An injury-hit St Kilda has recorded a commanding 32-point win over West Coast in its final practice match before the 2024 AFLW season at Mineral Resources Park on Friday.
Despite losing Georgia Patrikios (foot), Molly McDonald (corked thigh) and captain Hannah Priest (corked calf) to game-ending injuries in the first half, the Saints grew in stature as the game wore on, building their lead in each quarter in a runaway 8.7 (55) to 3.5 (23) victory.
Star forward Jesse Wardlaw tore the Eagles apart with four second-half goals in an aerial masterclass, while Grace Kelly was dominant on the wings with two exhilarating goals on the run in the first half.
The Saints were challenged early, with defensive trio Paige Trudgeon, Bianca Jakobsson and Serene Watson standing tall to keep a surging West Coast goalless at quarter-time.
Recruit Trudgeon was particularly impressive throughout, with the former Blue's intercept work set to be an asset for St Kilda in its quest for a maiden finals campaign in 2024.
After losing the midfield battle in the first quarter, the Saints turned the screws on their opponents from there on as prime movers Jaimee Lambert and Tyanna Smith dominated clearances, Olivia Vesely brought her trademark pressure and first-year player Charlotte Simpson showed her class in patches.
Nicola Stevens impressed early in her return to half-back, while Nicola Xenos' speed and creativity made her a dangerous threat in attack as the Saints owned the territory battle in the second half.
St Kilda senior coach Nick Dal Santo said he was pleased with his side's response after last week's 44-point defeat to North Melbourne at RSEA Park.
"I thought we played a competitive and combative brand of football for pretty much the whole game," Dal Santo said.
"In the second half when it slowed down with fatigue setting in and those early nerves and excitement finding their level balance, I was really pleased by the way we finished off the game.
"There's a bit (of positivity) to take out of it, but as always, we just need to do things better for longer."
Dal Santo said the club would know more about the severity of Patrikios' injury in the coming days, while also giving updates on McDonald and Priest.
"We'll wait and see on Patrikios. It's foot-related but we're not overly concerned just yet," he said.
"Molly McDonald and Hannah Priest were both 'corkies'. They were struggling to get back on and were hampered, but we also had 23 players which brought us back to 21 anyway and then Georgia (Patrikios) went off the ground, so we played the second half with 20 (players) and then the last quarter with 19."
The Saints will be hoping to build on a positive afternoon when they face Gold Coast in their season opener at People First Stadium on August 31.
WEST COAST 0.3 1.4 1.5 3.5 (23)
ST KILDA 1.0 3.2 5.4 8.7 (55)
GOALS
St Kilda: Wardlaw 4, Kelly 2, Friend, Boyd
INJURIES
St Kilda: Patrikios (foot), McDonald (corked thigh), Priest (corked calf)
