The St Kilda Saints have taken one of the upsets of the season, defeating the Geelong Cats by 3 points at Etihad Stadium.
REPORT: SAINTS SCORE MASSIVE UPSET
Final score
St Kilda 14.9.93
Geelong 13.12.90
The St Kilda Saints are fresh off their bye, as they take on ladder leaders the Geelong Cats tonight at Etihad Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:25pm (AEST).
The Cats snatched top spot on the premiership table last week after a dominant victory over the Bulldogs.
Meanwhile, the Saints sit in twelfth position with five wins this season including an impressive display against the Blues in Round 12.
Geelong have won four of the past five encounters against the Saints, with the two sides most recent meeting being a draw at Etihad Stadium last season.
The Saints are yet to defeat a team inside the top eight this season and coming off well rested from their bye it’s a great opportunity to challenge the ladder leaders with confidence.
While the Cats have been on fire in recent weeks they suffered some shock losses against Collingwood and Carlton, so they will be keen to cement themselves inside the top four with a victory.
Winning the midfield battle, particularly the contested ball and clearances, will play a major factor in the match up.
The Cats midfield will feature Patrick Dangerfield and captain Joel Selwood who have both been in blistering form in recent weeks, playing a pivotal role in the Cats averaging the most centre clearances in the competition.
The Saints engine room will see the likes of Jack Steven and Seb Ross who have shown damaging signs in the midfield across the first half of the season.
Geelong are leading the league in contested marks, with spearhead forward Tom Hawkins taking 30 for the year and adding 28 goals to his name, he will be looking to make an impact up forward tonight.
On the other end, St Kilda’s Josh Bruce has grabbed 24 contested marks this season and slotted 24 goals as a result.
The recruit of Lachie Henderson has faired well for Geelong’s defence added with veterans Corey Enright and Harry Taylor, while St Kilda’s back half has displayed incredible run this year with Jack Newnes and Leigh Montagna also having a great year rebounding in defence, averaging 27 disposals and three rebound inside 50s per game.
Tom Hickey will have his work cut out against the Cats tall timber of Zac Smith, Mark Blicavs and former Saints teammate Rhys Stanley who will see out the ruck battles.
Prediction
I have enjoyed St Kilda’s relatively fresh line up this season and have been impressed with their promising signs, despite some inconsistent patches throughout the year.
Regardless of them coming off the bye, it’s impossible to ignore Geelong’s dominant form over the past few weeks.
With Patrick Dangerfield in Brownlow medal-winning form and Joel Selwood right with him the Cats will be too strong for St Kilda taking the win ahead of next weeks rest.
Geelong by 35 points
Can a fresh and well rested St Kilda line up knock off the white hot team of the competition in Geelong? Or will the Cats continue their wave of momentum with a commanding victory?
Join The Roar tonight at 7:25pm AEST for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
When the Cats lose, it's always a pile of $#@%. It's one of those unwritten laws in life.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
It is interesting with the bye this year. I wonder if in this topsy turvy season, whether coming off the bye is more an aid than a hindrance. Particularly if you've got some sort of a home ground advantage. Perhaps there's greater residual fatigue from lower interchanges coming into play for the teams short of a rest?
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Click here for the full match report from this game The Roar's MVP Votes: 3 Votes: Nick Riewoldt: The Skipper stood up yet again tonight and was prominent in the final term when the game was their to be won. Saint Nick took 10 marks, 6 inside 50's, 5 score involvement, 18 kicks and 8 handballs and most importantly had a tremendous impact on the game, allowing the Saints to power home for the win. 2 Votes: Seb Ross: Ross was a ball machine tonight coming out the leading possession winner on the ground. Ross came off with 16 kicks, 17 handballs, 7 score involvements, 5 clearances and 5 inside 50's in what was a damaging display against the Cat's premier midfield. 1 Vote: Mav Weller. Weller stood up when needed and was the difference maker in the end. Weller had 19 disposals going at 89% disposal efficiency and slotted 2 all important goals. Solid games by Montagna, Selwood and a great second half by Jack Steven
Mattw
Guest
Yeeeesssss? Why?
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
What a pile of #$%@.
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
The Saints came into tonight's clash fresh of their bye to take on the ladder leaders Geelong. St Kilda came out hard right from the first bounce applying tremendous pressure early and broke away from the game leading at quarter time by 16 points. The second quarter was similar to the first as the Cat's struggled to find their groove allowing the Saints to continue to breakaway and head into the main break with a 23 point lead. The Cat's came out firing early in the third term kicking 3 early goals on the back of some quality clearance work by Paddy Dangerfield and Captain Joel Selwood. Lincoln McCarthy was running hot in the third term kicking multiple goals with Tom Hawkins slotting a goal to bring the margin back to within one straight kick. However St Kilda managed to stay true late in the third term with a couple of late goals to head into the final break with an 11 point lead. It was all clutch time in the final quarter as Geelong came out hard from the get go. Motlop struggled to put away goals and was involved with two missed opportunities. But it was Mark Blicavs that snapped a goal on a tight angle to put the Cats in front by 3 points. Just when you though it was game over for the young Saints, they continued to move the ball forward and find Jake Gresham. Gresham booted the goal of the night, selling some candy and snapping a ripper to bring the margin to just 3 points. Moments later a ball up occurs inside the Saints 50, Jack Steven finds the ball, bursts through and smashes home the winner in what was a well deserved victory for the Saints. Their pressure around the football was simply to good tonight. As for Geelong, they can enjoy a week off and prepare for a huge second half of the season. Full Time Statistics: Disposals: Saints 355 Geel – 385 Kicks Saints 204 - Geel 215 Handballs: Saints 151 – Geel 170 Clearances Saints 35 – Geel 27 Inside 50’s Saints 53 – Geel 52 Free Kicks Saints 16 – Geel 15 Tackles Saints 63 – Geel 50 Full Time Leading Goalkickers St Kilda: Michington 3, Wright 2, Weller 2, Newnes 2 Geelong: Hawkins 3, McCarthy 3, Kersten 1, Dangerfield 1 Full Time Leading Possession Winners St Kilda: Ross 33, Steven 25, Montagna 24, Riewoldt 26 Geelong: Selwood 29, Dangerfield 29, Enright 25, Guthrie 25
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Well done Sainters, a gutsy win in the end after stunning the Cats early with a heap of speed.
MC
Guest
Oh when the Saints!
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Unbelievable game of football tonight with the Saints fighting back for the victory. Full match summary and MVP votes coming soon, thanks for joining me tonight on the Roar. St Kilda – 14.9.93 Geelong – 13.12.90 St Kilda Win by 3 points
TomC
Roar Guru
Fantastic
XI
Roar Guru
Wow! Back luck Cats. I reckon that will be in the top 5 matches of the season.
BigAl
Guest
Those Saints ! Those Saints !
Mattw
Guest
CANNN THE SAINTS!!!!!
Mister Football
Roar Guru
terrific game of footy
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Siren Sounds! The Saints are home! Fantastic win for the football club St Kilda – 14.9.93 Geelong – 13.12.90 Final Score
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Boundary throw in with 16 seconds remaining Harry Taylor launches inside 50 and we have a ball up 3 seconds to go! St Kilda – 14.9.93 Geelong – 13.12.90 Q4 29′
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Geelong reload with Lonergan but Saints with all the answers! Under a minute remains and Geelong have the ball! St Kilda – 14.9.93 Geelong – 13.12.90 Q4 26′
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Mitch Duncan bursts forward for Geelong, handballs to Smith but Nick Riewoldt with another intercept! inspirational by the Captain St Kilda – 14.9.93 Geelong – 13.12.90 Q4 26'
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
3 minutes remain, still plenty of time for the Cats. Saints attempt to hold possesion but Dangerfield forces a turnover and we have a boundary throw in! crazy scenes here at etihad St Kilda – 14.9.93 Geelong – 13.12.90 Q4 23′
Nicholas Mirarchi
Roar Guru
Saints go coast to coast, and work the ball forward. Ball up inside 50, ball falls loose and Jack Steven Goals! Saints in front by 3 St Kilda – 14.9.93 Geelong – 13.12.90 Q4 22′