ST KILDA has clinically orchestrated the biggest upset of the 2014 season, downing Fremantle by 58 points in a dramatic form reversal that belied the Saints lowly position on the ladder.

Not since St Kilda defeated Essendon on April 19 has the team had so many positive contributors in one game.

But aside from individual efforts, the bare team stats tell the story.

The Saints registered 100 more kicks, more than double the number of marks, 17 more inside 50s and a whopping score assists differential of 19. 

In defence, Shane Savage was electric, Luke Delaney rock solid, Dylan Roberton highly dependable and Sam Fisher the exact player he was three years ago.

The midfield didn’t rely on 35 Leigh Montagna touches (he was followed by Ryan Crowley for much of the afternoon), or even 10 Lenny Hayes tackles, rather it was the collective dominance versus Freo’s proven stars that was most gratifying.

Jack Newnes is seemingly edging closer to A-grade status with every game, while Luke Dunstan will surely have reached that echelon by this time next year.

But as reliable as the defenders were and as prolific as the midfielders were, nothing quite tickles the fancy like an in-sync forward line – and that’s exactly what St Kilda illustrated this afternoon.

Josh Bruce started down there and provided a solid option all day, but it was the emergence of Rhys Stanley at centre-half-forward that was most stimulating for the red, white and black faithful.

Stanley, who has teetered on the outskirts of the senior team at various stages this year, didn’t just solidify his position with a paper clip, rather he nailed it down with a sledgehammer and announced himself to the rest of the league in emphatic fashion.

The 23-year-old finished with three majors and a career-best 14 marks up forward, a performance which allowed his skipper and mentor Nick Riewoldt to roam further afield with great success.

Before today, just once in Riewoldt’s 275 games had he amassed 30 touches or more, but this afternoon’s 30 disposal, 16 mark and four-goal effort was as stirring captain’s game as you’re ever likely to have the pleasure to witness.
Earlier, St Kilda’s first half was arguably the best half of football they’ve played since Lenny Hayes’ 250th game against Sydney.

Not even Nat Fyfe, Michael Barlow or Matthew Pavlich could stem the flow of goals towards St Kilda’s end.

After just three minutes Sean Dempster was concussed following a sickening collision with Matthew Pavlich. The game stood still for five minutes as the All-Australian defender was stretchered from the arena, but upon the resumption of play Nick Riewoldt calmly slotted home the Saints first of numerous goals from long range.

It set the tone, and while the Dockers threatened to launch a comeback at various points, invariably Alan Richardson’s men responded in a positive fashion.

The 20-point quarter time lead was doubled by the time the main break came around – a margin that earned St Kilda’s 21 fit players a standing ovation as they trotted down into the rooms.

But in the end it was Lenny's day, and regardless of the results that follow, this was a match that every Saints fan will saviour for a very long time.

ST KILDA 17.16 (118)
FREMANTLE 9.6 (60)

BEST:
Riewoldt, Savage, Dunstan, Ray, Newnes, Hayes, Fisher, Montagna, Armitage

GOALS:
Riewoldt 4, Stanley 3, Dunstan 2, Ray 2, Curren, Murdoch, Shenton, Schneider, Montagna, Armitage