St Kilda won its third game of the season – and the second in succession for the first time since last year – defeating the Western Bulldogs by 15 points in a fiery encounter at the Telstra Dome on Sunday afternoon.
The Saints 15.10 (100) defeated the Dogs 12.13 (85) in a hard-fought contest that will be remembered for one of the most heated melees in years.
Although the injury-hit Dogs never gave up, the Saints had too much class and had enough answers to notch up the four points. The loss was the Bulldogs fifth in succession.
Former skipper Robert Harvey had a day-out, collecting 28 touches, while Austinn Jones was damaging with his rebound out of defence and Aaron Hamill showed why he was appointed to lead the Saints in 2003, with an inspirational performance up forward.
Max Hudghton played a beauty on brilliant Bulldog Nathan Brown, while young-gun Justin Koschitzke kicked three goals and Brendon Goddard showed why every club in the competition wanted him at draft time last year. His marking was outstanding for someone still 16 days shy of his 18th birthday.
For the Bulldogs, ruckman Luke Darcy worked tirelessly and Scott West continued his outstanding season with another 33 possessions.
The opening term was a scrappy affair with skill errors from both teams.
But just moments after Robert Murphy’s goal reduced St Kilda’s lead to six points at the first change, the siren sounded and the game took a turn for the worse, with the eruption of a full-scale scrap involving players and officials. The ugly scene saw both teams’ huddle involved in a heated exchange.
Western Bulldogs’ youngster Ryan Hargrave landed a blow on St Kilda’s Heath Black, who received attention from the Saints’ trainers, while Bulldog Rohan Smith was also in the hands of the club’s medical staff after copping a blow.
The Bulldogs returned after the break to post two-in-a-row to pinch the lead for the first time in the match. And when Paul Dimattina put the Dogs up by six points, the sons-of-the-west looked ready to turn it on.
However, St Kilda answered shortly afterwards and in 15 minutes of football, piled on five consecutive majors to grab a 24-point lead at half-time.
Nuggety small-man Steven Lawrence booted two goals in that period and put his hand up in the absence of the electrifying Stephen Milne, who was suspended, while dual Brownlow Medallist Harvey chipped in with his second and was starting to influence the game.
The Bulldogs upped the ante after the main break and by the end of the third term were in front in many of the key statistics – except the scoreboard. The Doggies had four goals to one by the 21-minute mark, with Lindsay Gilbee’s major edging the Dogs to within one-point of the Saints.
However, St Kilda quickly replied with two in two minutes when 2001 Rising Star winner Koschitzke kicked truly.
The Saints extended the margin to 14 points at the final change, in a quarter which produced two exciting passes of play – a terrific snap-over-the-head goal from Bulldog Jordan McMahon and a classical hanger from Goddard.
St Kilda great Nathan Burke kick-started the final term to extend the lead for the Saints, but the Dogs answered with three in succession. St Kilda responded with goals to Justin Peckett and Lenny Hayes to seal the victory.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 3.3, 5.5, 9.10, 12.13 (85)
ST KILDA: 4.3, 9.5, 12.6, 15.10 (100)
GOALS: Bulldogs: Bowden 3, Croft 2, Murphy, Hahn, Gilbee, Bandy, Brown, McMahon, Dimattina 1.
St Kilda: Koschitzke 3, Peckett, Hamill, Hayes, Lawrence, Harvey 2, Burke, Riewoldt 1.
BEST: Bulldogs: Dimattina, Bandy, Johnson, West, Gilbee, Harrison, Bowden.
St Kilda: Harvey, Powell, Jones, Koschitzke, Hamill, Hayes, Goddard, Ball, Hudghton.
INJURIES: Bulldogs: Cross (suspected broken hand).
St Kilda: Black (jaw).
CHANGES: Bulldogs: Kretiuk (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Power.
REPORTS: Hargrave (WB) reported by emergency umpire Matthew James for striking Black (St Kilda)
UMPIRES: McBurney, Fussell, Schmitt
CROWD: 27,278 at Telstra Dome.
