Spearhead Max King sparkled in his first match of the season as St Kilda held off a brave Greater Western Sydney to snatch a 12-point triumph in an enthralling clash at Giants Stadium.
King was superb on return from a shoulder reconstruction and a hamstring injury to finish with four goals as the Saints secured a 13.14 (92) to 12.8 (80) victory on Sunday.
With King back as the Saints’ focal point their small forwards Jack Higgins (three goals), Dan Butler and Jade Gresham (both two) were also able to run free in a close contest in which the lead changed hands 13 times
Four points for Mitchito ❤️ pic.twitter.com/izAn0SE4ua
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) May 21, 2023
Jack Sinclair (game-high 37 disposals, two goals), Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (29) and Bradley Hill (20) were influential in the free-flowing contest, while first-year Saint Liam Stocker (24) was another to impress.
The hard-fought victory entrenches the Saints (7-3) in the top eight, while the Giants (3-7) will rue a missed opportunity after they held the greatest margin of the tense tussle when leading by 13 points in the opening term.
SAINTS MATCH CENTRE: View all news, stats and videos from Round 10
The Giants’ key forward Jesse Hogan was a threat in the air throughout and slotted two majors, but was off target with a set shot in the dying stages that would have reduced the margin to less than a goal.
Giants skipper Toby Greene also had two goals on his return from a stint on the sidelines, while Brent Daniels also lit up the forward half with 23 disposals and two goals.
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05:20
RD10 | All the goals v GWS
Relive every St Kilda goal from Sunday's Round 10 win over GWS.
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15:02
RD10 | Mini-Match: GWS v St Kilda
Extended highlights of the Giants v Saints clash in round 10.
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01:45
RD10 | 'It was pretty gutsy in the end': Enright post-game
Assistant coach Corey Enright spoke to STK Media following St Kilda's 12-point win over GWS.
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06:43
RD10 | 'I was really pleased': Lyon post-game press conference
Watch St Kilda's press conference after round ten's match against GWS
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01:54
RD10 | The King is back as Max snags four
Max King delivers four valuable goals on his return to footy in round 10.
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01:51
RD10 | Sinclair slays Giants with monster performance
37 disposals and two goals from Jack Sinclair proved to be the difference in a close win over GWS.
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01:59
RD10 | King 'grateful' to be back in the fray, praise for young forwards
Max King spoke to Fox Footy's Alastair Lynch following his return from injury and St Kilda's 12-point win over GWS.
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00:42
RD10 | Superb Sinclair snap extends lead for the Saints
Jack Sinclair shows all his class with a brilliant finish in front of goal.
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00:54
RD10 | Wood gives half-time update on contest, Owens injury
Masonn Wood spoke to Fox Footy's Alastair Lynch at half-time as the Saints and Giants go into the main change on 51 points apiece.
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00:42
RD10 | Owens given all clear after heavy head knock
Mitch Owens left the ground on a stretcher following this incident in a marking contest, but was later given the all clear.
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00:42
RD10 | Incredible bounce results in second King major
Max King gets a fortuitous bounce and hammers it home as St Kilda takes back the lead.
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00:54
RD10 | Return of the King gets royal reception as Saints slot their first
Max King has the perfect start in his return from injury with an early major.
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02:57
RD10 | Lyon pre-game on King's comeback, Greene match-up and more
Senior coach Ross Lyon swings by for a cross with Fox Footy in the minutes leading up to St Kilda's match against GWS.
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01:28
'Bloody unreal!': Caminiti puts pen to paper, King reunion looms
Anthony Caminiti spoke exclusively to 7News' Mitch Cleary after signing a three-year contract extension with the red, white and black.
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10:50
King closes in, Lyon 'optimistic' on mid's return
Ross Lyon speaks to the media ahead of Sunday's match against GWS to kick off the first week of Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
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Past, present, future: The story behind our 2023 Indigenous Guernsey
Meet Indigenous artist Jade Kennedy of the Noongar Nation and understand the story behind his design for St Kilda's 2023 Indigenous Guernsey.
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Former co-captains Stephen Coniglio (26 disposals, one goal) and Josh Kelly (24, one) also led the way for the Giants, while Tom Green (29 touches) battled hard around the stoppages.
The match was put on hold for more than five minutes when Saints young gun Mitch Owens sustained an accidental knee to the head and had to be helped from the field in the second term.
Owens was jolted forward in a marking contest, collided with teammate Anthony Caminiti’s knee, and had to be replaced by substitute Ben Paton but watched the second half from the bench.
The Giants led by four points at the first change and the scores were level at the main break after the lead had changed hands eight times in an even opening half.
The tight contest continued through the third term, the lead changing three more times as the Saints took a three-point advantage into the last quarter before holding on late in the game.
St Kilda faces Hawthorn on Saturday, while the Greater Western Sydney heads to Geelong to take on the reigning premiers later the same day.
And to think some people don't want a King...
After four rounds St Kilda sat atop the ladder and there was no rush to get Max King back in the side. However, results haven't been going the Saints' way since, making the spearhead's return a blessing. On Sunday King kicked his side's first major from a strong mark, set up its second with a beautiful long kick and had three to his name by half-time. His next in the final quarter snatched the lead back for St Kilda when momentum seemed to be going the other way. The Saints' unpredictability without King almost seemed a bonus, but having him back in the goalsquare will be having teammates, fans and Ross Lyon all sleeping a little easier at night.
Sydney Show serves up a slippery dip
Sunday's clash was the first at Giants Stadium since round three due to concerns with the surface after the Sydney Easter Show in early April, and it looked like the ground could have done with a little more time to recover. Players from both sides had trouble keeping their feet and the surface was pockmarked with divots that increased in number as the match went on. Unfortunately the Easter Show can't change its date, which may lead to the Giants avoiding their home ground for a larger chunk of next season.
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Hogan 2, Greene 2, Daniels 2, O'Halloran, Kelly, Coniglio, Cadman, Briggs, Bedford
St Kilda: King 4, Higgins 3, Sinclair 2, Gresham 2, Butler 2
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Coniglio, Green, Greene, Whitfield, Daniels, Hogan
St Kilda: Sinclair, Marshall, Wnganeen-Milera, Higgins, Wilkie, Gresham
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Haynes (concussion), Himmelberg (concussion)
St Kilda: Owens (head)
SUBSTITUTES
Greater Western Sydney: Callan Ward (replaced Nick Haynes in the second quarter)
St Kilda: Ben Paton (replaced Mitch Owens in the second quarter)
Crowd: TBC at Giants Stadium
