Match

St Kilda vs Brisbane Lions

Commentary / 27 Aug 2016

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to Etihad Stadium for the St Kilda v Brisbane Lions Round 23 clash.
59:33
Outs for Saints: J.Gresham, P.McCartin
59:34
Ins for Saints: S.Fisher, B.White
59:35
Outs for Lions: J.Paine
59:36
Ins for Lions: L.Dawson
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:10
St Kilda are one of the better long-kicking teams in the AFL this season. Particularly in the last four rounds where they average 5.8 more long kicks per game (fifth in the AFL) and ranked second for total long kicks to advantage behind only Adelaide.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:17
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Tom Rockliff)
02:07
Tom Rockliff gets the first goal of the game, and it was Tom Cutler who launched that score from defensive midfield, a zone where the Lions have struggled to launch scores from this season (ranked 17th, averaging less than 4 per game).
03:27
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Tom Cutler)
03:51
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Liam Dawson)
05:26
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Nathan Wright)
06:52
Dayne Zorko is in the thick of the action early in this match, with all three of his disposals being involved in a scoring chain, including one score launch and one goal assist.
08:11
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Dayne Zorko)
10:44
The Lions are ready for the contest in match, winning three contested marks to zero so far and leading the contested possession differential by four. They are ranked 18th and 17th in these categories respectively in the AFL this season.
12:17
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)
13:00
Leigh Montagna and Jack Steven are off to fast starts for the Saints with five disposals each. In the last four matches between these sides, they rank first and third in average disposals respectively among players that are involved in this match.
14:05
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Lonie)
15:39
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Shane Savage)
16:10
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Newnes)
17:04
Two quick goals launched off the back of uncontested intercept marks, first Daniel McKenzie then Sean Dempster, and Nick Riewoldt crucial in setting up both as well, with his block setting up Jack Lonie's goal and the handball assist for Newnes's goal.
17:43
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
20:00
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Jack Steven)
20:47
The Saints are very keen to move the ball quickly, playing on immediately from seven of their nine marks so far. That is a hallmark of their style of play in 2016, as they are ranked fourth in the AFL with a play-on rate of 35.3 per cent.
22:33
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Liam Dawson)
23:01
That goal to Liam Dawson is the second to come from Mitch Robinson winning a free kick off the ball. The Lions were ranked second in the AFL prior to the start of this round for Possession Gains from Free Kicks this season (156).
24:12
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Eric Hipwood)
26:36
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Lonie)
27:16
That goal to Jack Lonie comes off the back of another score launched by Daniel McKenzie via a Possession Gain. The forward pressure is paying dividends for the Saints in the second half of this quarter, recording 11 of the last 13 inside 50's.
29:02
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Josh Bruce)
30:29
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
31:34
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
31:36
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
31:46
Since the 13 minute mark of the first term, the Saints have won nine of 12 clearances and 15 of 17 inside 50's leading to 78 per cent time in forward half and 4.4 (28) to 1.1 (7).

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:28
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)
02:51
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jarryn Geary)
03:13
The first goal of the term to Jarryn Geary, and the third goal the Saints have launched from defensive midfield today, all from Intercept Possessions.
04:34
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
07:31
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Ben Keays)
08:03
The Lions get one back through rookie Ben Keays, the second goal they've launched today from an Intercept Possession in defensive 50. The Lions are the only team in the AFL to average less than a goal per game from this source.
09:20
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)
10:07
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Tim Membrey)
11:35
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Nick Riewoldt)
14:29
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Josh Walker)
15:20
This is a very even quarter in every sense. Both teams are locked equal on scores (2.2), inside 50's (nine) and groundball-gets (10) as well as the Lions only leading the disposal count for this quarter 44-42.
17:58
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Nick Riewoldt)
18:06
Nick Riewoldt has already taken four marks on the lead so far, with his first goal coming from his most recent lead mark. He is clearly the leader on the ground in this category as he is in the AFL this season (50, five more than the next best player).
20:40
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Nick Riewoldt)
21:35
Make that five lead marks and two goals now for Riewoldt. He is also the leading disposal-getter on the ground in the second quarter with eight. Add in three inside 50's, 259 metres gained and seven total marks, all quarter-high figures for both teams.
23:14
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Tom Bell)
23:48
Hanley capitalises and sets up Tom Bell to kick his first goal of the afternoon. Brisbane are being very good by foot so far in this match, with 75 per cent disposal efficiency by foot compared to St Kilda's 71 per cent efficiency by foot.
25:39
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Josh Bruce)
26:57
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Nick Riewoldt)
27:22
Nick Riewoldt kicks his third goal of the game and the Saints kick out to five goal lead. If the Lions lose by approximately 10 goals, they will come very close to their first wooden spoon since 1998.
29:00
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)
29:44
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Eric Hipwood)
30:12
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
30:22
Dayne Zorko has been outstanding for the Lions in the first half, with 434 metres gained (game-high) at a retention rate of 33 per cent (best of any player with 300-plus metres gained), as well as a team-high five inside 50's and six score involvements.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:29
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
03:18
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Nathan Wright)
03:42
The Saints kick the first goal of the second half through Nathan Wright, and their ninth of the match from an Intercept Possession. They have outscored the Lions 9.6 (60) to 5.6 (36) in this category today.
07:16
Saints Interchange - Shane Savage off due to an injury.
08:49
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Daniel Merrett)
09:02
The Lions have thrown Daniel Merrett up forward in his last game, as he kicks the first goal for the Lions this quarter. Might be a good idea; in the last four matches between these teams, only he and Nick Riewoldt average more than two goals per game.
13:09
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Steven)
14:31
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Josh Walker)
15:15
Brisbane have been much better around the stoppages this quarter. They've recorded six of the last eight clearances but have only managed 0.1 (1) from this source in that time.
15:50
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Lonie)
16:20
A third goal of the quarter to the Saints, and they're out to a game-high 42 point lead. All three of the Saints goals this quarter have been launched from their own defensive 50.
19:06
Saints Interchange - Jack Lonie off due to the blood rule.
19:20
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Pearce Hanley)
20:17
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Nick Riewoldt)
21:33
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)
23:00
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rhys Mathieson)
23:26
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Daniel Rich)
25:24
One area the Lions are winning is in one-on-one contests. They have taken 13 contested marks to St Kilda's nine, and have won 39 per cent of one-on-one contests and lost just 13 per cent.
27:29
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Sam Gilbert)
28:09
Some silly 50 metre penalties gift the Saints their fifth goal of the quarter. It also gifts Sam Gilbert his sixth inside 50 of the match, an equal-game high.
29:06
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Nick Riewoldt)
29:35
A fifth goal for Nick Riewoldt coming from his fifteenth mark of the game, which is the best result of his career against the Lions, surpassing the fourteen marks he took against them in Round 11, 2003 and Round 22, 2005.
32:09
The siren has sounded to end Q3.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:53
The Saints have taken 18 marks inside forward 50 compared to eight for the Lions. They have also outscored their opponents by 29 points from this source. The Saints average just over three more points per game than their opponents from this category.
01:13
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Brandon White)
02:25
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Rhys Mathieson)
03:04
Just his eighth disposal for the day but Rhys Mathieson gets his first goal for the day and the Lions first for the quarter. His impact has been felt on the ground though, as he is only second to Tom Rockliff on the team in Pressure Acts (17).
03:49
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Nick Riewoldt)
06:31
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Tim Membrey)
09:56
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Josh Bruce)
10:19
Following that Josh Bruce goal, the Saints have launched 12 of their goals from their defensive half, 11 of which have been launched from Intercept Possessions. They average 4.3 goals per game launched in their defensive half (ranked 11th).
10:26
Saints Interchange - Jarryn Geary and is possibly out for the game.
12:16
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Nick Riewoldt)
12:37
Nick Riewoldt has been the best player on the ground in this match. He kicks his seventh goal after taking his 12th lead mark to push the lead out to 69 points.
15:06
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Josh Walker)
16:29
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Josh Walker)
17:00
Two quick goals to Josh Walker to take his tally to three for today. Both goals were launched from Intercept Possessions and Tom Rockliff was involved in both, launching the first and assisting the second. Rockliff also has a game-high 33 disposals.
18:00
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Nick Riewoldt)
19:19
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Pearce Hanley)
20:35
Coming into this match, the Saints had only managed to kick a goal from 23.8 per cent of inside 50's this season, ranked 14th in the AFL. Today they have scored a goal from 38.7 per cent of inside 50's, which is an outstanding conversion rate.
20:38
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Nick Riewoldt)
21:27
That makes it nine goals for Nick Riewoldt, equalling his career-high return in this category, which he set against Melbourne in Round 15 2004, and Carlton in Round 8, 2006.
22:27
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Dayne Zorko)
24:30
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
25:45
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
26:37
Saints Interchange - Shane Savage off due to an injury.
26:47
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Rhys Mathieson)
27:26
Mathieson gets his second goal of the game from Dayne Zorko's fifth assist, a game-high. Zorko is almost 100 points clear of any other player at the Lions for total scoreboard impact (252 points).
29:37
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Sam Fisher)
30:02
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Tom Rockliff)
30:59
Tom Rockliff gets his second goal of the afternoon to reward his hard work over the course of this match. He has game-high numbers in disposals (37), pressure acts (24), centre square involvements (37), as well as a team-high four tackles.
32:35
SCORE GOAL - Saints (David Armitage)
33:32
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)
33:44
A goal to David Armitage to cap off a good end to the season for the Saints, who have registered their highest score for the season, surpassing the 135 points they scored against Melbourne in Round 6.
34:22
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
34:32
Nick Riewoldt was a runaway man of the match, winning 26 disposals, 21 marks including a career-high 13 lead marks and kicking 9.1 (55).