Alan Richardson began his tenure as St Kilda coach with an impressive 10.6.(68) – 6.15.(51) win over Melbourne in a competitive battle between two of 2013’s less successful clubs.
In a game where the skills didn’t always match the intensity, St Kilda punished an inaccurate Melbourne and used a mix of inspired efforts from their young troop and some familiar, but well-worn, faces.
Led by goals from Jimmy Toumpas and Dean Terlich, Melbourne raced out to an electric start as they looked to take on the St Kilda defence at every opportunity.
Big Rhys Stanley got one back before quarter time and Josh Saunders added another shortly after the break. First gamer Luke Dunstan began to get his hands on a lot of the football while fellow debutant Eli Templeton put the Saints in front, splitting a pair of Melbourne defenders to boot one on the run.
A trademark Nick Riewoldt chest mark at full flight punished the inaccurate Demons, who compiled ten straight misses on goal despite maintaining a ferocious attack on the ball.
Both sides traded goals early in the third courtesy of Shannon Byrnes and Rhys Stanley until Riewoldt broke open the contest with two majors in the space of a minute, followed up by a ripper from David Armitage on the boundary line.
Rookie Dom Tyson brought it back to within 13 points one minute into the final term before James Gwilt and Bernie Vince traded big bangs from behind 50. Sealers from Jarryn Geary and Templeton and more contested wins saw St Kilda get over the line despite being beaten out in the possession, shots on goal, tackle and marks inside 50 categories.
“We concentrated really hard on our defence and I think that was a feature,” Riewoldt post-match.
“The young guys, that’s what we ask when you pull on a Saints jumper, is to play your roll and have a crack.
“If we can give effort like that every week well then we’ll take the result we get.”
Top Performers
Clint Jones – 39 possessions, 8 marks, 5 clearances
Nick Riewoldt – 23 possessions, 12 marks, 3 goals
Luke Dunstan – 21 possessions, 7 marks, 7 tackles, 5 clearances
Nathan Jones – 38 possessions, 6 marks, 9 clearances, 7 tackles, 5 frees for
Dom Tyson – 32 possessions, 82% disposal efficiency, 9 marks
Bernie Vince – 28 possessions, six marks, five clearances, 7 inside 50s
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Photo: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
