The Gold Coast Bulletin

Dees dent Saints’ AFL finals hopes

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MELBOURNE have put a huge dent in St Kilda’s AFL finals hopes, clinging on for a 24-point victory in an MCG thriller.

In a fierce battle between two sides desperate to remain in the hunt for a top-eight spot, the Demons dominated early and staved off the fast-finishing Saints for a 14.12 (96) to 10.12 (72) victory yesterday.

The Dees led by 40 points late in the second quarter and looked set to claim an easy win.

But the Saints – helped by Jack Steven’s eight disposals and three inside-50s – switched gears in the third term, cutting the margin to 10 points at the final break. Tim Membrey brought the Saints within a goal when he slotted his second major early in the fourth quarter.

But Melbourne found a response through Mitch Hannan, who stepped up with the game on the line after a quiet start.

The young forward steadied his teammates’ nerves with a sweetly-placed set shot, then moments later took a strong contested mark and kicked true.

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