Round 4 – St Kilda v West Coast: Saints bounce back with high pressure footy

 

 

Saturday, 10 April 2021
4:35 pm
Marvel Stadium, Docklands

 

Could the Saints win again after the close win over the Giants and two bad losses to the Dees and the Dons? As the Eagles are a good side, I was ready to accept another loss.

 

It was my 15th continuous working day on Saturday, but starting the restaurant shift at 6 pm (7 pm Melbourne Time) allowed me to follow the Saints live until the third quarter.

 

Our key ruckman Rowan Marshall returned to play the game, but his opponent Nic Naitanui hit out and the Eagles had a centre clearance. Their strong forward Jack Darling kicked the first goal for the game after winning a contested mark easily.

 

Unable to win marking contests had cost matches in the previous fortnight and it continued. Darling had better skills than our defenders and kicked another goal and Oscar Allen followed.

 

The Eagles kicking three goals in a row made me think it would be another nightmare for the Saints.

 

But Max King demonstrated his good hands and seemed to win a contested mark. He picked  a dropped footy and kicked a goal. Then one of our only great performers at the previous match, Tim Membrey, took a mark and scored a goal with his accurate set shot.

 

King kicking two goals in a row was the sign of the Saints changing the tide. It was all in our hands.

 

However the Eagles got back their domination. Jack Petruccelle ran into the right spot and scored a goal. He bagged another goal, and Liam Ryan played similar to Petruccelle.

 

The Saints made errors  in our back line too and we were two goals behind at the first break.

 

The skills difference was shown in the second quarter. St Kilda couldn’t hit the target while West Coast found the space and got the right players to finish their jobs. The visitors scored four goals to the one for the hosts. West Coast’s lead widened to 28 points at the main break.

 

Dan Butler kicked inside 50 and could finish his job, but Jack Billings was in the right spot backing him. As a left footer, he easily scored a goal from the right angle.

 

Then Allen answered and then Hunter Clark hit the target, King. The young tall forward easily scored a goal with a direct set shot.

 

But the Eagles flew high. We couldn’t stop Petruccelle or the key forward of Josh Kennedy.  The Saints trailed by 33 points and took my hope of winning the important game. I seemed to accept another frustrating weekend.

 

Then Butler brought back his good form, picking Billings’ handpass in the right spot and scored a goal.

 

The Saints started putting high pressure on the Eagles. McGovern showed good defensive skills and was about to deliver the ball into the midfield. But Daniel McKenzie ran into him and laid a tackle. The key Eagle defender held the ball and McKenzie was awarded a free kick. What great pressure and efforts he demonstrated. His set shot went through the main goal posts.

 

That was the moment when I believed we would get back our brand of footy, dominance and win the game.

 

Later St Kilda had several opportunities but ended up getting only minor scores. It was a bit worrying, but I was pumped up with excitement. However I had to leave home for the evening shift at the restaurant unfortunately.

 

As I walked to the workplace, I missed seeing Butler take a mark just on the line and scoring a goal.

 

I arrived at work, changed clothes and tuned in the Watch AFL app again. Steele, Crouch and King tryed to tackle the running O’Brien and the Eagle made an incorrect disposal. Max was awarded a free kick and scored a career high goal with his number five of the day.

 

Then Membrey was on the wing taking a mark as usual. His shot a goal brought his side in front. Seeing taking the lead back and scoring goal after goal excited me. Excitement took over my emotion at the work kitchen. My heart was beating at a high rate at work.

I only found out the final score after having completed the closing procedures at the restaurant. The knowledge of 15.12 (102) to 13.4 (82) made me smile.

 

As long as I have been working for 19 days as of Wednesday, I had no time to watch the replay of the last quarter (I still work on Thursday, this time at the bike hiring shop).

 

Watching St Kilda Football Club’s YouTube channel, I learnt the other three goals were:
1. Billings picking up the footy after a two on two marking contest and kicking a goal;
2. Jack Steele picked King’s handpass and kicked a goal; and
3. Jack Higgins was in the right spot to pick the last series of handpasses and became the last player fro kick a goal.

 

Thanks my boys for giving me great pleasure and making me experience a beautiful weekend.

 

Let’s do it again on Thursday night in the annual Maddie’s Match honouring our great man Nick Riewoldt’s late sister!

 

ST KILDA         4.2 5.5 10.11 15.12 (102)
WEST COAST 6.2 10.3 13.3 13.4 (82)

 

GOALS
St Kilda: King 5, Butler 3, Membrey 2, Billings 2, McKenzie, Steele, Higgins
West Coast: Petruccelle 4, Darling 2, Allen 2, Kennedy 2, Ryan, Cripps, Winder

 

BEST
St Kilda: King, Steele, Hill, Crouch, Butler
West Coast: Petruccelle, McGovern, Naitanui, Sheed

 

OUR VOTES
3. King (STK); 2. Crouch (STK); 1. Petruccelle (WCE)

 

INJURIES
St Kilda: Nil
West Coast: Hurn (calf)

 

SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Ben Long (unused)
West Coast: Isiah Winder (replaced Shannon Hurn)

 

CROWD
TBC

 

 

The Tigers (Covid) Almanac 2020 will be published in 2021. It will have all the usual features – a game by game account of the Tigers season – and will also include some of the best Almanac writing from the Covid winter.  Pre-order HERE

 

 

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About Yoshihiro Imagawa

Love, passion and pride are seen on the footy that is the biggest part of my life. 1. St Kilda Club member: I am a passionate and crazy Sainter. Just hope we will win the second flag soon, especially after Dogs and Tigers having ended long premiership draughts. 2. The Osaka Dingoes Player and Public Relations Officer: Player number 44 that I chose to honour Stephen Milne with my wish being like a small forward like him. Lenny Hayes' hardworking attitudes are adopted on my trainings and practices. Nick Riewoldt's great plays are in my player audiobook too. 3. Writing: Here on the Almanac and also on the World Footy News. My skills utilise on great footy websites.

Comments

  1. Welcome back, Yoshi, and may the Saints replicate this form more often!

  2. Thanks Ian, I hope you are doing well. Unfortunately we lost massively last night and. I still feel under the weather.

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