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By Barry Kennedy, AFANA Reporter in Melbourne

 

St Kilda entered the Telstra Dome on Friday coming off a commanding 103 point belting of Richmond last week. The Eagles had their own cause for optimism even after shocking the football world with a 82 point thrashing of the Adelaide Crows last week. This match like many to come in the next few weeks loomed as a mini Final. For the Eagles this game was big chance to ensure a top two finish and the benefit of two home finals. For the Saints a win was imperative to keep ahead of fellow top four aspirants Sydney, Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs.

 

The opening quarter was a rugged affair with few gaps to be found and sporadic scoring. The West Coast Eagles had the best of what scoreboard action occurred, especially via the pace of their awesome midfield. The premier running man on the field in the early stages was Daniel Kerr who ran amok. Kerr was instrumental in stealing a ball in the back half that led to the first goal by Quentin Lynch. Kerr put through a major of his own on the run from 55 meters after two bounces. The only thing the West Coast would rue in a quarter where they looked a cut above was a string of points that could have been converted.

 

St Kilda didn’t seem as sharp but to their credit hung in there, only allowing the two goals. Evergreen Robert Harvey was again the steadying influence, while Leigh Fisher and Matt McGuire held firm in the back half. It took the Saints all quarter to squeeze out a major of their own with Gehrig finally steering through a goal from a kick after the siren.

 

Kerr won the first kick of the second quarter which was gathered by the rampaging Cousins on the 50 meter arc, who after steadying hit Ashley Sampi who converted. It looked more ominous for the Saints after Sampi and Armstrong outfoxed their direct opponents in the goalsquare to give the Eagles 23 point lead. Armstrong’s goal came after Kerr had laid an optimistic second tackle on gorilla like Fraser Gehrig in the Eagles defensive pocket. After being bounced off once by the big forward, it seemed a forlorn cause by Kerr’s persistence, highlighted the commitment of the Eagles to the cause.

 

The Saint’s Adam Fiora provided the next highlight when he soared over Darren Glass in front of goals. It was a graceful mark of high quality and a much needed tonic for St Kilda. The Saints continued their resurgence throughout the quarter with Nick Reiwoldt making some fine leads and outmarking the willing Jaymie Graham. Nick Dal Santo and Luke Ball also started finding the ball, as did Jason Gram. Dal Santo’s torpedo-like passes into St Kilda’s forward line were especially important.

 

Unfortunately for the Saints they contracted their own case of the kicking yips, missing some gettable goals from set shots. A fine running goal by Gram made the margin 11 points before the long break.

 

A scintillating Chris Judd goal demonstrated that the Eagles were still on their game to open the third term. Cousins set up the goal through a deft handball, continuing the tireless run he’d discovered in the second term.

 

The Saints put it all on the line from this point, perhaps realizing that it was now or never if the Eagles were to be reined in. Goddard improvised as a ruckman and tapped the ball straight into the arms of Leigh Montagna who ran in to kick a goal. Reiwoldt then steered through his second from an infringement, and the margin was 6 points.

 

With 40,000 fans in full voice, the Saints challenge continued. Dal Santo and Gram were particularly impressive forward while Brendon Goddard and Leigh and Sam Fisher kept repelling the forward thrusts of the Eagles.

Unfortunately the boys from Moorabbin had seemingly forgotten how to kick a goal. Gehrig missed a chance to level the scores, instead making the margin 5 points. Harvey made it four, Gehrig again missed before Reiwoldt missed from another Dal Santo gift.

 

Cruelly, after the Saints mini-surge, the Eagles responded with two goals in the last minute of the quarter and a run of four straight goals to kill the game. Ashley Sampi took a half chance roving from a contest, showing the potential extra dimension he brings to the September bound Eagles. A blind turn and pass from Kerr in the center got the ball down to Lynch who hit Brett Staker for the second goal inside a minute. That made the margin 13 at the final break.

 

The Eagles midfield went into overdrive in the last quarter--particularly Cousins, who racked up a half dozen possessions in the early minutes of the last term. David Wirrapanda had been great all night and accelerated forward into space for a goal two minutes after Kerr had run into an open goal. Reiwoldt got one back for St Kilda before the previously quiet Ashley Hansen and Chad Fletcher kicked a goal each to put the contest to rest.

 

Daniel Kerr missed a chance to claim the goal of the year after mesmerizing two opponents with a beguiling gather and change of direction. Two bounces later Kerr somehow managed to hit the post.

 

With the game gone, the fortunes of the brave St Kilda took another much more serious turn for the worst when in the last ninety seconds defender Matt McGuire went down with a broken leg. The burly champion was in great distress and had to be sedated on the ground. He now faces up to 12 months on the sidelines. If football had a mercy rule, this would have been the time to call off the game.

 

The final margin was 39 points although as a contest it had been much closer. Cousins and Kerr would have shared the spoils for the best on field while Tyson, Stenglein and Judd also played well. Wirrapanda was excellent from half back as was Beau Waters who played his best game in his short career.

 

St Kilda was best served by Dal Santo and Harvey and the rapidly emerging Gram. Reiwoldt kicked four goals three and had a big influence but his misses were costly. Brendon Goddard and the two Fisher boys continued their fine seasons as well.

 

There are no easy games for St Kilda to finish the regular season with Geelong and the Western Bulldogs in Melbourne and away games against Fremantle and Brisbane. With yet another big name out with an injury and the likelihood of Aaron Hamill returning in 2006 diminishing by the week, the Saints will struggle for a Top Four berth.

 

The West Coast with the exception of their derby with Fremantle have a much easier run home with the Kangaroos, Richmond and the Brisbane Lions looming as chances to consolidate their Top Two position.

 

With season 2006 rapidly drawing to a close, commentators talk regularly of taking opportunities and having luck with injuries. Last night on both counts the ledger was firmly on the side of the Eagles.

WESTCOAST 2.5 4.9 7.11 14.14 (98) 
ST KILDA  1.2 3.4 5.10  8.11 (59)
Goals: West Coast: C Judd 3 A Sampi 2 D Kerr 2
T Stenglein C Fletcher A Hansen D Wirrpanda
Q Lynch S Armstrong B Staker. St Kilda: N Riewoldt 4 F Gehrig A Fiora J Gram L Montagna. Best: West Coast: D Kerr B Cousins D Wirrpanda B Waters C Judd T Stenglein
A Sampi St Kilda: N Dal Santo J Gram L Fisher R Harvey N Riewoldt B Goddard. Umpires: B Allen B Rosebury S Ryan. Crowd: 40,177

Article last changed on Saturday, August 05, 2006 - 10:10 PM EDT


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