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. Cheap Basketball Shoes Authentic . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. Clearance Basketball Shoes Store . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. http://www.clearancebasketballshoes.com/ . 1, meaning problems for the doping controls at both major international sports events next year. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. Basketball Shoes From China . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". Discount Basketball Shoes . Now that hes hitting streaking teammates with pin-point passes for easy layups, Love is asserting himself as one of the true superstars in the league. MADRID -- Less than two months after taking over at Valencia, Cesare Prandelli is already hearing the boos at Mestalla Stadium.The former Italy coach and his players were jeered Sunday after Valencia was held to a 1-1 draw by last-place Granada in the Spanish league, a result that extended the clubs four-game winless streak and kept it near the relegation zone.Prandelli arrived amid big expectations after being hired in October by Singapore investor Peter Lim. But following a 2-1 win in his debut against Sporting Gijon, the team has lost twice and drawn twice.The draw against Granada, which is yet to win a game after 12 rounds, made a predictable impact on the home supporters.When things dont go well, the fans will pressure you, its fair, Prandelli said. We must remain calm. The problem is not only psychological, but when you have a clear mind you have more courage.Valencia is 15th in the 20-team standings with 11 points, only two clear of the relegation zone.Im responsible for the team, Prandelli said. The players should not think negatively. They should not lower their heads, only with courage can we improve.Belgian midfielder Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez put Granada ahead in first-half injury time and Nani equalized for the hosts two minutes into the second half. Valencia created a few scoring opportunities after that, but was unable to take them.This point means nothing to us. We need to win games to leave the position we are in, Argentine midfielder Enzo Perez said. We need to unite more than ever to try to overcome this situation. We cant keep making these silly mistakes. Its going to be difficult to get the results we need if this keeps happening.ddddddddddddValencia is the last team other than Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico to win the league title, back in 2004.Madrid opened a four-point lead over Barcelona on Saturday by beating crosstown rival Atletico Madrid 3-0 with a hat trick by Cristiano Ronaldo at the Vicente Calderon Stadium. Barcelona was held to a 0-0 draw at home by Malaga, while Sevilla is third after rallying to beat Deportivo 3-2 in La Coruna.Atletico, which has lost three of its last four matches, is in fifth place, nine points behind Real Madrid.---ATHLETIC BILBAO 1, VILLARREAL 0Raul Garcia scored in the 67th minute to help seventh-place Athletic Bilbao beat Villarreal and end a three-match winless streak.Villarreal could have finished the weekend in third place if it had won in Bilbao, but the loss left the club two points behind Sevilla.Villarreal is tied on 22 points with Real Sociedad, which defeated Sporting 3-1 in Gijon for its fourth win in a row.---ALAVES 0, ESPANYOL 1Espanyol extended its unbeaten streak to six matches thanks to Gerard Morenos 81st-minute winner at Alaves.The result gave the club from Barcelona its second win in three matches and kept it without a loss since a 2-0 defeat at Celta Vigo in September.It reached 12th place in the 20-team standings, two spots ahead of Alaves, which has lost three of its last four matches.---Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni ' ' '