Round 3 – St. Kilda v Richmond: Lightning can strike twice in the same place twice, even if it is on the other side of the continent!

 

 

St. Kilda v Richmond

3:20PM, Sunday April 3

Marvel Stadium

 

Last week, in what was one of those games that struggled to happen, Max King tore apart the game with three goals in a couple of minutes in the third quarter and one in the last to secure a win for the Saints. He did it again in this crackerjack of a game against the Tigers with a four goal haul in the last quarter. If he had kicked straight he could have had six. Going into the last quarter, the Saints were down by four points, but it turned into a dominating last quarter. They won the possession count 106 to 56, clearances 13 to 6, and kicked seven goals to the Tigers’ one.

 

This was a top notch game. The Tigers kicked two goals within the first minute of play – one from a series of hand passes the second from a bomb out of the centre. The Saints steadied and stemmed the tide. Callum Wilkie, wandering down from his usual haunt in the back 50, took an intercept mark in the forward pocket. Usually a reliable kick, he seemed to muff his shot which decided to wobble through any way for his first goal in his 66th game for the Saints. He was mobbed by teammates and looked well pleased with himself. The rest of the first quarter was helter skelter with both sides pushing the ball forward at every chance; scoring six goals each. Jack, the Professor Higgins, looked on song and kicked an early goal. He was subbed out following a tackle that left him concussed. Hopefully he will be well. He was replaced by the medical sub Ben Long.

 

The Tigers controlled most of the play for the next quarter and a half. Their small brigade and their storming style of play resulted in them kicking six of the next eight goals. For their part, the Saints had trouble putting together passages of play. They were thereabouts but attempts to get on top of proceedings were just not working. The Tigers were dominating the inside 50s. Half way through the third quarter the Tigers had jumped to a 25 point lead. The Saints looked in trouble.

 

Then the game turned. There was a passage of play down the wing where the ball was hotly contested and it wound up with Brad Crouch in the forward pocket. Normally he looks to pass the ball off. He decided he would take charge. Off one step he steered it through. After this the Saints midfield and small brigade took over control of the game. Mason Wood kicked another one with a long bomb outside the 50. Ben Long earnt a free kick from a tackle just inside the 50. He looked like he wasn’t sure if he should have a shot or kick it high to the goal square and hope one of the big boys would take a grab. He then received a 50 metre penalty following an infringement on Dan Butler. This resolved the dilemma for Ben Long then who calmly slotted the goal. It was his second from a tackle. The Saints were back in the game. Late in the quarter, Max King, who despite his height had hardly been sighted, took a contested mark on the wing. He seemed to enjoy the experience and used it as an entree to his main meal in the final quarter.

 

The final quarter belonged to the Saints. They controlled proceedings with King having his second purple patch in two weeks. The ball was moved fluently with the Saints pinpoint kicking to position possibly the best it has been in ages. Throughout the game the Saints adopted a more direct style of play; none of this going around the mulberry bush in the back half which achieves nothing. This seems to be a feature of many games with this season which makes for exciting and entertaining play.

 

With Paddy Ryder back in the side, Rowan Marshall was able to spend more time forward, which helped to take pressure off Max King. Marshall kicked two goals, and Jack Hayes who also spent time up forward kicked a late one. Tim Membrey chimed in with a lazy three. As the game progressed the midfield players and the smaller brigade got on top which is the ultimate reason why lightning struck for a second time in that player: Max King.

 

Go Saints. Hawks next week.

 

 

ST KILDA        6.2   8.4   11.8   18.9 (117)

RICHMOND    6.4   10.5   12.6   13.6 (78)

 

GOALS

St. Kilda: King 4, Membrey 3, Butler, Long, Marshall 2, Wilkie, Higgins, Crouch, Wood, Hayes.

Richmond: Bolton, Parker 3, Balta 2, Baker, Lynch, Nankervis, Castagna, Ralphsmith.

 

BEST

St. Kilda: Crouch, King, Steele, Gresham, Sinclair.

Richmond: Short, Broad, Graham, Pickett, Cotchin.

 

Crowd: 31,933.

 

Malarkey Votes: Steele 1 (StK), King 2 (StK), Crouch 3 (StK).

 

 

 

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