After an even battle for much of the first half, the Kangaroos established a handy lead at half-time with the last four goals in just six minutes, and with five goals to two in the third term put the game out of the Saints’ reach.
In the final quarter the two teams took turns peppering the goals, Corey McKernan kicking his fourth goal and Stewart Loewe registering his sixth and seventh goals in a fine lone hand.
Shannon Grant was best afield for the Roos in the middle of the ground, sharking the ball time after time along with the likes of Anthony Stevens and Brent Harvey as Matthew Burton consistently gave his midfielders first use of the ball.
“We didn’t start off all that well but after that we turned it on and played very well today,” Burton said after his 100th game. “It was a goal I set myself a long time ago, so I’m rapt to reach the mark.”
Shannon Motlop, a forward for much of his short career, had a sterling game across half-back, Leigh Colbert continues to find his feet after crossing to Arden Street at the end of 1999, and McKernan played well after last week’s spell in the reserves.
Loewe battled hard all day for the Saints, keeping them in the contest for much of the afternoon with his seven goals in an interesting battle with Jason McCartney, while Burke also played well in the losing side.
“It felt a lot better until the last quarter hour or so,” Burke said. “The Kangaroos were too good for us today, it would have been nice to win, but in the years to come I’ll look back and see what a special achievement it was.”
Skipper Robert Harvey also tried hard in his return from injury, while Justin Koschitzke showed he has a big future in the game with some fine play across half-back.
After some earlier poor misses from both sides, Stewart Loewe marked unopposed in the goalsquare and slotted the first of the game from point blank range, but the Roos answered immediately through Byron Pickett.
The Kangaroos threatened to kick away through another goal to Pickett and a third to Colbert, but late goals to Aaron Hamill and Loewe saw the Saints close to within two points at quarter time, 3.5.23 to 3.3.21.
When Loewe kicked his third moments after the resumption, St Kilda had hit the front, but Pickett set the returning Corey McKernan up for the Roos’ fourth to regain the lead for his team.
Loewe’s fourth regained the lead for the Saints, but after some wasteful kicking, a burst of four goals in six minutes to McKernan, Pickett (his third), McKernan again and Shannon Grant gave the Roos a handy lead at the main break, 8.10.58 to 5.7.37.
The Kangaroos had the early chances in the third quarter, but it was former Brisbane Lion Brett Voss who drew first blood, before Grant’s second and two more to Sav Rocca and Shane Clayton saw the Roos draw six goals clear.
Loewe’s fifth gave the Saints come hope, but after an extended period without either team breaking through, an unusually quiet David King intercepted the ball, handed it off, ran on and got it back for the goal of the day.
First-gamer Lindsay Smith almost upstaged King seconds later, recovering from a missed mark with a clever kick off the ground from 20 metres out as the Kangaroos skipped away at three-quarter time, 13.16.94 to 7.10.52.
The only interest in the last quarter lay in whether the Saints could avoid a thrashing, McKernan’s fourth being overshadowed by Loewe’s sixth and seventh goals and another to Hamill.
But the Saints run of three on the trot was snapped by two of their own by the Kangaroos in as many minutes to Anthony Stevens and Jess Sinclair, before Burke at least had something to savour in his milestone game with his first.
Robbie Powell and Hamill got the Saints’ final goals of the game, while a pair to Harvey and Grant’s third saw the Roos register their biggest win of the season so far.
Scoreboard:
KANGAROOS: 3.5 8.10 13.16 19.24 (138)
ST KILDA: 3.3 5.7 7.10 13.11 (89)
Goals: Kangaroos: C McKernan 4 b Pickett 3 S Grant 2 B Harvey 2 L Colbert J Sinclair A Stevens S Clayton S Rocca D King S Watt L Smith. St Kilda: S Loewe 7 A Hamill 3 N Burke B Voss R Powell.
Best: Kangaroos: B Harvey A Stevens S Grant M Burton S Clayton D King. St Kilda: S Loewe S Milne N Burke B Voss R Harvey A Thompson.
Injuries: Nil.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: M McKenzie D Morris R Kelsey
Crowd: 10,958 at Manuka Oval
