THE RESULT
St Kilda by 9 points, 11.11 (77) defeated Carlton 9.14 (68)
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THE MOMENT
Nick Dal Santo has had a quieter than usual start to the season, but tonight he was back to his polished best in the Saints midfield. Late in the first term, when the contest was still hot and Carlton was pushing hard, the experienced left-footer had possession of the ball on the wing. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Dylan Roberton, who had streamed forward in search of a rare goal. Dal Santo swiveled, composed himself, and measured his pass to Roberton who ran in and kicked his seventh career goal and second for St Kilda.
Nicky Dal was back, and the Saints meant business.
[ VIDEO: Dal Santo speaks to SAINTS.com.au after the match ]
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THE UNUSUAL
Who would have thought over 1550 names could fit on one jumper? The horizontal red and black striped St Kilda guernsey on Monday night was a tribute to every Saint who played for the club between 1897 and 2012 and replicated the strip the Saints wore in the club's first ever game in 1873. It was the fourth different jumper St Kilda has worn in its last four games.
[ RELATED : Commemorative guernsey for Saints ]
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THE GOAL
The Blues were pressing and the loyal Saints fans were calling for the siren when Ahmed Saad booted his second for the evening to seal the game for St Kilda. Carlton clawed its way back into the contest after trailing by 33 points at three-quarter-time, getting within a goal with a handful of minutes remaining. Time and time again the Blues propelled the ball inside 50, but when Saad found space 40 metres out from goal and finished calmly, the energetic small forward couldn't hide his delight.
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THE STAR
As good as Ben McEvoy, Nick Riewoldt, Sam Fisher, Nick Dal Santo and Jarryn Geary were – Monday night was Jack Steven's evening. He has enjoyed a consistent start to the year, following on from a standout pre-season and a promising 2011. But this was the first time the 23-year-old has truly taken a game by the scruff of the neck.
Not only did the tenacious midfielder amass a career-high 39 disposals (19 of them contested), but he also led the Saints in clearances (11), inside 50s (4) and score assists (2). Far from a free-wheeling ball-winner, Steven laid seven tackles and enhanced his reputation as one of the AFL's finest young midfielders.
[ VIDEO: Steven speaks to SAINTS.com.au in the rooms ]
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THE CROWD
34,054
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THE STATISTIC
Disposals:
St Kilda 388, Carlton 305.
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From the outset St Kilda was in control of the game. James Gwilt was a valuable inclusion, and his reliable presence allowed Sam Fisher (27 disposals) to zone off his direct opponent and exhibit his polished foot skills in the back half. Carlton had four players register 20 disposals or more, the Saints had nine.
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WHAT WE SAID
St Kilda coach Scott Watters:
"To give the effort and get the reward, I think that's a real catalyst for this group. A lot of senior players out there have been leading really strongly for us and for the younger players, that sort of experience for them is invaluable. I'm really proud of them, I thought they were great."
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THE ANALYSIS
Although the scoreboard doesn't show it, St Kilda had the better of Carlton for the majority of the match on Monday night.
Both teams wasted opportunities in front of goal, and this was the reason the Saints never completely shut the door on a resolute Blues outfit. The margin was 33 points at the final break, a convincing lead for St Kilda, but nevertheless not unassailable.
Jack Steven collected 23 possessions in a fabulous second half, while the Saints multi-dimensional forward-line looked as dangerous as it has since the GWS game in round three. Riewoldt did what Riewoldt has become accustomed to doing in the last decade: He ran, he jumped and even spoiled from behind. Above all else, he led from the front and was rewarded with three majors in amongst 25 disposals. Tonight he became the first AFL player to take ten or more marks in 100 games of league football.
Following on from Steele Sidebottom last week, Jarryn Geary did a splendid job on Marc Murphy, while Ben McEvoy is quickly becoming one of the premier ball-winning ruckmen in the AFL, collecting 20 touches at 85% efficiency.
As good as the midfield and forward units were for the Saints, it was the defensive group's performance that exemplified the evening. Gwilt, Fisher, Dempster and Roberton all had 16 or more possessions and largely had the better of their direct opponents. It was this solidarity in defence that allowed St Kilda to drive forward with such breath-taking purpose, skill and flair, safe in the knowledge that a turnover wouldn't necessarily equate to a Carlton goal.
St Kilda will be satisfied with the first three quarters and ultimately the victory, and will undoubtedly look to use this win as a spring-board into the winter months where more challenges await – foremost, a trip to Adelaide next Sunday.
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You can follow Tom Morris on twitter: @tommorris32
