St Kilda won by 16 points. 11.15 (81) to Essendon’s 9.11 (65)
RELATED: Match report
The momentEssendon was all over St Kilda halfway through the last quarter. Not only did the Bombers have the majority of possession, but they also looked as if they had the legs to out-run the Saints.
So like a quick-break in the 93rd minute of a soccer game, the only way the St Kilda looked as if it could possibly score was by pushing every single player up the ground, and taking Essendon down on the counter.
It worked once, when Jack Billings found space and popped it over the top to Adam Schneider, and then it worked again moments later, but this time Nick Riewoldt was on hand to run into the open goal.
This was the moment Essendon’s back was broken. It’s endeavour was yet to waver, but consecutive goals, both distinctively against the run of play, made the task impossible for Mark Thompson’s men.
The unusual
It’s highly unusual that the coach uses the sub as late as Alan Richardson did on Saturday night.
Seb Ross, who has been prolific in the VFL in recent weeks, sat on the bench until there was less than 20 minutes to go in the game, at which point he replaced Eli Templeton.
Ross only finished with four disposals, but his pressure and tackling in the midfield at a time when the game was on the line cannot be underestimated.
The goal
There were a number of goals that went a long way towards sealing the match. Schneider’s, Riewoldt’s and Montagna’s just to name a few – but the major that will excite St Kilda fans more than any other came much earlier in the match.
In fact, St Kilda was trailing three goals to zip and looked to be just a fraction off the pace. Jack Billings intercepted an Essendon handball on the wing, immediately dished it off to fellow young-gun Tom Curren, and received it back.
With almost half the field in front of him and three Bombers’ in pursuit, the second-gamer backed himself and calmly slotted home his first AFL goal.
Fittingly, Nick Riewoldt was the first teammate to celebrate with the precociously talented 18-year-old after he banged it home from 50 metres out.
This goal may not have been the most significant of the game, but it may be the most pivotal moment in the club’s future.
VIDEO: Jack Billings post-game
VIDEO: Billings first goal in AFL footy
The star – Nick Riewoldt.
The skipper continues to amaze. He booted five goals against Essendon and willed his team over the line in the second half.
Something the statistics don’t show is how often Riewoldt is outnumbered. Time after time he is forced to compete against three or four opponents.
While Michael Hurley was his direct opponent for the evening, Dustin Fletcher often dropped back as did Dyson Heppell.
He finished with 10 marks, 17 disposals, three inside 50s and crucially, five inspirational goals.
The crowd
36,041
The stat
Disposal efficiency
STK 77%
ESS 76%
It’s been an ugly statistic for St Kilda over the past fortnight. The Saints butchered the ball against West Coast and struggled to hold onto it against Adelaide. But the improvement against Essendon was evident and it went a long way towards the victory.
Richo's gospel
"It was probably our best 22-player performance of the year. I wouldn’t have thought we had too many passengers.
We rated Essendon really highly and to keep them to [44] entries and to nine goals when you consider they had five on the scoreboard at quarter-time, they’ve only taken nine marks and they have some quality forwards."
The analysis
It’s difficult to imagine a more satisfying win from a St Kilda perspective.
Initially, Essendon dominated. They kicked straighter, were more efficient via foot and hand, and rarely let the ball leave their goal-scoring half.
First it was Jack Billings in his second game, then it was Nick Riewoldt – by contrast, playing his 264th match.
And everyone in between began to chip in thereafter. Adam Schneider was influential in the second quarter and early in the third. Farren Ray accumulated his regular allotment of 25 disposals on the wing, Jack Newnes balanced defence and offence with great maturity, and Rhys Stanley finished with a career-high 21 disposals.
Leigh Montagna and Lenny Hayes lifted superbly as the match reached a climax, while left-footed duo James Gwilt and Jimmy Webster provided much-needed clarity and calmness in the defensive zone.
Ultimately it was this depth that undid the Bombers, who after a six-day trip to Perth, left too much to too few. Those who excelled did just this. It was the usual suspects of Jobe Watson, Cale Hooker and Brent Stanton who each collected 29 disposals that threatened to split the game open in Essendon's favour.
But aside from a sprinkling of others, Essendon’s ambitions were carried by a handful, while St Kilda’s were grasped by a dozen or more.
Both team had over 400 possessions and were almost identical in their respective disposals efficiencies. As a result, it was always going to come down to what those disposals signified.
In Essendon’s case, many were retreating kicks and chips sideways. Comparatively, St Kilda didn’t take a backwards step – both metaphorically and physically.
Every time the Saints went backwards, it was only a momentary regression in order to propel forwards. The Bombers went back and around, and sideways - patiently awaiting an opening that became increasingly difficult to find.
There is no doubt Essendon wasn’t at its best, but the question is whether St Kilda’s relentless pressure forced this.
Whatever the case, the Saints undoubtedly deserved the victory, while the Bombers will rue an incomplete, but not incompetent performance.
The tweet
Pretty successful #mystkilda pic.twitter.com/AqEBfSqxDH
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) April 19, 2014
