Saints push past Blues

St Kilda 18.17 (125) def. Carlton 11.16 (82)

ST KILDA was able to fend off a surging Carlton at the Telstra Dome in a spirited affair by 43 points at the Telstra Dome on Friday night.

The run of play was dominated by the Saints throughout the contest but they failed to put the Blues away with plenty of opportunities early in the game.

Some brilliance from Brendan Fevola sparked a run of five unanswered Carlton goals to put the Blues within four-points late in the third quarter, however, Ross Lyons men were never headed and ran away with the game in the final term with continual midfield dominance and a superior forward structure.

Nick Dal Santo was everywhere for St Kilda collecting 30 possessions in a dazzling display of foot skills. Along with Luke Ball (25 touches) in the centre was stalwart Robert Harvey (25) who collectively put their heads over the ball and beat their opponents hands down.

Big Saint Fraser Gehrig easily accounted for Irishman Setanta O’Hailpin with six goals whilst at the other end Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola kicked six of his own included two gems from outside fifty.

The Blues midfield failed to have much impact, although Heath Scotland battled on all day on his way to 25 disposals. He didn’t have much help though as the young Blues looked at sea against their bigger bodied opponents.

Carlton captain Lance Whitnall played another good game collecting 20 disposals and kicked three goals, but the Blues contributors were too few and far between as the Saints ran away with the game in the final term.

The Saints jumped out of the blocks on the back of some penetrating run from their half-backline as the Blues struggled to find targets in the forward line.

Early goals from Justin Koschitzke and Steven Milne opened up a two-goal buffer and then the silky Dal Santo kicked a beauty on the run as the Saints started to translate their early dominance into scoreboard pressure.

To Carton’s credit, they rallied late in the quarter to close the gap to just 10 points by quarter time on the back of a well worked goal from superstar Fevola.

The second term started with a pair of quick goals. Gehrig began to get on top of young O’Hailpin and at the other end Mathew Clarke made a glaring error allowing Whitnall to stroll in and kick his second.

The Saints then began to break the game open through the midfield as Dal Santo, Harvey and Leigh Montagna provided some experienced run and delivery into a structured forward line.

Gehrig, Milne and Sam Gilbert ended the half with two goals apiece; however the Saints should have entered the main break with a much bigger lead.

Missed chances from Nick Riewoldt and Dal Santo from close range cost them as Fevola slammed home a goal from outside the 50-metre arch to close out the quarter and send St Kilda into the main break only 21 points ahead.

The Saints threatened again to blow the game open as Riewoldt and Jason Gram kicked the saints to a 34-point lead early in the third quarter.

But Ross Lyon’s men failed yet again to convert chances in front of goals to put the Blues away. Fevola started to get on top and along with Whitnall started to give Carlton a very potent looking forward line.

The Blues slammed on five unanswered goals in a stretch of inspirational football from Fevola who posted his fifth during the onslaught. Eddie Betts ran in and sent the Carlton faithful into raptures as he put them within four points.

However, in a quarter of shoot-out football, the Saints managed to kick two late goals through Fraser Gehrig as he joined Fevola on five majors. Heading into the final change St Kilda lead by 15 points.

The final term started goal-for-goal but the St Kilda midfielders hard running came to fruition as Gram sprinted forward and kicked his second goal to put his side up by 24 points.

Unselfish play from Milne inside the forward fifty, as he spotted up Gehrig, who kicked his sixth goal for the game to all but finish the Carlton revival.

Next week sees the Saints back at Telstra Dome to tackle the Swans on Saturday night while the Blues are hosted by arch rival Collinwood at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

	Qtr Time	Half Time	3 Qtr Time	Final
St Kilda	4. 3 (27)	8.  8 (56)	13.11 (89)	18.17.   125
Carlton	2. 5 (17)	4.11 (35)	10.14 (74)	11.16.     82

St Kilda
Goals: F Gehrig 6, S Milne 3, S Gilbert 2, J Gram 2, J Koschitzke, N Dal Santo, N Riewoldt, A Fiora, R Harvey
Best: N Dal Santo, F Gehrig, R Harvey, L Ball, L Montagna, S Baker, J Koschitzke
Injuries: nil
Reports: S Baker (striking)

Carlton
Goals: B Fevola 6, L Whitnall 3, A Walker, E Betts
Best: B Fevola, L Whitnall, H Scotland, A Walker, B Thornton
Injuries: nil
Reports: nil

Umpires: B Rosebury, B Allen, S Jeffery.
Crowd: 45,513 @ Telstra Dome, Melbourne.

Votes - Player of the Year:
3- N Dal Santo (Stk), 2- F Gehrig (Stk), 1- B Fevola (Carl).

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