You do the maths

We can only control what we can control and that is trying to win the last three games of the season. That is the sentiment of Alan Richardson post-game and it was echoed in Sam Gilbert’s press conference on Monday. With three games to go, St Kilda sits 10-9, just two games adrift of ninth placed North Melbourne. Given the enormous gulf in percentage (16.4 per cent) between the two sides, the Saints will need to win all three games and hope the Roos lose all three. St Kilda faces Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, before rounding out the year against Richmond and Brisbane. Brad Scott’s side faces an arduous run home, playing three top-four sides, starting with Hawthorn at the MCG, followed by Sydney and then GWS. So, right now, the Saints are alive. If results turn in St Kilda’s favour this weekend, expect the drums to beat louder ahead of September.

Potent ball use provides forwards with silver service

Despite recording more clearances, more tackles and only slightly less contested ball, Carlton lost where it counts most, and emphatically. On the wide expanses of the MCG, St Kilda used the ball as well as they have all year. The swept the ball from one side of the ground to the other, using the ball with poise and polish to provide the forwards with a mouth-watering day out. St Kilda recorded 54 entries, which isn’t a massive number, but from that number, Alan Richardson’s men converted that into 27 marks inside 50. Now that is a massive number, particularly given the league average is 12 per game. A week after butchering the ball in the front half and wasting a +13 inside 50 differential against North, St Kilda made Carlton pay. Tim Membrey (5.2 and six marks inside 50) and Josh Bruce (4.1 and seven marks inside 50) feasted on brilliant forward 50 entries.

Don't miss out on your chance to enjoy the Saints Premier Lounge for the final time this year!

Gresham shows us what the future looks like

When the game was there to be won in the second quarter, young Saint Jade Gresham dominated. With star midfielder Jack Steven receiving extra close attention from Ed Curnow in the first half, before Sam Kerridge took the role after half-time, Gresham was phenomenal around the ball. In the second term alone, the teenager stood tall, acquiring ten possessions and six clearances. And it wasn’t just the numbers that were impressive. He directed traffic, danced around opponents, before using the ball with class. Gresham has started his career as a small forward, but he was drafted as a midfielder and after Sunday’s performance it appears he has a big future in the middle. Surely he is firming as a Rising Star contender following his output across the last two months. On Sunday, in just his second appearance at the MCG, Gresham finished with a career-high 25 possessions – six more than his previous best – eight clearance and five inside 50s.

Saints find even spread at the ‘G

It was missing last week, but it returned on the weekend. The ‘it’ was an even spread of contribution across the board. In the midfield, Jack Newnes, Seb Ross, Tom Hickey Blake Acres, Jack Billings and Gresham were all influential. The forward line kicked the Saints second highest score of 2016 and the Saints restricted Carlton to just 51-points. In years gone by, St Kilda has relied heavily on too few to get results. This year, and particularly in the second half of this season, the Saints have spread the load. On Sunday, Newnes thrived on the big ground, accumulating 32 possessions – the second 30 possession haul of his year and of his career – 536 metres gained, seven score involvements and five inside 50s. Ross had 27 touches and did damage early when the game was on the line. Gresham and fellow Rising Star nominee Acres were prominent between the arcs and Billings showed his class on the outside. If the Saints are going to surge towards September, they will require a similar spread of contribution in the coming weeks.

Membrey rise continues with five more

Prior to 2016, Tim Membrey had never kicked more than two games in a game, let alone five. Now, he has four bags of five next to his name – only Josh Kennedy has more than him this year with five – and another four sets of three or four. His rise this season has been one of the stories of the season for St Kilda, just as it was 12 months ago for Josh Bruce. The pair combined for nine goals on Sunday, as well as 13 marks inside 50. Since coming into the side in Round 6, Membrey has kicked the third most goals in the AFL (39.18), behind Kennedy (53.22) and Lance Franklin (43.32). 29 of his 39 goals have come from set shots as he has quickly emerged as a reliable shot in front of goal. He will need to exceed his average of 2.8 goals per game in the final three rounds if he is to break the half century. With Paddy McCartin dominating at Sandringham, Nick Riewoldt hauling in 16 marks on Sunday, and the form of Membrey and Bruce, the Saints attack is in a great position.

For the chance to win a 2016 Pride Guernsey, click here to complete the short Pride survey.