Dan Butler had an impressive game kicking three goals in Saints' 22 point win.
(AFL Photos)
St Kilda beat Carlton by 22 points on Sunday afternoon in a tough contest to keep top spot on the ladder.
The Saints overran the Blues in a tight game. There were 11 lead changes in the first two and a half quarters as both sides had strong patches, without ever being able to take a firm grip on the game.
The Saints started strong early in the first quarter without being able to capitalise on the scoreboard, taking six minutes to open the scoring through a brilliant snap from Hunter Clark. The Blues responded quickly however through their workhorse, Jack Silvagni.
While the Saints had the upper hand in the territory battle in the first quarter, they went into the first break down two points, due to Carlton's dangerous forward line making the most of their opportunities.
The second quarter was a tough battle for both teams as neither team could grab the ascendency. Every time the Blues went forward however, Charlie Curnow looked dangerous, kicking two goals in the second quarter to add to the one he had at quarter time.
Josh Battle, Callum Wilkie and Dougal Howard, all of whom have been key reasons as to why the Saints defence has been ranked the best in the competition by champion data, struggled to keep Curnow quiet. Every time Curnow flew for the ball in the air, he had at least two of the Saints big three key defenders on him, often resulting in free kicks for the Blues.
Carlton went into half-time with a four-point lead after much of the game had been goal-for-goal from both sides. The third quarter started off the same as the first half, a tough slog for both teams as they traded goals until halfway through the third quarter.
St Kilda got on top halfway through the third and kicked the last three goals of the quarter to open up a 21-point lead at the last change. The Saints were able to trap Carlton in the half-forward line, causing the Blues to overpossess the ball and turn it over.
The last quarter was again tough for both sides as both teams kicked one goal each for the quarter, with Saints’ young gun Mitchito Owens kicking a sensational goal which ended up being the sealer from 55 metres out.
The Saints are now 5-1 under Ross Lyon's second stint at the club, which not many saw coming given the amount of injuries St Kilda have had all year.
Ross Lyon’s well-known style of 'defence first' was again on display as the Saints won the game off the back of their defensive structure. The Saints were able to pin the Blues across their half back line and when they switched the ball over to the other side of the ground, the Saints used their elite running power to shut down that option.
The Blues had the top six disposal leaders on the ground with the top five being the Blues midfielders, with Adam Cerra (39 disposals), Blake Acres (36 disposals), Sam Walsh (38 disposals), Patrick Cripps (34 disposals) and George Hewett (29 disposals). The majority of these disposals came in the back half of the ground and were often kicked or handballed backwards to try and make space to get the ball forward.
The Blues also had 86 more possessions than the Saints did, as well as 36 more kicks, 50 more handballs, 73 more uncontested possessions, seven percent more time in possession and 39 more marks. This shows how the Blues were unable to get any speed on the ball when they transitioned it from the backline to their forward line.
The Saints again didn’t have their best team on the park as their injury list is quite significant, although two of the players who were on the injury list came back into the team against Carlton, one of which was the captain Jack Steele and the other was Tim Membrey. Membrey was one of the Saints' best with seven marks, 12 possessions and a goal, while Steele was a bit quiet for his standards but will be better for the run.
The Saints play Port Adelaide tomorrow night while the Blues take on West Coast on Saturday night.
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