St Kilda travelled down to Tasmania with a handful of focus areas and returned home having ticked them off, says Saints leader Maverick Weller.
Despite spending the majority of the last 18 months in attack, Weller returned to his natural habitat in the midfield for large chunks of Saturday’s 75-point win over Hawthorn, where he accumulated a career-high 28 disposals, six inside 50s and kicked two goals.
After the Saints ended Hawthorn’s 19-game winning streak at University of Tasmania Stadium, Weller said the even spread of contribution and the focus on contested ball and pressure were some of the key outcomes from the result.
“It was a real test for us. Obviously their record speaks for itself down here; I think it was 19 in a row,” Weller told saints.com.au after St Kilda’s 75-point win ended their 10-game winless run away from home.
“That was the other thing that was big: playing your role and doing your bit.
“After reviewing the game last week we had a real focus on contest and pressure and I think today we really put in for four quarters which was really pleasing.”
Monday Wash-Up: Round 6 v Hawthorn
While he admits he didn’t realise Nick Riewoldt had kicked his 700th in the moment, Weller lauded the continued excellence from the champion forward, who added another four goals to his name on the weekend.
“We missed his 700th goal. I didn’t realise it was his 700th. Joey and I were standing off the back of the square going ‘oh dammit we missed his 700th’,” Weller said.
“His ability to stand up in big moments has always been there since he started his career. He’s just a stalwart of the club and he’s playing good footy as well.”
With premiership fancies Greater Western Sydney coming to town for the Saints’ first Friday night clash since April 2015, Weller said the club can’t wait for a return to the marquee timeslot.
“We put our hand up, we wanted to get some games on a Friday night. I think we’ve got a couple this year, but we’re really looking forward to it; it’s the big stage on the weekend,” he said.
