AFL Round 10 St Kilda v Fremantle: All the analysis and fallout as Dockers land another blow to Ross Lyon’s Saints

The Ross Lyon Cup wasn’t exactly grandstand viewing, writes Eliza Reilly. But there was only one team that did what needed to be done in a dour affair. So, is that it for the Saints in 2024?

Eliza Reilly and Max Hatzoglou

5 min read

May 19, 2024 - 7:38AM

AFL

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The Ross Lyon Cup wasn’t exactly grandstand viewing.

Justin Longmuir’s Dockers were looking to bounce back from an emotional week and remain in touching distance of the top eight.

Lyon’s season was on the canvas. One more dud move and the Saints could all but give up on a September return.

Enter a battle of the defences.

Both clubs were up to the task, led by lieutenants well-versed in the art of strangulation.

Fremantle arrived at Marvel Stadium as the second-best defensive team in the league. St Kilda has had its defensive DNA questioned this season but nobody can park a bus like Lyon.

It was always going to be a matter of which team could make the most of their opportunities up forward.

And while the Dockers threatened to let another case of the yips be their downfall, they made their goals count.

Anthony Caminiti takes a big mark against the Dockers on Saturday night. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Anthony Caminiti got the Saints off to a flyer in the second half with the first three scoring shots.

His took a brilliant mark before slotting the next two scoring shots through for back-to-back goals in his return game to give the Saints a 10-point lead.

His forward teammate Mitch Owens also took a brilliant grab earlier in the second quarter which will put the pair in the running for mark of the round.

Owens kicked three-first half goals but it was the Dockers who took control after the main break.

Four straight behinds greeted Fremantle at the start of the fourth term. It could’ve been three if the score review system didn’t detect the slightest bend in the finger as Jeremy Sharp’s kick cleared the line.

That moment could’ve been demoralising. But the Dockers didn’t drop their heads and turned over the inbound kick as Josh Treacy gave them valuable breathing space.

Enter Jaeger O’Meara. A nice addition to Fremantle without cementing a spot on the inside, his two goals in the final term sealed an important road win.

Rowan Marshall and Luke Jackson went head-to-head in an epic battle. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

It’s rare that the two ruckmen are two of the most influential players on the ground. But as Fox Footy expert Cameron Mooney commented at three quarter time, it was like watching a reincarnation of Polly Farmer.

Rowan Marshall had the better of Luke Jackson. But not by much. Marshall finished with 31 disposals, 38 hitouts and eight clearances. Jackson had 25, 40 and 10.

Caleb Serong had the company of Marcus Windhager but battled through the attention to finish with 30 touches. Jordan Clark had a day out at half-back. As did Luke Ryan.

But while a win is a win and the Dockers will happily take the four points and run, it was far from convincing.

When Nat Fyfe put his shot on goal out on the full in the first half, it should’ve been a sign of what was to come…a 9.18 (72) scoreline.

Michael Walters has been a long and sublime servant for Fremantle. But he’s seriously struggled to have an impact in recent weeks. He works hard but he appears to be lacking in confidence and that’s resulting in poor decisions when he does get his hands on the footy.

Why Walters decided to try and kick a torpedo goal early in the fourth quarter is bemusing. He was never going to make the distance. So hit the top of the square and hope.

Sam Switkowski does a lot of nice team things and makes the players around him better. But the reality is that he hasn’t kicked a goal since round four. He’s kicked three this season from seven games.

Josh Treacy and Bailey Banfield celebrate a Fremantle goal. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Jimmy Webster’s hit on Michael Frederick. Picture: Michael Klein

Michael Frederick could’ve had an impact on a fast deck at Marvel Stadium. But he was wiped out in a sickening knock early in the game, one that is bound to land Jimmy Webster in hot water for the second time this year. Sub Tom Emmett was his replacement and while he brings plenty of intensity, he couldn’t hit the scoreboard either.

With Fremantle’s smalls struggling to have an influence, it was up to the big guys.

SSP signing Pat Voss got a second run in the side when Sean Darcy failed to recover from a calf injury. And he genuinely looks like he’s up to the level. He picks his moments well and is strong on the lead. But marks inside 50 don’t count for much if you can’t convert them.

Jye Amiss has been in the spotlight after Longmuir called out some untoward attention off the ball. The umpires appear to have afforded him a bit more protection but it doesn’t mean much if you still don’t take your chances. Amiss kicked three points, followed by two goals, followed by another two points, including one attempt that would’ve given the Dockers valuable breathing space.

Down the other end, Josh Draper’s limitations were exposed. Alex Pearce was outmarked a few times by Max King but the young Saint didn’t make him pay.

Mitch Owens nearly did, kicking three goals for the game. He could teach the Dockers a thing or two about goalkicking.

Luke Ryan starred again in defence for the Dockers. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

LYON: LOTS TO LEARN FOR SAINTS

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says he is “bitterly disappointed” after his side were smashed in the second half against Fremantle, giving away more than double the scoring shots to go down by 17 points at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.

In what was a crucial game to get their season back on track, the Saints were belted in the midfield as they gave up seven scoring shots to 16 in the final two quarters to suffer their fifth loss in six games - 8.7 (55) to 9.18 (72).

Lyon said the game was “very difficult” for his side after the Dockers got on top in clearances (49-34) and inside 50’s (53-45), particularly in the last half.

“First half, we were actually quite pleased 28 entries to 21, it felt like in a way we left a little bit on the table,” he said.

Lyon’s Saints again struggled to score. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“A few things we came in to do, (we did), we controlled Serong, we were always worried about their midfield and their potential dominance so we were doing some things that were working for us.

“And then, they got well on top around the ground, stoppages, got ground position and really from there, we just couldn’t wrestle it back from our back-half with the possession game.

“We lost our front-half game that we had.

“I thought they dominated midfield, clearances outside of centre bounce, we were trying to do enough to stem the bleeding.

“We got some entry late in the fourth but it was only their inaccuracy that kept us anywhere near it to be honest.

“So were really disappointed, we made a lot of changes (six), we will keep turning things over, keep educating.”

The Dockers kicked a horror 9.18 in the encounter off the back of 4.15 the week before against Sydney.

But coach Justin Longmuir said other parts of his side’s game were of more concern.

“We will just get to work on our execution, that’s all you can do, and make sure that it’s not our full focus because our full focus needs to be on other areas of the game,” he said.

“Sometimes it’s harder to get the shots than finish them off.

“I thought 17 marks inside-forward 50 against a really good backline, so we are doing a lot right.

“The finishing will come, we just got to keep working at it and chipping away.”

The Saints are now 3-7 following the loss while Freo’s record improves to 6-4.