Sydney has defeated St Kilda by 97 points in the penultimate home and away game of the 2015 season. 

Despite the loss, it was a special day for retiring Sydney premiership player and St Kilda stalwart Adam Schneider, who ran through the banner with his son Koby and daughter Maya.

The five-time Grand Finalist finished with 12 disposals, booted the first Saints goal of the game and then the opening major of the second half.

He received a guard of honour from both teams after the game which was a fitting tribute for a man who kicked a goal and played an integral role in the Swans drought-breaking 2005 premiership plus three St Kilda Grand Finals. He also finished the game with the ball in his hands. 

Inaccurate kicking plagued St Kilda all afternoon and meant that no matter how tight the game was in general play, its closeness was never reflected on the scoreboard. In saying this, Sydney looked more polished and held the Saints goalless in the second half.

Jack Steven (32 disposals) and David Armitage (25 disposals) were again the Saints two most prolific ball-winners.

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They did not have too many allies in an engine room that was beaten on the day, although Leigh Montagna, Jack Newnes and Seb Ross tried hard in difficult circumstances.

Defenders Dylan Roberton (25 touches) and Sam Fisher provided drive, while Sean Dempster was again a pillar of strength behind the ball in a performance that may bring him one step closer to his first Trevor Barker Award.

Dempster is not only St Kilda’s most dependable defender, but unequivocally one of the competition’s most reliable shot stoppers too. Having played all but one match this season, a second All-Australian guernsey is not out of the question for the 31-year-old.

Youngster Hugh Goddard was thrown forward late in the contest, while Jason Holmes was competitive in the ruck with his parents Kevin and Mary watching on from the stands. 

At their best, the Saints were patient in the first quarter with their ball movement. But on the flipside, this patience allowed the Swans to set up a watertight zone behind the ball that proved difficult to conquer.

In reality, what Alan Richardson and his coaching staff are probably looking for is balance. When the time is right to move the ball quickly, then go hell for leather. However when the situation dictates calmness and chip passes, then that’s OK too. St Kilda’s primary offensive issue in the first half was finding this balance.

At one stage in the first term, St Kilda pumped the ball inside its forward 50 on ten consecutive occasions but could not register a goal from any of these entries. As is often the case when a team is peppering without reward, Sydney responded like the premiership aspirant it is with successive majors.

Both teams had 15 inside 50s for the term, yet Sydney kicked four goals to St Kilda’s one to hold a 16-point lead at the first break.

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A similar trend continued in the second quarter, with the margin extended to 39 points at half-time in favour of John Longmire’s men courtesy of six unanswered Swan goals.

Brodie Murdoch utilised his penetrating left boot after the siren to give the Saints some hope and himself some confidence in what was just his second senior game for the season.

The Swans galloped away in the second half, extending the margin beyond 10 goals at three-quarter-time and even further by the final siren.

In a season of numerous positives and six-and-a-half wins, the style of this result was an abnormality for the Saints. In the cold light of day, a premiership aspirant grooming itself for a tilt on September glory was always going to be a difficult task this afternoon, and so it eventuated.

The task for the Saints is crystal clear - to respond with the same endeavour and intensity as they have shown all year against West Coast at Domain Stadium next Saturday. It promises to be another stern test, but more importantly, an invaluable learning experience.

ST KILDA: 1.5 3.9 4.12 4.14 (38)     
GEELONG: 4.3 10.6 15.10 20.15 (135)

Goals: Schneider 2, Murdoch, Riewoldt
Best:
 Roberton, Dempster, Armitage, Steven, Fisher, Newnes

Substitute: Dunstan replaced Hickey in the third quarter