Saints still in the mix
ST KILDA’S season still has a heartbeat; it’s only slight, but it’s there.
Sunday’s 28-point win against West Coast at Perth Stadium was the Saints’ 10th for the season and leaves them just percentage outside of the top eight.
Saints kept the Eagles to just one final-term goal, kicking four goals themselves, including two of Dan Butler’s five for the game, to claim their first win against West Coast in Perth since 2010.
They are one of the sides benefitting from Richmond’s inability to secure eighth spot. Narrow losses to Gold Coast and North and Friday night’s draw with Fremantle has resulted in the Tigers being relegated to 10th place.
If it wasn’t for the Western Bulldogs last-minute win over reigning premier Melbourne in the grand final rematch, the Saints would be eighth at the end of round 19.
The first of their final four matches is against Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium next Saturday. Considering they have Geelong, Brisbane and the Sydney Swans in their run home, they’ll need to beat the Hawks to keep their chances of playing finals for the second time in three years under Brett Ratten alive.
The 14.6 (90) to 10.2 (62) win wasn’t claimed in a style that will win a premiership. But it was better than what they’ve produced in most weeks since their round 12 bye.
Jack Steele (40), Brad Crouch (37) and Seb Ross (27) gave them an advantage in the midfield, fed by Rowan Marshall’s 48 hit outs.
Marcus Windhager was brilliant in his run-with role with Tim Kelly, keeping the dangerous Eagle to just four touches. Luke Shuey was reduced to only 29, but most came in the last quarter.
TACKLE THE BIG ISSUES
St Kilda’s hunger was challenged last week when they trailed the Western Bulldogs by 36 points at halftime and had tallied just 13 tackles between them over the first two quarters.
They beat the Dogs in the second half with a greater focus on their intensity.
The Saints were more focussed against the Eagles.
They laid 10 tackles in the first term. They still trailed by five points at the first break, but the signs were good, with nine more contested possessions and eight more inside-50 entries.
By halftime, the tackle count was a much more acceptable 27, that was complemented by an advantage of 21 contested possessions. They also led by 16 points. Ben Long, Crouch and Steele led the way with 14 tackles between them.
For the third consecutive week, Long started the game as the medi-sub, but was brought into the game early.
Jack Billings was forced out of the game midway through the quarter with a back issue.
FINDING THE KING
The Saints need to find a way to get the ball into Max King’s hands if they are to play a big part in the remainder of this season.
King looks set to be the first Saint to reach 50 goals in a season since Josh Bruce did it in 2015.
But his impact in attack and on the scoreboard has dropped since the Saints by in round 12.
King went into this round with 42 goals next to his name, but 32 of them came in the Saints great start to the season when they won eight of their first 11 games.
Since then, he has kicked 13 goals in seven games and his one goalless outing for the season has come in that recent run, in the loss to the Sydney Swans in round 15.