Saints prevail over the Blues

St Kilda 16.15 (111) def. Carlton 15.11 (101)

St Kilda has prevailed following an enthralling encounter with Carlton, downing the Blues by 11 points at the Telstra Dome this afternoon.

The contest was gripping with neither team able to maintain their lead early. Despite news late on Monday that Brendan Fevola was out of action for three weeks with a quad injury, the Blues’ forward took to the field.

Opposing forwards Matthew Lappin and Fraser Gehrig shared the 250-game milestone as Brett Ratten made his debut as caretaker coach of Carlton.

Best players for the Saints were defender Sam Fisher, who finished with 32 disposals and 17 marks. Versatile forward Nick Riewoldt was influential in the victory with 23 disposals, 11 marks, and four goals along with Steven Baker (27 touches) and Fraser Gehrig (six goals).

Carlton, in defeat, were served well by midfielder Andrew Carrazzo, who finished with a game-high 38 disposals, six clearances and nine inside 50s.

Heath Scotland stepped up after half time and finished with 33 disposals, while Kade Simpson (26) and Lappin (25 disposals, 12 marks) were also amongst the best.

It only took 50 seconds for the first major, from a Brad Fisher free kick. Carlton then raced to an early 12-point lead when Fevola found the big sticks for his first of three opening quarter majors.

Riewoldt and Gehrig, along with Nick Dal Santo, responded for the Saints with two each as their team hit back with five of the next seven goals – turning around the early deficit into a nine-point lead.

Ryan Jackson spotted Setanta O’hAilpin in the goal square as the Blues’ charged back, while Cain Ackland put the hosts ahead again just seconds before the quarter time siren.

Three early goals in the second term from Gehrig, Riewoldt and Stephen Milne put the Saints ahead again. The Saints looked set for a fourth straight until Lenny Hayes was wrapped up on the wing whilst attempting weave around three opponents.

Carlton found scoring tough and it took a perfectly timed grubber kick from O’hAilpin following a ruck dual close to goal for the Blues’ to register their seventh major. The Blues’ faithful were delighted and poised for more, however the Saints had other ideas and four minutes later Shane Birss cancelled it out.

St Kilda took a 22-point lead into half time after Gehrig slotted his fourth for the day in the 24th minute. Carrazzo was doing his best to ensure his team remained in the contest with 25 first half disposals.

It was almost a carbon-copy of the opening quarter as Carlton began strongly in the third term, cutting the margin back to just 10 points through Paul Bower and milestone-man Lappin.

An errant attempt at mark by Blues’ defender Jason Saddington allowed Steven Baker to gather the loose ball and snap truly. Riewoldt went close with an in-swinging kick before Gehrig played-on from a marking contest with two Blue defenders to slam through his fifth major.

Frustration amongst the Blues players began to show as they wasted opportunities to close the gap, missing on goal and constantly turning possession over. Despite Carlton dominating the play, after 18 minutes the margin was back out to the 22 points that it was at half time.

The roof, while usually closed, was open for the day with next to no consideration to rain. However, that changed as the rain-filled clouds blanketed the skies above late in the third term.

All of the Blues’ early work was washed away as Reiwoldt bobbed up to kick his fourth and Milne his second, which sent the Saints’ to a commanding 35-point lead going into the final break.

Carlton provided the Saints with a challenge early in the fourth quarter as Brad Fisher booted his second and Jordan Bannister was aided by kicking from the top of the goal square after a 50-metre penalty was paid.

Fevola then had the Blues’ back to within three goals when, in general play, he snapped truly to roll the ball through from the pocket. Jason Blake stretched the lead back out to 23 points in the 18th minute before the Blues rallied through Fisher and Fevola.

Gehrig kicked his sixth and provided a steadier before the tensions again rose when Saddington went forward and kicked Carlton over the century.

The Blues’ booted six goals to two in the final term as the Saints desperately held on to move inside the top eight if only for a day –pending other results this weekend.

Next week, St Kilda takes on the Western Bulldogs at the Telstra Dome on Friday night, while Carlton hosts rivals Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

	Qtr Time	Half Time	3 Qtr Time	Final
St Kilda	5. 4 (34)	10. 7 (67)	14.12 (96)	16.15.    111
Carlton	6. 1 (37)	7. 3 (45)	9.  7 (61)	15.11.    101

St Kilda
Goals: F Gehrig 6, N Riewoldt 4, S Milne 2, N Dal Santo, S Birss, S Baker, J Blake.
Best: N Riewoldt, S Baker, F Gehrig, S Fisher, L Hayes, N Dal Santo.
Injuries: nil.
Reports: nil.

Carlton
Goals: B Fevola 5, B Fisher 3, S O’hAilpin 2, C Ackland, P Bower, M Lappin, J Bannister, J Saddington.
Best: A Carrazzo, M Lappin, B Fevola, H Scotland, B Fisher.
Injuries: S Wiggins (hamstring).
Reports: nil.

Umpires: M Nicholls, S Meredith, M Ellis.
Crowd: 32,327 @ the Telstra Dome, Melbourne.

Votes - Player of the Year:
3- N Riewoldt (StK), 2- A Carrazzo (Carl), 1- S Baker (StK).

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