June 26, 2010

St Kilda vs Geelong...

FOOTY is more a game of four quarters than it is a game of two halves. But tonight, it was much a game of two halves, keeping in theme with the World Cup. In a wet, dour struggle Geelong owned the first half while a spirited St Kilda came marching out of the race after the major break and held the Cats goalless in a half for the first time in nine years. The Saints midfield and backline were the stand outs. Their forward line still has some constructing to undertake with the return of their captain, but the work from Hayes, Montagna, Goddard and Dal Santo at the stoppages was second to none.
With a slightly-less than anticipated crowd watching on, the game got underway under the Friday night lights, live on the television. The rain drizzled down as the Saints dominated the ball early on. Defying the tough conditions, Gary Ablett snapped a clean goal into the Punt Rd end fence. The Cats looked to have a grasp on the game, but a 50 against Selwood (of all people) gifted Schneider a goal to put the Saints on the board. From that point on in the first quarter the game was surprisingly a high possession game, St Kilda attempted to control it fromtheir back half with their trademark style. Gilbert had six marks in the first quarter alone. With Ling going to Hayes, Dal Santo dominated to a certain extent early on. Young Jack Steven looked lively, but his two early shots both were off target. Schneider added a second and Ling literally stole the ball off Dal Santo in the pocket and nailed Geelong’s second to the end where numerous kicks dropped short at stages of the match.
After the tight first quarter, it wasn’t long before the game was wide open. Mooney again had the jitters in front of goal in his return match, but the three goals in a row from the Cats truly showed their position in the competition. Enright to Stokes, from the muddy centre of the MCG. Goal. Stevie J, back on the field after his suspected hand injury. Goal (albeit an unfashionable one). And Joel Selwood, oh so many clearances is what is easily the second best game of his career, 12 in total for the night. The Saints got the margin back to within seven points after some Dal Santo magic, a clearance followed up with a goal, but some Ablett magic, a phrase that is used more often, gave the game its sixth goal in 10 minutes. Milne missed a crucial snap, Mooney missed yet again and a couple of rushed behinds rounded out the quarter to give the Cats a 16-point lead, a lead which at that point seemed enough to hold a firm grip on the contest.
The spirited Saints came out in the second half and took it to the reigning premiers. Podsiadly affected a fantastic smother on Gwilt, just about the only good thing he did for the night. The Saints were rebounding the ball at will. Steven Baker received a whack in the eye from Johnson, one that was reminiscent of Bear Grylls’ bee sting from Man V Wild. Jack Steven exploded in the third term. A goal from a 50 metre penalty (again), another goal, and a brilliant goal on the run, dashing through traffic. All of a sudden, the Saints were in front, like what happened in the third quarter of last year’s Grand Final. Schneider snapped a high, high ball that squeezed home to add to the undisciplined Geelong side’s misery, and even Milne got into the action, after a quiet first three quarters. A clean scorecard was the reality for the Cats, who now looked completely lost on the MCG (apart from Selwood). Lenny Hayes was starring. 23 possessions, 12 tackles and six clearances up until three quarter time.
Geelong had their chances in the last quarter. But the Saints were more than content to slow down the game, playing kick to kick. Fisher to Gilbert. Gilbert to Montagna. Koschitzke had a run in the ruck, but he and the other three key forwards on the field had a negative influence on their team, it was a small man’s night. Schneider almost kicked his fifth, but neither team could add a goal. Geelong didn’t have one of their game breakers, if not their most important one, in Chapman. Mooney didn’t step up, nor did Bartel or Ablett when needed. Darren Milburn and Josh Hunt were getting plenty of the ball in the back line, but weren’t making the right decisions. A near-goalless final term was the scenario, but a free kick given away to Milne in the dying seconds resulted in the goal where there is that amazing crowd reaction. Siren.  The Saints had beaten the Cats, against the odds. They may top the ladder for the second consecutive year come finals.
After tonight’s loss, Geelong will re-group and most likely thrash North Melbourne at home. But questions linger: Is Cameron Mooney past his time, or is he just unfit? As we have seen in recent weeks, is the dominance of a key forward no longer (apart from Jack Riewoldt of course)?
This match wasn’t quite as good as the Grand Final, but it was an entertaining contest and a historic victory for the St Kilda Football Club.

St Kilda 2.1 4.3 9.6 10.10 (70)
Geelong 2.2 6.7 6.7 6.10 (46)
GOALS
St Kilda: Schneider 4, Steven 3, Milne 2, Dal Santo.
Geelong: Ablett 2, Ling, Mackie, Stokes, S Johnson.
BEST
St Kilda: Hayes, Montagna, Dal Santo, Goddard, Schneider, Gilbert, Gwilt, Steven.
Geelong: Selwood, Enright, Ablett.
Umpires: Rosebury, Stevic, S Ryan.  Crowd: 58,208 at the MCG.
My Votes: 3. Joel Selwood (GEEL), 2. Lenny Hayes (STK), 1. Leigh Montagna
(STK).

•Stephen Milne (l) and Andrew McQualter (#32) celebrate while Geelong players look on after the AFL round 13 match at the MCG. Michael Willson. The Slattery Media Group

• StumbleUpon
• Digg it
• Furl
• Yahoo! MyWeb
• Newsvine
• Facebook
• MySpace
• Delicious
• Kwoff

Print