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 Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
‘He's the softest tough guy ever': The other side of Blues hard man Liam Martin
There is the Liam Martin who tries to smash Cameron Munster at every opportunity. Then there is the Liam Martin who loves sitting down to read a book, or watch endless reruns of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy (the character Aragorn is his personal favourite). There is the Liam Martin who gets in the face of Tino Fa'asuamaleaui after he dropped the ball in Perth. Then there is the Liam Martin who helps raise funds for motor neurone disease after losing his uncle in 2022, and his association with the family of AFL great Neale Daniher, who has lived with MND for more than a decade. Almost every story about Martin and State of Origin is about how tough he is and what an on-field grub he is – the bloke who relishes the chance to antagonise and bash Queenslanders. In fairness, he does a fantastic job of it. Teammates have even given him the nickname 'Wild Dog'. Even when he's not trying, Martin irons out Maroons, as evidenced by the giant lump above Reuben Cotter's left eye at Optus Stadium. Just this week, there was more than one story about Martin trying to put the Queenslanders off their game in next Wednesday's Origin decider at Accor Stadium. But, as the old story goes, there is a lot more to Liam Martin. Ask around enough and you start to get a proper sense of what he is really like. Nathan Cleary best sums it up when he says of the Penrith, NSW and Kangaroos back-rower: 'He's the softest tough guy ever. On the field, he's a beast. But he wouldn't hurt anyone away from the field.' Fullback Dylan Edwards says: 'Away from training, when he's at home with his lovely fiancée [Chelsea], he's a real sweetheart. He's very smart, kind and caring. 'He's also good for a 'finjury', or a fake injury. He once thought he had torn his pec, but it turns out he lifted too much weight in the gym [and was just sore].' NSW coach Laurie Daley, who hails from Junee, a short drive south of Martin's home town of Temora in the NSW Riverina, is full of praise for Martin's work ethic. 'Marto is just a good fella, as you would expect from a country boy,' Daley says. 'He's as tough as nails, loves his teammates, loves his team, loves his state, and would do anything for anyone. 'He's a wonderful young man. 'If he's chasing a kick, he goes flat out. If he's coming out of the line, he's going flat out. If he's carrying the ball, it's always flat out. 'Everything is always maximum effort – that's what he does. He doesn't pace his way through the game. He's got one gear. Even when he drinks, he's only got the one gear.' The sweetest story we unearthed about Martin took place at the start of this year when he sent his mother, Maxine, a kookaburra ornament. Martin's older brother, Jarred, took his own life in 2014. Maxine spotted a kookaburra in an unlikely place not long after Jarred's death, and was convinced it was her late son's way of communicating with her. Martin thought of Jarred and Maxine when he saw the kookaburra ornament, and mailed it to his mum, just to let her know he was thinking of them both. 'When my brother passed away, about a month later, mum found a photo of a kookaburra Jarred had drawn. She reckons ever since then a kookaburra has hung around home, or wherever she goes,' Martin says. 'The kookaburra is my brother. She's got so many pictures and mugs with kookaburras. I saw this ornament pop up, so I sent it to her, without telling her who it had come from.' The Martin Family Cup, an annual game between Temora High and West Wyalong High, where Martin went to school, started last year. The concept was based on the two schools and towns where Martin grew up, with the key message to the students being 'resilience and respect'. Martin, now 28, possesses both traits in spades. 'I didn't play for West Wyalong, but my brother did. I went to West Wyalong High, but played all my footy in Temora,' Martin says. 'When people say I'm from Temora, my mates in West Wyalong want to know why they never get a mention. 'I love where I grew up. I'll be getting back there in August. There's a trivia night that will help raise funds for MND. I lost my uncle a few years ago. Mum found out about the news when she landed in England. 'It's such a cruel disease. Neale Daniher does a great job raising awareness about MND. I've never met Neale, but I'm close with some of his family, who were from near West Wyalong. His nephew Harvey is my age, and still one of my best mates.' Martin's fiancée Chelsea is from Temora, but the pair didn't know each other because her family was involved in Aussie rules – not rugby league – and they met by chance at a party in Wollongong. They are expecting their first child in October, which has since prompted Martin to make the early call and pull out of the Kangaroos' Ashes tour of England. Settling down off the field has also changed Martin. 'We've been together going on seven years; I like to think I'm a romantic,' Martin says. 'Mum talks about buying flowers, but Chelsea is very laid-back, and doesn't even like flowers. 'I do like doing things for her, including cooking meals. I make an authentic carbonara sauce. 'She'll tell me I carry on like an idiot sometimes when she watches me on the field. I agree with her. But she also knows it's just footy. Half the time I don't think she's paying attention. 'As for having that softer side, I think I do, especially when it comes to friends and family. I'm a country boy at heart.' Martin is smarter than the average NRL forward – he scored 89.95 on his higher school certificate – but, like all country boys, he loves a beer. He was one of only two Blues players to give it a nudge at a bonding session when they entered camp before Origin I. When Canterbury coach and former Panthers assistant Cameron Ciraldo held his 40th birthday party earlier this year, Martin was close to best on ground. Loading Martin was the only Blues player brave enough to march into the famous Victory Hotel in downtown Brisbane at 3am after the Blues' loss in Origin II in 2023, and rather than be heckled by souped-up Maroons fans, he posed for endless photos with the same locals who had jeered him hours earlier at Suncorp Stadium. There is the Liam Martin who is happy to infuriate Queensland – or any opposition – then there is the Liam Martin who would not hurt anyone. To quote Nathan Cleary one more time: 'He's the softest tough guy ever.'
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘He's the softest tough guy ever': The other side of Blues hard man Liam Martin
There is the Liam Martin who tries to smash Cameron Munster at every opportunity. Then there is the Liam Martin who loves sitting down to read a book, or watch endless reruns of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy (the character Aragorn is his personal favourite). There is the Liam Martin who gets in the face of Tino Fa'asuamaleaui after he dropped the ball in Perth. Then there is the Liam Martin who helps raise funds for motor neurone disease after losing his uncle in 2022, and his association with the family of AFL great Neale Daniher, who has lived with MND for more than a decade. Almost every story about Martin and State of Origin is about how tough he is and what an on-field grub he is – the bloke who relishes the chance to antagonise and bash Queenslanders. In fairness, he does a fantastic job of it. Teammates have even given him the nickname 'Wild Dog'. Even when he's not trying, Martin irons out Maroons, as evidenced by the giant lump above Reuben Cotter's left eye at Optus Stadium. Just this week, there was more than one story about Martin trying to put the Queenslanders off their game in next Wednesday's Origin decider at Accor Stadium. But, as the old story goes, there is a lot more to Liam Martin. Ask around enough and you start to get a proper sense of what he is really like. Nathan Cleary best sums it up when he says of the Penrith, NSW and Kangaroos back-rower: 'He's the softest tough guy ever. On the field, he's a beast. But he wouldn't hurt anyone away from the field.' Fullback Dylan Edwards says: 'Away from training, when he's at home with his lovely fiancée [Chelsea], he's a real sweetheart. He's very smart, kind and caring. 'He's also good for a 'finjury', or a fake injury. He once thought he had torn his pec, but it turns out he lifted too much weight in the gym [and was just sore].' NSW coach Laurie Daley, who hails from Junee, a short drive south of Martin's home town of Temora in the NSW Riverina, is full of praise for Martin's work ethic. 'Marto is just a good fella, as you would expect from a country boy,' Daley says. 'He's as tough as nails, loves his teammates, loves his team, loves his state, and would do anything for anyone. 'He's a wonderful young man. 'If he's chasing a kick, he goes flat out. If he's coming out of the line, he's going flat out. If he's carrying the ball, it's always flat out. 'Everything is always maximum effort – that's what he does. He doesn't pace his way through the game. He's got one gear. Even when he drinks, he's only got the one gear.' The sweetest story we unearthed about Martin took place at the start of this year when he sent his mother, Maxine, a kookaburra ornament. Martin's older brother, Jarred, took his own life in 2014. Maxine spotted a kookaburra in an unlikely place not long after Jarred's death, and was convinced it was her late son's way of communicating with her. Martin thought of Jarred and Maxine when he saw the kookaburra ornament, and mailed it to his mum, just to let her know he was thinking of them both. 'When my brother passed away, about a month later, mum found a photo of a kookaburra Jarred had drawn. She reckons ever since then a kookaburra has hung around home, or wherever she goes,' Martin says. 'The kookaburra is my brother. She's got so many pictures and mugs with kookaburras. I saw this ornament pop up, so I sent it to her, without telling her who it had come from.' The Martin Family Cup, an annual game between Temora High and West Wyalong High, where Martin went to school, started last year. The concept was based on the two schools and towns where Martin grew up, with the key message to the students being 'resilience and respect'. Martin, now 28, possesses both traits in spades. 'I didn't play for West Wyalong, but my brother did. I went to West Wyalong High, but played all my footy in Temora,' Martin says. 'When people say I'm from Temora, my mates in West Wyalong want to know why they never get a mention. 'I love where I grew up. I'll be getting back there in August. There's a trivia night that will help raise funds for MND. I lost my uncle a few years ago. Mum found out about the news when she landed in England. 'It's such a cruel disease. Neale Daniher does a great job raising awareness about MND. I've never met Neale, but I'm close with some of his family, who were from near West Wyalong. His nephew Harvey is my age, and still one of my best mates.' Martin's fiancée Chelsea is from Temora, but the pair didn't know each other because her family was involved in Aussie rules – not rugby league – and they met by chance at a party in Wollongong. They are expecting their first child in October, which has since prompted Martin to make the early call and pull out of the Kangaroos' Ashes tour of England. Settling down off the field has also changed Martin. 'We've been together going on seven years; I like to think I'm a romantic,' Martin says. 'Mum talks about buying flowers, but Chelsea is very laid-back, and doesn't even like flowers. 'I do like doing things for her, including cooking meals. I make an authentic carbonara sauce. 'She'll tell me I carry on like an idiot sometimes when she watches me on the field. I agree with her. But she also knows it's just footy. Half the time I don't think she's paying attention. 'As for having that softer side, I think I do, especially when it comes to friends and family. I'm a country boy at heart.' Martin is smarter than the average NRL forward – he scored 89.95 on his higher school certificate – but, like all country boys, he loves a beer. He was one of only two Blues players to give it a nudge at a bonding session when they entered camp before Origin I. When Canterbury coach and former Panthers assistant Cameron Ciraldo held his 40th birthday party earlier this year, Martin was close to best on ground. Loading Martin was the only Blues player brave enough to march into the famous Victory Hotel in downtown Brisbane at 3am after the Blues' loss in Origin II in 2023, and rather than be heckled by souped-up Maroons fans, he posed for endless photos with the same locals who had jeered him hours earlier at Suncorp Stadium. There is the Liam Martin who is happy to infuriate Queensland – or any opposition – then there is the Liam Martin who would not hurt anyone. To quote Nathan Cleary one more time: 'He's the softest tough guy ever.'
West Australian
5 hours ago
- West Australian
State of Origin: Rita Saffioti bids to hold match in Perth next year
Western Australia is kicking goals in its bid to hold an Aussie rules State of Origin match in Perth next year. The Sunday Times understands the State Government has received a detailed proposal from the AFL for a game to be played at Optus Stadium in February. It's understood the proposal was finalised and put to the Government after Sport and Recreation Minister and Treasurer Rita Saffioti met with AFL boss Andrew Dillon in Perth last month. A WA v Victoria State of Origin is being mooted, in what would be a return of one of the biggest rivalries in Australian sport. It's understood the discussions centre around how much the WA Government will contribute financially to the event, stadium fees, how many days Victorian AFL players would spend in Perth and how the city would be promoted for the match. On Saturday, Ms Saffioti refused to give details of negotiations, but made it clear she wants to bring the game back to WA. She pointed to the success of the Indigenous All-Stars v Dockers exhibition clash in February as proof there would be incredible interest in reviving State of Origin. 'Western Australians absolutely love their AFL and we saw only weeks ago the incredible success of the NRL State of Origin game which drew more than 55,000 to Optus Stadium,' Ms Saffioti told The Sunday Times. 'We also saw the incredible success of the Indigenous All Stars Game earlier this year, and I don't think there would be any better place than Western Australia and Optus Stadium to host a return of State of Origin football.' The first State of Origin match was in 1977 between Victoria and WA, with the Vics winning a first game by 63 points. Later that same year the boys from the west got their revenge with a 94-point win. The WA versus Victoria games were legendary, with the late Ted Whitten's 'Stuck it right up em, that's what you did. You stuck it right up em' whenever Victoria beat WA becoming part of footy folklore. With the WA Government and AFL backing a return of the match, the last remaining hurdle appears to be convincing current coaches and sides, as well as the AFL Players Association, to agree on the Perth match. With teams already paying mega bucks to stars, the clubs are also concerned about players sustaining serious injuries during the regular season. 'I've previously spoken directly with AFL CEO Andrew Dillon and expressed our interest in hosting a State of Origin match,' Ms Saffioti said. 'Those conversations were really positive, but ultimately a decision on whether there is a return of State of Origin football is one for the AFL.' Already, it has been speculated that Carlton's Patrick Cripps would most likely captain a WA State of Origin side, with Max Gawn, Patrick Dangerfield and Marcus Bontempelli all in the mix to lead the Vics. The sight of West Coast's Harley Reid potentially playing in a Victorian jumper matched up against WA's Chad Warner, from the Sydney Swans, would in itself be worth the admission fee. At a Captains Day at the MCG earlier this year, Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield said players were in favour of State of Origin but the timing of the match was crucial.
