A week is a long time for the Saints.

I have a confession to make. I’m an addict. A Supercoach addict. It didn’t take me long to be swayed by the internet phenomenon, and with the season beginning in Supercoach, I’m getting quite competitive with my team. But every week, one decision needs to be made. A very hard decision. Who will I make my skipper? The amount of points your skipper earns is doubled, and the past couple of weeks I’ve opted with Adam Goodes, who hasn’t blown the opposition out of the water so far. So this week, keen to get a win under my belt, I pick a captain cautiously. Brendon Goddard is my choice. So tonight, my real interest in this game is whether Goddard can continue his stellar form and rack up 250 points for me.

The game begins and Adam Schneider kicks the first goal after a great handball by Goddard. He then kicks a second, before Sam Fisher goals on the run from outside 50. The Power go forward on many occasions but can’t capitalize on the scoreboard, finishing the quarter with a 0.5 scoreline, to the Saints 3.2.

The second quarter starts and David Rodan, fresh from his comeback game from LARS surgery on his knee, tests his leg out with a long goal. Brett Ebert marks on the lead and goals, before Schneider goals from 60m out after a great tap-on by Goddard. That is just not fair. Goddard had given two goals to Schneider with his skill, yet it won’t show on his Supercoach scores. At half time, the Saints lead by nine points, 4.4 to 2.7.

The third term begins and Jay Schulz takes a good mark and goals, before James Gwilt pops through his first, taking the margin out to six points. Warren Tredrea gets a free kick and goals as the rain starts to fall, scores are level. Stephen Milne provides the highlight of the night though. With the rain bucketing down, Milne chased the ball in the forward pocket, tapped it with one hand to his boot and hacked at it while he fell to ground. Amazingly, the ball skidded along the ground and found the opening of the goals. This gave the Saints a six point lead going into the last break, 6.5 to 4.11.

The last quarter starts and Ebert takes a terrific mark, and with 1.4 to his name, he goes back and puts it through from outside 50 to draw scores level. Schulz marks uncontested after great work in the midfield by Ebert. He goals to give Port the lead, before Tredrea gathers the crumbs of a pack and waltzes into an open goal, making life very difficult for St Kilda. After a tense last five minutes, the siren sounds, signaling the great Port win, 7.12.54 to 6.8.44.

I don’t think St Kilda can win a premiership without Nick Riewoldt. Tonight, he was sorely missed. Milne didn’t have an impact, Justin Koschitzke hardly touched the ball, Michael Gardiner didn’t kick a goal, and Schneider went missing at times. But most importantly, for St Kilda and for me, Goddard failed to dominate. He has 20 disposals, which surprised me, which saw him amass 101 Supercoach Points. I was dumbfounded with his final score, expecting it to be around the 70’s mark. But Port really stood firm tonight, winning a lot of the contested ball and prevailing against the St Kilda zone. What a difference a week can make.

Port Adelaide 0.5—2.7—4.11—7.12.54

St Kilda 3.2—4.4—6.5—6.8.44

Goalkickers:

Port Adelaide-Schulz 2, Ebert 2, Tredrea 2, Rodan

St Kilda-Schneider 3, Milne, Gwilt, Fisher

Best:

Port Adelaide-Rodan, Chaplin, Stewart, Cassisi

St Kilda-Montagna, Schneider, Fisher, Hayes

Crowd:

23,355 at AAMI Stadium

Votes:

3: David Rodan (PA)

2: Leigh Montagna (ST)

1: Troy Chaplin (PA)

About Josh Barnstable

21 year old North Melbourne supporter from country Victoria. Currently living in Melbourne studying a Bachelor of Sports Media. Dreams of becoming a sports journalist and broadcaster.

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