Saints Deny Demons At Death
Saints Deny Demons At Death – Round 15 – St Kilda Vs Melbourne
Liam Chambers – our correspondent in Coffs Harbour
Two points! I’ve tried to be Zen about the game but that result would have had Bodhidharma himself putting his boot through the Telly. I wrote a few weeks ago that the difference this season was that we were winning the games we were expected to win. I can’t explain why we played the way we did today or why we were surprised that St Kilda fought so determinedly for the win. I’ve always had a niggling feeling that the Dees are guilty of underestimating some teams. We’ve lost six games this season and there were three games where we scrambled against opponents that on paper we had a very good chance of beating. We were flogged by Hawthorn and made to look very ordinary against Collingwood. Today we didn’t defend well enough and let St Kilda believe they could win.
There were definite positives about the way we played today though. Bayley Fritsch is going to be a star; Jesse Hogan has rediscovered how to score goals and I thought Christian Petracca arguably played one of his best game this year. Gawny again showed why he is the best ruckman in the league.
Having said that we face an uphill battle now to play finals in September. In the last eight games we play Geelong, Sydney and West Coast, as well as resurgent teams GWS and Adelaide, not to mention the Bulldogs. Realistically we need to win five of those eight games. Not a happy thought. This Melbourne team needs to experience finals no matter if they succeed or fail at the first hurdle. Either way it would set them up to really shine in 2019. I’m not writing off the Dees yet and if we can get a good result against Fremantle on Saturday and the Doggies the following week then the fans will start to really believe.
Our stats today were alright except for disposals, kicks and handballs. We had some good moments and the first and final quarters were impressive enough; especially when Jack Viney lifted his game. However, the Saints had more uncontested possessions in the third and dominated inside 50s in the second. I’m sure young Simon had a few choice words to impart at the end of those quarters; especially to Clayton Oliver over his inexplicable tackle giving away a penalty with seconds to go before half-time. That must have given the Saints a boost.
I wasn’t sure about Tom McDonald playing today either. When your best goal kicker is coughing up blood in the previous game then maybe a week’s rest is in order. Anyway, let’s go to the Top End next week and show the skeptics why they shouldn’t write us off just yet.
MELBOURNE 4.2 9.3 11.6 18.9 (117)
ST KILDA 4.3 11.6 14.10 18.11 (119)
GOALS
Melbourne: Fritsch 4, Harmes 3, Hogan 3, Brayshaw 2, Petracca, Tyson, T.McDonald, Neal-Bullen, Melksham, Lewis
St Kilda: Gresham 4, Membrey 4, McCartin 2, Savage, Steele, Clark, Newnes, Armitage, Billings, Battle, Steven
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