Saints surge to 47-point win

29 May 2010

ST KILDA put on a withering final-term burst to power to a 47-point win over Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

The Saints couldn't shake the dogged Crows for three quarters, but booted the first five goals of the last term to gallop away to a 19.9 (123) to 12.4 (76) victory.

Leigh Montagna was brilliant for St Kilda with 38 possessions and five goals with Nick Dal Santo (31 disposals) and Lenny Hayes (27) also dominant.

Sam Gilbert (29) and Sam Fisher (31) were efficient down back while Stephen Milne struggled to shake Michael Doughty for much of the evening, but still managed to bag three goals.

Montagna was the catalyst for a first-quarter St Kilda blitz with his three goals putting the visitors on the back foot at 24 points down with just 15 minutes played.

The Saints were moving the ball with far greater ease than Adelaide but they failed to hit the scoreboard with that dominance and a late Tippett goal made it an 18-point game at the first break.

Dal Santo helped himself to a couple of goals early in the second as St Kilda looked in ominous form, but the Crows were slowly beginning to get their house in order down back with the run and carry out of defence that was a trademark last year more prevalent as the quarter wore on.

After trailing by 24 points early in the term, Adelaide finished the quarter with a three-goal flurry that sent the teams into half time all square.

Tippett gave the Crows their first lead of the night with the first goal of an absorbing third term that saw the lead change hands six times.

Dangerfield's running goal from 50 was a highlight for Adelaide, but Stephen Milne and Adam Schneider were at their opportunistic best at the other end with two goals apiece putting their side up by nine points at three-quarter time.

But the Crows were as disappointing as the Saints were brilliant in the final stanza - offering little resistance as their opponents seized control of the stoppages and rammed home their dominance on the scoreboard.

St Kilda 5.1 7.2 12.7 19.9 (123)

Adelaide 2.1 7.2 11.4 12.4 (76)

GOALS

St Kilda: Montagna 5, Milne 3, Schneider 2, Dal Santo 2, McQualter 2, Stanley, Ray, Goddard, Gwilt, Gardiner

Adelaide: Tippett 3, Dangerfield 3, Van Berlo, Walker, Petrenko, Porplyzia, Maric, Douglas

BEST

St Kilda: Montagna, Dal Santo, Fisher, Milne, Gilbert, Baker

Adelaide: Douglas, Bock, Tippett, Mackay, Goodwin, Dangerfield

INJURIES

St Kilda: None

Adelaide: Bock (groin)

Reports: Nil