The Melbourne Demons have put the St Kilda Saints to the sword to the tune of 39 points at Etihad Stadium in a solid win for the visitors.
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Final score
St Kilda Saints 9.13.67
Melbourne Demons 16.10.106
The St Kilda Saints and Melbourne Demons meet in a Round 7 clash at Etihad Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 3:20pm (AEST).
This match looms as crucial for both teams. St Kilda, aside from an excellent draw with the Giants, have shown very little over the past few weeks and their scoring options have all but dried up.
Last week’s diabolical performance against the Hawks has lit the furnace under the club and they need to respond this week with a much stronger and courageous effort.
Melbourne saw off a bizzare Bombers outift last week, running away with the game in an entertaining second half where they found their attacking mojo and moved into top-eight contention.
It was a satisfying victory coming off two losses in the fortnight prior.
St Kilda are nowhere near even thinking about the top eight at this stage and will need some of their young midfield stars to stand up and be counted.
Prediction
Despite their best efforts, the Saints will not be able to turn their form around immediately and there might be a few more weeks of pain before they start to hit the scoreboard more frequently and threaten opposition defences.
Melbourne by five goals.
Catch all the action live on The Roar from 3:20pm (AEST).
Stuart Thomas
Expert
The Melbourne Demons have put the St Kilda Saints to the sword to the tune of 39 points at Etihad Stadium in a solid win for the visitors. More pressure will now build on the Saints who are struggling to score and Alan Richardson must be running out of ideas when it comes to getting this squad back on track. The match started competitively and the Saints fought hard for the first two quarters before the quality of the Demons list told and Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca began to significantly influence the game. Tom McDonald was excellent as a target up front and the Saints continued with their woeful kicking in front of goal with at least four golden opportunities for majors slipping by. The Demons are building well this season after an inconsistent start and looking great in mid-field even without Jack Viney. The news around the Saints will be interesting throughout the week and the time to make a change at the Club might be coming sooner rather than later. Final Score St Kilda 9 13 67 Melbourne 16 10 106
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Thanks for being on board for the call and the match report will follow in ten minutes.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Full Time 28 - Well played Melbourne in a dominating performance from the Dees and another bad day for the Saints.
St Kilda: 9.13 (67) Melbourne: 16.10 (106)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Goal 28 - Armitage scores late for the Saints.
St Kilda: 9.13 (67) Melbourne: 16.10 (106)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
28 - Melbourne running some clock late.
St Kilda: 8.13 (61) Melbourne: 16.10 (106)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
27 - Melbourne do well in defence.
St Kilda: 8.13 (61) Melbourne: 16.10 (106)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
27 - Just a minute or so remaining in this one. St Kilda looking to chip and build an attack.
St Kilda: 8.13 (61) Melbourne: 16.10 (106)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
25 - He converts. A lovely mark and a great goal for the Saints.
St Kilda: 8.13 (61) Melbourne: 16.10 (106)
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25 - Long marks for St Kilda and will shoot for goal from 45.
St Kilda: 7.13 (55) Melbourne: 16.10 (106)
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Goal 23 - Neal-Bullen snatches a goal from close range and the Dees put the icing on the cake.
St Kilda: 7.13 (55) Melbourne: 16.10 (106)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
23 - Melbourne go forward but St Kilda mark on their own goal line.
St Kilda: 7.13 (55) Melbourne: 15.10 (100)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
20 - That was an embarrassing miss.
St Kilda: 7.13 (55) Melbourne: 15.10 (100)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Behind 20 - St Kilda right in front with a free to Marshall and he misses from twenty metres.
St Kilda: 7.13 (55) Melbourne: 15.10 (100)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
20 - St Kilda possessing the ball much better in this term. I think the Melbourne pressure has dropped somewhat.
St Kilda: 7.12 (54) Melbourne: 15.10 (100)
Stuart Thomas
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19 - St Kilda deep in the pocket in attack.
St Kilda: 7.12 (54) Melbourne: 15.10 (100)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
18 - Saints doing better as they chip around centre wing.
St Kilda: 7.12 (54) Melbourne: 15.10 (100)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Behind 16 - Marshall marks for the Saints inside fifty and has another shot on goal. This time from 45.........he misses again.
St Kilda: 7.12 (54) Melbourne: 15.10 (100)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
15 - Another scrap on centre wing.
St Kilda: 7.11 (53) Melbourne: 15.10 (100)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
13 - Both teams looking a little tired and happy to let this one play out.
St Kilda: 7.11 (53) Melbourne: 15.10 (100)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
12 - The Saints should just chip a little and settle. When they try to run with Melbourne they are caught out. The game is gone. Just try to build a little confidence with some possession and a couple of goals to finish.
St Kilda: 7.11 (53) Melbourne: 15.10 (100)