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A three-goal purple patch from Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich dramatically swung the momentum in tonight’s AFL match against St Kilda at the Telstra Dome.
The Saints had kicked the first two goals of the second term and threatened to break the game apart, but Pavlich’s six-minute burst meant his team had the momentum at halftime.
Fremantle trailed by only seven points at the main break against the Saints, 6.3 (39) to 5.2 (32).
Adding to St Kilda’s problems, key midfielder Lenny Hayes was forced out of the game with a hamstring injury after he had amassed an incredible 16 possessions in the first term.
In a game with few highlights so far, Fremantle had been woeful at times during the first half and St Kilda’s greater endeavour was embarrassing them.
This was a massive game for St Kilda, who have lost four of their last five games and are just keeping touch with the top eight on a 5-7 win-loss record.
They dramatically dropped Nick Dal Santo and Stephen Milne during the week, while Michael Gardiner and Adam Schneider are injured.
Robert Eddy, Ben McEvoy and Jarryd Allen are making their senior debuts tonight and the Saints also recalled second-year player David Armitage.
Just as St Kilda looked ready to take control, Pavlich’s scoring burst lifted his team and the Saints defence was under enormous pressure in the last few minutes of the second term.
Dockers tall utility Matthew Warnock will come under video review for an ugly incident in the first term.
Saints midfielder Luke Ball was courageously running back with the flight of the ball when Warnock’s elbow collected him.
Ball’s teammates rushed in to remonstrate, but there was no further incident.
Ball was back on the field by the end of the first term.
Earlier today, Pavlich was appointed to the AFL’s Laws of the Game committee as the current players’ representative.
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