St Kilda has marched to a comfortable 53-point win over Gold Coast, moving clear on top of the ladder for the first time since 2009.
Jack Higgins kicked five goals as Mitch Owens and Jack Sinclair starred in the Saints' 17.11 (113) to 8.12 (60) victory at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
It was their fourth straight win to start the season, leaving Ross Lyon's new-look outfit as the last side with a perfect record.
4-0 #SaintsFooty pic.twitter.com/9d7WR3A5vp
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) April 8, 2023
St Kilda (4-0) sits two points clear of its nearest rival Carlton (3-1-0).
Greater tests lie ahead, starting with a clash against flag fancies Collingwood next round.
Second-year forward Owens (27 disposals, two goals) and All-Australian half-back Sinclair (31 disposals) were outstanding in the Saints' latest triumph, set up with a five-goal burst during the second term.
SAINTS MATCH CENTRE: View all news, stats and videos from Round 4
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02:45
RD4 | From U9s to the big-time: Mitch and Marcus post-game
Marcus Windhager takes the mic to interview best mate Mitch Owens following the latter's breakout performance against the Suns.
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14:53
RD4 | Mini-Match: St Kilda v Gold Coast
Extended highlights of the Saints and Suns clash in round four
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08:39
RD4 | Highlights v Gold Coast
Relive the best moments from the Saints' 53-point win over the Suns.
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07:22
RD4 | 'Some really good signs': Lyon post-game press conference
Senior Coach Ross Lyon unpacks a huge win over the Suns.
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02:00
RD4 | The best of breakout forward Owens
Mitch Owens puts on a show with a sublime performance against the Suns.
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00:45
RD4 | Three strikes and out as Hill delivers mesmerising goal
Brad Hill is called back three times before eventually nailing it perfectly from a difficult spot
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00:55
RD4 | Saints at their best with two in a minute
Jack Sinclair and Anthony Caminiti kick two goals in quick succession to extend the lead for St Kilda.
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00:41
RD4 | Ross roves it to perfection before snapping a ripper
St Kilda hits the lead following a brilliant individual effort from Seb Ross
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01:05
RD4 | Saints go end-to-end before Windhager makes sure of it
Marcus Windhager gets Saints their first following a terrific pass from Jade Gresham
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Seb Ross (30 disposals, five clearances, one goal), Brad Hill (22 touches, two goals) and Brad Crouch (34 disposals, six clearances) helped blow Gold Coast away after quarter-time.
But the victory came at a cost when substitute Jack Bytel was helped off the field with a left ankle injury just minutes after being thrust into the game in the final term.
Touk Miller (32 disposals, 10 clearances), Noah Anderson (37 disposals, 10 tackles, seven clearances) and Lachie Weller (30 touches) were among the Suns' best.
Gold Coast lost co-captain Jarrod Witts (soreness) before the opening bounce, leaving debutant Ned Moyle to battle in the ruck against Rowan Marshall.
They started well but failed to capitalise on early territorial dominance as the lead changed hands four times during the first quarter.
Higgins provided the Saints' spark in attack with three goals in the second term as they skipped 22 points clear by half-time.
It was party time in the third quarter as Hill and Owens kicked goals for the highlights reel and the margin ballooned to 47 points.
St Kilda was never seriously tested after the main break, marking its best start to a season since a 4-0 opening in 2010.
Plan for these Saints at your peril
On the eve of the season St Kilda's forward line looked nonexistent, but four weeks in and it's starting to appear more like a masterwork of mayhem. No Max King, no Tim Membrey, no worries. Jack Higgins has kicked nine goals in the past two rounds, but he was somewhat of a known, if unique, entity. However, Mitch Owens was far from being a concern for opposition forward scouts and Anthony Caminiti wasn't even a Saints player. Now the mix of youth and unpredictability is proving a handful for sides who will be wishing Max King was there so they could prepare their defence around a central target. Saturday night was Owens' breakout game, the 191cm mid-sized forward doing everything a much taller, and shorter, player can do, proving a headache for Stuart Dew and, possibly, Craig McRae as Collingwood prepares for the Saints in Gather Round next Sunday.
Moyle a more than handy foil
Ned Moyle has been on the Gold Coast list since the 2021 mid-season draft when he was brought in as back up for Jarrod Witts, and that's where he's stayed since - as back up. However, with Witts a late withdrawal on Saturday night it was time for the 206cm 21 year old to come to the fore. Moyle was possessionless through the first half and had just three tackles and 10 hitouts to his name, yet the Suns led centre clearances seven to five off the back of some excellent tap work. Moyle's first kick came early after play resumed, doing his own clearance work and setting up a Joel Jeffrey goal, and he finished the match with five disposals, seven tackles and 35 hitouts. If Witts is back next week Moyle will be playing VFL, but there's plenty more seniors footy ahead for this guy and the Suns will want to make sure it's in a red and yellow jumper.
ST KILDA 3.2 8.6 13.10 17.11 (113)
GOLD COAST 3.4 4.8 5.11 8.12 (60)
GOALS
St Kilda: Higgins 5, Hill 2, Caminiti 2, Owens 2, Windhager, Sinclair, Ross, Phillipou, Cordy, Butler
Gold Coast: Rosas, King, Jeffrey, Casboult, Anderson, Ainsworth, Sexton, Holman
BEST
St Kilda: Owens, Hill, Higgins, Sinclair, Marshall, Wilkie, Crouch
Gold Coast: Anderson, Miller, Powell, Collins, Ainsworth
INJURIES
St Kilda: Bytel (leg)
Gold Coast: TBC
LATE CHANGES
Gold Coast: Jarrod Witts replaced in selected side by Ned Moyle
SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Jack Bytel (replaced Rowan Marshall in the fourth quarter)
Gold Coast: Alex Sexton (replaced Joel Jeffrey in the fourth quarter)
