ST KILDA will rue a host of missed opportunities and butchered forward 50 entries following this afternoon’s 63-point loss to Port Adelaide.
The Saints matched it with Ken Hinkley’s men in the first half in general play, but could not convert a string of golden chances and ultimately paid for it with the final result.
Port Adelaide galloped away in the third quarter and solidified the result in the last.
Leigh Montagna was St Kilda’s most prolific ball-winner with 26 disposals and two goals, while David Armitage, Jarryn Geary and Sean Dempster were also strong.
Hugh Goddard did some courageous things in the back half and went at 100 per cent efficiency with his nine touches, while fellow 2014 draftee Paddy McCartin showed glimpses despite often being outnumbered.
Jack Sinclair was also impressive, collecting a career-best 20 disposals to put his name forward for a Rising Star nomination. His goal in the second term after receiving a handball from Daniel McKenzie was undoubtedly the Saints best passage of play for the day.
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In the first term St Kilda’s pressure and finishing skills were down – 10 tackles and 1.4 illustrated this. In the second, the intensity lifted but in front of goal chances continued to go begging.
Despite the Saints registering 18 inside 50s to nine for the term, Port Adelaide won the quarter by a goal. From then on Port did not give St Kilda a whiff of a comeback, piling on nine goals to three in a dominant second half.
Billy Longer was concussed late in the second term and replaced by Tim Membrey, leaving Tom Hickey to shoulder the large bulk of the ruck work.
Port Adelaide’s Robbie Gray, who grew up playing at the same junior club as Alan Richardson (East Burwood), was terrific all afternoon with 37 disposals and 12 clearances. What made his performance even more special was the fact he had just three of these touches in the first quarter.
He was well supported by Chad Wingard with four goals and skipper Travis Boak with 29 possessions.
The result keeps Port Power’s finals hopes alive, while St Kilda is 13th on the ladder, level with Melbourne on points but ahead of the Demons on percentage.
ST KILDA: 1.4 3.10 4.12 6.13 (49)
PORT ADELAIDE: 4.5 8.5 12.7 17.10 (112)
Goals: Montagna 2, Sinclair, Dunstan, Bruce, Membrey
Best: Dempster, Montagna, Armitage, Geary, Sinclair, Goddard
Sub: Billy Longer subbed off at half-time for Tim Membrey
Injuries: Longer (Concussion)
