The St Kilda Saints staged a late-game comeback after being down by several goals in the third quarter, ultimately powering away in the final term to come away with a 34-point win over the Fremantle Dockers.
REPORT: SAINTS COMEBACK LEAVES DOCKERS STILL WINLESS
Final score
St Kilda – 15.11 (101)
Fremantle – 10.7 (67)
WHAT’S NEXT? FOLLOW OUR LIVE BLOGS FOR ESSENDON VS RICHMOND AND ADELAIDE VS GWS
The St Kilda Saints will be looking to get some consistent forum under their belt as they clash with the winless Fremantle Dockers. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:35pm (AEST).
St Kilda have been a hard team to get a read on in 2016.
They’ve mixed some very gallant losses to Hawthorn and North Melbourne with downright ugly efforts against the Western Bulldogs and West Coast.
But at the end of the day, losses are losses, and with the ledger at 3-6 they’re at a critical juncture.
They simply need to win against the last-placed Dockers if they’re to maintain their reputation as a team on the rise.
Fremantle, on the other team, might just be the most perplexing 0-9 team in AFL history.
Last year’s minor premiers have fallen off the wagon in a big way, and there appears to be little in the way of an explanation.
The Dockers’ loss to Richmond last week would have to have been one of their worst. With their backs against the wall, playing a fellow struggler on their home deck, the Dockers barely gave a yelp, going down by 38 points.
In 2015, their winning streak to start the season was snapped at nine, perhaps this year history will repeat in its own weird way?
Fremantle have won three of past five contests between these sides, although prior to that St Kilda won eight straight against the Dockers.
Prediction
Every week we think Fremantle are a chance of finally breaking through for their first win. They’re definitely a chance in this contest, but they’ve disappointed too often this year to warrant favouritism this week.
Saints by 11.
Will the Dockers finally be able to break their drought for 2016? Or will the Saints prove too strong for last year’s minor premiers? Join The Roar from 4:35 to find out with our live scores and commentary.
Stirling Coates
Editor
Click here for the full match report from this game What's next? Follow our live blogs for Essendon vs Richmond and Adelaide vs GWS THE ROAR AFL MVP VOTES 3 VOTES - Jack Steven (STK) - 32 disposals for Steven at a healthy 84% effectiveness, to go along with nine tackles, six clearances, five inside 50s and a goal. 2 VOTES - David Armitage (STK) - Gave Tom Liberatore a fright with a whopping 17 tackles, while also gathering 28 touches, seven clearances and a goal. 1 VOTE - Lachie Neale (FRE) - Battled tirelessly for the Dockers, eventually finish with 31 disposals, nine clearances and a goal.
Stirling Coates
Editor
ST KILDA v FREMANTLE FULL TIME REPORT St Kilda - 15.11 (101) Fremantle - 10.7 (67) GOAL KICKERS Saints: Membrey 3, McCartin 2, Bruce 2, Riewoldt 2, Armitage, Steven, Newnes, Weller, Gresham, Murdoch Dockers: Langdon 2, Weller 2, Taberner 2, Walters, Pavlich, Neale, Sheridan DISPOSAL LEADERS Saints: Steven 32, Roberton 29, Armitage 28 Dockers: Neale 31, Hill 26, Blakely 25 TEAM STATS Disposals: Saints 387, Dockers 360 Contested Possessions: Dockers 138, Saints 127 Tackles: Saints 101, Dockers 70 Inside 50s: Dockers 52, Saints 45 Clearances: Dockers 44, Saints 31
Stirling Coates
Editor
SIREN So the siren sounds on a very entertaining, if one-sided, final quarter. St Kilda kick the last nine goals of the game to turn a 19-point deficit into a resounding 34-point win! For Fremantle, it's a bitterly disappointing way to finish, as they crash to an unfathomable record of 0-10. STK - 15.11 (101) FRE - 10.7 (67) FULL TIME
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND SAINTS Nick Riewoldt takes a superb pack mark over three players, but his set shot from 35 out is off to the right. STK - 15.11 (101) FRE - 10.7 (67) Q4: 1'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL SAINTS Icing on the cake! Tim Membrey's got himself an acre of space at half forward and while he spills the mark, he palms Garrick Ibbotson off with ease before sending it in to the hot spot. Mav Weller can't take the mark, but Jade Gresham mops up the mess and slams home a party time goal. STK - 15.10 (100) FRE - 10.7 (67) Q4: 2'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Whoa! Hayden Crozier takes an absolute hanger on the back of Jack Steven! That's a goal of the year nominee and that's why you watch right up until the siren! STK - 14.10 (94) FRE - 10.7 (67) Q4: 3'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL SAINTS St Kilda get the turnover in midfield and take it the other way, and the long high kick to the goal square is marked uncontested by Nick Riewoldt. Kicking from the goal square, he makes it 27 points and that will do it! STK - 14.10 (94) FRE - 10.7 (67) Q4: 4'
FreoFan
Roar Rookie
Oh Tabs.... That hurts.
Stirling Coates
Editor
Absolute back breaking miss. You can't be a five-possession-a-game forward and miss chances like that.
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL SAINTS St Kilda go coast-to-coast from the kick-in, and they've got numbers galore on the half forward flank. Paddy McCartin is tempted from 50 out, but instead he angles it to the pocket and Josh Bruce takes the mark running back with the flight. Kicking from 20 out on a slight angle, he's been virtually unsighted before this, but he slots is second quick goal and the Saints are well and truly in control now. STK - 13.10 (88) FRE - 10.7 (67) Q4: 6'
Mark
Guest
Useless
Mark
Guest
Taberner is up with Dawson on the spudometer. That miss was both horrendous and hilarious.
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND DOCKERS Danyle Pearce goes for a run through the corridor and his long kick to full forward is marked by Matt Taberner on the line. Just outside the goal square so he's got the angle to deal with, but he plays on to improve the angle and then hits the post from five metres out! Unreal! Is that the game right there? STK - 12.10 (82) FRE - 10.7 (67) Q4: 6'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL SAINTS Long kick to the forward pocket is spilled behind the pack, but Josh Bruce, gathers, runs all the way to the line and kicks a huge goal! STK - 12.10 (82) FRE - 10.6 (66) Q4: 7'
Stirling Coates
Editor
St Kilda have done a really good job to not only arrest the Fremantle tidal wave that accumulated over the second and third quarters, but they've been well on top this quarter. Fremantle need to respond. STK - 11.10 (76) FRE - 10.6 (66) Q4: 8'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND DOCKERS Long kick from Connor Blakely to full forward is spoiled behind the pack, and Jarryn Geary runs it over the line. STK - 11.10 (76) FRE - 10.6 (66) Q4: 9'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL SAINTS A quarter to re-Membrey! Paddy McCartin denied the mark in the one-on-two, but he gets it to Seb Ross, and Ross' kick to Tim Membrey on the lead is a stunner! Kicking from 25 out on a slight angle, he splits the middle and that's three goals for Membrey! STK - 11.10 (76) FRE - 10.5 (65) Q4: 10'
Stirling Coates
Editor
15 touches at 93% efficiency for Shane Savage in Game 100. Nothing match-winning but he's done his job. STK - 10.10 (70) FRE - 10.5 (65) Q4: 11'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Paddy McCartin elects to go the pass to full forward instead of have the shot from 50 and Fremantle win it and take it all the way to the other end of the ground. Fremantle's third blood rule of the evening. STK - 10.10 (70) FRE - 10.5 (65) Q4: 12'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND DOCKERS Tommy Sheridan has a running shot at goal from 40 out but it's off to the right hand side. STK - 10.10 (70) FRE - 10.5 (65) Q4: 13'