Saints Lose Another Thriller

23 August 2009

ST KILDA has fallen to its second consecutive defeat, losing to North Melbourne by five points in a thriller at Docklands on Sunday.

The Saints were staring at a 32-point lead after a sluggish start in the first quarter, but chipped away at the margin and breifly looked the winners when hitting the front in the last term.

But it was not to be as the Kangaroos responded to record a 10.4 (64) to 8.11 (59) victory.

North took a six-point lead into the last term, but constant pressure from the Saints eventually saw Andrew McQualter convert and put the League-leaders in front for the first time in the match.

Justin Koschitze's third goal stretched the margin but the Roos kept coming and snatched the lead back through the outstanding forward play of Drew Petrie, whose two final-quarter goals saw his team home.

Nick Riewoldt was terrific for the Saints with three goals and 11 marks, but sent a scare through the camp when he came up from a tackle clutching his knee early in the final quarter.

He recovered well enough to stay on the field and -- in an eery overtone from last week -- had a last-gasp shot from long range to even the scores. It was touched on the line.

Brendan Goddard and Jason Gram were other Saints to have good afternoons, although Gram's poor finishing in front of goals (he finished with two behinds) proved decisive in the end.

Andrew Swallow was outstanding for the Kangas with 33 possessions, eight tackles and a goal, while Liam Anthony and Brady Rawlings – in his 200th game – also put in top performances.

Scott McMahon and Levi Greenwood also had good games, blanketing Stephen Milne and Nick Dal Santo respectively.

The Kangaroos were on fire in the first quarter, smashing the Saints in tackles, clearances and inside-50s, and kicking the first five goals of the game.

But as the term ticked into red time, St Kilda awoke and it was the tall targets in the forward line, Riewoldt and Koschitzke, who dragged them back into the contest with three late goals.

North's 14-point lead grew early in the second quarter, with brilliant work by Matt Campbell followed by a length-of-the-ground movement that saw Leigh Adams convert.

Riewoldt kicked St Kilda's sole goal for the term to leave it trailing by 16 points at the major break.

The intensity lifted in the third quarter as St Kilda searched desperately for its form from earlier in the season. A spate of behinds was followed by a Koschitzke goal but Swallow restored North's advantage after receiving a somewhat dubious free kick.

Good end-to-end movement from the Saints saw Farren Ray answer, but some poor finishing – and outstanding tackling and pressure from North – had the Kangaroos turning for home holding a one-goal lead.

It was enough for North, which belied its position on the ladder to celebrate their second win under caretaker coach Darren Crocker.

North Melbourne face Port Adelaide in the final round next Sunday, while St Kilda will attempt to return to its winning ways before the finals against bottom-placed team Melbourne.

St Kilda 3.0 4.4 6.9 8.11 (59)

North Melbourne 5.2 7.2 8.3 10.4 (64)

GOALS

St Kilda: Koschitzke 3, Riewoldt 3, McQualter, Ray

North Melbourne: Petrie 4, Edwards 2, Adams, Campbell, Goldstein, Swallow

BEST

St Kilda: Riewoldt, Goddard, Gram, Ray, Fisher, Gilbert

North Melbourne: Swallow, Petrie, Anthony, Greenwood, Grima,

INJURIES

St Kilda: TBC

North Melbourne: TBC

REPORTS