Saints see off Suns and bounce back into top eight
The Age, Anthony Colangelo
June 25

St Kilda are back in the top eight after a 32 point victory over a Gold Coast Suns side missing their talisman Gary Ablett at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. 

The Saints produced a workman-like performance under the roof at Docklands, however one man, Jack Billings, stood out as the game's chief attacking weapon, especially in the first half when the margin was at its tightest. 

Billings turned on another damaging display that will do no harm in convincing the footy public that he may have been worthy of being picked ahead of Marcus Bontempelli in the 2013 draft. 

The 21-year-old produced one of the best games of his 53 game career to steer his St Kilda side to their second win in a row after a torrid run of form from rounds nine to 12. 

Lucky injured Gaz missed this
Herald Sun, Sam Landsberger
June 25

After negotiations with Essendon — as drawn-out as they were tense — were completed, a snapchat scandal and then drugs suspension hijacked Carlisle’s first 12 months at his new club.

The trade saga included Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson’s unannounced arrival at Carlisle’s Florida hotel, hoping to convince the holidaying key defender to consider an 11th hour move to the Hawks instead.

Last October St Kilda added another gorilla defender, Collingwood’s Nathan Brown, as coach Alan Richardson’s backline makeover was completed.

There were no four-time premiership coaches visiting Brown’s Ballarat base, hoping to thwart the free agent signing at Seaford.

But 14 rounds into 2017, Brown’s impact is on the same scale as Carlisle.

Billings shines as Saints beat Suns
AAP, Roger Vaughan
June 25

Alan Richardson said St Kilda have plenty of work to do and Rodney Eade lamented that Gold Coast were their own worst enemy.

It was that sort of AFL match on Sunday at Etihad Stadium.

A round punctuated by astonishing results ended with a whimper rather than a bang, as just 15,844 fans saw the Saints beat the Suns by 31 points in the Sunday twilight scrap at Etihad Stadium.

Saints half-forward Jack Billings shone as the 14.19 (103) to 10.12 (72) result meant his team scraped back into the top eight on percentage.