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.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
St Kilda Saints 16.12.108
GWS Giants 12.13.85
Round 7 begins with a bang, as an exciting St Kilda Saints side hosts the GWS Giants in a Friday night match at the Docklands. Join us on The Roar for live scores and a blog from 7:50pm AEST.
After having to wait until their sixth season to debut in the famed Friday night time-slot, GWS don’t have to wait long at all for their second opportunity.
They’re being thrust immediately back into the spotlight with this exciting clash against St Kilda in Melbourne.
The Saints, as well, will be relishing being back in prime time once again, having endured a two-year absence from Friday nights.
Both teams are heading into this clash with an abundance of confidence, with the duo both having particularly impressive Round 6 wins, more so the Saints.
St Kilda produced a stunning domination of once-great Hawthorn down in Tasmania, and will be eager to continue that form: albeit against a side that is undeniably better than their previous opponent.
GWS, too, took home the four points out of their encounter with the Bulldogs in their first, and currently only, Friday match in their history.
Who’s playing, then? Both teams have made only forced changes for tonight’s match.
St Kilda have experienced a frustrating loss, with Maverick Weller suffering an injury at training, leading Nathan Wright to replace him.
GWS have lost Sam Reid and Nick Haynes to hamstring injuries, whilst Toby Greene has been struck out with suspension.
Their ins, though, will be instrumental, with Phil Davis and Stephen Coniglio joining youngster Harrison Himmelberg in a formidable Giants squad.
Winning this game isn’t as simple as you might think. Both teams have formidable forward lines – it should be noted, especially, that Saints Nick Riewoldt, Josh Bruce and Tim Membrey combined for 10 goals last weekend, and the Saints are second for marks inside 50.
The Giants, though, are probably even more formidable – with Jeremy Cameron, Stevie Johnson and Toby Greene booting 13 last season against the Saints. It’s no joke, then, that the loss of Greene will have frustrated Giants hierarchy.
Nonetheless, the additions of Coniglio back into the Giants midfield will help, and will only add to what’s bound to be an entertaining clash featuring the likes of Callan Ward, Tom Scully and Dylan Shiel up against the St Kilda ball winners in Jack Steven, Jack Steele and Jack Newnes.
Tonight’s clash provides us with an opportunity, primarily, to gauge the progress of a Saints squad that is sitting 9th with a 3-3 ledger, although all three of the wins have come against teams that aren’t looking likely to make finals.
Winning this game is important, to prove that they can match it with the best, and to also provide a boost heading into a relatively easy stretch (Blues, Swans, Bulldogs) before their bye.
GWS, though, isn’t an easy team to beat at the best of times, and have one the last three against the Saints, two of those at Etihad.
Prediction
Honestly, with this match, it’s very much a case of my heart saying St Kilda, but my head saying the Giants.
In some ways, it’s a 50/50 proposition, even though the Giants are comfortably the bookies’ favourites.
St Kilda’s midfield and forward line are firing, and there’s no reason why they won’t continue to do so, but GWS aren’t easy to beat, and I just feel they won’t be beaten tonight.
It’ll be close, though, and boy oh boy won’t Toby Greene be in a bit of trouble if the ledger swings the other way.
GWS by 15 points.
Join us on The Roar for live scores and a blog from 7:50pm AEST.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
You do a good job, along with Ryan with his articles. You called me a BS artist and conspiracy theorist for claiming GWS are disappointing and have stagnated. I got the last laugh tonight. I was right about GWS. I was right about them last year when no-one was giving them a chance, and I was right about them this year when everyone seemed to think a Grand Final appearance was fait accompli for the orange team. I'm not about to go through the records, but I'm pretty sure they've never actually beaten a top 8 team in an interstate away game. They have about 20 first round picks in their squad and are the ultimate flat track bullies. It's pathetic. GWS are the epitome of millennial culture. At least West Coast have the excuse they only choke on the MCG, and they do have to travel 4 hours each way. GWS are simply soft and can't deal with adversity. They all have that strut, the cocky smirks, the arrogance, the nasty cheap shots, but no mettle. A squad of downhill skiers. GWS are the great underachievers of the AFL.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Took me 4 hours of my night to diligently work on this live-blog, and another half an hour of work to do the match preview, much as it took Ryan likely hours to work on his long article from earlier today. So maybe don't flatter yourself coming on to this site and inflating your ego by attempting to discredit people who do 100 times the amount of work that you do :)
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
Took me 20 seconds to find the post and copy and paste it. Took me 15 seconds to compile this message. Don't flatter yourself.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
GWS are flat track bullies interstate. In the last 12 months. Have they actually beaten a top 8 team interstate? Ever? 2016: Won against 4 win Freo team Lost to Adelaide Lost to Geelong Won against VFL-level Essendon team Won against pathetic Lions Won against Port Adelaide by 19 points Won against lousy Suns narrowly Won against North Melbourne who have won 3 of their last 18 2017: Lost by 10 goals to Crows Won against North Melbourne who have won 3 of their last 18 Lost to St Kilda after 4th quarter onslaught
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I'll cop that one, but your 'I need to be right' mentality is pathetic. The fact you had that ready to copy and paste is strange. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoyed the blog, anon. Have a good weekend!
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report Thanks for joining me tonight. Hope you all enjoyed the game, and the blog, and I'll be back again on Sunday afternoon for the Freo/Essendon match. Have a great weekend, everybody.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
No problem, thanks for joining me. Have a good night.
Rasty
Guest
Meh. Unlikely, I almost tipped the Saints. They are gun. The Giants will be back, don't worry about that much.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
He called me a BS artist/conspiracy theorist for saying GWS were a disappointing team that had stagnated since last year. I'm sure all the "experts" will be on board my way of thinking this week.
XI
Roar Guru
Thanks for the call, AD. I'm off to watch the poker
Rasty
Guest
Your point Anon?
Howie
Roar Pro
All interstate teams get a bad run in Melbourne
Howie
Roar Pro
Well have the courage of your convictions I tipped and bet against them. Cannot travel.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
AdelaideDocker said | May 5th 2017 @ 11:04am | ! Report Ryan, meet anon. He’s the Roar’s resident BS artist/conspiracy theorist.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
People laughed at me for saying this, but I'm right as I usually am. Questions need to be asked of Leon Cameron and his band of underachievers. All the so-called "experts" will flip flop and talk about GWS's soft underbelly this week. ---------------------------------------------------------------- SmithHatesMaxwell said | May 5th 2017 @ 10:29am | ! Report GWS are such a disappointing team that have stagnated from last season. I’m tipping GWS tonight simply because they should win. With all that talent if they can’t win then serious questions need to be asked. We’ll see what they’re made of tonight. Saints at the Docklands isn’t easy especially if travelling from interstate. GWS should have lost by 5 goals to the Bulldogs last week. They’ll be wanting to prove they are legitimate premiership contenders with a solid win tonight.
Bruce
Guest
Well done Saints. Umps did the Giants no favours.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
FULL TIME St Kilda have defeated the Giants by 23 points. Match report to come. St Kilda: 16.11 (108) GWS: 12.13 (85)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL GWS A consolation goal for the Giants, courtesy of Tom Scully. They'd be bitterly disappointed with this match. St Kilda: 16.11 (108) GWS: 12.13 (85)
Rasty
Guest
Good game. Always love it when the saints march a bit. Do feel the giants were massively unfavoured by the umpires to the point it ruined (potentially) a great spectacle
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL ST KILDA Jack Steven adds the icing to the cake. A goal, and the result is beyond any doubt now. St Kilda are going to win this footy match. St Kilda: 16.11 (108) GWS: 11.13 (79)