CATS DROP ANOTHER GAME TO TEAM OUTSIDE THE EIGHT
Ben Jensen 27 June 2016

AFL ROUND 14 2016: ST KILDA SAINTS V GEELONG CATS ST KILDA perhaps predictably dealt Geelong a blow heading into the bye by defeating the Cats by 3 points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night. The Saints easily had the better of the Cats in the first half and had it not been for a few wayward shots, some not even registering scores, they may have been in front by more than their four goals at half time.

The Cats came out of the blocks in the second half kicking the first few goals and quickly bringing the margin back to within 10 points but the Saints finished the term well, finishing with four goals straight to the Cats' six goals nine to hold on to an eleven-point lead into the final quarter. Geelong soon hit the lead in the last though should have pushed the lead easily to 20 points but absolutely dreadful stuff-ups going forward saw the Cats leave the game alive. And the Saints took their chances, Jack Steven putting his side ahead with a brilliant volley from the goal square.

Saints Steven, Maverick Weller and Nick Riewoldt all had good nights on their home turf, the Cats' best included usual suspects Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood with Cameron Guthrie quite solid in his return after a week out. Tom Hawkins had a terrible first half but finished with three goals as did Lincoln McCarthy, McCarthy's goals all coming in the third quarter. Questions will be asked about a lot of others next selection night, certainly Steven Motlop would be under the microscope if Geelong fans were deciding. Mitch Clark is a very strong chance to return in round 16 against the Swans after commanding performances in the VFL. Who to leave out is the hard question with forwards Tom Hawkins and Shane Kersten, along with ruckmen Zac Smith and Rhys Stanley holding their own so far.

An interesting stat flashed up in the final seconds of the match: Geelong had won all fourteen final quarters this season despite now having lost four games, three of them to bottom-eight side. As Coach Chris Scott said, it's better to lose to lower sides than the top sides, not sure if we'd dismiss it like that but it does show the side badly needs the rest. The VFL side also has a bye this weekend, which combined may help local footy crowd numbers this week.

ST KILDA: 4.2, 8.6, 12.8, 14.9 (93) DEFEATED
GEELONG: 1.4, 4.6, 10.9, 13.12 (90)

GOALS
ST KILDA: Minchington 3, Wright 2, Newnes 2, Weller 2, McCartin, Bruce, Membrey, Gresham, Steven
GEELONG: McCarthy 3, Hawkins 3, Kersten, Lonergan, Dangerfield, Menzel, Murdoch, Blicavs, Motlop

BEST
ST KILDA: Steven, Ross, Riewoldt, Dunstan, Minchington, Gresham, Weller
GEELONG: Selwood, Dangerfield, Henderson, Blicavs, Taylor, Guthrie, McCarthy

CHANGES
ST KILDA: Nil
GEELONG: Nil

INJURIES
ST KILDA: Armitage (corked calf), Wright (shoulder)
GEELONG: McCarthy (ankle)

REPORTS: Nil

UMPIRES: FIELD: LUKE 'POLLY' FARMER, ROBERT FINDLAY, CRAIG FLEER, JACOB MOLLISON
BOUNDARY: IAN BURROWS, TIM LOUGOON, SHANE THIELE, JORDAN ANDREWS
GOAL: DAVID DIXON, LUKE 'SKY' WALKER EMERGENCY: STEVEN PIPERNO

CROWD: 28,745 at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne Docklands