The Eagles produced arguably their worst performance in coach John Worsfold’s two-year reign in succumbing meekly 19.14 (128) to 9.13 (67) to a side that went into the game in 12th place on the ladder.
And while the Eagles went into the game with a weakened side with key players Michael Gardiner, Chad Fletcher and Andrew Embley all out injured – this performance was simply dreadful.
Not only were they goalless in the opening term, they had managed just 2.7 by half-time and after a brief rally in the third quarter, the Eagles then allowed the Saints to run away with the game in the final term with six goals to one.
And just to cap off a disastrous day, star defender David Wirrpunda had to be helped from the field in the dying seconds after twisting his knee in a tackle.
Incredibly it was the Eagles’ best players who let them down most in a match which could really come back to haunt the Western Australian club come the end of the season.
Their four best players – Ben Cousins, Chris Judd, Daniel Kerr and Phillip Matera - had managed just 16 possessions between them by half-time with Judd, Kerr and Matera failing to win even a single possession between them in the first quarter.
The Saints could have had the game won by quarter-time, if not for atrocious kicking for goal, as they totally dominated the visitors but could manage only 1.7 to two behinds for the term with Xavier Clarke the worst offender with four behinds.
But when the Saints finally found their range in front of goal in the second term, the match was as good as over as they slammed on 7.2 to 2.5 to lead by 44 points at half-time.
The Saints’ effort was even better considering inspirational skipper Aaron Hamill left the field with a back injury in the first quarter and did not take any further part in the game.
But he was scarcely missed as Fraser Gehrig with four goals, Clarke with three and Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montagna, Nick Riewoldt and Brendon Goddard all with two, ensured the Saints would have no trouble kicking a winning score.
The victory continued the Saints’ great record at Telstra Dome this season against non-Victorian opposition with this victory following on from wins earlier in the season against other top sides in Adelaide and Brisbane.
And despite this victory being just their eighth in 18 games this season – the Saints suddenly have an outside chance of making the finals.
While this victory and the much-needed percentage boost still only lifted them up to 11th place on the ladder – the Saints last four matches are all against teams below them in Richmond, Carlton, the Western Bulldogs and Geelong.
The Saints would have to win them all of those matches to even have a chance of sneaking into eighth spot but on this performance they would be favoured to win all four.
With former skipper Robert Harvey leading by example in having the better of Cousins, every St Kilda player contributed to this win in which Grant Thomas’ improving side played some exciting football.
Tough tagger Steven Baker was so effective against Chris Judd that the young Eagles dynamo played possibly the worst game of his brilliant career to date while Lenny Hayes again starred and Brendon Goddard showed why he was last year’s number one draft choice.
And a St Kilda side bursting with some of the AFL’s best young talent looks to have produced another potential star in 19-year-old first gamer Leigh Fisher, who capped off a great debut with a goal in the final term.
As for the Eagles they suddenly face a huge battle to finish in the top four with tough matches against Adelaide next week at Subiaco and Fremantle in the last round still to come.
And they badly need the inspirational Gardiner back in the side as soon as possible as they were exposed as a side lacking in depth by the Saints on Sunday.
ST KILDA: 1.7 9.9 13.11 19.14 (128)
WEST COAST: 0.2 2.7 8.7 9.13 (67)
GOALS: St Kilda: Gehrig 4, Clarke 3, Goddard 2, Hayes 2, Montagna 2, Riewoldt 2, Ball, Dal Santo, Fisher, Wulf
West Coast: Haynes 3, Cousins 2, McDougall 2, Matera, Sampi
BEST: St Kilda: Riewoldt, Harvey, Hayes, Gehrig, Clarke, Koschitzke, Hudghton, Baker, Dal Santo
West Coast: Braun, Cousins, McDougall, Haynes, Chick
INJURIES: St Kilda: Hamill (back), Wulf (bruised jaw/concussion)
West Coast: Wirrpunda (knee)
UMPIRES: McBurney, Head, Margetts
CROWD: 21,531 at Telstra Dome
