Saints outrun valiant Roos

St Kilda 10.14 (74)  def.  Kangaroos 8. 9 (57)

St Kilda have eased home for a 17-point win over the valiant but ultimately over-matched Kangaroos in a low-scoring arm wrestle at the Telstra Dome this afternoon.

The Saints always held the upper hand in a dour, uninspiring contest, dashing to a three-goal lead after 10 minutes and withstanding a concerted Roo fightback in the second term to post their fifth victory of the season.

St. Kilda now move into the top eight after nine rounds, while the Kangaroos’ seventh loss for the year sees them anchored in the AFL’s bottom three.

Luke Ball and Robert Harvey shared 55 disposals to ensure Nick Riewoldt’s 100th league game would be celebrated with a win, while Leigh Montagna comprehensively shut down Roos’ playmaker Daniel Wells.

The St. Kilda defence, led by the returning Max Hudghton, was also water-tight and superstar forward Riewoldt booted two goals in his milestone match.

Fraser Gehrig and Dal Santo added two majors each in a contest where the Saints seemed to be too efficient and have too much class around the ground for the gallant Shinboners.

After a spirited second term performance that saw them level the scores, the Roos’ intensity fell away markedly in the last half, managing only four shots at goal in 60 minutes of football.

The experienced trio of Glenn Archer, Shannon Grant and Adam Simpson, together with Daniel Harris, did their best to keep the Kangaroos in touch, but they lacked midfield spark and their forward line struggled badly with Nathan Thompson kept to just seven kicks by Hudghton.

Under a closed roof and in perfect conditions, the Saints made an ideal start with a goal after just 15 seconds to Nick Dal Santo.

A quick centre break saw the play immediately inside St. Kilda’s forward line and the silky-smooth midfielder was in the right place at the right time to convert with his non-preferred right foot.

Luke Ball was on hand to make Jonathon Hay pay for a diabolical error in the Kangaroos’ defence and when Nick Riewoldt opened his account for the afternoon minutes later, St. Kilda were 20 points up and in control.

Under siege and struggling to win the ball in the packs, Roos coach Dean Laidley opted to leave Glenn Archer loose into the backline and he was crucial in halting the Saints’ momentum.

Nathan Thompson outpointed Max Hudghton to finally put a major score on the board for the Kangaroos after 20 minutes, but missed opportunities - including four sprayed shots - meant that the Saints still held a comfortable 19-point margin at quarter-time.

The complexion of the match changed in the second term as the Kangaroos lifted their work rate and played hard, aggressive football.

It seemed to rattle Grant Thomas’ men and they could only watch as Kasey Green slotted home the all-important first goal of the quarter, before Troy Makepeace - a late inclusion for Joel Perry - surprised everyone at the Dome with a pair of majors that brought the Roos right back into the contest.

They eventually leveled the scores through Corey Jones, but the Roos’ clever left-footer would turn villain later in the term after he failed to convert three gettable shots at goal.

Dal Santo ensured the Saints would go into the long break with a five-point lead, however, only the Kangaroos’ inaccuracy prevented them from holding the scoreboard ascendancy.

Ball, Sam Fisher and Robert Harvey were all winning plenty of possession through the middle, but St. Kilda committed an amazing 18 midfield clangers as they struggled to find a viable forward target in the first half.

For the Kangaroos, veterans Adam Simpson and Glenn Archer were leading the way, and they were ably supported by Shannon Grant, Kasey Green and Daniel Harris.

The Shinboners’ physical presence was best exemplified by their 18-5 lead in the tackle count and their 10 second quarter marks inside 50 showed they were penetrating the Saints’ defence with ease.

Chastened for their poor display around the stoppages, St. Kilda picked up their clearance work in the third term and improved their delivery into the forward line.

 They were rewarded with two goals - one each to Riewoldt and Fraser Gehrig - but despite winning more of the hard ball and dominating general possession, the Saints couldn’t further distance themselves from the dour Roos.

St. Kilda could only boot 2.4 and when Hamish McIntosh kicked the Kangaroos’ one and only goal for the quarter 24 minutes into the term, the Roos’ were just 15 points down at the last change.

Though well within striking distance, the Shinboners needed a quick start to the final quarter to remain any chance of victory, however, it was the Saints who pulled clear.

They squashed the Roo resistance with consecutive goals to Gehrig and Troy Schwarze, extending their buffer to a commanding 28 points and in a low-scoring duel, all but ending the contest.

Two late majors to Grant added respectability to the final scoreboard but ultimately it was futile as St. Kilda eased to their fifth victory of the season.

Next Sunday, the Kangaroos travel to Manuka Oval for a ‘home’ clash with in-form reigning premiers Sydney, while the Saints meet the Demons at the MCG.

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