The St Kilda Saints have snatched a memorable victory from Gold Coast, kicking five unanswered final-quarter goals to win by two points.
Final score
Gold Coast Suns 11.12.78
St Kilda Saints 11.14.80
The Gold Coast Suns will host the St Kilda Saints at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 4:35pm AEST.
Gold Coast are coming off a 108-point hiding against the GWS Giants, where they managed a miserable four goals and two behinds for the match.
Jarrod Witts in the ruck was the only positive for the Suns out of this clash and he’ll have an interesting match-up against re-called Saints ruckman Billy Longer this weekend.
Meanwhile, St Kilda were smashed by the Sydney Swans in the Pride Match on Saturday night.
Their 71-point loss to the Swans was very disappointing, given they’d had a positive month against quality top-8 opposition.
Both teams have made several changes for this clash.
Gold Coast have omitted young trio Will Brodie, Jacob Heron and Brad Scheer, to bring in Sean Lemmens, Jarryd Lyons and Josh Schoenfeld.
The Saints have omitted four players in selection this week: Nick Coffield, Tom Hickey, Jack Lonie and Ed Phillips will all miss.
They’ve bought in experience with David Armitage, Jack Billings, Jake Carlisle and Billy Longer taking their places in the team.
Jake Carlisle returns from his two-week suspension, while the others earnt senior recall after solid games in the VFL, including a 53 touch and three-goal effort from Jack Billings.
The last time these two teams played was in round 14 last year, almost twelve months ago.
The Saints came away with a five-goal victory at Etihad Stadium, but up at Metricon Stadium will it be a different story in 2018?
Prediction
These teams are at rock bottom; St Kilda haven’t won since round one, Gold Coast round five.
Sitting eighteenth and sixteenth in average goals scored, expect this to be low scoring and somewhat painful to watch!
On paper St Kilda have a better team list and they’ll find a way to win this one.
St Kilda by 13.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 4:35pm AEST.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Queensland doesn’t want them either you blowhard oaf
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
The St Kilda Saints have come from behind to defeat the Gold Coast Suns by 2 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday evening. Despite being down in every other meaningful statistic, the Suns found a way to make their opportunities matter on the scoreboard. A five goal to one second quarter put Gold Coast in a strong position at the main break. The third quarter was more even, with two goals scored by each team, but St Kilda never looked in it. The Suns’ final quarter woes continue, as they failed to register a score in the last term, while St Kilda piled on the five goals to win. Young forward Josh Battle (3 goals, 12 disposals) started the dominant quarter with a mark and set shot goal, and Jade Gresham (2 goals, 23 disposals) finished it off with a brilliant snap, to put the Saints in front. The Saints’ comeback may have saved their head coaches job, for now at least. Sebastian Ross (33 disposals, 10 clearances), Jack Steven (28 disposals, 12 clearances) and Jack Billings (27 disposals) found plenty of the ball for the Saints and dominated the midfield. Tom Lynch and Alex Sexton kicked three goals each for the Suns, but it was an otherwise even contribution across the ground. Jarryd Lyons (23 disposals), Jarrod Harbrow (22), David Swallow (21) and Lachie Weller (19) were the highest possession-getters for the Suns. Out of this clash, Gold Coast’s Jack Bowes has a quad concern, while Saint Jimmy Webster lasted six minutes, before succumbing to a right abductor injury. St Kilda also lost Bailey Rice after a head clash with Jack Martin in the third quarter. Rice was stretchered off the ground with concussion, but returned to the bench to watch the final quarter. Next up for the Suns is a trip to Tasmania to take on Hawthorn on Saturday, the Saints have the bye before a round 15 clash with Melbourne.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Oh my word. Another stellar achievement for Queensland footy. I love how we are stubbornly ruining the afl up here
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Thanks for tuning in, at least it was close and a little more exciting than we all thought it would be! I'll post a match review shortly. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and this huge Saturday night of sport - AFL, NRL, Union, Cricket, World Cup - it's all on!
Cat
Roar Guru
Papering over the cracks. They will champion the comeback and ignore the fact that once again for 3 quarters of the game they were awful. Don't get me wrong, they deserved the win in the end but for a team that expected to contend one good quarter won't win many games. Dew and his coaching staff have a lot to answer for. Terrible, terrible set up around stoppages/centre bounces and another goalless last quarter!
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Thoughts on this match Roarers? Did that final quarter comeback save Richo's job? (for this week at least?) What is the Suns' issue with final quarters? Haven't shown up after the three-quarter time break for the past month... and this week blew a 31 point lead.
Michael Hallam
Guest
Great win, what a fight back :)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Sorry, I realise how pessimistic that sounded. It's a good win, but they can't be complacent.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 0' FULL TIME Some final quarter from the Saints!! GC goalless in the final term again, not good enough - how did they let a five goal lead go? The St Kilda Saints have found a way to beat the GOld Coast Suns by 2 points in the final quarter at Metricon Stadium on Saturday evening. Final Score Gold Coast 11.12 (78) St Kilda 11.14 (80)
Gjoe
Guest
Someone made a killing on betting this one...almost like it has been cheated
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Those P@#!$T@"! cricketers, that's where they've gone
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
The bad thing about this is that the Saints will see this as redemption of their backing of Richardson.
anon
Roar Pro
I'm not sure Tasmania will want this pea-hearted mob.
XI
Roar Guru
Stuart, why would you choose this job to go for?
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Some final quarter, jeez
Cat
Roar Guru
Suns ... W. T. F.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 1' - GOAL SAINTS Gresham from the pocket, snaps. Unbelievable. Saints up by 2. Richo double fist pump. Gold Coast 78 St Kilda 80
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
oh my god.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Q4 1' How could the Suns let the Saints come from nowhere like this? Dal Santo said the huddle at the final break was positive, maybe too positive we have this in the bag sort of feeling. Gold Coast 78 St Kilda 74
Cat
Roar Guru
Suns doing their best Melbourne impersonation. They are doing everything they can to loss the unloseable here.