked about third-gamer Tauru's status as a fan favourite.
"We're excited by Alix. The best thing is he's very level, he understands he's only as good as his next moment at training and in games.
"At the end of the day, you come up against another fierce and formidable opponent, and he'll know he's alive.
"The challenges keep coming, but it is exciting."
St Kilda (5-10) have hit the skids after a positive start to the season, with a horror 2-9 record over the last three months ending their finals hopes early.
They will start underdogs against Sam Mitchell's Hawthorn (10-5), who are looking to extend a three-match winning streak and continue their push for a top-two spot.
"We're a club that needs to get better. We're off the pack, but we're fighting hard," Lyon said.
"We've got a strategy over a period of time that we're pursuing, but in the near time we want to win lots of games of AFL footy.
"(We played) three quarters against Collingwood, three quarters against Fremantle, albeit spirited and some good signs.
"We're looking to chase four quarters down, so that would be the aim this week."
Hawthorn have named key pair James Sicily and James Worpel to return from injuries, offsetting the loss of Josh Weddle and Sam Butler.
Former Hawks wingman Brad Hill returns for the Saints alongside Angus Hastie, with Jack Carroll and Tobie Travaglia omitted.
Ex-Richmond teammates Dan Butler and Mabior Chol will reach significant milestones on opposing sides.
St Kilda forward Butler will play his 150th AFL match, while Hawks tall Chol will line up in his 100th, nine years after his debut.
St Kilda legends Trevor Barker and Nick Riewoldt regularly left fans' mouths gaping with their aerial feats.
Supporters flocked to Moorabbin and Docklands to watch them play.
But the athletic and courageous icons never had crowds donning viking helmets in their honour or blowing vuvuzela horns every time they flew for a grab.
That privilege will instead go to the Saints' latest blonde bombshell - Alix Tauru - as his cult status grows.
Of Swedish heritage, Tauru has already been dubbed the "Flying Viking" for his aerial presence and matched a St Kilda record with 14 spoils in the defeat to Fremantle last week.
The 18-year-old defender has offered Saints supporters a glimmer of hope for a bright future as Ross Lyon's men attempt to breathe life back into their season against Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
A group of fans plan to sell viking helmets at the game and sound plastic horns in support of their new hero, while major sponsor RSEA Safety will deck out the cheer squad in viking-themed hard hats.
"It's a low bar in AFL footy, isn't it? Fourteen spoils? It used to be 14 goals," Lyon quipped when asked about third-gamer Tauru's status as a fan favourite.
"We're excited by Alix. The best thing is he's very level, he understands he's only as good as his next moment at training and in games.
"At the end of the day, you come up against another fierce and formidable opponent, and he'll know he's alive.
"The challenges keep coming, but it is exciting."
St Kilda (5-10) have hit the skids after a positive start to the season, with a horror 2-9 record over the last three months ending their finals hopes early.
They will start underdogs against Sam Mitchell's Hawthorn (10-5), who are looking to extend a three-match winning streak and continue their push for a top-two spot.
"We're a club that needs to get better. We're off the pack, but we're fighting hard," Lyon said.
"We've got a strategy over a period of time that we're pursuing, but in the near time we want to win lots of games of AFL footy.
"(We played) three quarters against Collingwood, three quarters against Fremantle, albeit spirited and some good signs.
"We're looking to chase four quarters down, so that would be the aim this week."
Hawthorn have named key pair James Sicily and James Worpel to return from injuries, offsetting the loss of Josh Weddle and Sam Butler.
Former Hawks wingman Brad Hill returns for the Saints alongside Angus Hastie, with Jack Carroll and Tobie Travaglia omitted.
Ex-Richmond teammates Dan Butler and Mabior Chol will reach significant milestones on opposing sides.
St Kilda forward Butler will play his 150th AFL match, while Hawks tall Chol will line up in his 100th, nine years after his debut.
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The Advertiser
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SCG curator confident about ground, hits out at critics
SCG head curator Adam Lewis is confident the much maligned surface of the iconic venue will hold up for the remainder of the AFL season and has hit out at the "ill-informed" bashing of his ground staff. The state of the ground was a massive topic after several players slipped on the surface at the Paddington End during last Friday's clash between Sydney and the Western Bulldogs. Lewis thanked the Swans for moving their training sessions this week to Tramway Oval, across the road from the SCG, and said extra staff had worked last weekend with grow lamps used on the ground for up to 22 hours a day. While Sydney was lashed by a rain bomb on Tuesday, Lewis said the SCG had drained really well and was very confident the surface would hold up for Sunday's match between Sydney and Fremantle. "We had independent testing done as well with our own testing and we're lucky the AFL have sent up their testing as well and we've passed with flying colours," Lewis said at the SCG on Friday. Players had slipped over in other games earlier in the season, but Lewis said it was the volume of rain in recent times that had caused problems rather than the new turf laid after the Andrea Bocelli concert on April 3. "The grass did take when we relaid after the concert, but the problem we've had in Sydney is that the weather that we've had has been unpredicted," Lewis said. "The amount of rainfall that we've had has broken records and that end of the ground we have the northern grandstand, it creates a lot of shade in that area." Lewis said there was never any chance Sunday's game would be moved from the SCG as some had suggested, but acknowleged it had been a tough week for him and his staff. He said it was his worst nightmare watching players losing their footing last Friday. "We're preparing the field the best we can and as soon as we see that our hearts sink," Lewis said. "The first thing we do is turn off commentary because we know that they are just trying to create a story, but it hits hard. "Look, I think its (commentary) been over the top, I really think its been blown out of proportion, not just for me I can handle it, but for my team. "I've got a young team that's set a really high standard and they take pride in where they work at the SCG and they are putting in 110 per cent. "And the ill-informed information that's been piled on in social media, it's just unjust and it's not good. "These guys have got to understand my guys are humans and they don't need to be bashed." Asked if he anticipated any ongoing issues over the remainder of the season, Lewis said: "We're very confident we will be right for the rest of the year." AFL CEO Andrew Dillon told SEN he wasn't happy with the surface for last week's game. "The ground was absolutely safe but it wasn't at the level we expect," Dillon said. Lewis said Allianz Stadium next door to the SCG had drained well in the leadup to Saturday night's game between the British and Irish Lions and NSW Waratahs. There have been suggestions Allianz could be out of action for part of the A-League season should it require a fix for its drainage issues and Lewis said he was waiting for the results of independent tests on the ground before any decision is made. SCG head curator Adam Lewis is confident the much maligned surface of the iconic venue will hold up for the remainder of the AFL season and has hit out at the "ill-informed" bashing of his ground staff. The state of the ground was a massive topic after several players slipped on the surface at the Paddington End during last Friday's clash between Sydney and the Western Bulldogs. Lewis thanked the Swans for moving their training sessions this week to Tramway Oval, across the road from the SCG, and said extra staff had worked last weekend with grow lamps used on the ground for up to 22 hours a day. While Sydney was lashed by a rain bomb on Tuesday, Lewis said the SCG had drained really well and was very confident the surface would hold up for Sunday's match between Sydney and Fremantle. "We had independent testing done as well with our own testing and we're lucky the AFL have sent up their testing as well and we've passed with flying colours," Lewis said at the SCG on Friday. Players had slipped over in other games earlier in the season, but Lewis said it was the volume of rain in recent times that had caused problems rather than the new turf laid after the Andrea Bocelli concert on April 3. "The grass did take when we relaid after the concert, but the problem we've had in Sydney is that the weather that we've had has been unpredicted," Lewis said. "The amount of rainfall that we've had has broken records and that end of the ground we have the northern grandstand, it creates a lot of shade in that area." Lewis said there was never any chance Sunday's game would be moved from the SCG as some had suggested, but acknowleged it had been a tough week for him and his staff. He said it was his worst nightmare watching players losing their footing last Friday. "We're preparing the field the best we can and as soon as we see that our hearts sink," Lewis said. "The first thing we do is turn off commentary because we know that they are just trying to create a story, but it hits hard. "Look, I think its (commentary) been over the top, I really think its been blown out of proportion, not just for me I can handle it, but for my team. "I've got a young team that's set a really high standard and they take pride in where they work at the SCG and they are putting in 110 per cent. "And the ill-informed information that's been piled on in social media, it's just unjust and it's not good. "These guys have got to understand my guys are humans and they don't need to be bashed." Asked if he anticipated any ongoing issues over the remainder of the season, Lewis said: "We're very confident we will be right for the rest of the year." AFL CEO Andrew Dillon told SEN he wasn't happy with the surface for last week's game. "The ground was absolutely safe but it wasn't at the level we expect," Dillon said. Lewis said Allianz Stadium next door to the SCG had drained well in the leadup to Saturday night's game between the British and Irish Lions and NSW Waratahs. There have been suggestions Allianz could be out of action for part of the A-League season should it require a fix for its drainage issues and Lewis said he was waiting for the results of independent tests on the ground before any decision is made. SCG head curator Adam Lewis is confident the much maligned surface of the iconic venue will hold up for the remainder of the AFL season and has hit out at the "ill-informed" bashing of his ground staff. The state of the ground was a massive topic after several players slipped on the surface at the Paddington End during last Friday's clash between Sydney and the Western Bulldogs. Lewis thanked the Swans for moving their training sessions this week to Tramway Oval, across the road from the SCG, and said extra staff had worked last weekend with grow lamps used on the ground for up to 22 hours a day. While Sydney was lashed by a rain bomb on Tuesday, Lewis said the SCG had drained really well and was very confident the surface would hold up for Sunday's match between Sydney and Fremantle. "We had independent testing done as well with our own testing and we're lucky the AFL have sent up their testing as well and we've passed with flying colours," Lewis said at the SCG on Friday. Players had slipped over in other games earlier in the season, but Lewis said it was the volume of rain in recent times that had caused problems rather than the new turf laid after the Andrea Bocelli concert on April 3. "The grass did take when we relaid after the concert, but the problem we've had in Sydney is that the weather that we've had has been unpredicted," Lewis said. "The amount of rainfall that we've had has broken records and that end of the ground we have the northern grandstand, it creates a lot of shade in that area." Lewis said there was never any chance Sunday's game would be moved from the SCG as some had suggested, but acknowleged it had been a tough week for him and his staff. He said it was his worst nightmare watching players losing their footing last Friday. "We're preparing the field the best we can and as soon as we see that our hearts sink," Lewis said. "The first thing we do is turn off commentary because we know that they are just trying to create a story, but it hits hard. "Look, I think its (commentary) been over the top, I really think its been blown out of proportion, not just for me I can handle it, but for my team. "I've got a young team that's set a really high standard and they take pride in where they work at the SCG and they are putting in 110 per cent. "And the ill-informed information that's been piled on in social media, it's just unjust and it's not good. "These guys have got to understand my guys are humans and they don't need to be bashed." Asked if he anticipated any ongoing issues over the remainder of the season, Lewis said: "We're very confident we will be right for the rest of the year." AFL CEO Andrew Dillon told SEN he wasn't happy with the surface for last week's game. "The ground was absolutely safe but it wasn't at the level we expect," Dillon said. Lewis said Allianz Stadium next door to the SCG had drained well in the leadup to Saturday night's game between the British and Irish Lions and NSW Waratahs. There have been suggestions Allianz could be out of action for part of the A-League season should it require a fix for its drainage issues and Lewis said he was waiting for the results of independent tests on the ground before any decision is made.
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SCG curator hits out at ‘ill-informed' critics of surface amid sad fallout for ground staff
SCG head curator Adam Lewis is confident the much maligned surface of the iconic venue will hold up for the remainder of the AFL season and has hit out at the 'ill-informed' bashing of his ground staff. The state of the ground was a massive topic after several players slipped on the surface at the Paddington End during last Friday's clash between Sydney and the Western Bulldogs. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Lewis thanked the Swans for moving their training sessions this week to Tramway Oval, across the road from the SCG, and said extra staff had worked last weekend with grow lamps used on the ground for up to 22 hours a day. While Sydney was lashed by a rain bomb on Tuesday, Lewis said the SCG had drained really well and was very confident the surface would hold up for Sunday's match between Sydney and Fremantle. 'We had independent testing done as well with our own testing and we're lucky the AFL have sent up their testing as well and we've passed with flying colours,' Lewis said at the SCG on Friday. Players had slipped over in other games earlier in the season, but Lewis said it was the volume of rain in recent times that had caused problems rather than the new turf laid after the Andrea Bocelli concert on April 3. 'The grass did take when we relaid after the concert, but the problem we've had in Sydney is that the weather that we've had has been unpredicted,' Lewis said. 'The amount of rainfall that we've had has broken records and that end of the ground we have the northern grandstand, it creates a lot of shade in that area.' Lewis said there was never any chance Sunday's game would be moved from the SCG as some had suggested, but acknowledged it had been a tough week for him and his staff. He said it was his worst nightmare watching players losing their footing last Friday. 'We're preparing the field the best we can and as soon as we see that our hearts sink,' Lewis said. 'The first thing we do is turn off commentary because we know that they are just trying to create a story, but it hits hard. 'Look, I think its (commentary) been over the top, I really think it's been blown out of proportion, not just for me, I can handle it, but for my team. 'I've got a young team that's set a really high standard and they take pride in where they work at the SCG and they are putting in 110 per cent. 'And the ill-informed information that's been piled on in social media, it's just unjust and it's not good. 'These guys have got to understand my guys are humans and they don't need to be bashed.' Asked if he anticipated any ongoing issues over the remainder of the season, Lewis said: 'We're very confident we will be right for the rest of the year.' AFL CEO Andrew Dillon told SEN he wasn't happy with the surface for last week's game. 'The ground was absolutely safe but it wasn't at the level we expect,' Dillon said. Lewis said Allianz Stadium next door to the SCG had drained well in the lead-up to Saturday night's game between the British and Irish Lions and NSW Waratahs. There have been suggestions Allianz could be out of action for part of the A-League season should it require a fix for its drainage issues and Lewis said he was waiting for the results of independent tests on the ground before any decision is made.
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2 hours ago
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AFL 2025: Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has turned to a rejuvenated Jake Lever for Adelaide this Sunday
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