St Kilda's six-match VFL winning streak has ended following a 25-point defeat to Essendon at Windy Hill on Sunday.
Despite leading at half-time, a goalless third term proved the Saints' downfall in the 13.13 (91) to 18.8 (116) defeat.
From the onset, the Saints were placed on the back foot, conceding the first three goals of the contest and needing to find a spark.
Hugh Boxshall (30 disposals, 9 clearances) displayed relentless work at the source, which was rewarded soon after, as Jonah Campigli (three goals) found space for Bailey McKenzie to register his first goal for the game.
McKenzie’s silky work acted as the catalyst for St Kilda to pounce on the scoreboard, as Billy Richardson and Patrick Said exchanged majors to level the contest.
The Saints booted three of the next four goals, all via Dan Butler (15 disposals, three goals, six tackles) who got busy in the heat of battle, showcasing his craft by kicking truly in the dying minutes of the first term to give the Saints a 15-point lead in the opening stanza.
The fixture began to produce a shootout, with 10-goal second term split evenly by both sides.
After quickly conceding the first goal, an incredible screamer from Lance Collard (22 disposals, 8 marks) kept the pressure on the Bombers.
St Kilda proved accurate in front of the sticks by kicking the next four goals, including some brilliance from Billy Richardson (two goals). This brilliance was disrupted by a late purple patch from the Bombers on the eve of the main change, kicking the next three goals to trim the Saints’ lead to 14 points.
St Kilda showed promise early in the third term, however it was the Bombers who produced some quality football.
St Kilda’s early dominance from the source hit a 180 after the main change, with the Bombers’ clearance work beginning to come to fruition.
Essendon piled on another four majors to begin the third term which marked a flurry of seven unanswered goals in the quarter. The Saints frustratingly proved wasteful in front of goal, kicking five behinds in the midst of the goalfest from the Bombers.
The fourth term started much like the third as another two goals were added to mark an unanswered run of nine goals for the Bombers as they ran out to a 25-point win.
The Saints will look to bounce back when they return home to take on second-placed Werribee next Saturday at RSEA Park.
MATCH FACTS:
ESSENDON: 4.1 9.3 13.6 18.8 (116)
ST KILDA: 6.4 11.5 11.10 13.13 (91)
GOALS: McKenzie 3, Campigli 3, Butler 3, Richardson 3, Said, Maginness
DISPOSALS: Dow 30, Boxshall 30, Clark 25, Carroll 24, Collard 23, Banfield 23
