‘Worst AFL game of all-time’: Fans turn on Saints-Kangaroos shocker

St Kilda have stayed in the top four of the AFL but they won’t be rushing back to watch their match against North Melbourne in a hurry.

The relief after an actual goal. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

It’s lucky for St Kilda that all that matters is who wins and not how they win.

The Saints pulled off a 8.16 (64) to 4.10 (34) win at Marvel Stadium to move up to third on the AFL ladder but as the sides could hardly buy a goal until the second half.

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The first quarter was a shambles, with the sides kicking three behinds each before Dan Butler kicked the first, and only, goal of the quarter.

It ended up 1.6 (12) to 0.4 (4) at quarter time.

Twitter statistician @sirswampthing revealed it was the most inaccurate first quarter ever played at the Docklands stadium.

The first game at the stadium was in 2000, which makes it a remarkable low, as 1043 matches have been played at the ground.

The Kangaroos also equalled the 10th lowest score at the ground.

The second was not much better as the Saints led 3.9 (27) to 0.7 (7) at the break.

Is it thanking the fans or apologising to the fans? Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

From there, the match started to hit a little bit of rhythm but the Saints had already set up the win despite the wayward kicking.

But it was a game that didn’t reach any heights and was rightly slammed.

This is the worst AFL game of all-time

— Marc McGowan 🗣✍️👨🏻‍💻📰 (@ByMarcMcGowan) May 7, 2023

Sorry, but the Saints do not look like a top 4 side. #AFLSaintsRoos

— Patrick Ryen (@PatrickRyen) May 7, 2023

If you’re not watching saints and roos playing one of the worst games of all time right now. 1.8 to 0.6.

Worth watching for car crash value #aflnorthsaints

— Al Paton (@al_superfooty) May 7, 2023

this is the worst quality game for years #afl#aflroossaints#aflsaintsnorth#aflnorthsaints

— Anthony Kernich (@AntJKernich) May 7, 2023

Even worse not to get the points. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Speaking after the game, Nathan Buckley was left searching for ways to explain the match.

“A 30-point win isn’t huge in modern day football but it’s nearly double the opposition’s score,” he said.

“St Kilda did what they had to — it wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t sharp and it had missed opportunities everywhere.

“There were elements that stacked up to what we’ve seen the first seven rounds. They’ll take that one and move on.”

On Fox Footy’s Bounce, Jason Dunstall said: “I can’t say it was the most exciting game I’ve ever seen but that’s what happens sometimes.”

Basketball great Andrew Gaze said: “It was the final game of the weekend and I bet fans would have been begging for refunds.”

Originally published as ‘Worst AFL game of all-time’: Fans turn on Saints-Kangaroos shocker