For more than three months, since round six to be precise, the AFLs top eight has remained unchanged and immovable. The competition had had a two-speed feel about it, the contenders all very clear and distinct, and the up-and-comers slogging away in the bottom half of the table without threatening to upset any of the big boys.But all of that could change if St Kilda beat Sydney at Etihad Stadium this Saturday night, and Hawthorn beat eighth-placed North Melbourne. It is at that point that the Saints, non-finalists for four straight years, can actually talk up the notion of playing finals, because Norths draw is very tough (Sydney and GWS to come), while St Kilda face Richmond and the hapless Brisbane Lions to close, both winnable games.In short, if St Kilda win all three games to finish the season and North loses all three, eighth spot would change. It might be unlikely, but it is a tantalising prospect for St Kilda fans.In truth, though, it does not matter so much. Regardless of whether the Saints play finals or miss out narrowly, it has made massive strides in 2016.St Kilda has been in building mode since Ross Lyons departure in acrimony at the end of 2011, missing the finals and twice changing coaches; from Lyon to Scott Watters to Alan Richardson. It is only now that the build carries some weight.Richardson was known as a great development coach as he did the rounds of the clubs, awaiting his opportunity as a head coach. Now that he is in charge, he can apply that sense of empathy that brings out the best in players and he has been a profound success at St Kilda.Granted, his list management people have served him well in a rebirth largely built upon clever trading above all else. Look at the players from other clubs who are significant figures in this team: ruckman Tom Hickey, forwards Josh Bruce and Tim Membrey, defender Shaun Dempster and midfielder Mav Weller to mention but a few.Other things have fallen for Richardson, in particular the fact that his veterans have hung on well. Leigh Montagna has pulled out a great year at 32 and Nick Riewoldt is a remarkable player still at 33. Both have embraced different roles -- Montagna as a running back and Riewoldt up as far as the wing -- and played brilliantly.Significantly, you can easily identify what Richardson wants in terms of game style and that is not the case with some other new coaches. The Saints apply pressure around the football that is in the elite category, force turnovers and then run forward hard and quickly. It is a two-sided game and it has allowed St Kilda to compete with everyone this year. It has a Ross Lyon 2009 look about it.A couple of questionable umpiring decisions -- a play-on call in the game against Hawthorn in Launceston in round four and a blocking free kick against Hickey that gifted North Melbourne the match-winning goal in round seven -- will reverberate if the Saints miss the finals, as is likely. These are the what-if moments of the season, games that could have been won.But St Kilda is back as some kind of force. In 2017 it will pop the suspended Jake Carlisle into its team to plug the gaping hole in the middle of their back half, and Paddy McCartin, the No. 1 pick, will be a year older and stronger.Just how much of a force will be told this weekend. Can the Saints topple the mighty Swans? Its doubtful, but it wont die wondering. Its not in its DNA. Manchester United Kit Uk . 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In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. ZAGREB, Croatia -- International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach is quoted as saying his absence from the opening of the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro has nothing to do with the charges brought by Brazilian prosecutors against another high-ranking IOC official.Olympic Council of Ireland President Patrick Hickey is among ten people facing charges of ticket scalping, conspiracy and ambush marketing related to last months Olympics.Police investigators have said they wanted to speak with Bach about email exchanges he had with Hickey related to Irelands ticket allocation.Bach, who traveled to Zagreb, Croatia, this week, said he missed the ceremony to attend the funeral in Germany for former West Germany president Walter Scheel.In comments translated into Croatian and published on the Croatian Olympic Committee website, Bach also said he didnt want to cancel a visit to the country for the second time in just three months.dddddddddddd He missed the International Skating Union Congress in Dubrovnik in June to attend the funeral of Muhammad Ali.Choosing between the trip to Rio and the funeral of a close friend whom I had known for more than forty years, the human reasons prevailed, Bach was quoted as saying.He adds that Hickey is innocent until proven guilty and I, as the president of the IOC, have received no official request from the Brazilian authorities. 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