Round 13 – Sydney v St. Kilda: Saints ‘Buddy Up’ and get back on track in topsy-turvy game
Sydney v St. Kilda
7.10 PM Thursday 8 June
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Saints started the season well, but in recent weeks seem to have lost their way. The Round 12 loss against the Hawks was a wakeup call. Three goals up with most of the game over they conceded five goals in as many minutes and lost by 10 points. 1971 was bad enough, then this! It was to be seen how they would go against the Swans who looked like they were starting to turn their season around. The game was also memorable in that Buddy Franklin would be playing his 350th game. He is one of the game’s greatest players. After the game finished both teams lined up in a guard of honour as he was chaired off the ground. Well done Buddy.
Well, this was an odd game; as odd a game as footy can sometimes produce. It had rained in the afternoon and the ground and ball were slippery. The first quarter starts and both sides have trouble controlling the ball and developing any system of play. Both teams are on top of each other and opt for the short game where they put their team mates under pressure. The quarter was all about turnovers, dropped marks and errant kicks. No one seemed to be able to kick the ball long to open up play. The Saints managed to do this once where Mattaes Phillipou crumbed the ball for a neat goal. The Swans didn’t bother the scorers in the first quarter. At quarter time the Saints lead by 7 points to nothing in what was as lack luster quarter of footy as has ever been seen.
Things improved in the second quarter. The Saints kicked an early goal to Max King following a holding free in a marking contest. From then on the Swans dominated most of the quarter and got their running game into gear. In the second half of the quarter the Swans kicked four goals in as many minutes. Buddy kicked two and took his total goals to the fourth highest in VFL/AFL history. The Saints were down by three goals. They rallied in the last three minutes kicking two goals to be down by nine points at the main break. Despite this late rally, things looked bleak for the Saints. The Swans were ahead in all of the key indicators – disposals 202/179, inside 50s 30/24, clearances 24/19, contested possessions 81/66 and marks 63/37.
The game changed for a second time in the second half. The Saints got their game together. The Saints midfield took over and stopped the Swans running game. The Saints dominated the first half of the third quarter, but only managed a couple of goals. The Swans rallied and managed two goals from ticky touchy free kicks. Following their second goal the Swans dominated possession and peppered the goals and kicked five points on the trot. Some miracle play on the wing saw Dan Butler mark and goal with seconds on the clock in the third quarter. The Saints were down by a goal at three quarter time.
The Saints dominated proceedings in the last quarter, out scoring the Swans by five goals to two, running out winners by 14 points. Midfield dominance translated into more chances for the forwards and reduced pressure on the backs. When the Swans kicked it forward the backs held firm. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera probably had his best game for the Saints with a personal best of 30 disposals and he kicked only the second goal of his career at a crucial stage in the last quarter. A skillful user of the ball he often has the yips in front of goal. Brad Crouch had an outstanding game with a best on field performance. He was ably backed up by Jack Sinclair who put in another top performance and Rowan Marshall in the ruck. Max King provided a presence up front with three goals and a couple of assists and Mitch Owens is a real talent who performed well after his return from concussion. But this was an all round team performance. In the second half the Saints found their mojo and indicate that things are on the improve.
Tigers at The G on Saturday night; a good game to win (aren’t they all!).
Go Saints!!
Sydney 0.0 5.5 7.10 9.12 (66)
St. Kilda 1.1 4.2 7.4 12.8 (80)
Goals
Sydney: Papley 2, Franklin 2, Wicks, Gulden, Clark, Campbell, Lloyd.
St. Kilda: King 3, Butler 2, Owens 2, Phillipou, Caminiti, Wanganeen-Milera, Higgins, Sharman.
Best
Sydney: Florent, Warner, Campbell, McInerney, Lloyd.
St. Kilda: Crouch, Wanganeen-Milera, Sinclair, Marshall, Steele.
Crowd: 30,123.
Malarkey Medal: Sinclair 1 (StK), Wanganeen-Milera 2 (StK), Crouch 3 (StK).
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