Round 5 – St Kilda v Geelong: Saints Let Cats Out Of The Bag In The Second Half

By Braham Dabscheck

Sunday 23 April, 3.20 PM

Etihad Stadium

 

 

This was an intriguing game. What was a tight contest for three quarters resulted in a convincing victory for the Cats, who outscored the Saints eight goals to one in the last stanza. The game opened at breakneck speed with ten goals kicked in the first quarter, six to four to the Cats. The first to the Cats was from a Saints clanger, another was from a dubious free. At one stage the Cats kicked four in a hurry. To their credit, the Saints got two back, but conceded one late in the quarter, something which has been a problem this season. The quarter was remarkable for the Cats’ Joel Selwood being awarded a free for a head high tackle when he crashed into a teammate. As his footy coach at Primary School has said on more than one occasion ‘he is blessed with magical skills’. And as we shall see he was the dominant player who determined the course of the game.

 

The Saints lifted in the second quarter and controlled most of the play. They kicked four for the quarter, three in a row. The Cats kicked two lucky goals, one from an off the ground in the goal square and the second from a 50 metre penalty after ‘Joey’ Montagna either said a ‘soft free’ or a ‘soft bump’ which an umpire took umbrage with. While the Saints led by two points at the main break the Cats looked cleaner going forward.

 

The Saints shot out of the blocks in the early minutes of the second half. Both Jack Steven and Luke Dunstan scored with long bombs from the 50 metre line. Things looked good for the Saints. Then the Cats were let out of the bag. Joel Selwood having recovered from the head high tackle he had experienced in the first quarter simply took over and orchestrated the Cats to their convincing victory. Somehow or other the Saints managed to get two more goals to lead by five points at the main break. The stats of the third quarter provided a better indication of how the game had turned. The Cats won the possession count 115 to 73 and the inside 50s 17 to 10. The fact that the Saints were in front at the last break was a testament to the quality of their determination and defensive pressure.

 

The Cats continued their dominance in the last quarter. They won the possession count 140 to 71 and the inside 50s 19 to 10. As the Cats got their game together that of the Saints fell apart. Late in the quarter they conceded a few goals they shouldn’t have to worsen the extent of the losing margin, which really didn’t do justice to their endeavor. The Cats were smother in their execution and kicked their goals more easily.

 

Jack Steven had a good game on his return. Billy Longer competed well in the ruck, and Darren Minchington was lively as a small forward kicking three; he could have had a fourth. The Saints were more accurate in front of goal only missing two easy ones from set shots. Seb Ross was The Saints best, closely followed by Dylan Roberton, ‘Joey’ Montagna and Blake Acres. The Saints were outplayed by a better side. Hopefully, they will lift when they take on the Hawks, who seem to have found their mojo, in Launceston next week. Lets hope they lose it on the flight down to Tasmania!

 

Go Saints!

 

St. Kilda:   4.1   8.5   12.7   13.10 (88)

Geelong:    6.1   8.3   11.8   19.12 (126)

 

Goals

 

St. Kilda: Minchington 3, Membrey 2, Steven, Riewoldt, Bruce, Acres, Ross, Weller, Dunstan, Newnes.

Geelong: Menzel 2, Lang 2, Hawkins 2, Dangerfield 2, Cockatoo 2, Black 2, Hollin-Smith, Mackie, Guthrie, Taylor, Duncan, Selwood, Murdoch.

 

Best

St. Kilda: Ross, Roberton, Montagna, Acres, Steven.

Geelong: Selwood, Duncan, Tuohy, Dangerfield, Mackie.

 

 

Umpires: Dalgleish, Jeffrey, Ryan.

 

Crowd: 33,884.

 

Our Votes: Selwood 3 (Geelong), Duncan 2 (Geelong), Ross 1 (St. Kilda).

Comments

  1. Stephen Alomes says

    Braham
    Good to know there’s still some ‘soft speaking’ in footy; shame about the umpies’ latest sensory deficiency!
    Stephen

  2. Braham Dabscheck says

    What would have happened to ‘Joey’ if he had’ve used unparliamentary language?!!

    Braham

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