2015 AFL season: St Kilda defeats Melbourne by 37 points at MCG in Round 17

ST KILDA kicked six goals in the third quarter to set up victory over Melbourne in a dour affair at the MCG.

Sam Edmund

3 min read

July 26, 2015 - 8:29PM

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 26: Jack Newnes of the Saints is congratulated by Adam Schneider after kicking a goal during the round 17 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the St Kilda Saints at Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 26, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

THE game was ugly, the weather was ugly and the low crowd was ugly.

But in footy as in life, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and St Kilda will find in Sunday’s 37-point win over Melbourne — its sixth of an encouraging season — as attractive as any other.

In truth, this was a forgettable affair in which the Demons and Saints blundered their way around a sodden MCG in front of just 22,945 fans.

The ball use of both sides, particularly Melbourne, was atrocious. The Demons found new and inventive ways to turn the ball over, seemingly determined to over-possess it on a day that demanded basic footy.

That’s exactly what the Saints delivered in a match-defining third quarter when driving rain lashed the ground, kicking 6.1 to 2.3 to take the contest away from Melbourne.

The final score was 12.11 (83) to 6.10 (46). Melbourne hasn’t beaten St Kilda since the 2006 elimination final — now a sequence of 12 games. Back-to-back victories hasn’t been achieved since 2011.

St Kilda bludgeoned the wet ball forward at all costs. Incredibly, the Demons handballed more often than they kicked in near apocalyptic weather.

Maverick Weller and Jack Lonie celebrate a final-term goal. AAP Image/Julian Smith.

Melbourne finished with 178 kicks and 195 handballs compared to St Kilda’s 178 kicks and 118 handballs. The Demons, as a result, found themselves running around in circles like the hordes of seagulls above.

Jesse Hogan looked dangerous, but didn’t see enough footy opposed to Sam Fisher. Melbourne, a notoriously shy inside 50m outfit, put the ball inside its attacking arc just 44 times.

When the Demons weren’t drowning in their own mistakes, they were being paralysed by St Kilda’s manic tackling pressure. The Saints laid 83 tackles, but significantly in the wet conditions, they stuck, too.

They overpowered Melbourne, winning clearances, contested ball and racking up 13 more forward entries.

The even contribution will please coach Alan Richardson, but his defenders were superb. Dylan Roberton had 23 possessions at 100 per efficiency and eight marks. Beside him Sean Dempster had 23 and 10 marks — two contested.

Jack Newnes dives on the ball in front of Jack Watts and Jack Viney. Picture: Wayne Ludbey.

Jimmy Webster silenced Jeff Garlett and went back under a high ball with enormous courage in front of a charging Chris Dawes. Another defender, Sam Gilbert, again played off a wing and pumped the ball inside 50m six times on that left foot from 20 touches.

At the other end, Nick Riewoldt looked far from 100 per cent, but took 13 marks and kicked three goals. No. 1 draft pick Paddy McCartin showed some real signs with nine marks — two contested.

St Kilda will be satisfied, but Melbourne should be extremely disappointed. The Demons controlled the midfield — Jack Viney was the best player on the ground in his tagging job on Jack Steven, Daniel Cross beat Leigh Montagna and Bernie Vince got the better of a hobbled David Armitage.

St Kilda was so utterly dominant in the opening half-hour it was amazing they only found themselves up by 20 points at the first break and just seven at half-time.

Nick Riewoldt completes a high mark in front of Neville Jetta and Jack Grimes. Picture: Wayne Ludbey.

Paul Roos elected to play Tom McDonald beside Hogan inside attacking 50m from the opening bounce this week, despite St Kilda again loading up with Riewoldt, McCartin and Josh Bruce in its front half.

The Saints trio had plenty of opportunity, but initially struggled to find space amid a sea of retreating red and blue.

Melbourne’s kicking was horrible from the opening bounce, but there was sympathy for many a ball carrier who looked up to see nothing ahead. The Dees just didn’t work hard enough to provide an option on the spread and often put the man with the pill under enormous pressure.

When they did have options they took far too long to A) Identify them and B) Get it to them.

MELBOURNE 1.2 3.6 5.9 6.10 (46)

ST KILDA 4.4 4.7 10.8 12.11 (83)

GOALS

Melbourne: N Jones, Dawes, Tyson, Hogan, Garlett, Gawn

St Kilda: Riewoldt 3, Dunstan 2, Savage, Sinclair, Lonie, McCartin, Newnes, Bruce, Weller

INJURIES

Melbourne: McDonald (left eye)

St Kilda: Armitage (shin), Webster (ribs)

SUBSTITUTES

Melbourne: Viv Michie replaced Aaron vandenBerg in the third quarter

St Kilda: Eli Templeton replaced Hugh Goddard at three-quarter time