Brisbane has reinforced its grip on a top-four berth, holding off St Kilda by 28 points led by four goals from Eric Hipwood and an intercept masterclass from Harris Andrews at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.
The Lions led by 23 points after a dominant first half, but the Saints always stayed in touch, aided by coach Ross Lyon's half-time adjustments, only for Brisbane to secure a 12.12 (84) to 8.8 (56) victory.
Lions too good tonight. pic.twitter.com/WCWMyTqta8
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) June 23, 2023
Hipwood's fourth goal, from a 45m set shot with 8:50 left in the last term, sealed the win for the Lions. Hipwood has kicked 10 goals across his past three games.
Andrews had a significant influence after Jack Payne matched up on Max King at the opening bounce, freeing up the two-time All-Australian defender to roam down back, with nine intercept marks, one short of the AFL record, along with 21 disposals and 14 marks.
SAINTS MATCH CENTRE: View all news, stats and videos from Round 15
Lachie Neale was brilliant with a team-high 29 disposals including a game-high four centre clearances and 10 clearances.
St Kilda couldn't get the points in Spud's Game, suffering back-to-back losses for the first time this season, slumping to four losses from its past six to sit sixth with an 8-6 record. Brisbane, meanwhile, moves up to third with a 10-4 record.
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01:05
RD15 | Sinclair's engine room move gets fans' tick
Jack Sinclair was everywhere against the Lions, charting 36 disposals and a goal in a starring midfield role.
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03:38
RD15 | All the goals v Brisbane
Watch all the goals from St Kilda's Friday night bout with Brisbane during Round 15.
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06:15
Caminiti and Brown put their skills to the test in Lou's Handball
Anthony Caminiti goes up against Melbourne's Ben Brown in another instalment of the Sunday Footy Show's 'Lou's Handball' segment.
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07:21
Joey's Road Trip | Ep. 2 - Ballarat
Chelsea Frawley and Ken Sheldon join Leigh Montagna in Ballarat - a place that has delivered some of the Saints' greatest - in the second episode of Joey's Road Trip.
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14:13
RD15 | Mini-Match: St Kilda v Brisbane
Extended highlights of the Saints and Power clash in round 15.
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08:08
RD15 | 'They were tougher': Lyon post-game press conference
Ross Lyon fronts the media for his post-game press conference following St Kilda's Round 15 loss to Brisbane.
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01:45
RD15 | 'We lacked that Spud mongrel': Battle post-game
Josh Battle speaks to STK Media off the back of Friday's match against Brisbane.
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01:24
RD15 | 'Plenty to learn' as Sinclair breaks down Friday night
Jack Sinclair speaks to Channel 7 following St Kilda's loss to Brisbane in Round 15.
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00:45
RD15 | Hill gives crowd hope as Saints go end to end
Brad Hill fires through an important major late in the third for St Kilda.
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00:57
A special tour of the DFC with Chelsea Frawley and Justin Koschitzke
Channel 7's Abbey Holmes visits the Danny Frawley Centre ahead of Spud's Game: A Match for Mental Health for a special tour state-of-the-art facility alongside Chelsea Frawley and Justin Koschitzke.
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00:34
RD15 | Saints hit back through classy Butler finish
Dan Butler shows plenty of poise to kick an important goal on the run.
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01:06
RD15 | Danny Frawley remembered in emotional pre-game tribute
St Kilda and Brisbane players unite together before the beginning of Spud's Game: A Match for Mental Health, with Danny Frawley's great mate Jason Dunstall delivering the pre-game address.
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We are never alone: A message from Anita Frawley
When one person puts their hand up, others follow. That's what Danny showed us. So tonight, we're showing up for him and every other person who has been impacted by mental health.
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04:14
Remembering Spud: Danny's mates pay tribute
Danny Frawley's closest friends from Fox Footy come together to reminisce about their late mate, the memories shared and the importance of speaking up.
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15:29
Friday knock offs: Sinclair on Ross's notebooks, Harvs' jumper, Spud's Game
Jack Sinclair reflects on his journey from the rookie list, working with St Kilda's legendary coaches and how he ended up with jumper No.35.
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01:00
From the Crows to the Saints, Crouch hits 150 games
Watch some of Brad Crouch's best for the red, white and black as he reaches the 150-game milestone against Brisbane.
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02:08
Smiles all round! Marshall tips into triple figures
The Prospect goes into triple figures. Watch some of the best highlights from Rowan Marshall ahead of his 100th game this Friday.
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45:02
Spud's Game, Lenny and lessons learned: Windhager joins Yokayi Footy
The Yokayi Footy family reunites in this special episode featuring Marcus Windhager and Australian Dance Theatre's Daniel Riley
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09:03
Lyon with the latest on Membrey, Steele, Spud's Game
There's a ton on the agenda as Ross Lyon fronts the media ahead of Spud's Game: A Match for Mental Health this Friday night.
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05:26
Remembering Spud: A chat with the Frawley family
Anita, Chelsea, Danielle and Keeley Frawley pay tribute to the late Danny Frawley and honour his legacy through the Danny Frawley Centre ahead of the third annual Spud's Game: A Match for Mental Health.
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01:27
Oh When... | 'Arctic Park' froze over
Robert Harvey recalls another bizarre day at Waverley Park against the Brisbane Bears in 1993.
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23:12
Spud's Game, runners and more: Lyon joins AFL 360
Ross Lyon joins Gold Coast senior coach Stuart Dew on AFL 360 as the red, white and black prepare for Spud's Game: A Match for Mental Health on Friday night.
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Friday night's alright as Marshall, Crouch tick off major milestones
Rowan Marshall and Brad Crouch spoke to the media ahead of a big Friday night, which will serve as both Spud's Game: A Match for Mental Health and the pair's respective 100 and 150-game milestones.
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Draft Day! Garry and Tim select their Spud's Game sides
Spud's Game Curtain Raiser coaches Garry Lyon and Tim Watson draft their sides for next Friday's star-studded game at Marvel Stadium.
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Jack Sinclair, playing an on-ball role with Seb Ross managed, had a game-high 36 disposals to be St Kilda's best, but Payne kept King to only seven touches, no marks and no goals, while Jack Steele tried hard with limited impact.
St Kilda won the disposal count 356-333, but Brisbane had more inside 50s (54-43), clearances (40-30) and contested marks (14-6).
Jack Higgins kicked the first goal of the game and St Kilda had 27 of the first 33 disposals, but it was Brisbane who had the majority of the play in the first quarter, winning inside 50s 18-7 and responding with three unanswered majors from Joe Daniher, Zac Bailey and Hipwood.
Hipwood added his second after Hugh McCluggage's clever pass, while Oscar McInerney was bossing St Kilda's makeshift second ruck Mitch Owens, and Andrews and Ryan Lester were intercepting at will. The Lions co-captain had a team-high 14 disposals in the first half, including nine intercept possessions along with 11 marks.
After half-time, Lyon moved Owens to Andrews to nullify his influence and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera duly cut the margin back to 17 points early in the third term after pinging Keidean Coleman holding the ball.
Nas putting in another good shift ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/zFUlUmJoTe
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) June 23, 2023
The Saints started winning more clearances (12-10 for the third) and the game seesawed, with both sides trading two-goal bursts before Bradley Hill's major trimmed the margin to 15 points only for McCluggage to break clear at the next centre bounce and pinpoint Daniher who goaled.
Brisbane appeared panicky in defence in the third, offering St Kilda hope with Jade Gresham snapping the first goal of the last quarter.
Round 14 AFL Rising Star nominee Darcy Wilmot's four-bounce run took some heat off Brisbane but the Saints kept coming, although the Lions needed a favourable goal review to prevent Max King's snapped goal from a forward 50 stoppage which would’ve trimmed the margin to 10 points.
The Lions, however, rallied with Coleman kicking truly after a 50m penalty against Dougal Howard on the wing, followed by Hipwood's sealer.
ST KILDA 1.0 2.3 6.5 8.8 (56)
BRISBANE 3.4 5.8 9.8 12.12 (84)
GOALS
St Kilda: Wanganeen-Milera, Sinclair, Hill, Higgins, Gresham, Caminiti, Byrnes, Butler
Brisbane: Hipwood 4, Daniher 2, Rayner, Dunkley, Coleman, Cameron, Berry, Bailey
BEST
St Kilda: Sinclair, Wood, Wanganeen-Milera, Battle, Hill, Higgins
Brisbane: Andrews, Hipwood, Neale, Dunkley, Berry, Rayner
INJURIES
St Kilda: Nil
Brisbane: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Cooper Sharman (replaced Ryan Byrnes in third quarter)
Brisbane: Darcy Fort (replaced Kai Lohmann in third quarter)
Crowd: 28,985 at Marvel Stadium
