Saints employ winning tactics to hammer Crows

Jason Blake and Sam Gilbert of the Saints fly with Chris Knights of the Crows. GSP Images

St Kilda asserted advantages in both tactics and AFL experience to deservedly defeat a young Adelaide side by 32 points in a frequently halting encounter at AAMI Stadium on Friday night.

The Saints were able to restrict much of what the Crows did well against Collingwood in round one, and apart from brief patches in the second and third quarters controlled a game they ultimately won 15.11 (101) to 10.9 (69).

In a match that was low scoring until the visitors kicked away late, Justin Koschitzke’s four goals opposed to Ben Rutten were crucial.

He received strong support upfield from Nick Dal Santo, Luke Ball and Leigh Montagna, with Sam Fisher and Jason Gram also growing in prominence as the match went on.

The Crows had been judged by some to be the recipients of some fortunate decisions against the Magpies, and they felt the force of a powerful reversal this week – a 30-11 free-kick count in the Saints’ favour.

Trent Hentschel’s first home premiership match at home since 2006 began with a goal but ended before halftime with an apparent quad strain, frustrating though mercifully a less serious injury than the one he suffered against Port Adelaide two years ago.

Jason Porplyzia (three goals), Kurt Tippett (three) and Taylor Walker all had moments for Adelaide, while Scott Thompson, Simon Goodwin and Tyson Edwards all fought hard in the face of far more pressure than they faced last week.

On a cool and breezy night, the Saints blew into town with a clear idea of what they had to do to confound a young Adelaide – use superior bulk to win the ball at the stoppages and choke up the centre of the ground with zoned players to stem the flow off half back the Magpies had so courteously allowed.

In the first half they accomplished their aims admirably despite starting into the wind, denying the Crows much of the space they desired while also stretching them at either end with marking power the home side could not match, in part due to an absent Scott Stevens (hamstring).

Adelaide were cornered into repeated handballs, and by halftime had almost twice an many disposals by hand as by foot.

Ten points clear entering the third, St Kilda buried three goals to Adelaide’s one inside the first seven minutes to streak to a near four-goal margin and appeared in control.

However the Crows managed to find their footing midway through the term, finding avenues through Walker and Porplyzia, who combined for six shots between them, three of which sailed through for goals, to cut the margin back to a mere five points when the final term began.

The Saints had the breeze in the last, and returned to holding the majority of the effective ball when it mattered to re-establish a winning break.

Stephen Milne produced his second expert crumber’s goal of the evening before Koschitzke lost Ben Rutten at the vital moment to mark and convert.

He would add one more in time-on as the Saints ran away to a result that will give them great confidence, but also provide a sobering reminder of where Adelaide stand in the premiership pecking order.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon credited his side’s enormous pressure to corner Adelaide into errors and overuse of handball.

“I thought our effort was really good and that allowed our system and structures to stand up and kick-in,” he said.

“We kicked 15 goals, we were pretty efficient and defended reasonably, so the balance of attack and defence was there.”

Crows coach Neil Craig was awed by the pressure applied by the Saints across four quarters.

“That’s as good as I’ve seen in that area of the game for that length of time in a minor round game of AFL footy, they were fantastic,” he said.

It emerged after the game that Hentschel had been sidelined with a build-up of fluid in his right knee, an ailment he faced after the club’s first pre-season game in Darwin.