Saints slip up at their Geelong graveyard; Gold Coast's embarrassing low in heavy loss to Crows

The Age

3 days ago

St Kilda rallied momentarily in the second quarter to bring the margin back to nine points, improving their ball use enough to make use of their contested ball and clearance ascendancy. They missed some chances and Lyon admitted they left emerging gun Alix Tauru on Jeremy Cameron in the first half as a learning opportunity.
But it was not enough to suggest they were going to win however as Geelong's uncharacteristic fumbling and dropped marks were inviting pressure.
Once they cleaned those up in the third quarter they put the foot to the accelerator with four consecutive goals to push the margin out to 39 points and the result beyond doubt. In that period, the Cats owned territory with Lyon saying being trapped in defence had become a common thread when they had lost their grip on a game.
Stewart's loss was telling as he went off the ground late in the third quarter and the Saints were able to find a few more avenues to goal. They looked as though they could make a charge until Mitch Owens missed his second gettable set shot for the game to kill their momentum.
Stewart was walking around with ice on his knee after the game, and it appeared precautionary rather than a major injury.
Dempsey was unstoppable on his wing, patrolling into defence and attack, kicking a goal from the outside of his foot to put a stamp on his game. He finished with 25 touches and provided constant support to those on the inside of the contest.
Cameron didn't get out of third gear to kick four goals before half-time including a brilliant running goal from an angle after he turned Liam Stocker inside out before drilling the goal from the boundary. He kicked his fifth in the final quarter to bring his tally for the season to 58.
The Cats made the most of their interceptions, constantly building the attack from the back half of the ground in the first half. It was only the second time in the past 10 years Geelong had kicked eight goals in the first half from defensive half-chains.
By contrast the Cats stifled the Saints' ability to do that when they started Mark Blicavs forward on Callum Wilkie - who was playing his 150th consecutive game from debut – and made life difficult for him. The intercepting marking star finished with just five marks, his second fewest in a game for the season.
Irishman Oisin Mullin is becoming a player in his 35th game just edging out crafting forward Jack Higgins. He is becoming more instinctive in his attacking while Shaun Mannagh has been an excellent pickup from the VFL.
Marcus Windhager played well on both Max Holmes and Bailey Smith while Jack Steele's pressure was good as usual. Jack Sinclair's rebounding game was strong. But Wanganeen-Milera was outstanding playing a lone hand ending the game with two goals, 36 disposals and 637 metres gained.
His contract remains unsigned, but Lyon grinned when asked where it was at. 'In the fullness of time,' he said.
Gold Coast's embarrassing low in heavy loss to Crows
AAP
Adelaide have crushed Gold Coast by 61 points, with the Suns losing star defender Daniel Rioli to injury while slipping to an embarrassing low.
The Crows kicked the initial 11 goals in their 16.11 (107) to 6.10 (46) victory at Adelaide Oval on Sunday to retain their grip on third spot.
Gold Coast were goalless in an opening half for the first time, and playmaker Rioli suffered a left calf injury before the long break.
Adelaide led 9.5 to 0.4 at half-time and were up 71-5 before the Suns scored their first goal in the 11th minute of the third term.
Gold Coast slid to eighth on the ladder, just one win ahead of the ninth-placed Western Bulldogs, while the Crows are certain to return to the finals for the first time since 2017.
Adelaide's Alex Neal-Bullen kicked three goals from his career-high 31 disposals and Riley Thilthorpe, Taylor Walker and Izak Rankine scored two each.
Captain Jordan Dawson (20 disposals, one goal), James Peatling (21, one goal), Jake Soligo (24, one goal) and Dan Curtin (20, one goal) continued fine seasons.