Australian Football

Match Report

St Kilda has arrested a three-game losing streak and kept its top-eight hopes alive with a 17-point win over North Melbourne at Docklands on Friday night. The final margin was far to flattering for the Kangaroos, who were 38 points behind at the long break, the game almost as good as over. The game degenerated as a spectacle after the long break, with the Saints perhaps coming away a little disappointed at having missed a chance to boost their percentage. North put in an improved final term, kicking six goals to the Saints' three, but the match was over by then, as is probably the Roos' season, the result leaving them 16th on the ladder and two games plus percentage out of the eight.

North Melbourne actually started the match the stronger of the two sides, with a lovely long goal to Jarrad Waite giving the nominal home side an early lead. But Josh Bruce responded for St Kilda soon after, and Jack Billings gave the Saints another at the nine-minute mark to set them on a roll. The Roos kicked a couple of behinds after that but when St Kilda kicked another three majors in a row after that - one each to Dylan Roberton, Blake Acres and Billings - the lead was 23 points. The two sides both missed chances of the next 10 minute, kicking five behinds between them before a late goal to Ryan Clarke had North back within 16 points at quarter time.

The Saints' defence proved virtually impenetrable in the second quarter, North's only score for the term a behind to Shaun Higgins at the 19-minute mark. But St Kilda couldn't capitalise on its dominance in the first half of the quarter, with Jack Lonie, Billings, Lonie again and Luke Dunstan all missing chances. The Saints straightened up in front of goal after that, however, and majors to Tim Membrey and Jack Steven (twice) saw them 38 points clear at the half.

Looking to go right on with the job, St Kilda attacked heavily in the early stages of the third quarter but couldn't find the big sticks. Jade Gresham, Nick Riewoldt and Koby Stevens all missed gettable shots, taking the margin  out to 41 points but leaving the door slightly ajar for the Kangaroos. North did mount somewhat of a challenge from there, and goals to Clarke and Todd Goldstein reduced the margin to 29 points after 12 minutes. The Saints then re-assumed control but against wasted chances, adding three behinds before Jack Sinclair found the target at the 25-minute mark. The Roos added two behinds of their own before the three-quarter time sounded with them an even six goals in arrears.

Saints' fans would have been hoping to see their teams go on with the job in the final quarter and when Tim Membrey goaled inside the first minute, that looked a distinct possibility. But North broke even from there until the middle of the term and then actually piled on the goals in the last quarter of an hour, kicking five of the last six to cut a 42-point deficit down to 17 at the finish, a slightly disappointing finish for St Kilda, but nevertheless an important win that keeps within percentage of a place in the eight.

Seb Ross (32 possessions and six tackles) and Jack Sinclair (21 touches and a goal) played great games for the winners while for North Todd Goldstein (33 hitouts, 17 touches) played his best game for some time and Sam Gibson (30 possessions, five tackles) also very good.

Next up for the Saints is a winnable match against Gold Coast one Sunday at Docklands, while North will take on the faltering Bulldogs (ninth, 6-6) at the same venue the night before in a bid to keep its faint finals hopes alive.

GOAL
North Melbourne: Clarke 2; Waite, Goldstein, Ziebell, Mullett, Hrovat, Wood, B.Brown, Turner
St. Kilda: Billings, Steven, Membrey, Bruce 2; Roberton, Acres, Sinclair, Gresham

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
North Melbourne: Goldstein, Cunnington, Mountford, Gibson, McDonald, Ziebell
St. Kilda: Ross, Sinclair, Roberton, N.Brown, Montagna, Geary

BEST - THE SATURDAY AGE
North Melbourne: Goldstein, Gibson, Cunnington, Mountford, McDonald
St. Kilda: Sinclair, Billings, Roberton, Ross, Carlisle, Brown, Montagna

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Macmillan (hamstring tightness) replaced in selected side by Anderson, Waite (left shoulder)
St. Kilda: Dunstan (calf)

UMPIRES: Fisher, Schmitt, Fleer, McInerney

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network