Round 8 – Gold Coast v St Kilda: Saints prevail over Suns in dour contest

Gold Coast v St. Kilda

 

1.45 PM Saturday 8 May

 

Metricon Stadium

 

 

Not one of the great games of footy. The highlight was an all in push and shove match at the end of the second quarter. One of the Suns thought this was an appropriate time to audition as a professional wrestler when he picked up Dan Butler and slammed him to the ground. Prior to this, a bit of niggle had found its way into the game. Maybe, both sides needed something to get themselves going in what was a pretty dull first half.

 

It was a nice warm sunny day on the Gold Coast. Both teams decided to play keepings off with short chip passes going this way and that across the oval. Other than for muffing some, which created some variability in proceedings, the net effect was to give both teams’ defensive units time to set up. Added to this both, teams had their yips in front of goal. The Saints missed four very gettable goals from set shots which was bettered by the Suns missing five. On top of this the Saints managed to hit the post four times.

 

There was one goal kicked in the first quarter; by the Suns following a Saints turnover. In the second quarter the Suns got two over the back and the Saints three. Two were neat snaps by Jack Steele and Jack Billings respectively; the third by Max King following a mark near the 50 metre line. He is more accurate from a long way out compared to close in to goal. At the main break the scores were equal at 3 goals 7 points and one failed audition for a gig with the World Wrestling Federation.

 

Something had to give. The umps played their part in the third quarter; the Saints in the fourth. In the third, one of the umps decided that a short kick to Zak Jones had not gone 15 metres, called play on which resulted in a turnover and a Suns goal. It was one of the very few short kicks which received this fate. A couple of minutes later the only 50 meter penalty of the game was called against the Saints for interfering with play. Other examples more obvious had not been so called. Both of these goals were either side of a Saints’ errant hand pass which had resulted in a goal. The Suns had kicked three in as many minutes and were on a roll. They went to the final break 15 points to the good.

 

To cut a long story short the Saints dominated the final quarter. Jack Billings grabbed one early in proceedings. This was followed by Jack Higgins following a mark from play set up by Zak Jones. The next eight or so minutes were an arm wrestle with both sides seeking to gain ascendancy. Paddy Ryder, who had another good game, snapped one from a crumb. Less than a minute later Brad Crouch kicked the best goal of the game to seal the win for the Saints. Outside the forward 50, he received a handpass from Hunter Clark, and rather than look for a handpass or s chip kick as he normally does, just went bang and kicked a low rocket which sailed through the big sticks.

 

Hunter Clark controlled the game in the last quarter. Tim Membrey who had one of those games where nothing seemed to work took some crucial marks late in the game when pushed back as a spare in defence. The mid-field of Jack Steele, Zak Jones and Brad Crouch all had good games. Callum Wilkie was solid in defence and Darragh Joyce did some nice things in the back half for his best outing for the Saints.

 

There is no such thing as a bad win. Maybe wins in ‘bad’ games are more important than they appear. The Saints, though, will have to improve to beat the Cats this coming Friday night.

 

Go Saints!!

 

Gold Coast   1.4   3.7   7.9   7.12 (54)

St. Kilda       0.3   3.7   4.12   8.15 (63)

 

Goals

Gold Coast: King 3, Corbett, Holman, Rankine, Weller.

St. Kilda: Billings 2, Steele 2, King, Higgins, Ryder, Crouch.

 

Best

Gold Coast: Miller, Swallow, Powell, Bowes, Lukosius.

St. Kilda: Steele, Billings, Jones, Clark, Crouch.

 

Crowd: 9,271 plus scouts from World Wrestling Federation.

Umpires: Fleer, Findlay, Howorth.

 

Malarkey Medal: Jones 1 (StK), Billings 2 (StK), Steele 3 (StK).

 

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