AFL: All the news out of the Round 17 clash between St Kilda and West Coast

West Coast was playing its fifth game in 19 days, without its entire 2018 premiership midfield, and lost Jeremy McGovern before halftime. All the Saints had to do was overrun the Eagles to secure a finals spot. They weren’t up to the task.

Saints leader Jarryn Geary will be ruing his side’s opportunity missed. Picture: Michael Klein

A top four finish looms for a depleted West Coast after an against the odds 15-point AFL win over St Kilda at a wet Gabba in the round 17 opener on Thursday night.

But the Saints’ hopes of playing finals footy for the first time since 2011 have taken a hit after they failed to overcome an Eagles side already missing five premiership-winning midfielders and reeling from a first half hamstring injury to key defender Jeremy McGovern.

SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE ON EAGLES’ INJURY WOE

The Eagles (11-6 record) overcame a fourth term Saints fightback to not only lock up a finals spot but provisionally leapfrog Richmond into fourth spot with one regular season clash left with the 9.11 (65) to 6.14 (50) result.

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Tom Cole’s after-the-siren goal put the cream on a win that secured a finals spot for the Eagles, and sent the players into rapture. Picture: Getty Images

The Saints (9-7) get one last chance to earn a finals spot if they defeat Greater Western Sydney next Friday.

St Kilda grabbed a 10-point first term lead but were held scoreless in the second quarter as the Eagles secured a 5.6 (36) to 3.5 (23) halftime buffer, despite Jeremy McGovern going down on injury.

After a goalless third term, the Saints kicked three majors in the fourth quarter’s first seven minutes to lead by eight but the Eagles responded with the final four including one from best on ground Tim Kelly (29 touches).

The match had finals-like pressure and the Eagles handled it best. Picture: Getty Images

SAINTS STALL AT GABBA

St Kilda get another chance to make a last gasp top eight tilt if they beat GWS with the potential finals return of veteran Dan Hannebery from a hamstring injury adding extra incentive.

But it could be argued that the Saints don’t deserve to play finals footy after failing to topple a heavily depleted Eagles.

St Kilda coach Brett Ratten’s game plan came under fire from Hawthorn mentor Alastair Clarkson just last round.

And more questions may be raised after the Saints could not overcome a makeshift Eagles midfield without not only McGovern but also premiership winners Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo, Mark Hutchings, Jack Redden and Dom Sheed.

Despite being armed with gun on-ballers Jack Steele and Bradley Hill and return of forwards Max King and Tim Membrey, the Saints missed a chance on Thursday to end almost a decade of despair for their long suffering fans with the loss.

A frustrated Ratten said the loss was “extremely disappointing.”

“We just got beaten in the contest and that’s where the game got flipped on its head,” Ratten said.

“We just let ourselves down.

“The ball is in our court ... it is entirely up to us (next week). Our destiny is still in our own hands.

“We can rebound from that loss, but we just can’t be inconsistent for long periods of the game.”

The Saints’ season is now in jeopardy. Picture: Michael Klein

St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt said the Saints only had themselves to blame for leaving their season in jeopardy.

“There are five teams to go into three spots - the Giants, St Kilda, Melbourne, Collingwood and the Bulldogs,” Riewoldt said on Fox Footy.

“They can still win (against the Giants) and they are in (the finals), but this is a really big missed opportunity.”

The round 17 clash marked nine years to the day since the club’s most recent final – a loss to Sydney in the 2011 elimination final.

Eagles tower of power Nic Naitanui had a monstrous second-half when the chips were down. Picture: Getty Images

WEST COAST EASE EAST COAST CONCERNS

West Coast defied their east coast hoodoo with just their fourth win in nine games in Queensland this season.

The Eagles had been flying high at home, enjoying a perfect 7-0 Perth record in 2020.

But the Sunshine State had largely led to doom and gloom for the Eagles, not a good sign as they looked to secure a top four finish and a double finals chance on Thursday.

West Coast had plenty of excuses to lose against Saints – their midfield was missing premiership winners like Luke Shuey and they were playing their fifth game in 19 days.

But they held on to secure their sixth straight finals campaign before their final Queensland game next round against North Melbourne.

They will then head home to the WA in preparation for a potential home final.

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SCOREBOARD

ST KILDA 3.5 3.5 3.9 6.14 (50)

lost to

WEST COAST 2.1 5.6 5.9 9.11 (65)

GOALS

Saints: Ryder, Membrey, Lonie, Ross, Butler, Marshall

Eagles: Darling 2, Allen 2, Ryan, Gaff, Kennedy, Kelly, Cole

LAINE CLARK’S BEST

Saints: J Steele H Clark Z Jones P Ryder

Eagles: T Kelly L Ryan N Naitanui T Barrass

LAINE CLARK’S VOTES

3 — T Kelly (West Coast)

2 — L Ryan (West Coast)

1 — J Steele (St Kilda)

INJURIES

Saints: TBC

Eagles: J McGovern (hamstring)

REPORTS: Nil

McGovern left the ground with a hamstring injury. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

MCGOVERN DOWN: PLAYERS PUSHED ‘OVER THE LIMIT’

Star West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern won’t play until the finals after suffering a hamstring injury against St Kilda at the Gabba, with Nick Riewoldt saying the exhausted Eagles are “on the edge” and “being pushed … over the limit.”

The Eagles’ premiership hopes could hinge on getting a host of their star players back for the finals, with the bye between the end of the home and away season and the finals providing some much needed extra recovery time.

Jeremy McGovern was left dazed and confused after copping one to the face in a marking contest. Picture: Getty Images

McGovern would be hoping to return for the Eagles’ first final, but all that depends on the severity of his injury, which scans will determine.

He sat downcast on the bench in his tracksuit throughout the second half, but was animated in his support for his team at halftime.

Riewoldt said West Coast had been pushed hard with five games in 19 days, with McGovern playing in every one of those contests before limping off during the second term of Thursday night’s game.

“They’re on the edge, the players, they are being pushed as far as, and sometimes over the limit,” Riewoldt said on Fox Footy.

“We even heard from (coach) Adam Simpson that the players’ bodies aren’t designed necessarily to be able to back up week after week. When those weeks are seven days, it’s hard enough, when it’s four and five and you’re travelling (it’s tough).”

Simpson said the Eagles would now sweat on scans to determine the severity of McGovern’s injury.

“We have lost McGovern, so we have to work through that,” Simpson said.

“It didn’t look like a twinge. We will find out in the next few days.”

West Coast’s injury list has almost reached a crisis point now.

They went into Thursday night’s game missing their entire 2018 premiership midfield with Dom Sheed (hamstring), Luke Shuey (hamstring), Elliot Yeo (osteitis pubis) and Jack Redden (thumb). Lewis Jetta (calf), Mark Hutchings (hamstring) and Brendon Ah Chee (finger) are also missing.