St Kilda vs Collingwood: Hobbled Saints have a win for the ages

ST KILDA 6.3 9.6 15.7 18.11 (119) COLLINGWOOD 4.3 9.4 10.6 14.6 (90)
GOALS St Kilda: Steven 3, Weller 3, Billings 2, Bruce 2, Riewoldt 2, Gilbert 2, Armitage, Lonie, Sinclair, McCartin. Collingwood: Fasolo 2, de Goey 2, Pendlebury 2, Cloke 2, Oxley, Aish, Crisp, Howe, Adams, Langdon.
BEST St Kilda: Montagna, Steven Billings, Fisher, Hickey, Ross. Collingwood: Adams, Greenwood, Langdon.
UMPIRES Hosking, Hay, McInerney.
CROWD 50,903 at the MCG.

On a day the Saints celebrated the 50th anniversary of their lone premiership in front of those famous names, the scoreboard result could not have been better. While, sentimentally, Saints supporters would have hoped for a one-point win, the 29-point victory against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday was one for the ages.

Milestone win: Jack Steven, Sam Gilbert and Josh Bruce after the win.

It more than buoyed spirits before the official club function, and ended a fortnight of disappointing efforts. However, the win was tempered by another concussion to Nick Riewoldt, who was hurt midway through the second term and did not return to the field.

Riewoldt, chasing a loose ball, had been hit accidentally by Levi Greenwood's forearm but still managed to goal from the resulting free kick. His afternoon, though, finished at that point.

Adding to the pain, fellow forward Paddy McCartin was hit in the head in the second term in a courageous marking contest when he ran with the flight of the ball and took a grab in the manner Wayne Carey once did. He, too, went to the bench and did not return.

Falling short: Travis Cloke can't grasp the ball in a contest with St Kilda's Josh Bruce.

And when Dylan Roberton was forced to the sidelines with a knee problem, the Saints had only one fit man on the bench.

All eyes, though, were on Riewoldt, who has a history of head knocks, including spending a night in an Adelaide hospital last season after he was hurt against the Crows. That latest knock prompted AFL greats Jonathon Brown and Leigh Matthews to urge him to consider retiring. Brown was forced into retirement after a series of head knocks.

While Riewoldt and McCartin sat, the Saints produced one of the best quarters since the heady days under Ross Lyon. They booted six straight goals, while the Magpies' only major for the quarter came late, when recruit Jeremy Howe had a rare touch.

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AFL St Kilda vs Collingwood Round 3

AFL St Kilda Wins against Collingwood Round 3 

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Maverick Weller and Josh Bruce continued to find space inside attacking 50, while Leigh Montagna, who would finish with 40 disposals, Jack Steven, Jack Newnes and Seb Ross found plenty of the ball.

Curiously, the Magpies continued to persist with Scott Pendlebury playing across half-back, rather than engineering drive through the middle. The Pies needed his drive at a time when the Saints' pressure was at its fiercest.

Leading by five goals at three quarter-time, the question was whether the Saints, not known for finishing matches strongly, could hold on.

Poor misses at goal by Jack Lonie and Bruce highlighted their nerves, and this was exacerbated for supporters when Alex Fasolo, the hero of the Pies' win last week, snapped successfully. But the steady foot of emerging star Jack Billings proved telling minutes later when he steadied from about 45 metres out and all but iced the win.

"We needed to step it up from last week … and show we are heading in the right direction," Montagna said.

While the Saints celebrated, for the Magpies there are now major concerns about their development, having been mauled in the season opener against the Swans and pinching victory against the Tigers with four seconds left.

They were too easily exposed in defence, Travis Cloke and Darcy Moore are not kicking goals and the use of Pendlebury will be scrutinised publicly. Cloke was even used in the ruck, prompting Carey to suggest his worrying form meant "the next step would be he is left right out".

A foot injury to Marley Williams compounded a miserable afternoon.

The contest had opened at a frantic end-to-end pace, with the Magpies booting the opening two goals, and the Saints responding with the next four.

A week after their poor disposal had been a major issue in the loss to the Western Bulldogs, the Saints barely missed a target. This efficiency helped St Kilda claim a stunning 10 marks inside 50 - the league average per game is 13.

The Saints ran in waves and their forwards too easily found room - whether that be by leading up, or losing their opponent behind the Magpies' defence, as Paddy McCartin twice did, leading to goals. 

It was an entertaining term, but there were calls for the AFL to act on players who drop their knees when tackled, thus earning a free kick for a high tackle, after Pendlebury did just that and converted from about 50 metres out. 

The term, though, belonged to the Saints. They dominated the marks 42-22 and had six goals by quarter-time, having managed five for the entire match against the Bulldogs.

The Magpies tightened defensively after the break, shown with the Saints managing a modest 17 marks for the term. Adam Treloar and Adam Oxley, after a quiet first term, found plenty of the ball, and the contest was an even one.

The Magpies benefited from another questionable free kick, this time to Fasolo, and his conversion helped to ensure there would be only two points between the sides at the main break.

There were two worries for the Saints, though, when Riewoldt, so impressive on the wing and drifting forward, and McCartin received head knocks and were tested for concussion. Their days would be done - but the Saints were still able to thrive.