St Kilda recorded their fourth straight win with an emphatic 13-point victory over the GIANTS at RSEA Park.
The Saints stifled the GIANTS’ run and piled on the pressure across all four quarters to come away with a 7.6 (48) to 5.5 (35) victory at Moorabbin.
Both sides produced impressive forward-half displays, with key pillars Zarlie Goldsworthy and Jesse Wardlaw shining for the GIANTS and Saints respectively as their strong forward craft came to the fore, whilst Jess Doyle provided a moment of brilliance with a classy goal of the year contender.
The drizzle fell at Moorabbin in classic Melbourne style, making for a scrappy game early with both teams struggling to retain possession.
The GIANTS were able to attack the Saints early, applying pressure to kick their first score from turnover - a style of play that coach Cam Bernasconi had previously said exemplifies the GIANTS' way.
Goldsworthy slotted the first goal from a deep inside 50 entry following strong pressure work from the GIANTS up the ground.
But it was St Kilda that stole the momentum from that point, with its free-flowing handball chains providing it repeat inside 50 entries to culminate its own kind of tsunami.
Despite emerging victorious in all of its prior matchups against St Kilda, the GIANTS ultimately failed to match the energy that the Saints injected into the game.
Tyanna Smith (17 disposals, five clearances) and Georgia Patrikios (20 disposals) have been instrumental to St Kilda’s recent purple patch, and were prolific once again as they dominated clearance whilst Olivia Vesely proved instrumental to their run and carry.
St Kilda transitioned the ball cleanly and worked as a team to bring the ball through the corridor, allowing its forwards to find themselves in space and relieve pressure.
The GIANTS struggled to create layers amongst its defence, allowing St Kilda to break into its forward fifty with ease across all four quarters.
Despite struggling Goldsworthy (two goals, 18 disposals, nine tackles) was once again a standout performer in the orange whilst Alicia Eva (24 disposals) and Rebecca Beeson (19 disposals, nine tackles) were also prolific.
Alyce Parker (one goal, 24 disposals, eight tackles) was immense in the third term, but emerged from a contest with an ankle concern. Nicola Xenos also faced a similar issue at the latter stages of the final term.
Forward Thinking
Zarlie Goldsworthy and Jesse Wardlaw filled RSEA Park with excitement, with both forwards slotting huge goals on the back of their strong set shot routines. Wardlaw remains one of the premier forwards in the competition and Goldsworthy’s rise this season has kept supporters of every side on their feet.
Up Next
The GIANTS return to Sydney to face an in-form Carlton side at Henson Park, whilst St Kilda travels to Perth.
ST KILDA 2.3 4.6 6.6 7.6 (48)
GIANTS 1.0 2.1 3.3 5.5 (35)
GOALS
St Kilda: Wardlaw 2, Richards 2, Exon 2, Smith
GIANTS: Goldsworthy 2, Doyle, Garnett, Parker
BEST
St Kilda: Wardlaw, Smith, Patrikios, Richards, Vesely
GIANTS: Goldsworthy, Parker, Eva, Beeson, Evans
INJURIES
St Kilda: Nicola Xenos (ankle)
GIANTS: Alyce Parker (ankle)
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 1,402 at RSEA Park
