Australian Football

Match Report

In one of the more bizarre matches of the 2013 season, St Kilda has delivered a 71-point hiding to the finals-bound Fremantle Dockers at Docklands stadium on Saturday afternoon. Such a result between a side placed 16th on the ladder and one sitting in the top four would normally be regarded as a huge upset.

But, as has been the case in several last-round matches in recent seasons, there were extenuating circumstances. Coach Ross Lyon chose to rest more than a few Fremantle regulars, and a result the Dockers' team contained no fewer than 11 changes to the team that defeated Port Adelaide in round 22.

St Kilda took full advantage of playing an under-strength side, holding the Dockers scoreless in the first term and putting the game beyond doubt with a three-goal-to-one third term. The Saints used the match to pay tribute to three retiring players, Stephen Milne, Jason Blake and Justin Koschitzke, and the 12-goal win was a fine send-off.

Best for the Saints included Leigh Montagna and Jack Steven, who each had an amazing 47 touches, with Montagna kicking two goals and Steven one. Tom Curren (26 touches and a goal) also played a fine game. For Fremantle, which included three debutants in its team, the best players were Tendai Mzungu (18 possessions), Ryan Crowley (28 disposals) and Michael Barlow (21 touches).

The win brought a tough season for St Kilda to a nice finish. The Saints' win was just their fifth for the season. As an added bonus, they had 510 possessions, setting a new AFL record.

Fremantle ends its season in fourth place, and the Dockers will meet Geelong at Kardinia Park in next Saturday's Second Qualifying Final, the first final since 1897 to be played at that venue.

GOALS
St Kilda: Lee 3; Riewoldt, Milne, Montagna 2; Hayes, Ledger, Ross, Steven, McEvoy, Curren, Blake
Fremantle: Hannath, Simpson, Taberner, De Boer, Pavlich, Crozier

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
St Kilda: Steven, Curren, Montagna, Dal Santo, Geary, Dempster, Jones, Gilbert
Fremantle: Mzungu, Crowley, Barlow

BEST - THE SUNDAY AGE
St Kilda: Montagna, Steven, Dal Santo, Curren, Geary, Blake, Dempster, Hayes
Fremantle: Barlow, Mzungu, Crowley, de Boer

COACHES' COMMENTS
Scott Watters (StK): Coming out of the Geelong loss you look at the fixture ahead and you have Hawthorn, you have Sydney, you have Fremantle, so the group were really strong on setting a direction and improving our game against three of the top four sides and I can stand here and say that the performance against Sydney, Hawthorn and Fremantle were very, very good.

Ross Lyon (Frem): I was disappointed. We should have been able to play a little bit better, but we've moved on pretty quickly. We've got a pretty exciting time with the double chance. We'll get back and have a good week on the track. We're the only team in Perth in the finals so it's pretty exciting for us. A big adventure lays in front of us.

INJURIES
St Kilda: Moller (cut eye), Roberton (right ankle)
Fremantle: Pearce (calf)

SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Justin Koschitzke replaced Dylan Roberton (ankle) in the third quarter
Fremantle: Craig Moller replaced Clancee Pearce (calf) in the first quarter

UMPIRES: Schmidt, Hay, Jeffery

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Hamish McLachlan, Basil Zempilas, Tom Harley, Tim Watson,