Saints class wins out over Pies

St Kilda 19. 8 (122) def. Collingwood   9. 9 (63)

St Kilda has sent Collingwood crashing to their third loss in four weeks with a clinical 59-point victory at the Telstra Dome this afternoon.

The Saints increased their lead at every change, building on from their 22-point half time lead to ultimately run out convincing victors.

After the Pies booted the first three majors of the game, St Kilda slammed home 14 of the next 17 goals between the 10-minute mark of the first quarter and the 20-minute stage of the third stanza to blow the match right open.

The win is the Saints’ fourth in succession against Collingwood, while it was the Pies’ first loss at Docklands since the first round of this season.

Brendon Goddard (26 disposals), Nick Dal Santo (23) and Leigh Montagna (23) provided plenty of run and carry through the midfield for St Kilda, as well as ample forward drive.

Montagna also featured in the goals with two, while Nick Riewoldt – 19 possessions and 10 marks – and Stephen Milne booted three majors.

Michael Rix (19 hit outs) and Cain Ackland (eight) combined to smash Josh Fraser (13) in the ruck throughout the entire afternoon.

Pies captain Nathan Buckley toiled hard all day in a sinking ship, gathering a game-high 30 possessions and two goals, but there was little support from his fellow midfielders.

Added to the fact tall forwards Chris Tarrant and Anthony Rocca, as well as livewire Alan Didak, shared in a measly three behinds for the afternoon in the forward line, Collingwood’s fate was sealed.

The Saints now shift up to sixth on the premiership table with an 8-6 record and a healthy percentage, while Collingwood precariously hang in the top four with a 9-5 analysis.

The Magpies day was looking bright early on after stunning St Kilda with three successive goals in the first five minutes.

That, however, was all she wrote for the first term as the Saints assumed control and proceeded to boot four unanswered majors to head into quarter time with a six-point lead.

That buffer was pushed to almost four goals early in the second stanza with three more unreciprocated goals through Montagna, Milne – both their second for the match – and Robert Harvey.

Buckley marked and goaled from the square to break the run of play, but St Kilda finished the term with two of the final three majors to hold a 22-point half time buffer.

Despite the relatively even possession and forward fifty entry counts, the Pies were being smashed in the hard ball area of the game, with Luke Ball, Sam Fisher and Brett Voss leading the way for the Saints.

If the Magpies were to crawl their way back into the contest, Jason Gram’s goal only 50 seconds into the third stanza didn’t help their cause.

Scott Burns immediately responded for Collingwood, but indicative of the afternoon, the Saints gained a quick run-on and proceeded to slam on four goals in 11 minutes to establish a lead nearing the half-century.

Tarkyn Lockyer and defender James Clement hit back for the Black and White with a goal each, but Milne’s third right on three quarter time well and truly put the dagger in the Magpies’ heart as the Saints carried a 43-point lead into the last change.

Emulating their start to the third term, Gram slotted an early goal to provide St Kilda with the early run in the final quarter.

Burns, in bleak contrast to the third stanza as well, responded immediately for Collingwood, but the Saints’ class was too good for the despondent Pies, booting the final three goals of the afternoon to finish off the day in fine style.

St Kilda’s next assignment sees them tackling with wooden spoon favourites Essendon at the MCG next Saturday, while Collingwood face Fremantle at that same venue the following afternoon.

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