Round 20 – St Kilda v West Coast: Saints jumping Jacks soar over the Eagles

 

By Braham Dabscheck

Sunday 6 August 2017, 1.10 PM

Etihad Stadium

 

After the disappointment of last week the Saints were on the right end of a nail-biter against the Eagles. The game see-sawed from beginning to end with both teams alternating between moments of fluency and assuredness to fumbles, turnovers and missed opportunities. The Saints dominated most of the play, especially in the second half and the last quarter, but only managed to put the game away in the last minute when Jack Billings kicked truly following a mark. Twice the Saints found themselves three plus goals behind, in the second and last quarters, but managed to haul themselves back into the contest. In the final analysis, it was the Saints dogged persistence which prevailed over the Eagles fluency going forward. The Eagles, in fact, could have won if they had kicked more accurately from set shots. Maybe they should have shopped where the Saints normally buy their kicking boots! The Saints, for their part, were more assured from set shots; a most pleasing turnaround.

 

While any win results from an all round team performance, especially in a too and fro contest like this one, it was the Saints’ Jacks who were mainly responsible for gaining the four points. Jack Newnes had another solid game, kicking long bomb from a Jack Billings handpass early in the third quarter and getting a cut below his eye and a shiner for his efforts. Jack Steven, who had little impact on the game for three quarters and looked to have a crook leg, came to life in the last quarter. Jack Sinclair shone in the second quarter and was involved in three goals, one of which he crumbed in the goal square to bring the Saints back into the game.

 

Jack Steele dominated in the midfield. He not only kept the Eagles at bay but also kicked two clutch goals. The first was after the siren at the end of the first quarter following a mark which kept the scores close. For the first time in a long time the Saints kicked the last goal of every quarter!! His second goal was from a ball up in the Saints forward 50 where he grabbed the ball, pivoted on his left peg and kicked truly on his right to put the Saints in front for the first time since the early part of the game.

 

Jack Billings kicked the sealer with less than a minute to go. It was his second for the quarter. He was also involved in setting up three other goals. Mention has already been made of the handpass to Jack Newnes. He also passed the ball to Seb Ross who marked in the goal square late in the third quarter. His best, however, was early in the second when he broke up an Eagles forward thrust, and after a series of handpasses kicked to Tim Membrey who kicked accurately.

 

The backs played well with Dylan Roberton taking a number of intercept marks, while Shane Savage looked lively and kicked a long bomb in the final quarter. Brandon White, in only his second game for the season (life time – 3 games), looks like a valuable addition to the side. Blake Acres, the wearer of Alan Morrow’s number 8, notched up plenty of possessions. Saint Nick took one for the side (possible concussion) in a crucial contest in the last quarter. But this was an all round gutsy performance which keeps open the door of making the finals. Hope burns eternal.

 

Next week, the Demons in a crunch match for both sides. Go Saints!

 

St. Kilda      3.2   7.5   10.7   15.13 (103)

West Coast   3.5   7.8   10.10   14.11 (95)

 

Goals

St. Kilda: Membrey 2, Bruce 2, Steele 2, Billings 2, Sinclair, Riewoldt, Acres, Newnes, Ross, Dunstan, Savage.

West Coast: Kennedy 5, LeCras 3, Darling 2, McGovern, Karpany, Sheed, Cripps.

 

Best

St. Kilda: Billings, Steele, Acres, Sinclair, Roberton.

West Coast: Kennedy, Hurn, Gaff, Sheed, LeCras.

 

Umpires: McInerney, Mitchell, Mollison.

Crowd: 22,688.

 

Our Votes: Billings 3 (St. Kilda), Steele 2 (St. Kilda), Kennedy 1 (West Coast).

Comments

  1. add jack darling and jack redden to the mix and we’ve got a right old jack-stravaganza on our hands.

  2. Braham Dabscheck says

    Nicely observed, but I am one eyed about my jacks!

  3. Your red cordial kids versus my old drunks looking for their form keys under the streetlight. Yawn. At least you have something to look forward to as you get more games into your youngsters.

  4. Jack Billings was around goal square and did good jobs. His selfless attitudes brought us the win, I guess. I was impressed with his performances.

    I don’t want to compare but we can’t say we should have Marcus Bontempelli.

    Newnes was who I was impressed with midfield playing. And Steele’s goal after the siren gave us a lot of hopes I reckon.

    It was Jacks day indeed.

    Let’s hope to have a good win to Dees on Sunday. I want Saints to make memes of Googwin (Melbourne coach’s surname) by Saints.

    Cheers and go Saints

    Fellow St Kilda supporter Yoshi

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