ST KILDA has ensured it will play finals for the fourth time this decade, overcoming a sloppy start to defeat top-four aspirant Adelaide by 48 points at Telstra Dome on Sunday afternoon.
The 13.17 (95) to 6.11 (47) victory has all but slammed the door shut on the top eight, with the Saints moving to 48 premiership points and leaving the Sydney Swans as the eighth-placed side on 46.
Richmond will enter the final round ninth and a game behind the Swans, but its lowly percentage makes a last-ditch attempt to sneak into September action virtually impossible.
Meanwhile, the Crows remain entrenched inside the eight despite the loss, but are now vying for the coveted fourth position and a double chance in the finals with four other sides.
North Melbourne (50 points) can secure fourth position if they defeat Port Adelaide at the MCG next weekend but, if they slip up, Collingwood, Adelaide, the Saints (all on 48 points) and the Swans (46) could leapfrog the Roos.
On Sunday, the Saints overcame a sleepy start to celebrate Robert Harvey's final 'home' game, which was honoured pre-match with the unfurling of a No.35 jumper from the Dome's roof while 210 Saints that have played with the champion formed a guard of honour as the side ran out.
His current teammates did their part in honouring their much-loved midfielder by securing the stirring victory that will ensure his 379-game career will extend for at least another fortnight.
Harvey was prolific throughout the afternoon and finished with 22 touches, while Brendon Goddard was strong in defence with 30 possessions and Leigh Montagna offered drive and creativity with 31.
Sam Fisher also played a solid game and Nick Riewoldt stood Ben Rutten well to end with three goals, while Steven King dominated in the ruck with 21 hit-outs to Ivan Maric's 13.
The Saints were sluggish at first and were quick to fall behind as the Crows won the stoppages and capitalised on errors.
It was a low-scoring term with the crowd erupting when Harvey had his first kick at the 11-minute mark after starting on the bench. The volume increased when the veteran executed a perfect chip pass five minutes later, which found Riewoldt and resulted in the side's only first-term goal.
But, despite the early emotional high, the Crows still held a 12-point lead at the first change with Scott Stevens, Chris Knights and Graham Johncock nailing the side's three goals.
In the second, the Saints ignited and snared five goals while the Crows were restricted to just one, with Max Hudghton on top of forward Nick Gill. Again, the crowd went up with the Saints regained the lead at the 18-minute mark when Harvey – via a free kick from Brad Moran – guided through a set shot.
The quarter saw the Saints accelerate past their opponents to take a 19-point lead into the second half – and they never trailed again, maintaining an impressive work rate.
Adelaide got the first goal of the third via Scott Thompson, but the Saints again tightened up and kept the visitors to just 1.4 for the rest of the term, while they added 2.5 to their tally.
A highlight of the quarter came when Stephen Milne marked in the pocket and played on with a chip kick to Adam Schneider. The move threatened to come undone when the latter fumbled in the goal-square, but a quick handpass out saw the ball return to Milne, and he calmly snapped the goal.
In the fourth, the Crows had a 20-point lead to reel in, but the Saints put to death any thought of a comeback by nailing four unanswered goals, the first a telling major from Lenny Hayes.
St Kilda will now play Essendon next Sunday in a twilight clash at Telstra Dome, while Adelaide host the Western Bulldogs at AAMI Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
ST KILDA 1.4 7.6 9.11 13.17 (95)
ADELAIDE 3.4 4.5 6.9 6.11 (47)
GOALS
St Kilda: Riewoldt 3, Milne 2, Schneider 2, Gardiner, Harvey, Goddard, Hayes, Gram, Goddard
Adelaide: Thompson 2, Stevens, Knights, Johncock, Douglas,
BEST
St Kilda: Montagna, S. Fisher, Harvey, Milne, Hayes, Gram, Riewoldt
Adelaide: McLeod, Bock, Symes, Edwards
INJURIES
St Kilda: McQualter (stomach virus) replaced in selected side by Birss
Adelaide: Nil
Reports: Knights (Adelaide) reported for head high contact on Birss (St Kilda) by umpire McBurney in the fourth quarter
Umpires: McBurney, Stevic, Chamberlain
Official crowd: 33,811 at Telstra Dome
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
