Koschitzke Cleared, But Saints Wait On Ball Injury

The Age

Tuesday September 16, 2008

Len Johnson

ST KILDA breathed a sigh of relief yesterday when Justin Koschitzke was cleared of unduly rough play by the match review panel but still faces an anxious wait on the fitness of Luke Ball.

Hawthorn, the Saints' opponent in Saturday night's preliminary final, declared that Trent Croad will be fit to play.

Even if that is the case, the Hawks must decide how to deploy their defence against Koschitzke and Nick Riewoldt, who kicked five goals against Collingwood and six goals as the Saints came from 28 points down at half-time to win by 30 the previous time Hawthorn met St Kilda.

Despite the optimistic prognostications from both camps over the past 48 hours, the fates of Ball and Croad will be determined by how much training they can do this week and their reaction to it.

The Saints, though, have a definite bonus in Koschitzke. He had been reported by field umpire Hayden Kennedy on match day following a tackle in which he slung Collingwood defender Shane Wakelin to the ground as the ball spilled out of his hands.

But the match review panel ruled yesterday that Koschitzke's action did not constitute unduly rough play.

"Koschitzke's was not considered unreasonable in the circumstances in that his tackle was all in the one motion with Koschitzke holding Wakelin at all times, and was not two separate motions.

"The player would not have been aware the ball was out of bounds, nor that Wakelin had disposed of the ball during the tackle," the panel ruled.

But Ball is another matter. He has not played since injuring his hamstring in round 18 against Port Adelaide. He was named in the side to play Collingwood last week, but officially was a late withdrawal.

Also at Moorabbin, Jarryd Allen, Ball's replacement on Saturday night, will miss with a hip flexor injury, while Lenny Hayes is reported to have had after-effects from the back spasms that almost put him out of the game.

Hawthorn assistant coach Todd Viney declared Croad a likely starter for the preliminary final.

The tall defender received a foot injury during the Hawks' qualifying final victory over the Bulldogs two weekends ago.

"Last week would have been touch and go, but I think there will be no dramas this week," Viney said.

He also said that Campbell Brown would play despite dislocating his thumb against the Bulldogs and that other injury concerns, Rick Ladson (shoulder), Grant Birchall (hip), Cameron Stokes (hamstring) and Stephen Gilham ( virus), would be available.

Ruckman Simon Taylor, who missed the game with general soreness, will also be pushing for selection, Viney said.

It is less clear who will line up on the Saints' two key forwards. Brown started on Riewoldt last time and Croad on Koschitzke.

Viney said the Hawks had watched Riewoldt's performance against Collingwood when he had the benefit of an open forward line.

"Croad would be a (possible) match-up. Riewoldt was fantastic earlier in the year when he played us; he kicked six," Viney said.

"Defence is not just Trent Croad on Riewoldt. It's the whole team."

? Greg Baum

SPORT 7

© 2008 The Age

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