Australian Football

Match Report

In a thrilling and controversial match at Subiaco, West Coast has come from behind to finish strongly and defeat St Kilda by 19-points on Saturday night. The Eagles trailed for much of the night and in fact did not lead at all in until hitting the front early in time on, kicking the last three goals of the match. A free-kick count of 23-8 in favour of the home side had some calling foul on the umpiring but the Saints were as much to blame as anyone else for their loss, with inaccurate kicking seeing them finish on 13.19 compared to West Coast's 18.8.

St Kilda went straight into attack as soon as the match started and had a behind on the board through Paddy McCartin after just 30 seconds. Seb Ross followed with another point before Jade Gresham kicked the Saints first major after a mark at the three-minute mark. Josh Bruce then grabbed the ball out of a ruck contest to kick St Kilda's second goal and the Saints added two further behinds to lead 16-0 after nine minutes. The Eagles got their first through Chris Masten at the 10-minute mark and then gradually worked their way into the match. They added another three goals for the term but St Kilda also kicked another four and led by 19 points at quarter time, having had nine more scoring shots than West Coast.

The Saints continued to attack when the second term began but also kept missing, adding to further behinds. West Coast then did the same before Mark LeCras kicked the first goal of the quarter at the 13-minute mark to cut St Kilda's lead to 13. McCartin kicked his second goal there minutes later to put the Saints three goals clear but Luke Shuey cut the margin back to 13 with a goal early in time on. The Eagles added two goals to one to see out the half and it was St Kilda by nine points at the long break.

West Coast came out strongly in the third quarter, and a goal to Jack Darling had the Eagles within two points after five minutes. The Saints respond with a major to Mav Weller after be received a free kick for high contact. Josh Kennedy goaled to reduce the margin to two once more but St Kilda again responded, this time through Bruce, and the margin was eight points after 13 minutes. The Saints then began to miss targets again, adding three more behinds before Jack Lonie snapped a goal to put them 17 points clear. The time on period belonged to the Eagles, however, and they added three goals to one in the period to trail by just six points at 'orange time'.

St Kilda drew first blood in the final term when Tim Membrey was paid a free kick and converted the goal to put his side 12 points ahead. The Saints added another behind through Lonie but a brace of goals to Kennedy had scores level after 15 minutes. Another miss, this time from McCartin put the Saints ahead by a point but a mark and goal at the 21-minute mark gave West Coast a lead it would not relinquish. The Eagles finished strongly with goals to Kennedy and Masten to escape with a 19-point win.

Luke Shuey's 11 tackles and 30 disposals went a long way towards ensuring the Eagles got over the line, while Andrew Gaff (36 possessions, six marks) also played a great game. For the Saints, Seb Ross (29 touches and five tackles) and Tom Hickey (44 hitouts and 14 touches) were influential.

The Eagles are now 2-0 after two rounds and will meet the also undefeated Richmond at the MCG on Saturday afternoon. St Kilda are unlucky to be 0-2 and will be looking to get a win on the board against Brisbane (0-2) at Docklands on Sunday.

GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 4; Hill 3; Shuey, Darling, Masten 2;Cripps, LeCras, Giles, Priddis, Vardy
St. Kilda: McCartin, Lonie, Bruce, Weller 2; Membrey, Gresham, Montagna, Acres, Dunstan.

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
West Coast: Shuey, Gaff, Yeo, Masten, Priddis, Kennedy
St. Kilda: Hickey, Dunstan, Ross, Brown, Gilbert, Montagna

BEST - WATODAY.COM.AU
West Coast: Shuey, Gaff, Yeo, McGovern, Wellingham, Kennedy
St. Kilda: Ross, Roberton, Brown, Hickey, Steven, Geary

INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
St. Kilda: Jack Steven (chest)

UMPIRES: Donlon, O’Gorman, Harris

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Brett Phillips, Jason Dunstall, Matthew Pavlich, Brian Lake