Round 1 – Melbourne v St Kilda: Unknown Dees v Unreliable Saints

 

 

Pre-game thoughts

Just the one change for the Saints after their disappointing second half last week v the Pies, Marshall out with concussion and Isaac Keeler in. Keeler has a lot of natural ability and has shed some weight over the pre-season so hopefully he can show a bit today.

 

Melbourne launch four new faces in former Saints skipper, Jack Steele, the speedy Changkuoth Jiath,  former Pies premiership forward, Brody Mihocek and Kasiah Pickett’s cousin Latrelle will play his first game.

 

Premiership half back Christian Salem plays his 200^th game. A much respected player within the Dees and opponents alike.

 

The build-up to the season for the Dees has been fairly cathartic with a new coach in Steven King and the loss of three premiership players in Petracca, May and Oliver but despite that, the club has flown under the radar I reckon.

 

When you consider how big the personalities are in all those three, I think King has closed down any controversy and maintained focus extremely well.

 

There will be some interest in Steele today. The ‘Man Of” was a favourite at the Saints and particularly with the ladies, but as a Saints tragic it did feel as though he had slowed up considerably over the past two years.

 

One thing that you will always get from Jack is effort and everyone at the Saints wishes him well at his new club, other than today of course.

 

The Saints had plenty of forward entries last week but let themselves down with poor skills and lack of composure. They must get on top at centre clearances and the battle between TDK and Gawn will be pivotal. Dees without the injured Viney and Bowey should help the Saints.

 

A relatively unknown Dees versus an unreliable Saints. Saints by seventeen points.

 

1^st Quarter

NAS on the receiving end of a nice pass from Windhager and the Saints are on the board. TDK pushed aside at a fwd pocket throw in and young winger Windsor kicks a goal having been free at the rear of the contest. Some clever unselfish play from Higgins to Sharman to Ryan equals goal and TDK fights back with good tap to Higgins who goals in the forward pocket. Ryan causing problems for Lever. Gains a free at 50 and nails it but snicko says otherwise. Gawn dropping back leaving Van Rooyen to ruck forward. Hill runs into open goal and ignores options for a behind. Lovely penetrating kick from Jiath ends up a being a Van Rooyen mark and goal. Poor centre bounce as Petty beats Keeler. Ball ends up with L Pickett who handballs to Van Rooyen for two straight goals. Tholstrup running with NAS but struggling in open space. Two inexplicable left foot attempts at kicking from Silvagni have been lucky to have not coughed up goals. Great contested footy from Hall leads to a mark and goal to Higgins. Fumble from Flanders cleaned up by Windsor who hits Mihocek laces out but can’t convert.

 

Fairly even first qtr. Saints still not capitalising on forward entries and Demon’s midfield need to do more with Gawn’s dominance. Nothing in it.

 

MFC – 3.3 – 21

STK – 4.4 – 28

MFC Goals – Van Rooyan 2. Windsor 1

STK  Goals – Hall 1, NAS 1, Ryan, 1, Higgins 1

 

2^nd Quarter

Terrible pass from Mihocek at HB ends up with Owen who passes to Higgins and he does what he does best , around the corner for goal. Poor error from Carroll turns over ironically for a Mihocek goal. Another turnover from Sinclair comes back from Langford to Van Rooyen who kicks his third. Windhager tagging K Pickett and Gawn dominating centre bounces. Saints kicking at 46% as L Pickett kicks a memorable first AFL goal. Spectacular speed. May have been accidental but young Garcia kicks a long pass inside 50 and finds Sharman onto Owens alone in the square who goals. Brilliant pass from Salem to Van Rooyen who kicks his 4^th. After a big second effort from TDK forcing a stoppage, NAS kicks a brilliant goal from 45m. Mihocek replies immediately taking a mark in a crowded 50. Carroll lobs one into the Saints 50 and Wilson marks and kicks a good goal from 50m.Brilliant work from TDK v Gawn at a fwd pocket throw in and Hall kicks a superb goal. Out of the blue almost from a standing start, Van Rooyen nails a goal from inside the square for his 5^th.

 

Wide open game with only 38 tackles between the two sides. Points definitely with The Dees who have been instructed to bang the ball long forward to outnumbered contests when under the pump, relying on their forwards to compete and bring the ball to ground. The Saints are running the ball much more this year but their skills let them down. So far an entertaining game for those with no skin in the game.

 

MFC – 9.7 – 61

STK – 9.5 – 59

MFC Goals – Van Rooyen 5, Mihocek 2, Windsor 1, Pickett 1

STK Goals – Hall 2, NAS 2, Higgins 2, Ryan 1, Wilson 1

 

3^rd Quarter

Kosi receives a perfect tap from Gawn to start and sprints forward but Chandler misses the goal. Clever play from Sharman to tap to Ryan who kicks long to Owens who goals. Good work from Garcia at the next bounce and gets the ball to Hill who lowers the eyes and chips to the reliable Hall who goals. A messy next series of contested balls ends up with Mihocek who kicks his 3^rd. Owens drops a sitter and the rebound ends up with the impressive Culley who goals. Sharman’s turn to drop a sitter (enter profanity here). Aggressive kick from D50 by Salem intercepted by Sinclair but Boxshall misses badly (enter profanity here). Superb goal on the run from Chandler taken from a classic front and square. Tauru drops a sitter at half back and his former skipper kicks one on his left from 30m. Ryan takes a screamer over Jiath. Some great determination from Garcia leads to a beautiful pick up from Hall who centres to the top of the square where Keeler marks and goals. Mason Wood kicks one of the goals of the year on the run at full tilt picking up an impossible ground ball. Intensity increasing. L Pickett sprints to an empty goal but Tauru does enough to put him off then his cousin can’t goal from a scrubber. L Pickett lighting up the G. Spaces opening, Wood misses one on the run. NAS misses a loose ball and K Pickett makes him pay.

 

Good to see lots of one on one contests and open play. As a result fatigue is setting in so it may go down to the wire. Advantage Melbourne. Again critical skill errors from the Saints are killing them but the effort has been good. Likewise The Dees have unearthed another indigenous star in L Pickett and the former West Coast high pick Culley has been productive. Young Garcia for the Saints is hard, selfless and has been great so far.

 

MFC – 14.9 – 93

STK – 13.11 – 89

MFC Goals – Van Rooyen 5, Miocek 3, Pickett 1, Windsor 1, Chandler 1, Culley 1, Steele 1, Pickett 1

STK – Hall 3, Owens 2, NAS 2, Higgins 2, Wood 1, Ryan 1, Keeler 1

 

4^th Quarter

TDK loses touch with Gawn in the fwd pocket and Gawn marks and goals. Dees winning all the important contests in the first 5 minutes but not capitalising. Van Rooyen kicks a magnificent 6^th goal from 52m to send a big message to defenders everywhere. NAS takes a similar mark to that taken in last year’s miracle at Marvel and slots it. Saints 12 points down with 10 mins to go. Ryan with dodgy shoulder just misses with a grubber. Saints piling on the pressure. Gawn side steps a crowd of Saints and amazingly gets the ball out of bounds. NAS on ground for last 8 mins. Higgins incredibly misses two shots which are his bread and butter (insert profanity). Wilson doesn’t centre from the pocket and another opportunity goes missing. Sharp out muscles Keeler and goals. All over. NAS misses one after Owens’ hard work. 5 mins to go and Gawn cannot be stopped. Hall gets one back. 4 mins to go and 7 point deficit. Sheer desperation from both sides and Fritsch goals to finish it.

 

MFC – 18.12 – 120

STK – 15.17 – 107

MFC Goals – Van Rooyen 6, Mihocek 3, Chandler 1, K Pickett 1, Windsor 1, Fritsch 1, Sharp 1, Culley 1, Gawn 1, Steele 1, L Pickett 1

STK – Hall 4, NAS 3, Owens, 2 Higgins 2, Wood, 1, Ryan 1, Wilson 1, Keeler 1

 

Max Gawn clearly decided to show TDK what it means to be the best and not necessarily the highest paid. A truly indefatigable performance. A terrific team effort from the Dees and a really great way to start 2026 with their new look side and coach.

 

Same old Saints I’m afraid. Max Hall consistently shows that there are plenty of diamonds in the rough lower leagues and despite the efforts of the players, we just made bad decisions and our skills leave a lot to be desired. An injection of midfield speed wouldn’t hurt either. Well done Dees and for the Saints fans I wish I had better news.

 

MELBOURNE    3.3   9.7    14.9    18.12 (120)
ST KILDA         4.4   9.5    13.11    15.17 (107)

GOALS
Melbourne: Van Rooyen 6, Mihocek 3, Windsor, L Pickett, Culley, Chandler, Steele, K Pickett, Gawn, Sharp, Fritsch
St Kilda: Hall 4, Wanganeen-Milera 3, Higgins 2, Owens 2, Ryan, Wilson, Keeler, Wood

BEST
Melbourne: Gawn, van Rooyen, Mihocek, Windsor, K Pickett
St Kilda: Wanganeen-Milera, Hall, Sinclair, Wilkie, Windhager

INJURIES
Melbourne: Nil
St Kilda: Matteas Phillipou (corked quad), Liam Ryan (corked shoulder)

Crowd: 44,577 at MCG

 

Read more from Ian Wilson HERE

 

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