St Kilda’s victory over GWS is one of the finest wins in Alan Richardson’s coaching career

IT was the Rocky IV remake at Etihad Stadium with the underdog Saints landing the knockout blow on the star-studded Giants.

Jade Gresham celebrates a goal in St Kilda’s big win over GWS. Picture: AAP Images

IT was the Rocky IV remake at Etihad Stadium.

Like Rocky Balboa in the Hollywood classic, St Kilda entered the game as the blue-collar underdog, up against the more athletically-gifted and highly-talented Giants.

In the movie, Ivan Drago had all the hi-tech training equipment, perhaps just like clear favourite Greater Western Sydney has had all the high draft picks.

And for the bulk of the first three quarters last night, you thought the Giants were merely toying with their opponents, and would land the knockout blow.

ROUND 7 TEAMS: WHO MADE THE FINAL CUT?

ROUND 7 TIPS: WHO ARE THE EXPERTS PICKING?

But in what is one of the finest wins of Alan Richardson’s coaching career, it was the Saints which stunned their more fancied rivals with a six-goal flurry in the final term to chalk a 23-point victory under the roof. And as Josh Bruce emphatically tugged at his jumper after bagging the club’s third-straight major, bringing a small St Kilda crowd to their feet, the Saints pricked at the invincibility of a Greater Western Sydney team which was tipped in some quarters to win every home and away game this season.

Tim Membrey celebrates a crucial goal against GWS. Picture: AAP Images

It was a watershed victory for the Saints and for all the talk about how the club is missing a big fish star midfielder the onball crew led by Jack Steven, Seb Ross, Jack Billings and half back runners Dylan Roberton and Jimmy Webster kept running when the Giants faded in the last term burst. It was an emphatic answer from the Saints midfield which answered the coach’s call after Richardson bluntly said it was time the midfield brigade stepped up after they were beaten by the Cats a fortnight ago. And that they did, winning the clearances 49-38 and inside 50s 57 to 46. All against a side which had supposedly created the biggest gap in talent on the rest of the competition the game has ever seen.

Versatile ball winner Blake Acres also played a critical role in the win, nailing back to back goals at the start of the last term, outworking his man with an excellent second effort to get the second goal.

The Giants again threatened to run away in the third term as they shot out to a 17-point lead.

In his first game back from injury, Phil Davis made a courageous spoil jumping back with the flight which sparked another trademark counter-attack goal, as Steve Johnson hit Tom Scully running into an open 50m. But Jade Gresham and Darren Minchington came alive at ground level inside 50m and Tim Membrey stalked Heath Shaw who made some uncharacteristic errors at a crucial period.

Shaw was still one of the Giants’ best, along with Scully, Callan Ward, Josh Kelly and Dylan Shiel but the loss of Adam Kennedy with an anterior cruciate ligament injury early in the game impacted the rotations. And the forward line was not as dangerous as recent weeks, with Jeremy Cameron and Devon Smith misfiring.

St Kilda’s second term will be one the club uses a reference point for the rest of the season.

C'mon!!!!!!! Stuveyyyyy

— Maverick Weller (@Maverickweller) May 5, 2017

Love watching a developing team grow up in a pivotal game. @stkildafc maturing, exciting for Saints fans

— Swatta (@WayneSchwass) May 5, 2017

After an unconvincing start, the Saints’ pressure went through the roof in that second term, helping derail the Giants’ slick ball use and forcing them into turnovers.

The Giants freewheeled down the corridor in the first term and appeared headed for a percentage-boosting win before the Saints upped their tackling efforts.

Suddenly, this daring and polished GWS team got the jitters with the ball in hand and were disallowed easy passage down the middle.

Josh Bruce sends the Saints forward on Friday night. Picture: Michael Klein

It’s that grit, and that desperation that defines Alan Richard’s men, as they look for more class and star midfield factor in this year’s trade and free agency periods.

Unsurprisingly, blue-collar captain Jarryn Geary led the cause with six first-half tackles, while Koby Stevens could find himself in trouble with the match review panel for a heavy tackle which slammed Nathan Wilson’s head into the ground.

Ironically, Stevens won the free kick, but could yet be banned for the same act, depending on whether the panel believes the tackle was one or two motions.

And they took their chances in attack, with Nathan Wright snapping from the boundary, Dylan Roberton landing a 50m bomb off a holding-the-ball free kick and Tim Membrey out-marked Harrison Himmelberg in the teeth of goal, in the second-term swing.

To that point, former Magpie Nathan Brown continued his excellent month, giving Jonathon Patton a bath deep inside 50m. The Saints landed him cheaply in last year’s trade period and he continues to provide more than handy value, filling a glaring key defensive void.

After a quiet start, Patton took his first mark late in the second term and nailed his first goal with another dead-straight tight-angled set shot from near the boundary.

Steve Johnson also cooled in the second term after a hot start. His spot in the team had been put under the blowtorch this week but the champion forward had an electric opening in the first quarter.

Billy Longer was impressive in the ruck against Shane Mumford. Picture: Michael Klein

With rivals swarming, the veteran Giant fed out a blinding handpass to a running Devon Smith, which created a Tim Taranto goal early in the first term.

He has averaged 15 possessions per game this year but Johnson had a team-high 11 at the first change before slowing in the Saints’ second-term charge.

Originally published as St Kilda’s victory over GWS is one of the finest wins in Alan Richardson’s coaching career