AFL Round 13 St Kilda v Gold Coast: All the news and fallout after Saints hold on in Marvel Stadium thriller

It was an ugly game of football, one that was devoid of any high-level skill, writes RONNY LERNER. But the match came alive in the final term as the Saints held on in a nail-biting finish.

Ronny Lerner

4 min read

June 9, 2024 - 6:19AM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

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Gold Coast’s nightmarish road form continued on Saturday night after it was strangled by bottom-four St Kilda to the tune of three points in a thrilling, but dour, affair at Marvel Stadium.

With 7:28 remaining in the match, Suns co-captain Touk Miller gave his team the lead for the first time when he snapped truly from 30m out, after they trailed by 21 in the second quarter.

And Ben Ainsworth thought he sealed the game for Gold Coast with 6:11 left when he had a ping from 50m out on a sharp angle, but Anthony Caminiti got a touch on the ball which was partially, but not completely, over the goal line, restricting the Suns’ buffer to three points.

The moment of the game came with 3:13 on the clock when Suns defender Mac Andrew was penalised for holding Max King illegally way off the ball and gifted the Saints forward a free kick from 25m out which King converted to put the Saints back up by three points.

Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick labelled the free kick paid against Andrew, as “unwarranted”.

“It was clearly, in my view, a free kick that was unwarranted,” Hardwick said post-match.

“Those guys are battling all day. The umpire calls it. That’s his job. But unwarranted for mine.

“There is going to be contact, and incidental contact, from time to time.

“It’s a challenge. The game is incredibly tough and we understand that, but as long as they (umpires) are consistent, that’s all we ask for.”

Touk Miller put his side in front for the first in the final quarter. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

But Max King responded minutes later. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

The Suns had one last chance to re-take the lead with 100 seconds on the clock but Ben King’s set shot from 50m out on the boundary failed to make the distance, ensuring the Saints a 79 (51) to 7.6 (48) victory.

The Suns had the chance to enter the top four this weekend if they won, but their quest for legitimacy away from home continues. Gold Coast has now lost its last 13 games outside of south-east Queensland or Darwin.

But aside from the nail-biting finish, this was a contest with few highlights that was devoid of high-level skill from either side.

It was an ugly game of football, with scoring opportunities at a premium, and that’s just how the Saints liked it.

The Suns averaged 112 points in their previous four games, but St Kilda coach Ross Lyon wasn’t having any of that, applying the shackles to the extreme in trademark style to keep Gold Coast to their second-lowest score of the year.

The Saints dominated clearances (35-25), contested possessions (134-114) and inside 50s (56-45), but their poor forward-line efficiency and delivery kept the Suns in the game.

But St Kilda was prepared to allow the Suns to chip the ball around. Gold Coast averaged 74 uncontested marks prior to Saturday night, yet finished with a staggering 125 as St Kilda’s defence, led by Josh Battle and Callum Wilkie, held firm despite the early loss of Dougal Howard (hamstring) in the first quarter.

Paddy Dow tackles Noah Anderson. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

“It was a terrible game of footy, if I’m perfectly honest. A horrific game of footy,” a frustrated Hardwick said post-match.

“We were a part of it, sort of thing, but its not a game that I love to be honest.

“It was 125 uncontested marks (for Gold Coast) going backwards, sideways. We couldn’t find a way through.

“Credit where credit’s due. They defended really well. It’s a different defence than we’ve been up against before.

“We sort of knew it was coming, but we just didn’t handle it too well and it was a dour struggle.”

Rowan Marshall had a big influence in the ruck again with 19 disposals (13 contested), 24 hitouts and seven clearances, and, after blanketing young West Coast star Harley Reid last week, Marcus Windhager continued his hot tagging form by taking the scalp of Suns co-captain Miller (14 disposals).

For the Suns, Sam Flanders racked up a career-high 42 disposals, while Sam Collins, Alex Sexton and Bodhi Uwland all played fantastic games in defence.

BUTLER BOUNCES BACK

One of the rare highlights of the match came in the first term when Dan Butler was brought to ground by Will Graham, but the Sun’s tackle didn’t stick, allowing the Saints forward to spring back to his feet, steady and bounce it home with a snap shot from 25m out. Butler was important with three goals.

Mac Andrew and Max King fly. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

BERRY BRILLIANCE

Late in the second term, Gold Coast’s Tom Berry displayed impressive ingenuity while running inside his forward 50. Just as Jack Sinclair was about to close him down from the front, Berry caught sight of Ainsworth with the corner of his eye and executed a sensational checkside pass that hit Ainsworth on the chest. Ainsworth completed the play with a converted set shot from 35m out in front.

UWLAND, YOU BEAUTY

Emerging Gold Coast defender Uwland made a cracking start to the final quarter as he first flew back into the path of big Max King and took an extremely courageous mark, and a few minutes later he got a desperate finger on Butler’s shot for goal which the score reviewer confirmed was a behind instead of a six-pointer and kept St Kilda’s lead to a manageable nine points.