It may not have been the prettiest game on Easter Sunday, but for the second week in a row, St Kilda restricted the opposition from scoring or penetrating their forward arc.
Across the last fortnight, the Saints are ranked No. 1 in the competition for points against (65.5 points) – a vast improvement on their 2016 season average of 92.8 points (ranked No. 13 in the AFL) – after holding Collingwood to the second lowest score of Round 4.
The inclusion of key defenders Nathan Brown and Jake Carlisle is not only paying dividends on the bottom line, it has also helped propel Dylan Roberton and Jimmy Webster into a rich vein of form early in the year.
On the back of a sizeable win on entries (+16) against Collingwood, a week after the Saints had 13 more inside 50s than Brisbane, Alan Richardson’s men are ranked No. 3 for inside 50 differential (+14.5) across the last fortnight.
Brown: You always like beating your old side for the first time
The Saints are ranked No. 2 for time in forward half differential (+9:51) in the last two weeks and No. 1 for marks (120.5), after maintaining control of the game for large portions against Brisbane and Collingwood.
At Etihad Stadium on Easter Sunday, St Kilda accumulated the most uncontested marks (118) of Round 4 – 32 more than the Magpies.
As he has done for his entire career, Nick Riewoldt hauled in 12 grabs, as did in-form defender Roberton, while wingmen Jack Billings (10 marks) and Jack Newnes (eight marks) both got involved on transition.
