St Kilda have proved their resurgence below Ross Lyon wasn’t a one-off, dismantling a listless Western Bulldogs by 51 factors to take care of their good begin to the AFL season.
The Saints booted the primary 5 objectives of the sport, then held their nerve by a Bulldogs second-term resurgence earlier than kicking away for a 14.8 (92) to five.11 (41) victory to sentence Luke Beveridge’s prices to a 0-2 begin.
Boom draftee Mattaes Phillipou underlined his expertise with a superb efficiency in assault, scoring three objectives together with a sensational long-range effort to regular the Saints initially of the third quarter.
With Max King and Tim Membrey nonetheless sidelined, Mitch Owens (three objectives), Jade Gresham, former Bulldog Zaine Cordy and late signing Anthony Caminiti (two objectives apiece) helped Phillipou kick a profitable rating.
Ruckman Rowan Marshall (20 disposals, 9 clearances, 28 hitouts) was a drive and Mason Wood (24 disposals) continued his standout begin to the season on the wing.
Skipper Jack Steele (28 disposals, six clearances) and Jack Sinclair (33 touches) have been usually glorious.
Bulldogs pair Tom Liberatore (24 touches) and Bailey Smith (28 disposals, 596 metres gained) labored onerous all recreation whereas skipper Marcus Bontempelli lifted within the second quarter.
But the disjointed Bulldogs largely lacked chew and explosiveness, and have been unable to search out solutions to St Kilda’s relentless strain.
Aaron Naughton booted two objectives however younger talls Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy didn’t affect the scoreboard.
The Saints burst out of the blocks, nabbing their first aim by way of Phillipou contained in the opening 35 seconds and a second to Owens barely a minute later.
Bulldogs defender Liam Jones required a first-quarter concussion check after his head hit Phillipou’s legs then the bottom, however was cleared to return.
The Saints led by 32 factors early within the second quarter however recruit Oskar Baker lastly nailed the Bulldogs’ first aim 18 minutes in, beginning a run of 4 in a row.
The fourth arrived when Tim English slotted a free kick after the siren to chop the halftime deficit to 5 factors.
The late rating prompted a quick scuffle among the many gamers, with Cordy within the thick of issues.
The begin of the third time period was an arm wrestle however the Saints wrested again management when Jones marked in the midst of the bottom, tried to burst ahead and was run down by Dan Butler.
The fast turnover led to a beautiful long-range aim to Caminiti, his first on the prime stage.
The Saints by no means appeared again from there, kicking 9 objectives to the Bulldogs’ one within the second half to cruise to victory.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
