ST KILDA will rue a raft of missed opportunities following tonight’s one-goal defeat to the Western Bulldogs.

The Saints booted 14 behinds from 21 scoring shots in a tussle that was anyone’s game right up until the final siren.

Leigh Montagna was prolific, amassing 36 disposals including 25 kicks, while David Armitage and Jack Steven each had 25 disposals and laid 15 tackles between them.

Farren Ray’s 200th game yielded 24 touches playing his customary wing role, while Josh Bruce (3 goals) and Nick Riewoldt (2) were St Kilda’s only multiple goal kickers.

It was Riewoldt who tried valiantly to will his team over the line in the dying minutes, notching eight final term disposals to further illustrate not just his aerobic capacity, but also his deeply embedded desire to win.

Ultimately, his efforts were not enough.

If St Kilda’s round six game against the Western Bulldogs was a Formula 1 Grand Prix, then tonight was a demolition derby – still engrossing, but in a completely different way. With just 48 days between then and now, this game was a far cry from the precursor.

Then, 27 goals were kicked for the game. Tonight, just five were kicked in the first half. To be fair to Alan Richardson and Luke Beveridge, it was in neither team’s best interests to engage in another ping pong affair. The haphazard and unpredictable nature of round six would be simply too much to handle for either coach.

As a result, the first half was played at the pace of two boxers sizing each other up before laying any punches.

Upon reflection, this was not surprising given the frantic nature the last clash was played at. Yes it was fierce around the ball – the Saints at one stage had laid 11 tackles to two – but in possession neither team was in any rush to slingshot the ball forward as had been the case in round six.

It made for a captivating and low scoring first half devoid of individual highlights but littered with bone-crunching tackles and a collection of gang wrestles.

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Both teams missed crucial chances in front of goal, not that these chances were necessarily clear-cut. The Dogs registered just three marks inside forward 50 for the half, while the Saints, often with a plethora of opposition players ahead of them, pumped the balls inside their forward 50 on 31 occasions for just three majors.

The contrast was evident in the third term, when the Bulldogs booted four goals from their first seven inside 50s. Put simply, creating and then taking your chances will always remain the essence of Australian football and this was no more evident than tonight.

There was probably only one Saint who could break the Bulldogs run of four unanswered goals. Nick Riewoldt charged forward, took a mark centimetres from the goal line and then booted his second, thus stemming the flow as he has done countless times over the years. It was also fitting that tonight he moved into second spot (behind Gary Dempsey) for most VFL/AFL marks, overtaking former teammate Stewart Loewe.

The problems for St Kilda in the third term could be traced to their half-forward line. They had eight chains that began at half-back, but did not convert any of these into forward 50 entries – starving Josh Bruce of meaningful supply.

Jack Steven had a quiet term and was held touchless until the 18-minute mark. Without his dash, the Saints appeared to be a far more predictable offensive outfit. Armitage and Steven collected just five disposals between them for the quarter.

The in-tight style of game was never going to last four terms, and so it proved. The final term opened up and like a good thriller movie, the final 20 minutes made the first 100 all worth it – for Bulldogs fans that is.

Once again, St Kilda showed great heart, but ultimately lacked the polish to finish the job when the game was up for grabs.

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ST KILDA: 1.5 3.7 5.9 7.14 (56)

WESTERN BULLDOGS: 1.3 3.4 7.7 9.8 (62)

GOALS: Bruce (3), Riewoldt (2), Minchington, Weller

BEST: Montagna, Newnes, Roberton, Riewoldt, Steven, Armitage, Membrey

SUBS: Seb Ross replaced Darren Minchington at ¾ time.