Saints back on winners’ list

23 May 2010

ST KILDA has notched an important 35-point win over West Coast at Subiaco Oval on Sunday, snapping a two-game losing run and reviving its faltering season.

Defeat would have plunged the 2009 grand finalists into crisis, and they appeared destined for their fourth loss in five games early in the third quarter with the Eagles clearly in control and 17 points clear.

However, inspirational leader Lenny Hayes turned the tide in St Kilda’s favour as the visitors rediscovered their best football and kicked nine of the game’s last 10 goals.

Hayes, who had 10 telling possessions in the third quarter, finished with 35 disposals and was enormous for the Saints. Nick Dal Santo (27 possessions and seven clearances) was also superb despite tight checking from Matt Rosa all day.

Kicking a winning score has been the Saints’ biggest challenge since captain Nick Riewoldt went down with injury, however, they produced nine separate goalkickers to kick their highest score since round four, winning 13.13 (91) to 8.8 (56).

Raphael Clarke inspired the Saints’ second-half run with a fearless effort running back with the flight, while Sam Gilbert, Sam Fisher and Brendon Goddard also lifted. Stephen Milne kicked three goals.

For the Eagles, who were so well served by Ben McKinley (four goals) in the first half, opportunities dried up after half time and a two-game winning run was snapped.

The aerial dominance of Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui, who gave the Eagles a 55-31 edge in the hit-outs, was not converted at ground level, with the Saints still managing to narrowly win the clearance count.

Adam Selwood (32 possessions and five clearances) and Matt Priddis (34 and nine) were tireless, but the Eagles were powerless to stop the Saints when they started marching.

West Coast 2.2 5.6 7.7 8.8 (56)

St Kilda 1.3 4.6 9.11 13.13 (91)

GOALS

West Coast: McKinley 4; A Selwood 2; Lynch, Waters

St Kilda: Milne 3; Schneider, McEvoy 2; Koschitzke, Goddard, Hayes, Ray, Gardiner, Dal Santo

BEST

West Coast: Adam Selwood, Priddis, Mackenzie, Cox, Scott Selwood, Butler

St Kilda: Hayes, Dal Santo, Goddard, Fisher, Clarke, Gilbert, Milne

Injuries: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Margetts, Chamberlain, Jennings.

Official crowd: 36,244 at Subiaco Oval