ST KILDA has kicked off its 2008 campaign with a convincing 40-point win over Richmond.
The Saints eventually ran out 1.15.12 (111) to 2.7.11 (71) winners and started strongly with the first three goals of the match. Richmond simply could never recover the lead.
Stars Nick Riewoldt, Luke Ball, Jason Gram, Brendon Goddard and Matt Maguire watched from the stands while Robert Harvey, Max Hudghton, Steven King and acting captain Nick Dal Santo started on the bench.
But it looked anything but a second-string outfit as the St Kilda side showed why it is one of the favourites for the NAB Cup.
Stephen Milne marked and goaled five minutes into the match to get the ball rolling for the year.
Rookie Robert Eddy converted just minutes later, as did forward Fraser Gehrig.
Michael Gardiner looked good in the ruck in his first game in St Kilda colours, giving plenty of supply to Xavier Clarke, who looks set to spend more time in the middle this season.
Gardiner hobbled off in the second quarter with the St Kilda medical team paying close attention to his right knee, but returned just minutes later.
He shared the ruck work with former Cat Steven King and the pair showed that they will bring a new dimension to St Kilda's play this season.
Justin Koschitzke seemed to be the main target up forward and improved as the night wore on. He finished with two goals, while Gehrig kicked three.
The highlight of the first half came late in the second quarter when speedster Leigh Montagna intercepted a handball and ran on to boot a sensational goal from outside 50m.
It was initially paid as a six-pointer but was deemed a supergoal on review at the half-time break.
The Saints were relentless in their attack on the ball and pressure on the man in possession. Dal Santo was one who chased and tackled all day.
Sam Fisher was providing his usual run out of the defensive 50, while rookie list player Luke Miles started at fullback on Brett Deledio and did a good negating job as well as providing plenty of drive.
Charlie Gardiner was prominent in his first game since being traded from Geelong, pushing up from half forward.
St Kilda led by 25 points at half-time and despite a Richmond flurry early in the third term, never looked like letting it slip.
Chris Newman booted a supergoal right before the three-quarter-time siren for the Tigers, but their hopes were quickly snuffed out when Shane Birss goaled from a free kick.
For coach Ross Lyon it was a night to experiment and the Saints tried a couple of new positional moves, with Michael Rix at centre half-back on Graham Polak and Jason Blake deep in defence.
Stephen Milne was one of his side’s best up forward. The flashy weaving in traffic is still there but Milne showed a selfless side on several occasions that would not have gone unnoticed by Lyon.
Youngsters Jarryd Allan, Jarryn Geary and Eddy showed plenty to suggest they will push for senior selection this year.
Eddy is still on the rookie list, but expect him to be at the front of the queue should an opportunity arise.
The Saints travel to Manuka Oval in Canberra next Saturday to take on the winner of Saturday's Geelong and Melbourne clash.
ST KILDA 0.4.1 1.7.5 1.11.9 1.15.12 (111)
RICHMOND 0.3.2 0.4.4 2.6.7 2.7.11 (71)
Goals:
St Kilda: Nine-point goals: L Montagna. Goals: F Gehrig 3 S Milne 3 J Koschitzke 2 J Allen 2 R Eddy X Clarke D Armitage S Birss C Gardiner.
Richmond: Supergoals: G Tivendale C Newman. Goals: B Deledio 2 N Brown 2 M Richardson K Pettifer M Morton.
Best:
St Kilda: N Dal Santo L Montagna J Koschitzke X Clarke C Gardiner S Fisher C Jones.
Richmond: N Foley C Newman J King N Brown M Richardson.
Umpires: D Goldspink H Kennedy T Keating J Armstrong.
Crowd: 23,329 at Telstra Dome.
Injuries: Nil.
Reports: Nil.
