Round 5 – Port Adelaide v St Kilda: Saints fight in an effort to make Banger proud

 

Port Adelaide v St Kilda

7:15pm, Sunday April 12

Adelaide Oval

 

 

Pre-Game Thoughts

In theory, this should be a good game based on where these two sides are at. Port has had a poor start to the year under their new coach Josh Carr but got on the board last week and the Saints haven’t played for what seems like two years thanks to the ridiculous AFL draw.

The Saints have brought back the luckless Hunter Clark and Hugh Boxshall while Todd Marshall is an important in for Port.

The Saints had a 20 minute lapse against the Lions and got smashed two weeks ago whilst Port would have gained some confidence last week albeit against the Tigers.

St Kilda are wearing a new Rob Harvey inspired design from the early ’90s. If the team can absorb just a modicum of that man’s spirit we should be fine.

We really haven’t seen a definitive Saints game style yet. The manic defensive focus from Lyon hasn’t been there consistently and the team is letting itself down with its connection into the forward 50. I’m hoping for some more manic pressure tonight. Saints by 37 points and hopefully will ‘tear them apart.’ I have no idea around the context of that song.

We are in Eungai Creek NSW tonight visiting our youngest daughter Mia and her partner Beau. Both are completely indoctrinated Saints supporters so they will be giving special comments tonight because frankly I’m stuffed from driving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Quarter

Error filled first few minutes. Mark to Sharman (hallelujah!) and a nervous goal from 15m out. Saints on top in the centre (Hall) and Wilson short passes to a diving Phillipou who misses. Great chase from Butler a good sign. Lucky kick from Ryan; Wood marks and goals. Saints linking well with hands. Ryan caught high and goals, St Kilda 16 tackles in 10 mins. NAS dissects the Port defence to Phillipou and goal. Power yet to score. Bit of control finally from Port and Georgiades goals. Garcia doing well on Butters for now. 216 pressure rating for St Kilda. Saints by 20 points. Rain has arrived.

 

Mia and Beau – Ball is moving fast and St Kilda been a bit cleaner. Saints stronger on second efforts and pushing numbers back. Port getting distracted and niggly.

 

Second Quarter

NAS gets free at after another good centre bounce clearance and nails it from 50m. Butters gets half a second of freedom and kicks one against the play. Quick centre clearance and Garcia reverses the role on Butters and goals. Free to NAS at next CB and he passes low and hard where Hall crumbs and goal. Seven to three CB clearances St Kilda’s way. Fortuitous goal to Durdin. Bad turnover from Sinclair and Burn-Jones goals. Power lifting. Good pressure for 10 mins from the Saints and Owens crumbs and goals. Saints by 27 points at the main break.

 

Mia and Beau – Happy with the STK effort and the skill level has been better than the first couple of games. Garcia’s response to Butter’s goal was great.

 

Third Quarter

Rain persisting and Butters looks psychotic. Horne Francis picks up a loose ball and goals but the ARC interrupts. It’s a behind. Conditions deteriorating. Free kick to Owens from a throw in and a 50m penalty because of abuse from Wines makes it a certainty. Wasted transition, Port rebound and Horne Francis kicks a beauty from 50m. NAS gets one after good tackle from Garcia and forward pressure. Power are dominating inside 50s 11 to five. Georgiades goals as Silvagni leaves the ground with a nasty cut on the nose. Horne Francis getting on top at stoppages. Kicks to Durdin who goals. Saints look flustered. Butters makes critical tackle on NAS in front of feral crowd. Temperature rising. NAS gives away a 50 and is clearly frustrated. Port kick a good team goal from a stoppage to Berry. Horne-Francis has six clearances in the term. Saints by nine points at the break. Port the last seven scores.

 

Mia and Beau – Rowan isn’t the same player we love. Saints look tired and need the young legs to go hard. Flanders poor. St Kilda have had the stoppage dominance ripped away from them.

 

Final Quarter

Can St Kilda fight back? Please can we not do the predictable and fold!

Tug of war early. Butters lifting. Saints lacking composure again. Power dominating but can’t score. Silvagni, who has done some important things, gets a mark and 50m penalty then goals against the run of play. Flanders turns it over twice and halts the St Kilda momentum. Turnover from Aliir and Phillipou kicks a major from 55m. Saints’ pressure is back. Big term from Owens up forward. Saint with some smart possession to close the game. Horne-Francis with a late goal and just reward for a solid game. Saints win by 14 points.

 

Mia and Beau – Good to see the boys get revved up and meet the challenge.

 

 

It was a gritty win without too much science which comes with wet weather. Garcia shut down Butters’ usual effectiveness despite Butters still being picked in Port’s best. Flanders needs to lift as does Rowan and Wood. Still too many quiet players but the kids worked extremely hard tonight. Still a lot of improvement needed to compete with the best. A win’s a win. Well done Saints. A week in Adelaide now before a big test against the Crows.

 

PORT ADELAIDE   1.2    4.5    8.11    9.13 (67)
ST KILDA              4.4    8.8    10.8    12.9 (81)

 

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Georgiades, Durdin, Horne-Francis 2, Byrne-Jones, Butters, Berry
St Kilda: Wanganeen-Milera, Owens, Phillipou 2, Wood, Silvagni, Sharman, Ryan, Hall, Garcia

BEST
Port Adelaide: Butters, Horne-Francis, Byrne-Jones, Aliir, Georgiades
St Kilda: Wanganeen-Milera, Garcia, Wilkie, Windhager, Sinclair

Crowd: 47,319 at Adelaide Oval

 

 

 

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