The Saints have fallen short in Round 5 of the AFLW season despite throwing everything at Carlton. 

Tipped to be one of the contenders at season’s end, the Blues outclassed the Saints in the third term to set up a match-winning lead.

The Saints refused to concede and had the better of the final term but ultimately fell 21-points adrift, losing 4.5 (29) to the Blues 8.2 (50).

Peta Searle’s team lost no fans with another spirited effort led by hard nuts Nat Exon, Olivia Vesely and Rosie Dillion.

The trio racked up 40 plus possessions between them, the vast majority contested, as they set about taking it to the Blues’ highly regarded on-ball brigade.

Exon laid eight crunching tackles to will her team forward while cult hero Caitlin ‘G Train’ Greiser was again a standout, kicking two goals. 

Her first, the opening goal of the game, was all class as she threaded a weighted chip from deep in the forward pocket after some handy work from Nicola Xenos.

Georgia Patrikios pressed her claims for the NAB Rising Star Award with her silky skills on display throughout, collecting 18 disposals.

First gamer Sammie Johnson looked like a seasoned campaigner with her hardness at the contest and Poppy Kelly showed her potential with two clinical ruck taps that set up two goals.

Despite the Blues overpowering the Saints in the third term, Hannah Priest and Clara Fitzpatrick managed to keep Darcy Vescio and Tayla Harris relatively quiet.

The loss leaves the Saints with one win and four losses from their first five games with only limited reward for their consistency.

Fellow expansion side Richmond await back at RSEA Park next Saturday evening with Searle’s side desperate to prevail.

Be there for the first bounce at 5.10pm.

CARLTON        3.0   4.1   7.2   8.2 (50)
ST KILDA         2.0   3.0   3.2   4.5 (29)

GOALS
Carlton: S.Hosking 2, Egan, Harris, Walker, McEvoy, Stevens, Gee
St Kilda: Greiser 2, Watt, Shierlaw

BEST
Carlton: Prespakis, Harrington, Vescio, Wilson, Laloifi, S.Hosking
St Kilda: Patrikios, Vesely, Shierlaw, Exon, Dillon  

INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
St Kilda: Nil 

LATE CHANGES
Carlton: Nil
St Kilda: Nil 

Reports: Nil

Crowd: TBA at Ikon Park