Dean Solomon made a successful comeback but there was little else to smile about for Essendon fans as their side's indifferent 2003 AFL pre-season continued with a loss to St Kilda at Optus Oval on Saturday.

The Saints won a dreary practice match – which was ruined as a spectacle by continual heavy showers and even hail – 11.9 (75) to 8.13 (61) at Optus Oval – to hand the Bombers their third successive loss of their pre-season campaign following their exit from the Wizard Cup to the Kangaroos last week.

In fact Kevin Sheedy’s side has still not won a pre-season match of any description since winning the 2000 pre-season competition.

While all eyes were on Solomon on Saturday as he played his first game for a year following a knee re-construction (he performed well for a half before being rested) - Sheedy was also hoping to use the match to give his youngsters the chance to push for senior places in the wake of the trading of premiership stars Chris Heffernan, Gary Moorcroft, Justin Blumfield and Blake Caracella.

But the Bombers’ youngsters failed to grasp their opportunity with only experienced players such as Dustin Fletcher – who had the better of Saints’ young gun Nick Riewoldt – and Sean Wellman, Jason Johnson and Matthew Lloyd making any meaningful contributions.

In contrast some of the Saints’ youngsters certainly grasped their opportunity as both sides played badly weakened sides with the Bombers resting Scott Lucas and James Hird while Paul Barnard, Dean Rioli, Mark Mercuri and Joe Misiti all performed well in the earlier reserves match.

With the Saints resting skipper Aaron Hamill and also without the likes of Max Hudghton, Luke Ball, Steve Lawrence and Justin Koschitzke – it gave youngsters such as top draft pick Brendon Goddard the chance to shine.

And the number one pick certainly impressed across half-forward as the Saints’ attack coped far better in the terrible conditions.

While Essendon’s attack was so poor – despite Lloyd playing well in the first three quarters in a unusual role further up the ground – it did not manage to score a single goal between the 12 minute mark of the second term and the 17 minute mark of the last, the Saints had the game’s best forward in Steven Milne.

The dangerous goalsneak kicked three goals and could have scored even more as he relished the midfield dominance of former Saints’ skipper Robert Harvey, who had more than 30 possessions.

The Bombers made a late rally in the final term to draw within a point but the Saints had been the better side all day and sealed victory when another former skipper in Nathan Burke kicked a goal on the run after a superb handball under pressure from Milne.

And just to cap off a bad day for the Bombers, rookie list player Ben Haynes suffered a serious shoulder injury in the second quarter following a heavy bump from Matt Maguire after having been his side’s best player up until that point.


ST KILDA: 4.1 8.2. 9.5 11.9 (75).
ESSENDON: 3.5 5.9 5.11 8.13 (61).

St Kilda:: S Milne 3 N Burke 2 H Black N Riewoldt B Goddard R Harvey L Montagna S Powell.
Goals: Essendon: B Haynes 2 S Wellman J Johnson M Lloyd J Laycock D Walsh D Hille.
St Kilda:: S Milne R Harvey F Gehrig B Goddard N Burke S Powell.
Best: Essendon:: D Fletcher J Johnson D Jacobs B Haynes M Lloyd S Wellman.
Injuries: St Kilda: H Black (corked buttock).
Essendon: B Haynes (shoulder).
Reports: Nil.
Crowd:: Approx 3000.
At Optus Oval