A proud Nick Dal Santo has praised his side’s resolve to not crack under the pressure brought on by a tough opening to the season, crediting the Saints’ first-up win of 2023 in part to the way they’ve held themselves over the past month.
After being on the receiving end of a final-quarter flurry against Port Adelaide last week and buckling in the game’s final stages after holding a 20-point lead, St Kilda returned serve against Collingwood with five unanswered goals in the last term to consolidate a brilliant 12-point win at RSEA Park.
A mid-week session with the club’s AFLW psychologist Bree Van Ryswyk in sharpening the Saints’ mental fortitude while in the heat of battle and how to respond under duress set the tone heading into Round 4, with the best results showing by the end of Sunday afternoon.
“As a group last week, they took so much responsibility and took ownership of Port Adelaide having huge chunks of momentum,” Dal Santo said post-game.
“We went to work, we got out sports psych involved and she had a fantastic session wth the girls on the Tuesday. We learned a lot from the way that we played that last quarter-and-a-half last week.
“The challenge is in the heat of the moment when you’ve run 10 kilometres and you’re exhausted, can you actually get it done as a collective?
Varying losses to North Melbourne, Essendon and Port Adelaide, although providing glimpses of promise in each, hadn’t eventuated in a cohesive performance which saw them over the line.
The Saints stymied the Roos for a quarter after being held scoreless in the first half, came to life after the Bombers burst out of the blocks from the get-go, and held sway over the Power before a costly fade-out late.
The gradual improvement from week-to-week culminated in the club’s first win since October of last year.
“I’ve stood here three times already this year and spoken about the journey we’re on and the need to improve as individuals and as a collective. I stand here knowing we’ve done that,” Dal Santo said.
“It wasn’t (over) the seven-day break, it was the course of this whole four rounds to get to this point. It’s nice to get a tangible outcome, there’s no doubt about that.
“I felt like we’ve been building over the last couple of weeks and playing a good half or a good three quarters, but today genuinely felt like our best game of football for four quarters.
“Even though the scoreboard said we were down by four or five at three-quarter time, I had that feeling - and the girls had that feeling more importantly - that if we just did a few things right, we’d be ok.
“There’s definitely mixed emotions about it. Relief is absolutely one of them, but my main feeling is just pride and (being) really proud of the girls’ performance.”
The Saints couldn’t be stopped in the last stanza after Georgia Patrikios ignited the spark with a classy major, with Nicola Xenos and Ella Friend converting soon after to level the scores before Molly McDonald put the Saints in front with six minutes to play.
“We stuck to our structures, played really brave ball movement in that last quarter and got the win for it,” McDonald said post-game.
“Anything happens in football, but I think it was the belief in ourselves and the way we move the ball and confidence in us (that got it done).
McDonald didn’t hesitate when taking the chance to step up to the plate, likewise with fellow youngster Olivia Vesely.
The 2020 Best & Fairest finished the day with a team-high 21 disposals, eight tackles and four clearances, piecing together a tide-turning final term after being well-held by the Magpies in the third.
A clean pick-up, clearance, swift retrieval after a turnover, side-step and entry forward in the space of just 10 seconds led directly to McDonald’s crucial major, before Darcy Guttridge sealed the deal with another goal.
“Her work-rate and investment in her football is almost second-to-none. It’s just about her doing it more often,” Dal Santo said.
“She’s been superb and works her backside off, but this year she’s actually starting to get more of the football and more reward for some of the things she’s really doing.
“She’s doing extras and it’s now coming out in a game… it’s always been there, and Liv’s only young and learning her craft. There’s been some really pleasing signs, not only from her, but a lot of the girls.”
