Footy First: St Kilda defender Jarryn Geary to miss blockbuster against Richmond

SAINTS defender ruled out of blockbuster, Priddis issues concussion warning and Blues great says Ross Lyon is destroying the game.

Blight torpedo

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12.35pm: Priddis takes concussion seriously

WEST Coast midfielder Matt Priddis says he's glad he listened to his body's signals and took a week off AFL duties to recover from concussion.

Priddis suffered a series of lingering headaches after being driven into the turf by Essendon's Nathan Lovett-Murray on May 12.

The 27-year-old Eagle was named to play against St Kilda seven days later, but pulled out after failing to convince the club's medical staff he had fully recovered.

The decision proved to be a wise one, with the week off allowing Priddis to freshen up and shake off the remaining symptoms.

Priddis made up for lost time on his return against Fremantle last Sunday, tallying 28 possessions and a goal in the Eagles' 48-point triumph.

The 115-game veteran insists he harbours no ill feelings towards Lovett-Murray, saying the tackle was by no means malicious or reportable.

But Priddis warned other players not to brush aside the symptoms of concussion.

"It's the first time I've experienced it and you realise it's serious,'' Priddis said today.

"It's a weird one. With your soft-tissue injuries, you feel like you can push the boundaries a little bit more.

"But with concussion you actually are more hesitant because it's your general well-being and you just don't quite feel right.

"I wasn't going to push it. The docs wouldn't let you do that. The best decision was made and I was able to feel good on the weekend.''

- AAP

Priddis

11am: Saints lose Geary for blockbuster

ST KILDA defender Jarryn Geary has been ruled out of tomorrow night's clash against Richmond after suffering a fractured eye socket in a brutal collision last week.

Geary left the field with blood streaming from a gash above his eye after laying a fierce tackle on Alex Johnson during the Saints' win against Sydney last Saturday. After being assessed by medicos he was subbed out of the game.

“He has a minor (facial) fracture so he will be out this week, hopefully available the following week but we will assess that early next week,” coach Scott Watters told the Saints website.

"He has had a solid year… so we will miss him, but we have players vying for selection who will come in and play their role.”

In a further blow to the Saints' defence, Sam Fisher won't be back for another 1-2 weeks after a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

That will leave yet more responsibility for the unheralded Jason Blake, who has proved his worth again in recent weeks in the absence of ruckman Ben McEvoy. Jon Anderson puts his case for Blake to earn his first-ever Brownlow vote HERE.

The injuries haven't dimmed the enthusiasm of club great Danny Frawley who says the Saints can end their 46-year premiership drought this season. Read the full story HERE.

10.30am: Goddard laughs off contract 'distraction'

SAINTS star Brendon Goddard says he is no rush to sign a new contract and rubbished suggestions the situation is a distraction when he takes the field.

"Some of the speculation is laugahbale because it is really manufactured and doesn't have any legs," Goddard told SEN this morning.

"When the time arises I'll make that decision. At the minute I'm comfortable where I'm at and with the situation."

Ross Lyon 'destroying game': Maclure

THE man who ditched the Saints at the end of last season - declaring the "end of an era" at the club, might be wondering if he made the right call.

While St Kilda is surging Ross Lyon has come under fire for a coaching style that resulted in just five goals in a big western derby loss to West Coast.

The Dockers, who are 5-4 under Lyon and sit in 10th place on the ladder, have scored only 679 points this season.

Only Greater Western Sydney and winless Melbourne Demons and Gold Coast Suns have scored fewer points in 2012.

"I like Ross. I think he's a very good coach. But sometimes he destroys the game and I don't like that," Carlton great Mark Maclure told Fox Footy's AFL 360 last night.

"This is a game we love. We're in the entertainment business. We're not in the killing of football business.

"No kid anywhere in the world would have seen a game played like that as a child.

"You play football because you enjoy it, have a good time. Can you tell me those blokes enjoyed that the other day (against West Coast)?"

Maclure, a three-time premiership player with the Blues, beileves Lyon joined the Dockers at the end of last season for the wrong reasons.

And he said Lyon had "confused and bewildered" the Fremantle players with his game plan.

"Ross actually left for money and that's not a good thing.

"Sometimes you go for reasons, because you want to go and coach that side, but it wasn't because he wanted to go and coach that side (Fremantle). It was because they offered him a lot of money.

"Sometimes you have to cop the blame and I think Ross walks away from the blame a lot and he did on Sunday."

Lyon

1ST GLANCE - catch up on all the news you might have missed

Ryder signs new Bomber deal

PATRICK Ryder has agreed to a new four-year contract at Essendon worth about $2 million.

The versatile Ryder, who is playing the best footy of his career, last night confirmed the deal, which ties him to the club until the end of the 2016 season.

His signature comes after key forward Michael Hurley signed a five-year contract in March.

"I love this place and everyone that's involved in this footy club. I've also got great mates here and coaches I really look up to," Ryder said.

Read the full story HERE.

Pies look to (more) kids

COLLINGWOOD says it could blood three more youngsters this year, taking the number of players used to an extraordinary 38 for the season.

The Pies' savage injury toll means they have already played 35 players and blooded six kids, but they are back in the top four and favourites for the premiership again.

Ahead of Collingwood are only Gold Coast (38 players) and Greater Western Sydney (36), while Richmond has used just 27.

Collingwood recruiting manager Derek Hine said Irishman Caolan Mooney and key talls Jarrod Witts and Jonathon Ceglar could all debut this year.

Read the full story HERE.

Tough choice with legendary line-up

The AFL will induct seven new members to the Australian Hall of Fame in two weeks and one new legend - but who will it be?

Mark Robinson says seven names are in the mix: Wayne Carey, Gary Ablett Sr, Barry Cable, Malcolm Blight, Jason Dunstall, Greg Williams and Tony Lockett.

See who Robbo thinks should get the nod and cast your vote HERE.

Blight torpedo

1ST DATES

10am: St Kilda coach Scott Watters speaks to the meda before Saints training at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre
10.20pm: Darren Jolly speaks before Collingwood training
10.50pm: Richmond training and Damien Hardwick media conference
12.30pm: North Melbourne coach Brad Scott faces the press at Arden St
1pm: Carlton midfielder Kade Simpson press conference before the Blues board their flight to Adelaide at Melbourne Airport.
4pm: Catch up on all today's news in Footy at 4
5.30pm: Join the live teams chat to see all the Round 10 line-ups as they are announced and have your say
6.30pm: Instant SuperCoach analysis on Pimp My Side Live
7pm: Flick on Fox Footy for The SuperCoach Show, with special guest Bulldog Brian Lake

ROUND 10

Friday
St Kilda v Richmond, ES, 7.50pm
Saturday
Geelong v Greater Western Sydney, SS, 1.45pm
Hawthorn v North Melbourne, AU, 2.10pm
Fremantle v Adelaide, PS, 4.40pm
Essendon v Melbourne, MCG, 7.40pm
Port Adelaide v Carlton, AS, 7.40pm
Sunday
Brisbane v West Coast, G, 1.10pm
Sydney v Western Bulldogs, SCG, 3.15pm
Collingwood v Gold Coast, MCG, 4.40pm

1st SIGHT

Dustin Martin

Tiger tyro Dustin Martin executes his signature move, the don't argue. Some moves are so memorable we instantly associate them with particular players - think of James Hird licking his fingers or Matthew Lloyd's grass toss. We've assembled 22 of the best footy trademarks in the first installment of a new feature, Catch-22. Check it out HERE.

1ST WORD

How romantic would it be to speculation on bush or suburban players who could get a call up to the big time to fill a gap a club's list?

Mark Stevens argues the case for a mid-season draft, one of 10 ways the AFL can improve footy right now.

TWEET STREET

@StevoHeraldSun
Credit where credit due: Watters, Koschitzke and Goddard all doing radio interviews morning 4 big game. Tick for Saints media. #bubbleburst

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Just watched the Justin Bieber movie. Little surprised... Actually enjoyed it! #kidsgotskills #justsaying

@WayneSchwass
Reports Pippa Savage may be suffering from Bi-Polar. If correct then Rowing Aust need to get their shit together & support her to get help!