Round 15 – Fremantle v St Kilda: Saints beat Michael Walters and 21 other Dockers in a nailbiter

 

By Braham Dabscheck

Sunday 2 July 2017, 2.40 PM

Domain Stadium

 

This was a hard fought, pulsating game, where the Saints’ renaissance man, on loan from duties as a Shakespearean actor, kicked two goals in the last two minutes to win the game for the Saints. It was a game of hard slog punctuated by an all in brawl, moments of brilliance and a finesse by Saint Nick to gain a 50 metre penalty which made a certain goal even more certain after Tim Membrey had taken his second clutch mark in the last quarter. But this is a game that will be mainly remembered for the brilliance of the Dockers’ Micheal Walters. He was the dominant player on the ground, with 32 possessions and six goals; he kicked four of the Dockers’ five goals after half time. It was only an all round performance from the Saints that overshadowed Walters to secure a hard fought win.

 

The Dockers lost ruck giant Aaron Sandilands to a hamstring pull early in the first quarter. The Saints’ Sam Gilbert was stretchered off the ground following his head thumping the ground in a tackle in the third. Sandilands is done for the season with Sam Gilbert seen to be up and walking in the dressing room after being taken off the ground.

 

This was another game where the Saints left their kicking boots at home. While both teams had similar numbers on forward 50 entries, the Saints continued missing from set shots. Jack Steele was bought into the team and had an outstanding game. He made 17 tackles, 10 more than any other player, including one that saved a certain goal late in the third quarter. He also snared a goal from wide out on the 50 meter line in that quarter.

 

The Dockers dominated the first quarter by four goals to one; the one being a long bomb on the run by Jade Gresham. Early stages of the second quarter saw an all in brawl with a free to the Dockers, then a 50 metre penalty which would have been in the goal square and then a reversal. This added to the intensity of the contest with the Saints outscoring the Dockers five goals to three. Jake Carlisle who played more than a supporting role in the brawl kicked two bombs and Jade Gresham did something unbelievable in breaking up a cross field kick, pushing the ball forward and kicking a great goal on his left peg. It was his third for the game.

 

The Saints have probably established a world record in low scoring third quarters. This was no exception. The Dockers kicked three to the Saints two. The addition of six points and the heroics of Jack Steele kept them in the game; being only five points down at the last break.

 

The last quarter produced a series of cameos. Tim Membrey and Michael Walters traded goals. Nick Riewoldt conned a naive Docker to throwing the ball to him after Tim Membrey had taken a mark for a 50 metre penalty. Walters’ second goal put the Dockers in front with only minutes to play. The Saints pushed the ball forward. From a ball up Koby Stevens grabbed the ball,  hand passed it to Renaissance man Josh Bruce who snapped a wonder goal on his left. Less than two minutes on the clock. The Dockers went forward and twice in a slice Jack Billings marked deep in the backline to repel Dockers’ attacks. From a throw in in the back half Seb Ross kicked it down the line. Tim Membrey affected a tackle, a quick handpass to Jade Gresham who ran down the ground, bounced the ball twice and centered it to Josh Bruce who then ran into goal and, with a smile on his face as big as that of Luna Park at 18 Lower Esplanade Street St. Kilda, kicked it through the big sticks and then, the final siren rang for a nine point win.

 

The Tigers next week, in Maddie’s game. Would be a good game to win.

 

Go Saints!

 

Fremantle   4.3   7.5   10.7   12.8 (80)

St. Kilda      1.5   6.8   8.14   12.17 (89)

 

Goals

Fremantle: Walters 6, Ballantyne 2, Neale, Darcy, Cox, B. Hill.

St. Kilda: Gresham 3, Bruce 3, Carlisle 2, Membrey 2, Billings, Steele

 

Best

Fremantle: Walters, B. Hill, Neale, Johnson, Darcy.

St. Kilda: Steele, Ross, Billings, Stevens, Bruce.

 

Umpires: Deboy, Margetts, Williamson.

Crowd: 30, 514.

 

Our Votes: Walters 3 (Fremantle), Steele 2 (St. Kilda), Ross 1 (St. Kilda).