ST KILDA has held on for an eight-point win over a gallant Sydney side at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
The Saints led by 20 points at three-quarter time but had to withstand a spirited fight-back from the Swans, eventually prevailing 15.6 (96) to 13.10 (88).
Skipper Nick Riewoldt starred with four goals while Leigh Montagna (26 possessions), Brendon Goddard (23) and Nick Dal Santo (22) were also instrumental in the win.
For Sydney, Adam Goodes kicked three goals, Ryan O'Keefe racked up a game-high 33 disposals while Tadhg Kennelly (29) generated plenty of run from defence.
The Swans jumped out of the blocks, managing five scoring shots before St Kilda had troubled the scorers.
Trailing by 15 points, the Saints responded in emphatic fashion - piling on five goals without reply in a stunning 10-minute burst to set up a nine-point lead at quarter-time.
Goodes showcased his brilliance in the second term, kicking two goals - including a spectacular volleyed effort from 30m out before setting up former Lion Daniel Bradshaw for his first goal in Swans’ colours with a clever soccer pass.
Despite Goodes’ influence it was St Kilda who went into the main break in front after a flawless goal-kicking display in the first-half.
The Saints led by seven points after half-time after booting 9.0 to 7.5.
Riewoldt booted the first goal of the second half before the Swans responded with back-to-back majors from Kieran Jack and Jesse White to reduce the deficit to just three points.
St Kilda then kicked away with goals from Jarryn Geary, Andrew McQualter and Gram to go into three-quarter time with a 20-point lead.
It appeared as if the Saints were on course for a win but Sydney had other ideas, slamming on the first three majors of the final stanza to close to within two points.
Riewoldt’s slotted home his fourth after Heath Grundy gave away a holding free-kick to give his side some breathing space before an undisciplined act by Martin Mattner resulted in a goal to Brendon Goddard.
Mattner kicked one of his own to give the Swans a glimmer of hope but St Kilda held firm in the dying stages to secure the four premiership points.
SYDNEY: 3.3 7.5 9.8 13.10(88)
ST KILDA: 5.0 9.0 13.4 15.6(96)
GOALS:
Sydney Swans: Goodes 3, Mattner 2, Kirk, Jack, Malceski, McVeigh, Moore, O’Keefe, Bradshaw, White
St Kilda: Riewoldt 4, Gram 2, Koschitzke 2, Dal Santo, Goddard, Geary, Milne, McQualter, Peake, Schneider
BEST: Swans: Goodes, O’Keefe, Kennelly, Malceski, Shaw, Seaby
Saints: Riewoldt, Montagna, Goddard, Dal Santo, Gram, Hayes
INJURIES: Swans: Kennelly (concussion)
Saints: Nil
UMPIRES: C Donlon, S McBurney, S Grun
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
CROWD: 31,333 at ANZ Stadium
ST KILDA is through to the semi-finals of NAB Cup after recording a thrilling one-point win over Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
The Saints led by 17 points midway through the final term before the Swans levelled the scores with just over five minutes remaining in the match.
David Armitage broke the deadlock with a point from the forward pocket with just two minutes left on the on the clock before St Kilda hung tough in the dying stages to prevail 2.9.7 (79) to 0.12.6 (78).
Sydney will be left to rue a costly mistake made by ruckman Mark Seaby in the third quarter. The former Eagle had the chance to kick a super goal after being awarded a 50m penalty but he had to settle for the traditional six points after he played on over the mark.
The Saints will now play the winner of Sunday's clash between North Melbourne and Fremantle.
Small forward Stephen Milne was instrumental in the win with four goals, including three in the final quarter while midfielders Jason Gram, Leigh Montagna, Lenny Hayes and Nick Dal Santo were prolific.
For the Swans, Heath Grundy kept Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt to just one goal, Jude Bolton and Brett Kirk battled hard all night in the middle while Paul Bevan booted three goals.
The contest was tight and tough from the outest with the biggest margin in the first half just 10 points in favour of the Swans
A Brendon Goddard super goal from 55m at the eight-minute mark of the second term was a highlight in the opening half.
It was St Kilda’s last score of the quarter as Bevan added his second major of the night to help his side to a nine-point lead at the main break.
The Saints stamped their authority on the contest in the third term, applying immense pressure all over the ground and booting goals through Gram and Justin Koschitzke to regain the lead before a nine-pointer from Gram saw last year’s grand finalists establish a 12-point buffer.
St Kilda was threatening to run away with the match but the Swans steadied and found themselves trailing by just five points at the final change.
Ross Lyon’s men slammed on three of the first four goals of the final stanza to establish what appeared to be a match-winning lead.
But the Swans refused to give in and hit back with four of the next five majors to set up a thrilling finish.
ST KILDA: 2.4, 1.3.4, 2.5.5, 2.9.7 (79)
SYDNEY: 3.2, 6.4, 7.6, 12.6 (78)
SUPER GOALS: ST KILDA: Goddard, Gram,
SYDNEY:
GOALS: ST KILDA: Milne 4, Riewoldt, McEvoy, Gram, Koschitzke, Stanley
SYDNEY: Bevan 3, Jack 2, Seaby, Moore, Currie, O'Keefe, White, McGlynn, Rohan.
BEST: ST KILDA: Milne, Gram, Montagna, Dal Santo, Hayes
SYDNEY: Grundy, Bolton, Kirk, O'Dwyer, Bevan, Richards, Smith
INJURIES: ST KILDA: Nil
SYDNEY: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
CROWD: 10,998 at ETIHAD STADIUM
ANDREW Lovett has received some good news with the AFL grievance tribunal agreeing to hear his case against his sacking from St Kilda and subsequent loss of a million-dollar contract.
The tribunal will also hear Lovett's initial grievance about being banned from training with the Saints prior to his axing.
After sacking Lovett, St Kilda claimed that his grievance was void as he was no longer an AFL player.
However, the three-man panel of chairman Jack Rush QC, Kevin Power and James Dowsley ruled that Lovett remained a listed player under the terms of the AFL collective bargaining agreement.
Lovett was suspended indefinitely by the Saints after allegations of sexual assault were levelled against him on Christmas Eve.
The 27-year-old was charged with one count of rape on February 15 and sacked by the club a day later.
The Saints said the decision to terminate Lovett's contract was not due to the criminal charge laid against him but because he had failed to comply with the club's standards of expected behaviour on a number of occasions.
Lovett joined St Kilda on a lucrative three-year deal after the Saints gave pick 16 in the national draft to Essendon during trade week last October.
TonyK
Cibbuano
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