The fans have spoken, and as voted by you, Dan Butler is the Round 10 Dare Iced Coffee Sainter of the Round.
The Premiership Tiger’s brilliant four goals – all at critical times – gifted St Kilda its seventh win of the season against the daring Suns, moving the Saints into second spot on the ladder as a result.
Butler twice broke Gold Coast’s impressive four-goal streaks with some magic of his own; a snap on his opposite foot, tucked up against the boundary signalling his most impressive major of the evening.
But it was his two final-quarter goals which ultimately handed the Saints the victory.
A slick crumb from the front of the stoppage put the red, white and black within three points, before an electric dash up the guts in the dying minutes – off the back of Hunter Clark’s silkiness in defence – saw him stream into an open goal to seal the narrow four-point win.
Butler closed out his evening at Metricon Stadium with four goals, six score involvements and 13 disposals to put in another best-on-ground performance at his new club.
St Kilda received Butler in exchange for pick No. 56 during this year’s trade period.
Two votes go to Jack Steele, whose remarkable season has barely skipped a beat.
The uncompromising Saint brought his trademark grit through the midfield, amassing 21 disposals (six contested), eight marks and two goals to lead the Saints’ engine room.
Steele was accompanied by Suns Hugh Greenwood and David Swallow at different stages of the match, but continued to get the job done despite the added attention.
It’s the sixth time the No. 9 has polled in the Dare Iced Coffee Sainter of the Round count this season, with his string of performances keeping him in top spot of the fan-voted award.
Rounding out this week’s voting is Hunter Clark and his unbelievable final quarter, which steered the Saints out of danger as the Suns threatened to run away with the four points.
Clark had six touches in the last five minutes of play, utilising his magnificent evasive skills and clean use to win the match from the back half.
What a game from Hunter Clark. pic.twitter.com/plq2DXaiPo
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) August 6, 2020
The youngster’s second-last touch – a deft dance-step through traffic – directly led to Butler’s fourth goal to extend the Saints’ slender lead as the clock ticked down.
St Kilda will face Geelong on Monday night at the Gabba as it guns for five straight wins.