ST KILDA’S finals aspirations have been dented with a battling 35-point loss to an impressive Swans side at the SCG.
The 9.13 (67) to 14.18 (102) defeat saw the Saints down by nine points at quarter time and 26 at the main break.
A third quarter comeback looked on the cards with St Kilda getting to within 11 points but the Swans accelerated away to blow the lead out to 31 points going into the final term and kept up the pressure to deliver the Saints their seventh loss of the season.
St Kilda was well served by Lenny Hayes (21 possessions) and Sam Fisher (21 possessions) while late inclusion Charlie Gardiner, into the side for Justin Koschitzke, booted three goals.
Spearhead Nick Riewoldt battled hard all night, amassing 20 possessions, but struggled to convert in front of goals, kicking 1.3. He also had little support against a typically tough Swans side that defended in numbers against him.
Max Hudghton matched up on Barry Hall, returning for his first match since his suspension, and Saints spearhead Nick Riewoldt had Craig Bolton for company. Jason Blake took Swans on-baller Adam Goodes.
A scrappy opening may have been due to a slippery surface which saw players struggle with their footing all night.
In the first quarter, the home side dominated the inside 50s but it was the Saints who opened the scoring after 10 minutes with Riewoldt's grubber from 30m out rolling in.
This goal was answered by Ryan O’Keefe but a rare goal from Nick Dal Santo kept the pressure on the Swans. It could have gotten even better had Riewoldt's set shot not hit the post from 50m out.
Goals from Michael O’Loughlin and Barry Hall in the shadows of the siren saw the Saints nine points down at the first quarter break.
Lenny Hayes with nine possessions and former Swan Sean Dempster with seven were the standouts in a tight first term.
The Saints manned up in the second term, starting the quarter strongly. Charlie Gardiner booted home from directly in front 50m out after Blake led and marked inside 50m.
But with the next four goals the Swans extended the lead over the visitors with Hudghton in a real battle with the returning Hall.
Despite almost matching the Swans in the inside 50 stats, the Saints couldn't make any headway against a committed Swans side going in 26 points down at the main break.
The tackle count of 31-17 to the Swans showed how much pressure the home side was putting on the Saints.
However, the Saints came out firing in the third term. Michael Gardiner was injected into the forward line and it paid immediate dividends with the former Eagle marking on the 50m line on a slight angle before booting home for a dream start.
And with Charlie Gardiner bagging his own goal minutes later the Saints could sniff a comeback. Brendon Goddard's set shot went through for a major and Adam Schneider profited from Riewoldt's hard work as he slotted home from a tight angle 30m out. It was game on.
But Goodes' beautiful mark and goal and a flurry of goals to the home side kept the Saints at bay as the sides went into the final break with the Swans 31 to the good.
The final quarter was an even affair with the Saints battling against a confident Swans outfit. Lenny Hayes took a big hit from Lewis Roberts-Thomson but Darren Jolly's brilliant mark in the goal square had the home fans on their feet.
In the end, the Saints' were outclassed by a side destined for the finals.
Sydney Swans 3.5 7.9 12.16 14.18 (102)
St Kilda 2.2 3.5 8.9 9.13 (67)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: O'Keefe 3, O'Loughlin 3, Hall 2, Goodes 2, McVeigh, Moore, Bird, Jolly
St Kilda: C. Gardiner 3, Riewoldt, Dal Santo, M. Gardiner, Goddard, Schneider, Milne
BEST
Sydney Swans: O'Keefe, O'Loughlin, Goodes, Kirk, Jack, McVeigh
St Kilda: Hayes, Gram, Riewoldt, Jones, M. Gardiner, Dal Santo
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Everitt (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Bird
St Kilda: S Dempster (leg) M Gardiner (hamstring). Koschitzke (knee) replaced in selected side by C. Gardiner,
Reports: Nil
Umpires: James, Kamolins, Avon
Official crowd: 25,996 at the SCG
