Australian Football

Match Report

Young up and coming sides can be prone to inconsistency and sudden lapses, and that was demonstrated in great fashion at Docklands Stadium on Sunday when St Kilda scored a big 32-point win against Carlton. The result was seen as an upset, as St Kilda had been thrashed by Adelaide a week earlier and the Blues had won six of their last seven matches, but on Sunday it was the turn of the young Saints, without injured skipper Nick Riewoldt, to show glimpses of what looks to be a bright future.

The Saints had the better of the early stages of the match, in which the defences of both sides held sway, but their forays forward resulted in just two behinds. When a goal was finally scored, it went the Blues' way via Andrew Walker after a mix-up in St Kilda's backline at the 15-minute mark. Jade Gresham made amends for the Saints soon after but it wasn't until well into time on that the next goal was scored. It was kicked by Blue Kade Simpson and that set off a run of goals, with teammate Levi Casboult scoring another before St Kilda hit back with majors via Tim Membrey, Blake Acres and Membrey again to see the Saints eight points ahead at quarter time.

Casboult's second goal within a minute of the start of the second term had Carlton back within two points but the Saints then made the vital break of the match. Membrey kicked his third major and Leigh Montagna is first, and then further goals to ruckman Tom Hickey and first-gamer Lewis Pierce had St Kilda ahead by 26 points. Jed Lamb pulled one back for the Blues during time on but it was the Saints by 19 at the half.

Needing the first goal of the second half, the Blues could not manage even a behind for the first half of the third quarter. It was a goal to Matthew Wright but by that stage St Kilda had added goals via Jack Steven, Jack Newnes and Membrey and the margin, even after Wright's goal was 35 points. The Saints added a further three goals to two for the term and led by a very comfortable 41 points at the last change.

The Blues to their credit fought on in the final term, kicking four goals to three for the quarter, but in the end St Kilda finished 32 points clear to recorded its fifth win for the season, only one fewer than Carlton.

Steven was a standout player for the victors, laying nine tackles and collecting 25 possessions, while veteran Kade Simpson (30 disposals, eight marks) played a great game for the Blues. 

Both sides will now have a week off, being two of the six clubs to have a bye in round 13, before St Kilda meets Geelong at Docklands in round 14 and the Blues travel to the Sydney Showground to take on the might of the GWS Giants.

GOALS

St Kilda: Membrey 5; Steven 3; Gresham 2; Acres, Montagna, Hickey, Pierce, Newnes, Ross, Weller
Carlton: Casboult, Walker 3; Wright 2; Simpson, Lamb, Gibbs, Everitt

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
St Kilda: Steven, Membrey, Ross, Webster, Newnes, Hickey, Montagna
Carlton: Simpson, Wright, Docherty, Curnow, Thomas

BEST - HERALD SUN
St Kilda: Steven, Hickey, Membrey, Ross, Webster, Newnes, Weller
Carlton: Docherty, Simpson, Wright, Kerridge, Curnow, Casboult

INJURIES 
St Kilda: Lee (left knee)
Carlton: Nil

UMPIRES: Foot, Bannister, Dalgleish

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