Round 21 – St. Kilda v Fremantle: Jack Steven makes Sainters smile on a marvelous afternoon at Marvel

 

 

St Kilda v Fremantle

1.10pm, SundayAugust 11

Marvel Stadium

 

There is nothing quite like a late goal which secures victory in a close and hard fought game.

 

With less than three minutes left in the game the Saints were down by 9 points against the Dockers. Another loss looked on the cards for the Saints. Then everything changed.

 

Jack Steven has had a challenging year off the field, suffering from depression. He was only playing his fifth game for the season; the other four games being early in the year. Rather than his normal roving role he was told to play up forward – he looked a bit overweight. He is a champion player who has won four Saints Best and Fairest awards. So there we are with less than three minutes to go and Jack Steven – this four time Best and Fairest Saint – swoops on a loose ball on the Saints forward line, runs around a couple of despairing Dockers and snaps one through the big sticks. It is his third for the game. The Saints trail by 3 points with 2 minutes 33 seconds remaining on the clock.

 

Another forward thrust and speedster Nick Hind crumbs the ball from a marking contest outside the 50, lowers his eyes and makes a perfect pass lace out which Josh Bruce marks on his chest. Josh has already had two set shots both of which ended up missing everything. Watching him kick for goal is an existential exercise in contemplating the meaning of life and/or would one be better off trying to read James Joyce. But Josh rose to the occasion and received a just reward for a characteristic never-say-die whole-hearted performance. He can look back on his kick winning the game with pride. Saints up by 3 with 39 on the clock. The Dockers push the ball forward and Josh Battle takes a courageous mark deep in the back pocket with 12 seconds to go. Game over; a great win for the Saints.

 

Jack Steven kicked 3 for the Saints. Dan Hannebery, who has had an injury plagued year and was playing his third game for the season kicked two neat goals in the first quarter. Nick Coffield was injured late in the first quarter and the Saints were down a rotation for the rest of the game. Rowan Marshall looked like he had badly injured his knee late in the first quarter but came back and played out the rest of the game. The Saints back line held up well. All of them chimed in at various stages. Shane Savage had an outstanding third quarter and Jack Carlisle held sway in the last, other than for a poor kick to the Docker’s Nat Fyfe.

 

In the final analysis the difference between the two teams is that the Dockers lack key forwards while the Saints have a forward line that muffs chances that should be converted. Josh Bruce and Tim Membrey are more than useful key forwards and both Nick Hind and Ben Long looked lively. Ben Long may have had his best game for the club. But having said this, Jack Steven was the key player on the field; even underdone and looking a bit pudgy he isn’t a four times Best and Fairest player for nothing. He put a smile on everyone’s faces; and he had a smile on his own dial as large as that of Luna Park down St. Kilda way. Well done Jack.

 

These new and young Saints look like they are getting their act together. The portents for the future are promising.

 

Blues next week. Go Saints!

 

 

ST KILDA        4.3   6.5   8.7   10.12 (72)

FREMANTLE   2.3   6.4   9.8   10.9 (69)

 

GOALS

St Kilda: Steven 3, Hanneberry 2, Membrey 2, Dunstan, Battle, Bruce.

Fremantle: Fyfe 2, Matera 2, Walters, Darcy, Switkowski, Crowden, Langdon, Schultz.

 

BEST

St. Kilda: Steven, Ross, Billings, Hanneberry, Savage.

Fremantle: Fyfe, Langdon, Hill, Sandilands, Blakely.

 

Crowd: 17,715

 

Our Votes (Malarkey Medal): Steven 3 (St. Kilda), Fyfe 2 (Fremantle), Ross 1 (St. Kilda).

 

 

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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