Match

St Kilda vs North Melbourne

Commentary / 03 Aug 2025

Pre Game

00:00
The Saints have won their last five matches against North Melbourne by an average winning margin of 30 points.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:09
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Max Heath)
01:39
Max Heath kicks the first goal for the Saints on turnover. This season, the Kangaroos have conceded 55.9 points a game on turnover, ranked 17th.
04:04
St Kilda have controlled field position early, having the first three inside 50s and 93% time in the forward half.
06:08
North Melbourne is maintaining possession, having 20 more uncontested possessions, 10 more handball receives and 10 more uncontested marks.
07:09
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)
08:10
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Cameron Zurhaar)
09:08
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Luke Davies-Uniacke)
09:14
North Melbourne has pinned the Saints to their defensive 50, not allowing them to achieve an inside 50 from their chains, and scoring 1.0 (6) from their two forward half intercepts.
10:22
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Ryan Byrnes)
12:47
Despite winning clearances 5-4, St Kilda have been completely unable to maintain possession, having just 15 uncontested possessions (North Melbourne have 50) and only two uncontested marks.
15:03
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Harry Sheezel)
15:25
North Melbourne have been incredibly efficient when winning the ball in their front half, scoring from 75% of their chains beginning in the forward half, whereas the Saints have scored from 0%.
19:03
North Melbourne have been able to find targets inside 50 today, having retained the ball from 67% of their inside 50 kicks and scoring from 63% of their entries.
19:04
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jacob Konstanty)
20:58
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Cooper Sharman)
23:28
Despite having the same number of inside 50s, St Kilda have been unable to capitalise on their opportunities, scoring from just 30% of their entries and kicking a goal from just 10%.
28:57
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)
29:02
Harry Sheezel had an excellent first quarter, amassing a game-high 13 disposals, three clearances, nine uncontested possessions and a goal.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
02:36
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera)
04:22
Saints Interchange - Hugh Boxshall off due to an injury.
04:38
St Kilda have had the first three inside 50s, and 79% time in forward half in the second quarter, but have been unable to take advantage scoring just 0.1 (1).
05:27
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)
05:40
The Kangaroos have done all of their damage out of the forward half today, scoring three goals from forward half stoppages and one from a forward half turnover.
08:19
St Kilda's pressure has been exceptionally poor in the second quarter, having a pressure rating of just 134, which would easily be their worst in a second quarter all season.
09:26
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Higgins)
09:50
Jack Higgins scores the Saints' first for the quarter from a snap. 35.9% of Jack Higgins’ goals have come via snap shots this season – the highest percentage of the top-25 goalkickers in the league.
12:10
St Kilda have evened up the uncontested game this quarter, losing the uncontested possession count by just two this term as opposed to the -49 in the first quarter.
13:57
Despite winning inside 50s nine to three this quarter, the Saints have been unable to capitalise, scoring from just 22% of their entries and kicking a goal from only 11%.
15:32
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Max Heath)
15:48
The Saints are forcing turnovers in their forward half this term, having six forward half intercepts and allowing the Kangaroos to achieve an inside 50 from just 11% of their defensive 50 chains.
18:17
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Mitch Owens)
20:00
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Mitch Owens)
20:35
After having seven straight inside 50s without a goal, St Kilda finally broke through and scored through Mitch Owens. This quarter, the Saints have completely dominated, having 82% time in the forward half, although they have outscored the Kangaroos by just nine points.
22:57
Kangaroos Interchange - Zane Duursma off due to an injury.
24:18
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Zac Banch)
24:42
The Saints have sliced through the Kangaroos' defence this quarter, achieving an inside 50 from 80% of their defensive midfield chains, although they have scored just 0.2 (2) from them.
25:46
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
27:21
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Rowan Marshall)
30:42
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was incredible in the first half having 20 disposals, 11 contested possessions and five score involvements, as well as having six clearances, his most ever in a first half.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:32
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rowan Marshall)
01:35
The Saints have had a strong start to the second half, having the first two inside 50s, the first clearance and the first goal.
02:50
North Melbourne responds quickly from the centre bounce. Despite winning just three of 10 centre clearances today, the Kangaroos have been able to outscore the Saints from the source 1.0 (6) - 0.2 (2).
04:59
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)
05:39
Nick Larkey kicks his third goal and the Kangaroos' fourth from a set shot today. This season, 64.8% of the Kangaroos’ goals have come from set shots– the highest percentage of any team.
07:21
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera)
09:02
Unlike the first half, the Saints have been incredibly efficient inside 50 this quarter, scoring from 100% of their entries and kicking a goal from 50%, although the Kangaroos have matched them, kicking a goal from 100% of their entries.
09:28
Saints Interchange - Mitch Owens and is possibly out for the game.
10:57
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Colby McKercher)
11:22
Saints Interchange - Max Hall off due to an injury.
11:24
Colby McKercher kicks an incredible goal, and the Kangaroos' third from three entries this quarter. Since moving to defence in Round 13, Colby McKercher has had 25-plus disposals in all but one game – averaging 30.0 disposals and 5.9 rebound 50s.
12:33
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Cameron Zurhaar)
13:33
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
16:56
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Max Hall)
17:29
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Hugh Boxshall)
17:34
St Kilda continue to win the contested game this quarter, winning contested possessions 18 - 9 and winning ground ball gets 14 - 7.
21:38
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Higgins)
21:59
Jack Higgins scores the Saints' second in a row, and their third from forward half turnovers this quarter. They have been efficient in scoring from their attacking midfield intercepts, scoring 3.0 (18) from four intercepts.
23:33
Despite having score three goals this quarter, North Melbourne have been unable to create in their forward half, being yet to have a single chain beginning in their attacking midfield or forward 50.
24:05
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Hugh Boxshall)
26:15
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Max Heath)
27:57
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Mason Wood)
30:44
St Kilda have been on top around stoppage in the past 15 minutes, winning six of eight clearances and scoring 2.1 (13) from stoppage in that time.
33:24
St Kilda took control around the stoppage in the third quarter, winning around-the-ground clearances 6-2, and outscoring North Melbourne 2.1 (13) - 0.0 (0) from them.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:16
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jack Darling)
01:27
North Melbourne starts the fourth quarter exactly as planned, scoring the first goal through Jack Darling. Despite only achieving an inside 50 from 18% of their defensive 50 chains, they have outscored the Saints 0.2 (2) - 2.1 (13) from the source.
03:25
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Cameron Zurhaar)
07:11
North Melbourne have been incredibly clean early, having a kicking efficiency of 83% and a disposal efficiency of 88%, compared to St Kilda's 50% and 60% respectively.
09:17
Kangaroos Interchange - Nick Larkey off due to an injury.
09:51
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)
10:06
St Kilda's poor pressure has continued in the final quarter, having a pressure rating of just 124, which would be their worst in a quarter this season.
13:43
North Melbourne have found targets inside 50 this quarter, retaining possession from 80% of their inside 50 kicks, whereas the Saints have retained possession from just 25%.
14:48
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)
18:45
Despite having the same number of inside 50s, St Kilda have missed their opportunities, being yet to score this quarter, whereas North Melbourne have scored from 71% of their entries.
23:53
Rowan Marshall has been crucial for the Saints this quarter, having a team-high seven disposals, two contested marks and two inside 50s.
24:06
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Max Heath)
24:46
North Melbourne has controlled the contest this quarter, winning six of the last seven clearances, but they haven't capitalised, scoring just 0.2 (2) from stoppage this term.
25:25
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Cameron Zurhaar)
28:59
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Max Hall)
29:03
St Kilda hold on after seeing their 23-point three-quarter time lead being reduced to just three points. Despite having fewer inside 50s in the final quarter, the Kangaroos were efficient going inside 50, scoring three goals, whilst the Saints were held to just one.