A DISAPPOINTING St Kilda has lost to Collingwood by 14 points at the MCG on Saturday night and is now in danger of falling out of the eight as September approaches.
The Saints began very slowly, well below what the contest demanded, and would have considered themselves fortunate to be just four goals down at the long break.
That deficit proved impossible to peg back as the Magpies won 14.13 (97) to 12.11 (83).
Robert Harvey, who announced during the week that this would be his last season, was as good as ever, but even the emotion of his looming retirement failed to lift his teammates against a far more desperate and committed opponent.
Captain Nick Riewoldt returned from a scare in the second term, which saw him split the webbing in his hand, and St Kilda was certainly better for having him back.
However, he lacked his dominance of recent weeks.
Brendon Goddard continued his terrific return from a knee reconstruction, while Sam Fisher did a good job on Medhurst given the number of times the ball went forward for the Pies.
Jason Gram fought his way back after a very slow start, Lenny Hayes and Nick Dal Santo worked hard in patches, while Adam Schneider was good from late in the second with three majors.
For the Magpies, Harry O'Brien was terrific across half-back, Josh Fraser was not only the dominant ruckman but also good around the ground, Scott Burns ran hard through the middle all night, Tarkyn Lockyer was again handy forward, while John Anthony kicked three for the winners.
It was the Pies who looked far better from the start, with a completely shanked Dane Swan kick ending up with debutant Chris Dawes for a major inside the first minute.
Riewoldt replied, but three in 10 minutes from Collingwood before a final major from Koschitzke saw a lead of 14 points to the Pies.
Collingwood made its winning break in the second, kicking three goals in five minutes. The Saints again found the last goal, this one to Schneider, but the margin had grown to 24.
Schneider kicked the first of the third, giving the Saints consecutive goals for the first time in the match, but the teams traded majors for the rest of the term, and 26 points was the margin at the last turn.
St Kilda had some real chances to pounce, only to see them wasted by crucial errors, but sustained a fight-back that was inspiring at times and saw them get within nine points in the final quarter.
After the Saints kicked the first three of final stanza, three of the next four sealed the deal for the Pies, who passed St Kilda on the ladder with the victory.
Next week, the Saints go up against Fremantle at Subiaco Oval, and the Pies meet Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Friday night.
Collingwood 4.4 7.5 11.9 14.13 (97)
St Kilda 2.2 3.5 7.7 12.11 (83)
GOALS
Collingwood: Swan 3, Anthony 3, Dawes 2, Davis 2, Lockyer 2, Thomas, Cloke
St Kilda: Schneider 3, Milne 2, Riewoldt 2, Koschitzke, Jones, Dal Santo, S. Fisher, Goddard
BEST
Collingwood: Swan, O'Brien, Fraser, Pendlebury, Clarke, Burns, Davis, Lockyer
St Kilda: Harvey, Goddard, S. Fisher, Hayes, Gram, Schneider
INJURIES
Collingwood: Stanley (back) replaced in selected side by Wellingham
St Kilda: Riewoldt (hand)
Reports: Fiora (St Kilda) reported by umpire Jeffery for striking McCarthy (Collingwood) in the second quarter
Umpires: McBurney, Rosebury, Jeffery
Official crowd: 52,135 at the MCG
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
