St Kilda 4.6 7.10 9.12 13.17 (95)
Richmond 2.4 9.5 10.9 14.11 (95)
In a gripping Friday night contest that featured many ebbs and flows, injuries to both teams reigning club champions and a 35 minute final quarter St Kilda and Richmond could not be separated, finishing on 95 points apiece.
Playing in draws has become a common occurrence for the Saints with the draw against Richmond being their fourth in half a season dating back to Round 17 against Hawthorn last year at Etihad Stadium. The other two draws have been against Collingwood in the 2010 Grand Final and against Essendon in the opening round of the 2011 NAB Cup.
The Saints started well to kick the opening three goals of the game in the first 15 minutes. By that stage of the game 2010 Coleman Medalist Jack Riewoldt was already off the ground suffering from concussion after flying for a spectacular mark and hitting his head on the turf on the way down. In the second quarter Richmond subbed Jack Riewoldt out of the game.
With their key forward off the ground Richmond showed considerable fight to get back into the contest, kicking seven goals to three in the second quarter to lead St Kilda by seven points at half-time.
Early in the third quarter St Kilda vice-captain Lenny Hayes injured his left knee in a clearance contest in the middle of the ground. It was apparent straight away that Hayes was in serious trouble and although he bravely got back to his feet two trainers were required to carry him off the ground.
The following day the worst fears of the St Kilda Football Club were realised with the news that Hayes would require a knee reconstruction finishing his 2011 season.
It was a very tight contest during the second half with the largest lead to either side after half-time being 10 points Richmond’s way half-way through the third quarter. Both clubs looked like they had the match won at different stages of time-on in the final quarter.
Early in time-on of the last quarter Richmond recruit Shaun Grigg kicked a goal to level the scores. Richmond scored two behinds in the next few minutes to regain the lead only to see Brendon Goddard kick the ball deep into St Kilda’s forward line in open space allowing Jason Blake to run onto it and kick a goal from the goal-square at the 25 minute mark to put the Saints four points in front.
Richmond midfielder Daniel Jackson registered a goal at the 32 minute-mark to give Richmond a two point lead and it looked like Richmond were poised to overturn a 13 match losing streak against St Kilda. It was a very long last quarter and after Jackson’s goal two minutes of play remained during which St Kilda had opportunities to win the game. First gamer Daniel Archer missed with a set-shot from about 40 metres out and then with 40 seconds left Stephen Milne also missed a set-shot closer to goal. St Kilda remained deep in attack when the final siren rung and continued their remarkable run of draws since August 2010.
David Armitage set a new career high for possessions having 10 kicks, 15 handballs and laid eight tackles. Armitage won a game-high 14 contested possessions and was great around the stoppages having a game-high nine clearances.
St Kilda small forward Stephen Milne had 24 possessions, took five marks, had 11 scoring shots and two score assists to comprehensively beat his opponent, 18 year old second gamer Reece Conca. With straight kicking Milne would have been the match-winner and clearly best afield, however his accuracy let him down as he kicked four goals, seven behinds.
St Kilda ruckman Ben McEvoy relished playing more than 85% game time for the second week in a row having 26 hit-outs with a very respectable 31% of these being to advantage. McEvoy also made an impact around the ground, having six kicks, eight handballs and taking a contested mark in St Kilda’s forward line late in the third quarter. McEvoy was able to capitalise by kicking the important goal which reduced Richmond’s lead to three points at the 27 minute mark of the last quarter.
On Sunday St Kilda face bogey side Essendon who have won their past three matches against St Kilda. The Bombers have used their leg-speed and quick ball movement to full advantage in these games.
St Kilda have made four changes to the side that played Richmond with veterans Lenny Hayes and Steven Baker missing due to injury, Jason Blake and Daniel Archer have both been omitted. St Kilda’s four inclusions Adam Schneider, Jack Steven, Rhys Stanley and debutant Alistair Smith provide an injection of pace to the Saints line-up.
St Kilda Captain and five time best and fairest winner Nick Riewoldt becomes the 22nd person to play 200 AFL games for the Saints. Last week Riewoldt become just the third player to Captain St Kilda in 100 games, after Danny Frawley and Darrel Baldock.
True Sainters votes
3 David Armitage
2 Stephen Milne
1 Ben McEvoy
Players in bold are the subject of that Rounds True Sainters WordPress feature article. The David Armitage feature article will be posted on the WordPress on the day after the Round 3 match against Essendon. The 2011 feature article on Lenny Hayes will be posted on the weekend of Round 4 when St Kilda have the bye.
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