1. Saints fail completely on Good Friday stage
For a team harbouring finals aspirations, it couldn't have been much worse for St Kilda on the big Good Friday stage than a 52-point loss to North Melbourne. After an unconvincing win over an inexperienced Brisbane at the same venue in round one, the Saints were belted by the Roos in every facet of the game and conceded the last seven goals of the game. It has left us to ponder whether they’ll be there when the whips are cracking in September. On this effort they most definitely won't. The sloppy Saints were second to the ball, lacked energy and purpose, were indecisive when in possession and were lax in their defensive efforts. And let’s not forget, either, that they were playing against a rebuilding team that had had slogged it out in deplorable conditions in Cairns.
2. Paddy finds himself in the book
St Kilda key forward Paddy McCartin just can't seem to gain any continuity, whether it be through injury or form issues. He found himself reported on Good Friday after colliding with North Melbourne’s Trent Dumont. The 21-year-old got into strife when Dumont courageously went back to contest an aerial ball and McCartin cannoned into his back from behind. The question will be whether the young Saint could have softened the blow. In McCartin's favour, Dumont soon got to his feet and played out the game.
WATCH: Paddy whack goes in the book
3. Big Ben finds his shooting boots
It's often observed that North Melbourne spearhead Ben Brown doesn't receive the recognition he deserves because he plays for one of the AFL’s most low-profile clubs, but the big Tasmanian would have won many more admirers with his performance against the Saints. On a day where goals were like gold, Brown bagged six of the 18 majors scored in the game. The deadly-accurate Roo missed just one shot, from a dreamy banana kick attempt early in the third term. At the other end, the Saints’ triple-tall attack of Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey and the reported McCartin managed just three behinds between them.
WATCH: Brown's roving goal gets Roos moving
4. Longer’s cruel blow
After being beaten by Brisbane’s Stefan Martin in round one, Saints ruckman Billy Longer was urged to lift by coach Alan Richardson, but Longer’s bid to overcome Kangaroos veteran Todd Goldstein wasn’t helped in the third term when an accidental knee from Roo Ben Cunnington made contact with his groin. The big Saint went down into the rooms and received what must have been sensitive treatment and later returned to the field, but remained extremely proppy. Later in the term, Cunnington received a knock of his own, to the hip, and spent a considerable time off the field before returning to the forward line where he kicked a final-term goal.
WATCH: Longer cops a nasty knee
5. Footy’s cardinal sin – inaccuracy
In conditions that should showcased all the aesthetics of the game, the shoddy kicking and conversion of both teams in the first half was a real anti-climax. Just one goal was scored in the first term and only four in the first half for a scoreline of 2.10 (22) apiece. The Kangaroos dominated early and should been a few goals in front at quarter-time after leading inside 50 count 17-9, but they blazed just six behinds (all from set shots) in the opening 16 minutes. Compounding matters, Saints defender Jake Carlisle snuck forward to goal from outside the arc. North finally got on the board in the second term through big forwards Ben Brown and Jarrad Waite, and then it was St Kilda’s turn to squander chances, finishing a lacklustre first half with seven straight behinds. A disappointing exhibition for a stand-alone marquee contest. Mercifully, the game livened up after halftime, with the Roos particularly efficient.
