Geelong has once again proven they know how to win ugly, taking down St Kilda on Friday night despite the Saints controlling the majority of proceedings.
St Kilda’s radar was off all night in front of goal, allowing the Cats to keep pace before pushing away in the final quarter.
Even more frustrating for the Saints would be Rowan Marshall re-injuring his foot and being substituted out of the game.
Here’s everything you need to know!
The Talking Point: Saints must address wayward ways
Stating the obvious, but starting a game 0.7 and going into the last quarter at 4.13 against a top four side is not going to see you leave with four points.
If anything, that 4.13 ledger flattered the Saints, with multiple forward thrusts that should have resulted in a goal ultimately ending with no score.
Max King kicked 1.5 and wasted multiple opportunities throughout the game. The silver lining at least is that he clunked four contested marks and six marks inside 50.
King is a long-term project and will work out the kinks in his game. Unfortunately his misses unquestionably cost the Saints in this one.
This was St Kilda’s opportunity to take a big scalp and sit inside the top eight for at least a few hours. Instead, their wayward goal kicking sees them on the outside looking in.
The Star: Cam Guthrie
Cam Guthrie made the 2020 All-Australian team in what was a breakout season and he has picked up right where he left off.
He finished with 35 disposals, seven tackles, six score involvements, six marks, four clearances and a goal in the 21-point win.
You would barely know the Cats were missing Patrick Dangerfield, mainly because Guthrie has elevated his game to another level in his absence.
What’s next?
Geelong will host Gold Coast at GMHBA Stadium next Saturday afternoon, while St Kilda takes on the red-hot Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
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FULL SCORE
St Kilda: 0.7, 3.11, 4.13, 5.17. (47)
Geelong: 2.1, 4.2, 6.6, 10.8. (68)
GOALS
St Kilda: Membrey 2, King, Butler, Steele
Geelong: Close 2, Hawkins 2, Rohan 2, Cameron, Narkle, Guthrie, Menegola
BEST
St Kilda: Steele, Ryder, Ross, Billings, Wilkie, Crouch
Geelong: Guthrie, Tuohy, Smith, Duncan, Henderson, Hawkins
INJURIES
St Kilda: Marshall (foot soreness)
Geelong: Nil