Round 9 – St Kilda v Sydney: Series of Saints’ scintillating left foot snaps snap Swans’ spirits

 

 

By Braham Dabscheck

St. Kilda v Sydney Swans

5.10 PM Saturday 1 August

Gabba

 

The Saints achieved their biggest score, 101 points, and their biggest winning margin, a point shy of nine goals, in their late Saturday afternoon game against the Swans at the Gabba. The final score, however, does not do justice to the tightness of the game. Both teams served up a closely contested match. The Saints went away with it in the last quarter booting six goals to the Swans single effort. The Swans, up until then, were always, just about, with their cause undone by poor kicking for goal. They dominated the third quarter but couldn’t convert on the scoreboard. At one stage they were only a couple of goals behind. The Saints steadied and kicked a crucial goal with only seconds left on the clock in the third quarter.

 

All games develop their own unique momentum. Beside the last quarter blitz, the Saints built their win on a series of left foot snaps. The first quarter was a relatively scrappy affair. Jade Gresham, who was on his lonesome in the forward line, received a left foot pass from Jack Sinclair and wandered in for an easy goal. The Swans then got their act together, kicked two quick goals, one from a Saints turnover, the second from a soft 50 meter penalty, and looked to be in charge. Then the Saints’ left foot snap brigade took over. Nick Hind got the first from a throw in and Hunter Clark from a handpass to give the Saints a seven point lead at the first break.

 

The second quarter belonged to the Saints. Josh Battle started proceedings with another left foot snap. Jade Gresham, who had found a Swan who wanted to be his friend, marked and kicked another one from the goal square. Shortly after Dan Butler was on the end of a chain of handpasses for the best goal of the game; kicked with his right foot, from in front of goal. Max King kicked another from a ball he plucked out of the sky. The Swans got one back as the siren sounded for half time; the Saints 22 points up at the main break.

 

The Swans lifted in the third quarter but were unable to convert scoring chances. On one of the few occasions the Saints worked their way forward, Zak Jones kicked truly following a mark from a ball kicked off the ground. The former Swan was surrounded by players of both teams who were ‘falling over each other’ to congratulate him. The Swans kicked the next two goals from marks and threatened to take control of the game. Nick Hind steadied the good ship St. Kilda with his second left snap following a handpass from Zak Jones in the last minute of the quarter; putting the Saints 20 points up at three quarter time.

 

The Saints last quarter blitz saw two more left foot snaps. The first was by Dan Butler and another by Nick Hind. Max King kicked two more from the goal square, Jarryn Geary from a right foot snap, the only right foot snap for the Saints!  Josh Battle kicked another one from the goal square following a mark.

 

Nick Hind had his best game for the Saints; he might have had four but was let down by a right foot snap!! The Saints were not as accurate as they have been in previous games. They could have had another four or five if they had have kicked straight. Accuracy in front of goal, however, is what cruelled whatever chances the Swans had. The backline, or team defence, continues to impress. Only one Swans goal resulted from a gift. All of the backs know how to mark and are quick across the ground. The two rucks again worked well and the midfield created many opportunities for the forwards who look sharp.

 

The Suns next Thursday night. Would be nice to have two in a row in Queensland to replicate the venture into South Australia.

 

Go Saints!!!

 

 

St. Kilda          3.2   7.4   9.6   15.11 (101)

Sydney Swans   2.1   3.6   5.10   6.12 (48)

 

Goals

St. Kilda: Hind 3, King 3, Battle 2, Butler 2, Gresham 2, Geary, Jones, Clark.

Sydney Swans: McCartin 3, Papley, Florent, Sinclair.

 

Best

St. Kilda: Gresham, Steele, Hind, Jones, Clark.

Sydney Swans: Parker, Lloyd, Florent, Mills, Rowbottom.

 

Crowd: Swathes of Saints and Swans supporters, Sylvester the Cat and the letter S.

 

Umpires: Gianfanga, Rebeschini, Stevic.

 

Our Votes: Gresham 3 (St. Kilda), Steele 2 (St. Kilda), Hind 1 (st. Kilda).

 

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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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