At a glance:
- Brett Ratten has commended a "very creative" Jack Higgins for his career-best four goals against the Swans.
- St Kilda's small forwards had a strong influence in Saturday's diligent display, with Dean Kent and Dan Butler's pressure a highlight from the night.
- Ratten also praised key defender Callum Wilkie for keeping Lance Franklin to just five touches and a goal.
St Kilda coach Brett Ratten has praised a "very creative" Jack Higgins for equalling his career-best four goals and adding a spark that helped set up an upset victory over a red-hot Sydney.
Higgins looked lively as he crumbed and snapped three first-half goals to ensure the Saints made the most of their early ascendancy, then added another after the main break to go with 16 disposals.
The 22-year-old’s accuracy in front of goal was a turnaround from the 1.6 he kicked when these teams met in Round 12, which included two shots late in the match that could’ve put the Saints in front before the Swans kicked a sealer to win by nine points.
Higgins has now kicked 24 goals in 17 matches in his first season with the Saints since moving across from Richmond in last year’s Trade Period.
"I was just pleased for him to hit the scoreboard and play his role in the team. He was one of our better players, very creative,” Ratten said.
"Our smalls had an influence tonight, which is great. We haven't had that, so it was really pleasing for them to get to the drop of the ball and finish their work.”
Ratten was also proud of the efforts of key defender Callum Wilkie who lined up on Lance Franklin and limited the superstar forward to one goal from four kicks and no marks.
Wilkie was also able to get involved in the Saints’ spread and transitions from defence as he gathered 16 disposals, and might have a quiet word to teammate Bradley Hill about the free kick he gave away in the first term to allow Franklin to kick his only goal of the match.
"Buddy is a star and one of the all-time greats, to play on him and keep him to one goal he did a fantastic job,” Ratten said.
"I thought he got some support though from [Tom] Highmore and [Darragh] Joyce and others around, which helped Cal, but he did a fantastic job."
