Former Docker continues purple patch
The arrival of Nathan Brown and Jake Carlisle has not only strengthened St Kilda’s spine down back, it’s also helped propel Dylan Roberton into a purple patch of form across the first month of 2017. The versatile tall defender has thrived around the pair, mopping up across half-back and providing plenty of drive and polish out of the back half. After collecting 26 touches in Perth, 20 last Sunday against Brisbane, the former Docker set a new personal best at Etihad Stadium, winning 32 possessions to go with a pristine efficiency rate of 90.6 per cent. Roberton also accumulated 595 metres of gained territory, along with 12 marks and six inside 50s. Not only are the Saints more powerful in the defensive key posts, they are even more explosive on transition in 2017.
Next generation take it right up to star-studded Pies midfield
As Alan Richardson pointed out in his post-match press conference in the bowels of Etihad Stadium on Sunday night: the next wave of midfielders got the job done against one of the most talented onball divisions in the game. In the absence of Jack Steven, Seb Ross went head-to-head with Adam Treloar and beat him. Dividing his time between the wing and half-back, Jack Newnes broke the 30-touch barrier for just the third time in his career, finishing with 32 and 765 metres gained – the most of any player in Round 4. Off-season acquisition Jack Steele demonstrated his grit around the ball again, laying game-highs for tackles (nine) and pressure points (60.9), to go with 20 disposals of his own. And then there was Jack Billings, who after a quiet game last weekend responded in emphatic fashion, gathering 28 possessions, 10 marks and frustratingly 1.4. With Steven set to return against Geelong the next weekend, the Saints evolving engine room is beginning to purr.
Again, St Kilda wasteful in front of goal
Wastefulness has been a common theme across the last few weeks and it reared its ugly head again in Docklands on Sunday. Just when the Saints had the opportunity to put the foot down and pedal away from the Pies, poor conversion kept the game in the balance. Unlike last week where there was a handful of culprits, Billings was the only multiple contributor, but it was the manner in which St Kilda missed that hurt most. The Saints kicked 4.8 from set shots, missing a range of gettable kicks for the third time this month. Despite the inaccuracy, St Kilda showed that their method works. Nathan Buckley’s men dominated the clearances (44-22), but St Kilda amassed 16 more inside 50s (third most of any team in Round 4), six more marks inside the arc and had the ball in their front half +4:31 more than Collingwood. The method is right, the conversion is not quite right, just yet.
Long and Geary leave different marks on same day
While new livewire forward Ben Long took the first few steps of his career, at the other end of the ground, new St Kilda skipper Jarryn Geary demonstrated time and time again why he is one of the most courageous players in the game. In a game defining moment in the third quarter, Geary did what Geary does best. He flung himself into a pack and the ball spilled out to Newnes who hit up Nick Riewoldt on the lead. It was a small moment but it was a key moment in a game that was decided by under three kicks. Long showed glimpses of what might be to come in his first appearance at the highest level. He didn’t win a heap of the ball but he provided plenty of pressure, accruing the fourth most pressure points (45.1) of any Saint on the ground. And that’s what he’s in the team to do. Alongside Jade Gresham and Jack Lonie inside 50, St Kilda’s forward half is a hive of pressure.
