The St Kilda Saints took a scrappy but satisfactory win over the Richmond Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Richmond Tigers 6.10.46
St Kilda Saints 7.13.55
The Richmond Tigers desperately need to restore some pride after last week’s capitulation, while the St Kilda Saints will be keen to get back on the winners list in the clash at the MCG today. Join The Roar from 2:10pm (AEST) for all the live scores and action!
While both these teams won’t play finals this season, it’s been a starkly different story for each.
Richmond have been one of the most disappointing teams of the year, widely tipped to play in a fourth straight finals series only to languish under the expectation and fall back down the ladder where they sat for so long.
On the other hand, St Kilda have had a positive year, arguably ahead of schedule, with players like Tim Membrey and Jade Gresham showing that they certainly are a team with a bright future ahead, with plenty of exciting football to come.
Richmond hold a seven-match winning streak against the Saints – the last time St Kilda took the points was in 2010, a year they made the grand final.
There’s no doubt the Tigers should have beaten Geelong last Sunday, and will need to make amends to erase that from their memory as quickly as possible. St Kilda would also probably like to forget their belting at the hands of the Swans, and what better way to do it than to win game No.11 for the year.
Four big omissions for the Tigers in the shape of Ty Vickery, Anthony Miles, Ben Lennon and Nathan Drummond, who will be replaced by Kane Lambert, Todd Elton, Cameron Menadue and Callum Moore in his debut.
Darren Minchington has been dropped by the Saints, who have also lost Sam Fisher and Tom Hickey to injuries. In comes American ruckman Jason Holmes, veteran Jarryn Geary and youngster Jack Lonie.
Dustin Martin has been the shining light of Richmond’s season, and against a beatable opponent there’s a real chance for him to add to what is surely an impressive tally of Brownlow votes. Oleg Markov has also been incredibly impressive in his first handful of games and is sure to be a mainstay of the Tigers team for years to come.
The Saints are going big up forward, playing all of Paddy McCartin, Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey and superstar captain Nick Riewoldt. If they find chemistry early, they will be very hard to stop. Jack Steven has had another sensational year and could also have a huge outing.
Respect was lost last week, and now it’s here to be won – who gets it back?
Prediction
Really tough gane. The Saints have impressed me this year so I’ll give them the edge.
St Kilda by 18.
Join The Roar from 2:10pm (AEST) for a live blog and all the scores!
Inge Mueller
Guest
I have been so proud to be a member of St Kilda. they have not let me down and even so I can't get to the game any more I love you men, especially my always favourite Nick Riewoldt Have been following the Saints for almost 60 years through good and bad times. Go Saints forever Inge Mueller. .
Paul Thompson
Guest
If Saints beat Lions next week and Giants beat Kangas the Kangas will make the finals on percentage. I know i am going back a bit but two poor umpiring decisions by umpire no 12.in the Hawt v Stk game where he made two not 15 mtr calls,may cost Saints a finals spot and have Hawks higher placed than than should be.I realise those calls were around the 15min mark of last 1/4but i believe the calls totally upset Saints rhythm and concentration. And that may have most likely been just one of many games that poor decisions have influenced during this season
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Siren sounds and it's the Saints who get over the line, winning by 9 points! Match summary and MVP votes to follow.
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
GOAL RICHMOND Kane Lambert adds another with 4 seconds left. Good to see them fight til the end. Q4 28′ Richmond 6.10.46 St. Kilda 7.13.55
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
GOAL RICHMOND With 41 seconds left big Callum Moore runs into an open 50 onto a loose ball, and drives through his first ever goal from point blank range! Well done! Q4 27′ Richmond 5.10.40 St. Kilda 7.13.55
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Another stoppage forced at a very quiet MCG. 93 seconds to go. Q4 25′ Richmond 4.10.34 St. Kilda 7.13.55
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Tough tackle on Rance by Savage inside the Saints forward 50. Two and a half minutes left. Q4 24′ Richmond 4.10.34 St. Kilda 7.13.55
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
4 minutes left on the game clock now, and the Saints look happy to drain it as much as possible. Q4 21′ Richmond 4.10.34 St. Kilda 7.13.55
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
BEHIND STK A centering ball from Nick Riewoldt is pushed through off hands. Q4 20′ Richmond 4.10.34 St. Kilda 7.13.55
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Poor decision by Lloyd forward for Richmond, choosing to kick for goal whilst being tackled rather than handball it off to a mate. The kick is affected, flying out on the full. Q4 19′ Richmond 4.10.34 St. Kilda 7.12.54
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
BEHIND STK Shane Savage tries his luck from 50 with a nice kick but not even he can find the middle today. Q4 18′ Richmond 4.10.34 St. Kilda 7.12.54
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Jack Steven butchers another great chance about 40m out, choosing to snap rather than drop punt, not even making the distance. Rance cuts it off and sends it back down the ground. Yet again, the Saints win possession back. They're chipping it around slowly. Q4 17′ Richmond 4.10.34 St. Kilda 7.11.53
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
BEHIND STK Wright's kick flies too much to the right. Q4 16′ Richmond 4.10.34 St. Kilda 7.11.53
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Seb Ross finds Nathan Wright with a nice chip pass! He's 40 out on a slight angle. Q4 15′ Richmond 4.10.34 St. Kilda 7.10.52
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Clever use of space by the Saints, who leave plenty of room for a chain of leading players to mark. The final mark is taken inside the 50 hard up against the boundary by Seb Ross, who decides to center it. Richmond win out and fire the ball down the ground, but it's coming back. Q4 14′ Richmond 4.10.34 St. Kilda 7.10.52
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Tigers look likely to score, flocking forward in wave! Dustin Martin tries a trademark fend-off just on 505 - but the tackle sticks and it's the ball back with the Saints! Q4 12′ Richmond 4.10.34 St. Kilda 7.10.52
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
GOAL STK Fantastic roving from Jack Billings, hitting the back of a pack deep forward and following the ball through to the goal line where he gets an important toe to it, taking the margin back out to 18. Q4 11′ Richmond 4.10.34 St. Kilda 7.10.52
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
The contest has gone up a notch - nothing's coming easy! Shane Edwards cuts off a Weller ball inside 50 and the Tigers are taking the ball through the corridor! Q4 9′ Richmond 4.10.34 St. Kilda 6.10.46
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Sam Gilbert rushed a behind right before this goal. Richmond 3.10.28 St. Kilda 6.10.46