Round 5 – Carlton v St Kilda: Saints demonstrate new brand of footy and rise up to Top Four

 

 

Thursday 2 July 2020
7:40 pm
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

 

 

Revamped fixture moves the match from Saturday afternoon to Thursday night and the venue is relocated from MCG to St Kilda’s favourite Marvel Stadium. Both clubs have only five days as a break, but I am excited with the prime time footy. I hope we just play good footy and stop improving Blues who have won the last two games. And the amended fixture allows me to watch the match live without having to be off at the end for my Dingoes training. It is all good.

 

And Geary coming back to the squad excites me too. He was outstanding at Round 2 against Bulldogs stopping their solid defender Jason Johannisen. I realise the importance of having our skipper while watching the losing match against Collingwood, therefore I am really happy to have him back.

 

St Kilda start fast and accurate ball uses and Marsh is in the good position 50 metres directly in front, but kicks towards King. He wins a two on one marking contest and kicks the first goal of the match. Blues have been notched in the last two games, but Ben Long takes a high intercept mark crossed by McKay. Then Saints play hard and Lonie kicks on the wing 45 metres out and it seems to go through the goal post directly but McGovern touches to stop; however Josh Battle picks footy and sneaks a goal. Geary’s courage in the forward line accelerates St Kilda’s attacking footy – he wins the marking contest to Simpson and kicks a goal from 45 metres out.

 

Finally Carlton get an opportunity. Casboult handpasses to former Saint Newnes and kicks long. Walsh nearly takes a mark but Betts picks footy, finds space, runs and scores a goal. That’s the classic Eddie show!

 

Saints are firing up again. Carlisle handballing and Marshall kicking to exit the packed half forward and Geary taking a one on one marking contest against his opponent of Docherty. The St Kilda captain wins the contest and finishes his job done for the second one. Saints lead by 20 points at the first break.

 

At the second quarter, Saints find space on the wing and play coast to coast footy. The first one is Billings kicking long and accurately and Gresham takes a mark. The small forward is back on an action and finishes his job done. After Membrey’s set shot at the hot spot, Thursday night’s good ball user at half back, Coffield wins a contested possession with Walsh and kicks on the wing. Geary versus Ed Curnow and Butler versus Jones contests await nearby on the wing. The new fast paced and kicking Saints Butler picks footy on the centre wing, runs and bounces. Channel 7 commentator Brian Taylor leaves a big impacted comment “Danger. Danger. Danger. Danger.”, “Butler! Butler! Butler! Butler!” What a fast and attractive fast footy. His goal extends the margin to 37 and is a good entertainment. This series of Butler’s performances is uploaded on St Kilda Football Club’s Facebook with Taylor’s comment.

 

Blues finally get a chance when Cripps kicks high and McKay is held by Howard. McKay takes an advantage, and then Philp runs to the goal posts and kicks the team’s second goal. Red, white and black go on a main break with a 30-point lead.

 

The game seems another big party for the Saints but Blue tanks accelerate at the third quarter, like when they played the Demons at Round 2. They get more clearances and put more pressures on the Saints. Carlton’s pressures stop St Kilda gaining efficient disposals. Fewer clearances and disposals are recorded not only Carlton’s high pressures but also Hannerbery getting injured on hamstring and being out of the match.

 

Meanwhile King takes a turn over inside 50 and could kick a goal himself but instead acts selfless. The young talented forward kicks towards Butler who is standing by posts and the job is done easily. Then Carlton find way outs, and Setterfield stands behind the pack, collects footy and kicks a goal.

 

Carlton pushing hard, Ben Long fights hard to stop, climbs up Coffield and jumps to take a big classic mark. His action ends pushed by Casboult and fell down on the field. And Long’s mark is Mark of the Year contender. Still dominated by the Blues, Geary tries to stop at the defense line, but Philp pushes the St Kilda captain and footy is eventually kicked to Setterfield who scores his second goal.

 

St Kilda finally get another chance inside 50. Marsh kicking on the wing, Battle takes a mark inside 50 but kicks to Billings. Billings’ set shot with a 45-degree angle brings the Saints six points.

 

With Martin’s goal at the beginning of the third quarter, the margin is narrowed to 23 points at the final break.

 

St Kilda look like getting back the dominant at last quarter with two goals (Membrey and Kent), but once again Carlton put pressures on Saints and deliver balls well with finding space well. And St Kilda have errors in handballing with fumbles and are unable to hit targets. Gibbons answers to Kent and high rated midfielder Cripps follows and Newnes kicks a goal in front of his old side. The last term is the hard one for the Sainters with less efficient ball uses.

 

But win is a win. Saints go marching in with a three-goal win and climbing up to Top Four.

 

It’s strange that we are moving to Queensland hub that Richmond had been rejected to enter previously that caused the amendments of Round 5 fixture. I just hope Saints are playing well there against Fremantle and then Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval.

 

 

 

CARLTON 1.1 2.4 5.6 8.7 (55)
ST KILDA 4.3 7.4 9.5 11.7 (73)

GOALS
Carlton: Setterfield 2, Betts, Philp, Martin, Cripps, Gibbons, Newnes
St Kilda: Geary 2, King 2, Butler 2, Battle, Gresham, Billings, Membrey, Kent

BEST
Carlton: Martin, Setterfield, Curnow, Cripps
St Kilda: Steele, Long, Billings, Marshall, Coffield, Wilkie

OUR VOTES
3. Steele (STK); 2. Marshall (STK); 1. Billings (STK)

 

 

 

 

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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