TonyK
CibbuanoSaints demolish Dockers
March 6th 2010 11:00
ST KILDA has set up a NAB Cup grand final showdown with the Western Bulldogs with a 70-point demolition of Fremantle at a battered Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
The start of the contest was delayed by 20 minutes as health and safety inspectors surveyed damaged caused to the roof above the LiveWire bar at the southern end of the stadium during the freaks storms that swept over Melbourne.
Spectators were locked out until 15 minutes before the rescheduled start at 7.30pm and were restricted to level one.
Despite all the drama going on around them, the Saints put in a clinical performance - leading at every change before going on to record a 2.15.7 (115) to 2.3.9 (45) win.
Some of the gloss was taken off the victory with veteran midfielder Lenny Hayes suffering a calf strain just before half-time.
Hayes will miss the clash against the Bulldogs but is expected to be right for round one.
Clinton Jones was best afield with a game-high 40 possessions, Stephen Milne kicked four goals, Jason Gram collected 23 disposals and booted two majors and a super goal while youngsters Jarryn Geary and David Armitage were impressive performers.
For the Dockers, Paul Duffield racked up 26 touches, rookie Michael Barlow continued his stellar run of pre-season form with 23 possessions while Kepler Bradley battled hard in the ruck.
St Kilda's willingness to run hard paid instant dividends as they slammed on the first four goals of the match in the opening 17 minutes.
Fremantle's only major in the opening stanza came off the boot of Ryan Murphy deep into time-on.
The Saints had 63 more possessions than the Dockers in the second quarter and kicked three unanswered goals, including a super goal from Geary to go into the main break with a commanding 35-point lead.
Back-to-back super goals from skipper Matthew Pavlich and youngster Anthony Morabito early in the third term gave the Dockers a sniff.
But any hopes Fremantle had of pulling off a come-from-behind win were quickly snuffed out with St Kilda piling on six of the last seven goals of the quarter.
The final term was a procession with the Saints booting four goals to one to cap off a dominant display.
ST KILDA: 0.4.1, 1.6.2, 1.12.4, 2.15.7 (115)
FREMANTLE: 0.1.5, 0.1.6, 2.2.7, 2.3.9 (44)
SUPERGOALS: St Kilda: Geary, Gram
Fremantle: Morabito, Pavlich
GOALS: St Kilda: Milne 4, Gram 2, Stanley 2, Schneider 2, Koschitzke, Geary, Lynch, Armitage, McQualter
Fremantle: Duffield, Barlow, Bradley, Hayden
BEST: St Kilda: Jones, Milne, Gram, Geary, Armitage, Dal Santo
Fremantle: Barlow, Duffield, Hasleby
INJURIES: St Kilda: Hayes (calf), Blake (back tightness) - late withdrawal
Fremantle: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Jeffery, Chamberlain, Pannell
CROWD: 5,241 at ETIHAD STADIUM
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