Half-time wake up call for Saints – and viewers

Brisbane v St Kilda

by Josh Barnstable

Ever since Nick Riewoldt’s hamstring went twang, we awaited the game where the champ would make his return. Tonight at the Gabba was the night, but I can’t say I was enthusiastic about seeing the blonde boofhead making his return. His seven-goal decimation of North Melbourne in Round 2 is still fresh in my memory. Still, he’s a great player at his peak, but I wouldn’t imagine he’ll hit that peak for quite a while now.

I was feeling quite tired before the game commenced, and lying against the pillow, I was given a fairly boring first quarter which didn’t help my cause. James Polkinghorne snapped a good goal from 50m out, before Andrew McQualter replied with a goal on the run as Riewoldt ran onto the field for the first time. Riewoldt presented at a contest, and every Lion defender was gravitated towards him, leaving Stephen Milne alone behind him, who marked the ball and kicked the goal. Leigh Montagna increased the margin with a snap goal, before Brendan Fevola marked and goaled, before Luke Power split the middle, bringing scores back level as the siren sounded to signal quarter time, 3.1 apiece.

As I looked up at the TV, I realised it was the half-time report. I was astonished. I had fallen asleep without even knowing it, I was also amazed at the timing to which I had woken up, looking up just as the Richmond and Freo scores were flashed up on the screen. Turns out the Lions continued to impress and led by 16 points at half time, 6.1 to 3.3.

The second half started and James Gwilt kicked a long goal, before Brett Peake took a courageous mark, and also copped a knock in the head. He made his way to his feet immediately, before falling down again, milking for a 50m penalty. He didn’t get one. He still managed to land the goal from long range, then Adam Schneider also kicked from a long way out to find the goalposts, St Kilda back in front by a couple of points. Riewoldt conveyed his frustration at being brought back off the field for all to see, the blondie was having his tantrum. Nick Dal Santo took advantage of the Brisbane Lions’ turnovers, goaling from 30m out, before Aaron Cornelius impressed all with a huge hangar in the goalsquare, putting through Brisbane’s only goal of the third quarter as they went into the last break trailing by four points, 7.3 to 7.7.

The last quarter began and strangely the Lions were very much in the hunt. Riewoldt took a good mark and tested his hammy by shooting long towards goal, but he found the opening and punched the air with his fists, St Kilda led by 10 points. Then Milne gathered, burned away from his opponents and put through a clever checkside from point-blank range. Fevola brought the margin back with a diving mark and goal from a very tight angle from 50m out, but as Jared Brennan was dacked, Schneider ran on to kick his second, sealing the game. Amon Buchanan got onto the end of a brilliant kick by Daniel Rich, finishing the piece of brilliance off with a goal, before Ben McEvoy shut Anthony Hudson up with a snap goal to make all gangly Ruckmen envious. Brennan took a big pack mark and kicked a goal, but the final siren sounded, St Kilda winning by 14 points, 11.13.79 to 10.5.65.

As Riewoldt was being interviewed by the Channel 10 boundary rider, I heard a loud cheer from the Gabba crowd. In the back corner behind Riewoldt’s big head, the scores from the game at Etihad Stadium were flashed up on the screen. Well done Richmond.

Brisbane 3.1—6.1—7.3—10.5.65

St Kilda 3.1—3.3—7.7—11.13.79

Goalkickers:

Brisbane-Fevola 4, Cornelius, Polkinghorne, Power, Buchanan, Brennan, Black

St Kilda-Schneider 2, Milne 2, Riewoldt, McEvoy, Dal Santo, Gwilt, Peake, McQualter, Montagna

Brisbane-Black, Rich, Redden, Power, Rockliff, Rischitelli

St Kilda-Montagna, Dal Santo, Hayes, Gilbert, Ray, Milne

Crowd:

29,329 at the Gabba

Votes:

3: Leigh Montagna (ST)

2: Simon Black (B)

1: Nick Dal Santo (ST)

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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