AFL St Kilda v Gold Coast: Saints pull off thrilling final quarter comeback to pinch win

Up against it at three-quarter-time, St Kilda sparked themselves into action in a barnstorming final term to claim a scrappy win.

St Kilda awoke from its fumbling slumber to run over the top of a fatigued Gold Coast and claim a scrappy nine-point win at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.

The Saints trailed by 15 points at three-quarter time but kicked four unanswered goals in the final term to march to their fourth victory of 2021.

St Kilda dominated clearances and enjoyed all the field position and possession with Jack Billings, Jack Higgins, Paddy Ryder and Brad Crouch booting the goals to crash the 200-game milestone party for the Gold Coast’s Brandon Ellis.

The Suns ground to a halt in the last term as the St Kilda midfield of Zak Jones, Jack Billings, Crouch and Jack Steele guided their side home after almost kicking themselves out of the contest in the first three quarters.

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Ruckman Paddy Ryder celebrates a goal with his teammates. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Saints skipper Steele briefly put his side in front early in the third term but the Suns responded with the next three goals through Josh Corbett, Nick Holman and Lachie Weller to take a 15-point buffer into the last change.

In the context of the low-scoring arm wrestle, it was a third quarter blitz from the Suns.

The sides were locked together at 3.7 (25) apiece at halftime after a sloppy first half when swarming defensive pressure produced poor skill execution and bad decision making.

The only genuine entertainment from the opening two quarters came after the halftime siren with a rolling all-in melee with the only serious damage done being that to the wallets of the players involved.

Game on!#AFLSunsSaintspic.twitter.com/dg4zEr5tou

— AFL (@AFL) May 8, 2021

LEAKY DEFENCE

The post-match review is going to be uncomfortable for the St Kilda backline.

Twice in the second quarter, the Gold Coast’s Izak Rankine was free to roam his forward 50 without an opponent.

He snuck forward after coming off the interchange bench to set-up Ben King’s second goal then he kicked a major of his own after pushing forward from the midfield.

IT’S ON! TENSIONS BOILOVER IN HEATED BRAWL

—Jordan Pinto

A dour, low-scoring affair between the Saints and Suns exploded on the half-time siren, with players coming from all parts of Metricon Stadium as a bit of push-and-shove escalated.

Max King and Paddy Ryder were in the thick of it for St Kilda before Dan Butler hurried in to lend a hand but Gold Coast defender Sean Lemmens was waiting.

Tensions boiled over at Metricon Stadium at half-time. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

The players came from everywhere. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Lemmens picked up Butler and slammed him on the ground in what Fox Footy commentator Mark Howard described as a “wrestling-style” move.

The fracas continued for several minutes as every player on the field congregated in the Saints’ forward pocket, before the umpires separated the two sides as they made their way into the rooms for the main break.

WATCH THE INCIDENT ON THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

Gold Coast made a fast start before St Kilda found their groove in the second term booting three of the final four goals of the quarter to tie the game.

Suns coach Stuart Dew urged his men to be discipline in the second-half.

“If we go overboard with that, we’ll give away easy free kicks,” Dew said on Fox Footy.

GAME FIT FOR A KING

Marni King got an early Mother’s Day present with her sons Ben (Gold Coast) and Max (St Kilda) facing off at the same ground, at the same time.

Sporting a scarf that was half Suns and half Saints in the Metricon Stadium stands, Mrs King saw Ben kick three goals while Max had the one major but left Carrara with the four premiership points.

Ben King had the better day of the two King’s, but did not take home the win. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

LATE WITHDRAWAL’S SPECIAL DAY

St Kilda’s Seb Ross had two very good reasons to be a late out for the visitors. Ross’ wife Marnie gave birth to twins on Friday which also happened to be Ross’ 28th birthday. The dual best-and-fairest winner missed St Kilda’s charter flight north on Friday and was replaced by Mason Wood in St Kilda’s 22.

SCOREBOARD

SUNS: 1.4 3.7. 7.9. 7.12 (54)

ST KILDA: 0.3 3.7. 4.12 8.15 (63)

GOALS

SUNS: B.King 3, Rankine, Corbett, Holman, Weller

ST KILDA: Steele 2, Billings 2, M.King, Higgins, Ryder, Crouch

Greg Davis’ best:

SUNS: Miller, Swallow, Powell, Ellis, Collins, Greenwood

ST KILDA: Jones, Billings, Steele, Crouch, Ryder, Higgins

Crowd: 9271

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

3: Zak Jones

2: Touk Miller

1: Jack Billings