MAKE no mistake, this was a terrific winfor the Roos, especially after last week's thumping at the hands of West Coastin Perth.

It wasn't pretty and it wasn't spectacularbut the fact St Kilda had been under the microscope all week added anotherelement to the significance of the gritty 22-point win at the Dome.

That said, we could have so easily iced the game by three-quarter time if notfor some inaccurate kicking.

Themoment

After conceding the first two goals of thelast quarter, the Roos appeared on the brink of letting slip a match they seeminglyhad in the bag.

Enter fifth-gamer Ed Lower, who stemmed thetide with a calmly taken goal from just inside 50m midway through the final term.

The 19-year-old's presence of mind to playon from a mark he took just outside the 50m arc, and then casually bang onehome from within range had the air of a player who looks set for a long careerin the blue and white.

Goalof the game

In what was almost a carbon copy of hismatch-winning effort against Melbourne two weeks ago, Andrew Swallow gatheredthe ball on the docks side of the ground, carried it just inside 50m and letfly with a long bomb just as he was about to be met front-on by an opponent.

Somehow avoiding the smother, Swallow's kickedsailed towards goal, and thanks to a Lindsay Thomas shepherd, went through forthe Roos’ eighth of the game and our first of the third quarter.

Themove

Hamish McIntosh was having a rare quiet onewhen midway through the last quarter Dean Laidley swung him deep into attack tosee if he could somehow manufacture a mark inside 50.

Right on cue, the Big H plucked down atowering grab from a kick deep into the Roos’ attacking zone and sealed the victorywith his calm conversion.

Special mention should be made for thecoach's decision to play Drew Petrie on Saints danger man Fraser Gehrig andMick Firrito on Nick Riewoldt, both winning moves for the Kangas.

Coaches' award

David Hale hasn't had the best of starts in2007, but he had a huge impact on the result of this game.

The big ruckman announced his intentionswith a courageous defensive mark running back with the flight of the ball inthe first quarter.

This appeared to boost his confidence as heseemed to get better as the afternoon progressed.

It's easy to forget that if the big manhadn't had such a telling impact during his stints on the ball, the Roos wouldnot have been able to push Hamish forward late in the game and that match-sealingmark and goal would never have happened.

King of the Kids

You would hardly describe Ed Lower's gameas spectacular but his poise in a tight and scrappy affair was evident from theword go.

He showed efficient use of the ball by handand foot, was strong at the contest and showed great poise to nail that goalfrom distance in the last quarter.

You can see why the coaching staff were soeager to rush him back into the side after just a few games with North Ballarat following an ankle injury in the pre-season.

SydBarker watch

This week would have been a tough one for thosegiving the votes, with the team throwing up a number of worthy candidates.

Brent Harvey worked tirelessly all game,providing non-stop run. His 26-possessions probably don't give a fairindication of how hard he worked.
Corey Jones’ four goals ultimately proved the difference between the two sides,and the defensive efforts of Petrie, Firrito, Daniel Pratt and Shannon Wattwere all noteworthy contributions.

Ladder

The Roos move up from eighth to sixth onthe back of the 22-point win, just a game off new ladder leaders Geelong and last year'spremiers West Coast.

Four teams have a 7-4 record, with theKangas’ poor percentage putting us at the bottom of this group. Just one game separatesthird from tenth.

Nextweek

The Kangas are yet to defeat Neil Craig’s Adelaide, the club's lastwin against the Crows coming way back in round one, 2004.

This will be the Roos' last visit to theGold Coast for 2007 and the club will be keen to finish on a high. Match-winningonballer Daniel Wells is not likely to be risked as the Roos aim to head intothe mid-season break with an impressive 8-4 return.

Let's hope Dean reminds them all to bringtheir kicking boots this week!