AFL Daily: Nick Dal Santo responds to Scott Watters' claims of cultural issues at St Kilda
Scott Watters' revelations in the Herald Sun's Sacked Podcast of rampant cultural issues at St Kilda provide “a different version of events” to that of former Saint Nick Dal Santo, who has denied his ex-coach's stunning claims.
“We either break this culture once and for all or I am done,” Watters said.
But Dal Santo says his recollections vastly differed from Watters, who was sacked by the Saints after winning 17 of 44 games in 2012-13.
Nick Dal Santo has refuted former coach Scott Watters' claims of cultural issues during his time at the Saints.
“What poor culture?” Dal Santo asked on SEN radio.
“Since I got there in 2001 we had played finals, when he got there, seven of eight years that group had been playing finals for, so I thought the culture was OK.
“We had, in my opinion, some of the greatest leaders of men on-field in (Nick) Riewoldt and (Lenny) Hayes in particular.
"We had a leadership group that was very strong, experienced, firm, understanding at times that were leading the club from a players’ perspective.
“I didn’t see this poor culture. I wasn’t a part of a poor culture when Scott got there in 2012 off the back of Ross Lyon.
Nick Dal Santo played 260 games for the Saints.
“I’ve only ever listened to two podcasts in my life. One was the Grant Thomas one a few weeks ago (the other Watters).
“Definitely got a different version of events for that two years than myself and a lot of other people who were at the football club at the time.
“I’d like to think that Scott honestly sees it the way that he spoke about it in the podcast, and that he didn’t feel like he had to change the events and the conversations that were had behind closed doors and then ultimately the way that it all finished.
“I was there for those two years and I saw a lot of things and the majority things completely different to what I heard on that podcast.”
Dal Santo did acknowledge the group “did need to grow up” in the wake of the St Kilda schoolgirl scandal and infamous “burning of the dwarf”.
“I agree with that one part, it should never have happened and we did need to grow up,” Dal Santo said.
“I don’t agree with (Watters’ assertions of) where the club was at as a whole and the poor culture when Scott got there, absolutely not.
“There’s two sides to every story.”
Nick Dal Santo trains during the club's ill-fated move to Seaford.
He echoed former captain Nick Riewoldt’s feelings on the disastrous move to Seaford in 2011.
“Horrific, and we knew straight away,” Dal Santo said.
“It didn’t have a feel. It wasn’t us and the analogy I’ve used is it was like sitting on your couch at home: you were still sitting on your couch, but it wasn’t at your house, it was someone else’s house.
“The place was sterile, didn’t have a lot of feel, didn't have any atmosphere.
“It definitely wasn’t a place that we wanted to go to.
“It wasn’t Moorabbin, it wasn’t our homeland, it didn’t have our people around.
“It just felt different.”
Dal Santo left the club for North Melbourne at the end of 2013 after 260 games at the club, but believed he would have stayed, had Watters not replaced Lyon.
“The communication was different to what was actually going on,” he said.
North Melbourne’s ruck stocks have been bolstered with Tom Campbell inking a two year extension with the club. Although he’s spent most of the year in the VFL, the 27-year-old is a proven AFL asset having played 44 games at the highest level. “At the end of last year, I didn’t know if my AFL career was over or not, and North threw me a lifeline for which I’ll be forever grateful,” Campbell told True North.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time at Arden St and am glad to extend my stay a little longer for sure.”
Campbell made his club debut in Round 2 against the Lions, and played the following week against Hawthorn, but is still searching for his first win in the royal blue and white stripes. Previously, he played 42 games for the Bulldogs and has an average of 9 disposals and 17 hit-outs to go along with 24 career goals. “Working with Goldy (Todd Goldstein) has been great for me. I believe we can work together more down the track and hopefully we can both fit into the senior side and form a formidable duo in the AFL.”
HOW WORPEL CAN EMULATE THE RAT
Michael Randall
-MICHAEL RANDALL
Hawthorn legend John Platten burst onto the AFL scene in 1986 and quickly became one of the Hawks' most consistent players.
In 1987, his second season, he led the club in disposals with 555 from 22 home and away games at an average of 25.2, winning the Brownlow Medal and bumping that up to 633 with his four finals (the Hawks lost to the Blues in the Grand Final).
Thirty-two years on, there's a new Hawthorn midfielder who has quickly established himself as the club's most reliable.
And he's following in the footsteps of the curly-haired great, on the cusp of becoming the first Hawk since Platten to lead the club in disposals in his second season.
Worpel has 462 touches in his 18 games, with Ricky Henderson 10 behind and Jaeger O'Meara a further five back.
The 20-year-old is averaging 25.7 disposals and took his game to another level in the weekend's loss to Brisbane, racking up an equal career-high 34.
Worpel has had 20 or more disposals in 17 of his 18 games – picking up 19 in the other – underlining his stunning consistency.
The muscular midfielder has been a dime for SuperCoaches, too, falling below 82 just three times and never scoring less than 71 on the way to an average of 91.4 – perfect for your F6.
He entered the season at the bargain price of $395,700 with the added incentive of dual position eligibility and hasn't disappointed, producing five tons, including a current streak of three in a row as we head into SuperCoach finals.
He is currently priced at $471,800 and sports a three-round average of 106.7. You could do worse if you're looking for premo scoring at a cut price.
ROCKY TAKES STAND FOR HINKLEY
Michael Randall
-ANDREW CAPEL
Tom Rockliff has thrown his support behind under-fire Port Adelaide mentor Ken Hinkley, describing him as an “outstanding coach’’ and declaring the players will not be distracted by “outside noise’ about his future.
Facing a season-defining clash against red-hot Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, Rockliff said the Power players — coming off three consecutive losses — were totally focused on making a last-ditch finals push and had not been affected by speculation regarding the coach, who he said had their full support.
“Ken’s an outstanding coach,’’ Rockliff told The Advertiser.
“He has the ability to have tough conversations with players when they need to be had but he also builds great relationships with the players.
Tim Kelly has given his strongest indication he could yet stay at the Cats, saying he couldn’t picture himself wearing another jumper.
Back in his home state as his team prepares for Saturday’s clash with Fremantle, Kelly on Wednesday fronted the media where his future was the hot topic.
The West Australian, among the favourites for the Brownlow Medal after a superb second season, could again request a trade back home to either West Coast or the Dockers.
Fremantle forward Shane Kersten is set to quit the AFL club after a reported falling out with coach Ross Lyon.
Less than 24 hours after Lyon claimed his connection with the player group has never been stronger, a report emerged on the AFL website of a fallout between Kersten and the veteran coach.
Kersten hasn’t played this year because of a serious foot injury but apparently fell out with Lyon during a confrontation in the wake of Lachie Neale’s departure from the club.
The paperwork for Kersten’s departure is likely to be finalised this week. Kersten played 29 games at Fremantle after arriving from Geelong at the end of 2016.
But his form up forward was so bad that Lyon eventually shifted Kersten to defence.
Lyon’s position is under threat after five losses from the Dockers’ past six AFL games, including Sunday’s meek 47-point loss to the Western Bulldogs. Fremantle (8-10) must win their remaining four games if they are to make the finals, and they face a daunting task against Geelong at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
Lyon is contracted to Fremantle until the end of 2020 but questions have been raised as to whether he has lost the support of his players.
Michael Walters and Andrew Brayshaw have voiced their strong support for Lyon and the man himself is confident he has the backing of his group.
“I think it’s never been stronger, the connection with the player group,” Lyon told Channel Seven on Tuesday night.
“Our effort all year has been incredibly consistent, even though it’s been a challenging last six weeks (with) our availability.”
Fremantle held a scheduled board meeting in Melbourne on Monday where Lyon explained the team’s recent drop in form.
Lyon feels the Dockers have improved this season and said injuries to key Jesse Hogan, Matt Taberner, Alex Pearce, StephenHill and Aaron Sandilands had hit the club hard.
“We were 7-5 and sitting in the eight,” Lyon said.
“One (win) out of the last six is far from ideal. There’s been some personnel challenges.
“We want to continue to grow our list, get deeper and be able to handle these challenges going forward … But we need to get better in a lot more aspects.”
The Dockers received a dose of good news on Wednesday when Connor Blakely re- signed for a further three years.
– AAP
Key Cats to return, Cockatoo ready to play
Ben Broad
Geelong is set to welcome back some regulars for this week's clash with Fremantle while an injury-plagued young gun will make his long-awaited return to football.
The Cats have based themselves in Perth this week in the lead-up to Saturday’s clash, and coach Chris Scott said Gary Rohan and Zach Tuohy were likely to return after being rested for last week’s 27-point win over Sydney.
Sam Menegola (knee) will return to senior action either this week or next, while speedster Nakia Cockatoo will line up in the VFL this weekend. Cockatoo hasn’t played since hurting his leg in the round three loss to West Coast in Perth last year.
Scott said he wasn’t concerned about the Optus Stadium turf, despite some players and coaches blaming it for injuries.
Gary Ablett injured his hamstring in his most recent game there, but Scott didn’t blame the turf for that.
“Whatever we do with the team, I can say with great confidence it won’t be because of any issue we have with the surface,” Scott said.
Scott said he still felt like Ross Lyon’s junior, and he rates the Fremantle mentor as one of the premier coaches of the AFL.
Lyon is no guarantee to see out his contract next year following Fremantle’s recent form slump, which has seen the Dockers crash to 12th on the ladder with an 8-10 record.
Scott spent three seasons as an assistant to Lyon, and has since guided Geelong to an era of sustained success, which included the 2011 flag.
The Cats currently sit a game clear on top of the ladder and are a good chance to add another flag this year.
Geelong will take on Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Saturday, and Scott was glowing in his praise of Lyon.
“I’ve got great respect for Ross Lyon as a coach,” Scott said.
“He was, along with Alastair Clarkson, amongst the premier coaches of my generation as I was learning my craft as a coach.
“He has presided over the most successful era in Fremantle’s history.
“I’m sure it doesn’t feel like it to some right at the moment, it probably doesn’t feel like it to him, but to my observation it’s a fact.”
When asked whether Lyon remained a premier coach of the competition despite the recent struggles, Scott replied: “Clearly I do.
“I do have a view that coaches can be in the position where they get too much credit for success and too much blame for failure.
“What I do know is outstanding coaches don’t go out of form in the space of a couple of weeks or ever a couple of seasons.
“I’ve got great respect for (Lyon) and I still consider myself to be well and truly his junior.”
– AAP
Could Crows have top 3 picks in draft?
Ben Broad
Malcolm Blight says the Adelaide Crows have "fallen off the edge" and need to bolster their ageing list with fresh new talent.
But how do they do it?
The two-time premiership coach says some hard decisions will need to be made – but there is a radical way Don Pyke's side can rebound quickly.
Plenty has changed since Jason Johannisen last played at the Gabba, where a resurgent Brisbane could make or break the Western Bulldogs’ AFL finals chances.
Sunday’s game is a must-win for the Bulldogs, who sit ninth on the ladder amid half a dozen teams chasing a finals berth.
The Dogs trail eighth-placed Adelaide only on percentage but are just four points clear of Port Adelaide, Hawthorn, Fremantle and St Kilda.
Johannisen hasn’t played at the Gabba in almost four years, having been a late withdrawal for the Bulldogs’ last visit in 2017.
Back then, the Lions were easybeats on their home deck, where they posted just 10 wins and 34 losses between 2015 and 2018.
The tables have turned this season.
Brisbane have lost just once – to Collingwood in round five – from eight games at the Gabba, and they sit third on the ladder.
Their form resurgence has also bumped crowds up, creating an atmosphere that Johannisen likened to West Coast’s Optus Stadium fortress.
“They’re getting some record crowds up there,” he said.
“It’s definitely (becoming) like with West Coast when you go over there. The crowd really gets into it and it’s a hard venue to play at.
“They’re the most in-form team in the competition. They’re playing some really good footy.
“In saying that, we did beat them earlier in the year. Obviously it was in Ballarat. This week’s going to be much different conditions.
“We know they’re going to be a massive challenge but we’re up for it.”
Johannisen noted the Lions had few weaknesses, with Brownlow Medal frontrunner Lachie Neale firing in the midfield and damaging talls at both ends of the ground.
He said Zaine Cordy was likely to swing back to defence to replace Dale Morris, whose career is likely over after he suffered another ACL injury.
That could open the door for key forward Josh Schache, who trained on Wednesday along with other potential inclusions Toby McLean and Matthew Suckling.
Nothing will come easy for the Bulldogs in a home stretch that also includes games against Essendon, GWS and Adelaide.
But Johannisen, a key player in the Bulldogs’ 2016 premiership, feels they’re as well-placed to challenge as any contender.
“The morale is right up there,” he said.
“It’s as good as it’s felt since I’ve been here. We’ve just got to keep growing that.
“The way we move the ball is unpredictable and very damaging. If we do make it to finals, it could cause teams some havoc.”
– AAP
Taranto: I love this club
Ben Broad
JON RITSON reports …
Tim Taranto has this morning signed a two-year contract extension at the Giants which will keep him at the club until at least the end of season 2022.
The midfielder said he was delighted to extend his stay at the club.
"The club approached me a few months ago and I was pretty keen to just get it over and done with, focus on the rest of the year and finish strongly. I'm absolutely stoked," he said.
"I was talking to a few of the boys yesterday and I was just saying I love the club, I love the people at the club and I love Sydney.
"I get to go down to Melbourne and see my family often, my dad comes over here (from the US), my mum comes up pretty much every week so I see my family heaps and I'm loving life in Sydney."
Taranto has had to take on extra midfield responsibility this season with so many experienced figures injured, included Callan Ward and Josh.
"I'm always looking to get better and next year I plan to improve on this year," he said. "It's something I always look to do."
Jenkins: Expect more player movement
Tim Michell
Lincoln Moore, The Advertiser
Adelaide Crows key forward Josh Jenkins says AFL player movement will only intensify as the AFL follows the path of the American sport.
Reports this week that Crows coach Don Pyke had lost a portion of the Adelaide playing group sent the rumour mill into overdrive and Jenkins said he expected player movement to rise rapidly in the coming years.
“The more this league evolves, I expect a massive jump in player movement, that’s just the business we’re in and the model we’re following,’’ Jenkins said on SEN radio.
Crows stars Hugh Greenwood, Alex Keath and Brad Crouch are some of the big names to have attracted strong interest from interstate clubs.
Clayton Oliver took his faultless pre-season up a notch this week, showing signs he’s ready to be back to his dominant best and lead Melbourne’s midfield in 2025.
Kysaiah Pickett is close to his coach Simon Goodwin. It’s one reason he’s yet to ask for a trade to Fremantle. But as JON RALPH writes, all that could change this year.
