Saints outgun Dogs in fast-paced shootout

St Kilda 22.10 (142) def. Western Bulldogs 13.14 (92)

In one of the more entertaining matches of the season, St Kilda staked their claims for a home final with a commanding 50-point win over the below par Western Bulldogs at the Telstra Dome this evening.

The base for the victory was built on a ten goal second term that saw them reverse a 17-point margin at quarter time into a 25-point lead at the main break, the Saints then doing as they pleased to run out easy victors.

Full forward Fraser Gehrig proved too strong for is Bulldog opponents in booting eight goals, while midfield trio of Nick Dal Santo, Luke Ball and the evergreen Robert Harvey, while key forward Nick Riewoldt starred at centre half forward.

For the Bulldogs, Scott West and Daniel Cross fought valiantly in the midfield, while stand in skipper Brad Johnson proved why he has been one of the players of the season in providing his side with six goals.

In a scintillating quarter that rained nine goals, the Western Bulldogs opened up a handy lead thanks largely to the swift work of old hands Scott West and Brad Johnson.

Although the Saints, through a threatening Gehrig, scored two of the first three goals, the quarter was controlled by the speed of the Bulldogs, who were unstoppable through the midfield, racing the ball forward where the hands of Johnson and Chris Grant proved too good for their Saint counterparts, the former drilling three goals for the term.

Late in the quarter, the Saints wasted away several opportunities in front of goal.

St Kilda atoned for a disappointing opening in slamming on an unheard of ten goals for the quarter to reverse the margin. The run was kicked off via three majors in quick succession, Brett Voss and the Nicks – Riewoldt and Dal Santo – pilled on a trio of goals to snatch the lead.

The Bulldogs, stung into action by the Saints speedy start, bit back through ruckman Peter Street and Johnson, who once more proved too strong for direct opponent Steven Baker to score his fourth for the night.

But the Saints weren’t to be denied, Gehrig, starting to hit his straps, marked and goaled inside fifty, paving the way for Voss to restore the lead from the centre bounce. It was the big Saint full forward who was again instrumental in finding Stephen Milne, the goal followed by another from Riewoldt, his third, the lead extended to 13 points.

Adding to it was Justin Koschitzkie, who added his name to the scorebook, the margin now an even three goals.

As if that wasn’t enough, Riewoldt and Robert Harvey added two more to the score to rub salt into the wounds, a 31-point lead spelling danger for the Bulldogs. In the shadows of halftime, Bulldog pocket rocket Matthew Robbins held his nerve to stem the flow, the difference four goals at the long break.

Following a red-hot first half, the third quarter evolved as something of a fizzer, one which saw St Kilda, through Gehrig and Milne, stretch their lead out as far as 44 points. Midway through the term before the Bulldogs gnawed back some respectability, late goals to Lindsay Gilbee and the durable Johnson shaving the margin back to a challenging yet not unassailable 34 points at the last break.

It may well have been under the five goal margin had defender Ryan Hargrave managed to convert from within 50m in the final minute, the only solace for the men from Footscray the memory of last weeks heroics, returning from 31 points in arrears to kill off Adelaide.

The hopes of the Bulldog faithful were raised by an early Will Minson goal, but sadly it wasn’t to be, the Saints, led by Gehrig, scoring his eight goal for the night, the margin eventually blurting out to 50 points.

St Kilda’s dreams of a top four berth rest with their efforts next Saturday night at the Gabba against Brisbane, while the Western Bulldogs will be relying on other results to go their way, before facing Essendon at Telstra Dome next Friday night.

•  Have a view on this story? Send us your feedback!