Hoodoo continues for Demons
Melbourne again fails to win at Etihad Stadium as Leigh Montagna kicks a goal with 19 seconds left to propel St Kilda home.
PT1M30S 620 349ST KILDA 3.5 9.6 11.9 12.13 (85) MELBOURNE 3.4 8.6 11.9 12.11 (83)
Goals: St Kilda: N Riewoldt 4, J Lonie 2, D Minchington, J Bruce, J Steven, L Montagna, S Ross, T Membrey. Melbourne: J Hogan 5, J Toumpas 2, A Brayshaw, J Garlett, J Howe, J Viney, T McDonald.
BEST: St Kilda: Montagna, Riewoldt, Newnes, Armitage, Weller. Melbourne: Hogan, Jones, Vince, Viney, Toumpas.
Umpires: Chris Kamolins, Ray Chamberlain, Brent Wallace.
Official Crowd: 25,217 at Etihad Stadium.
A goal from Saints veteran Leigh Montagna in the final 20 seconds has extended Melbourne's hoodoo at Etihad Stadium and lifted the Saints to a stunning two-point win.
Runner up: Nick Riewoldt of the Saints. Photo: Getty Images
Less than 20 seconds after Melbourne star Jeremy Howe took a screamer and converted a clutch set shot in the forward pocket to give his team the lead, Montagna ran onto a loose ball in the goal square up the other end to break the Demons hearts.
There were only two goals in a tense final term, with St Kilda handing the Demons their 21st consecutive loss at Etihad Stadium courtesy of manic defensive pressure – which included 99 tackles, the most in the club's history.
It was a thrilling finish to a free-flowing match in which the past collided with the future in a confrontation between the star forwards of either team.
Melbourne's top goal-scorer Jesse Hogan leaps high for a mark in front of Jack Newnes of the Saints. Photo: Getty Images
Melbourne forward Jesse Hogan kicked five goals in a one-man show in the Demons forward half to match another inspirational effort by Saints veteran Nick Riewoldt, who kicked four goals and 10 marks.
Riewoldt suffered a knee injury early in the fourth quarter but fought through the pain to play out the rest of the game.
The Saints were restricted in stopping Hogan after key defender Luke Delaney was forced out of the game with an injury.
Demons midfielder Bernie Vince continued his under-rated season, amassing a game-high 38 disposals to go with nine clearance, ensuring the Demons went the distance after a stunning second quarter in which the game sprung to life and set the tone from there on in.
Responding to Alan Richardson's demand at quarter-time to turn around a big deficit in contested ball, the Saints dominated ground balls in the early part of the second quarter and cranked under their defensive pressure when Melbourne got the ball.
Riewoldt slotted two set shots from tight angles as St Kilda threatened to burst clear with the first four goals of the term, while the Demons looked lost with ball in hand – reacting to the Saints' tackling pressure by over-handballing or bombing the ball to out-numbered teammates.
However Paul Roos' team was able to respond by delivering on their own game plan trademark – stoppages.
The Demons kicked five of the last six goals of the second quarter, and all came from stoppages, but it was Hogan who started the charge – running back with the flight of the ball to muscle a mark in a big pack in the goal square and then hauling in another mark and finishing off minutes later.
Neither team or key forward gave ground in the third quarter, with Hogan gathering a ball in the corridor and then turning onto his non-preferred left foot to register his fifth. And Riewoldt wouldn't be outdone, launching over a pack deep inside 50 to kick his fourth with a classic contested mark and conversion.
Scores were level at three-quarter-time after an entertaining quarter that included Melbourne defender Tom McDonald running 100 metres to notch a rare goal, while St Kilda star Jack Steven momentarily broke free of Jack Viney's important tag job to burst out of a centre bounce and ram home a long goal.
