AFL: Power goes out as Saints make statement

St Kilda braved a third quarter onslaught but stormed home as Paddy Ryder starred against his former club.

St Kilda celebrate during their win over Port Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images

St Kilda waited six years to taste victory at Adelaide Oval, the Saints now have two victories there in less than a week.

For the first time since 2016, and just for the second time in a decade, the Saints have defeated the top of the ladder team with a 29-point win.

With 11 goals and no behinds after halftime the Saints showed will be right in the mix for finals in 2020, as they entered the top four with a massive scalp as they ended a run of eight straight losses to the Power.

As with their win over the Crows on Monday night, the Saints had to survive a third-quarter onslaught when the Power had nine forward 50 entries in a row but Port could not impact the scoreboard.

Dean Kent then hit the Power with a big sucker punch and then three straight Saints goals to open the fourth had St Kilda marching on.

Tim Membrey celebrates a goal. Picture: Getty Images

RUCK AND ROLLIN

Who said Rowan Marshall and Paddy Ryder couldn’t play in the same team?

After playing a starring role in the Saints last win with his tap work in the middle of the ground, Ryder produced more of the same against his former side.

Matched up Peter Ladhams, the new Saint schooled his old teammate in the middle of the ground.

Ryder finished off with 29 hit-outs, giving the Saints’ midfield the first look time and time again.

Shifted further forward, Marshall made a St Kilda attack that used to have Tim Membrey as its focal point a multi-headed beast both in the air and on the ground combining very well with young gun Max King and the Saints’ fleets of smalls.

Rowan Marshall was instrumental for the Saints. Picture: Getty Images

UNDER THE RADAR NO MORE

Darcy Byrne-Jones has flown under the radar for much of his Port Adelaide career.

He shouldn’t now as the rebounding defender continued the form that has him well and truly in the mix for an All-Australian selection.

Playing as Port’s highest defender Byrne-Jones caused havoc for the Saints with his rebound off half back.

It was surprising that the Saints didn’t put captain Jarryn Geary on him as they have to their opposition’s best defender in recent weeks.

Dan Houston gets chased down by Jack Sinclair. Picture: Sarah Reed

MAN OF STEELE

Champion Data had Travis Boak as Lachie Neale’s nearest Brownlow Medal rival during the week.

Jack Steele showed that he could very well be in the conversation after another sensational game in the middle.

Just a tagger no more, Steele is having a fine 2020 and he showed this with a dominant performance in the middle of the ground as the Saints smashed the Power in the clearances by 12.

He finished with 22 disposals, five clearances and 11 contested possessions and laid six tackles for good measure.

And after Boak had a fast start to the match Steele put the clamps on the Port superstar, who couldn’t get near the ball in the third quarter.

Paddy Ryder!

It doesn't get better than that against your old team 🤯#ColesGoals | #AFLPowerSaints pic.twitter.com/HArXJMnYuW

— AFL (@AFL) July 25, 2020

PORT ADELAIDE 2.1, 4.4, 6.6, 6.8 (44)

ST KILDA 1.1, 5.1, 7.1, 12.1 (73)

BEST

Port Adelaide: Byrne-Jones, Wines, Houston, Duursma, Powell-Pepper

St Kilda: Marshall, Steele, Hunter, Butler, Ryder

GOALS

Port Adelaide: Powell Pepper, Marshall, Gray, Georgiades, Duursma, Dixon

St Kilda: Butler, Ryder, Marshall, Membrey 2, King, Kent, Hind

INJURIES

Port Adelaide: Trent McKenzie (back) replaced by Justin Westhoff, Marshall (thumb)

St Kilda: Kent (knee), Hill (leg), Ross (calf)

VOTES

3 – Rowan Marshall (St Kilda)

2 – Darcy Byrne-Jones (Port Adelaide)

1 – Jack Steele (St Kilda)

Saturday’s AFL Results

North Melbourne 9.3 (57) lost to Carlton 9.10 (64)
Sydney 9.6 (60) defeated Hawthorn 7.11 (53)

The Advertiser