The St Kilda Saints have pulled off a stunning Friday night result, defeating an admirable but ultimately disappointing GWS Giants outfit by 23 points at Etihad Stadium.
It proved to be a tough night for suspended Giant Toby Greene, who had to watch from the sidelines a game where he could have been the match-winner for a GWS team that had only two players kick more than one goal.
While a win wasn’t always out of the question, a win of this magnitude would’ve surprised even the most dedicated Saints fans, as their team put the Giants to the sword in the final quarter, booting eight consecutive goals, including two towards the end of the third quarter.
To say it went the Saints way the entire game, though, would be to falsify the Giants efforts: it wasn’t all that easy for the hosts, as the Giants looked great at times.
The first quarter set the tone for what would be close and hard fought match. St Kilda’s pressure was evident from the get-go, consistently striving to attack the footy and making life difficult for the Giants, who initially looked a little uncertain, and struggled to move the football without experiencing the intense pressure.
St Kilda, frustratingly, couldn’t – for all their attacking effort – make any sort of indent on the scoreboard, and predictably, the Giants came back strongly. They soon overtook the Saints’ pressure and attack, and were able to slam on a couple of goals to take a 10-point lead into the first break.
The second quarter was played at a frenetic pace, with both teams able to gain the ascendency at differing times, and St Kilda especially able to get on top.
Then they got a case of the turnover yips, which prevented them from taking any form of extended ascendency, and enabled the Giants to slam on at least two goals from horrendous St Kilda turnovers.
GWS kept their lead (albeit, a reduced one) come the main break, but St Kilda – for all their flaws – didn’t look out of the game.
The third quarter continued the entertaining, yet topsy-turvy, tradition that had been established in the preceding quarter; both teams had period of dominance, St Kilda had some disappointing blunders, and GWS had the lead come three-quarter time.
But the lead just didn’t feel safe, and ultimately it wasn’t, as St Kilda dominated GWS, and ran out with the win.
St Kilda’s victory was made even sweeter by the fact that they’d managed to pull off the win with limited contributions by Nick Riewoldt, Jarryn Geary and Leigh Montanga.
Seb Ross, Jack Steven, Jack Newnes and Jimmy Webster were excellent for the winning team, while Dylan Roberton and Jake Carlisle were brilliant in defence.
Jack Billings, while missing a few shots, was great up front, as was Jade Gresham’s fourth quarter effort.
Tom Scully, Heath Shaw, Josh Kelly and Callan Ward were prolific for the visitors, while Stephen Coniglio performed very well in his first game for the year.
Jeremy Cameron was their joint-highest goal kicker (with Scully) but would be disappointed with the 2.3 he produced, and Steve Johnson was also very quiet.
St Kilda face Carlton in a very winnable match next weekend, while GWS host a potentially resurgent Collingwood next Saturday.
Final score
St Kilda Saints 16.12.108
GWS Giants 12.13.85
Matto
Guest
?
Matto
Guest
No. He said he tipped and bet incorrectly. Saw a lot of experts tip the saints. Wasn't that big of an upset.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
"But I have a track record of being correct, so my opinions carry more weighting." So basically you tipped wrong and made an incorrect statement about GWS all within this one article. Doesn't look like you got much right in the past 24 hours. You are the epitome of the 'genius in hindsight' routine we see on this site regularly.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
:D
justif01
Roar Rookie
The Saints were the better team on the night for sure and they have improved since last year as they have added Stevens and Steele into the midfield and have Carlisle and Brown to stiffen their backline. That being said GWS on paper at least are a top four side and apart from last night and round one haven't really done much wrong despite the injuries they have had. Coniglio will take time but he is a gun midfielder, Greene certainly too is one of their key players, I think Whitfield can return this week and he is a jet and at some stage they will get Deledio, Griffen and Setterfield back from injury so I think the Giants can only get better. Whether they are good enough to win the grand final I am not entirely convinced but they have all of the necessary tools to give it a decent shake.
Cat
Roar Guru
Or it could be similar to last year when the Cats had the best record against top 8 sides in all of AFL. Time will tell.
Cat
Roar Guru
Or lacking conviction in the crap you spew. Stop hedging your bets and man up.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
But I have a track record of being correct, so my opinions carry more weighting.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Worth remembering you're telling it how you see it, you always seem to forget that bit (it may be you're the one with hurt feelings and that colours the way you see things).
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
Strategic tip. 50/50 game. Have to choose someone. Saints are mid-table team, GWS are contesting for a premiership and trying to shed their flat track bully tag.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
Telling it how it is. Sorry for any hurt feelings...
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
Beating North doesn't really count since North Melbourne were in the midst of a massive form slump.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Well it's always easier to pretend you're tough by being negative, but really it's the softer option than actually thinking about it in a more considered and open way.
Paul Thompson
Guest
Be interesting to see how good your Mighty Cats will go from round 9 when they start playing the decent teams.Think they will end up pretenders as well.Bottom8 for Cats
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Saints were too quick, the umpys quicker.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
"GWS have never done it." Why start with a sentence like this, only to contradict yourself in the very next one? Well done.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
So you tipped incorrectly. Well done.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
Can't be negative can we? Might hurt some precious millennial's feelings... awwwwwwwwwwwww
Gecko
Guest
SHM that's a bit negative but there's certainly a pattern. More importantly, it's great that GWS is building an identity and stirring up passion across the AFL. Last night's game was great to watch because both team's have a fast, play-on style of footy. The Saints seem to have developed fast handball and tap-ons to the same level that the Bulldogs did last year. Very well coached and they know it.
Cat
Roar Guru
If the Aint's were good enough last year they would have - but they weren't and didn't.