Halos on angle as Saints go too hard

ST Kilda captain Jarryn Geary says the type of undisciplined acts that resulted in teammates Jimmy Webster and Jack Steven falling foul of the AFL match review panel could cost the club wins.

Webster will miss matches against Richmond and Essendon after being suspended for eye-gouging.

Star on-baller Steven escaped a ban, but was fined for the second time this year after being charged with striking Fremantle’s Hayden Ballantyne on Sunday.

“It’s a fine line; you want them playing on the edge but you don’t want undisciplined free kicks or guys missing games of football,” Geary said.

“You definitely want to be teetering on that edge, but as soon as you take the step over that line it can be a pretty touchy subject with the coach.

“We want everyone available.

“It’s a tough contest. If teams are off five to 10 per cent you can lose games of footy and those guys make us a better team.”

Webster’s transgression was the more serious, with the half-back accepting a twomatch ban for eye-gouging Fremantle’s Nick Suban, rather than taking his chances at the tribunal and risking a three-game sanction.

Saturday’s clash between eight-placed St Kilda and fourth-ranked Richmond at Etihad Stadium will be the second annual Maddie’s Match to raise awareness of bone marrow failure syndrome.

Maddie Riewoldt, the sister of Saints star Nick and cousin of Richmond spearhead Jack, died in 2015.

The St Kilda players yesterday presented Nick Riewoldt with a $10,000 cheque to assist with fundraising.