St Kilda has kept Collingwood goaless in the second half to record a gutsy 28 point, despite losing star forward Nick Riewoldt to a hamstring injury in the second quarter.
The Saints skipper was restricted of space from the get go as the Pies attempted to reduced his effect on the game and the early pressure from both sides saw a low scoring first quarter that set the scene for the game. Collingwood booted the first goal of the match through Travis Cloke but St Kilda kicked two goals to give them a four point lead at the first change.
The scrap continued in the second quarter as the Pies booted three goals to St Kilda’s two to take the lead at half time, but losing Riewoldt in the dying minutes looked as though it could be a massive blow to the Saints.
There was further bad news early in the third term when defender Sam Fisher was knocked out after colliding with Collingwood’s Leon Davis but the Saints stood tough as the Magpies kicked themselves out of the game. Malthouse’s men booted six straight behinds for the quarter as the Saints booted two goals to give back that four point lead going into the final term.
Despite being down players, St Kilda showed spirit slamming on four goals in the final term to seal a comfortable victory in the tough, low scoring encounter.
The toll could prove costly for the Saints, with Riewoldt needing scans on his hamstring to reveal the extent of the damage. The injury looked high on the leg, which may mean he could miss six to eight weeks.
St Kilda – 2.2, 4.5, 6.6, 10.9 (69)
Collingwood – 1.4, 4.8, 4.14, 4.17 (41)
Goals
St Kilda: Goddard 2, Montagna 2, Dal Santo, Milne, Gram, Schneider, Gardiner, Gwilt
Collingwood: Cloke, Didak, Sidebottom, Beams
Best
St Kilda: Gram, Hayes, Gilbert, Baker, Dal Santo, Goddard
Collingwood: Swan, Cloke, O’Brien, Wellingham, Ball, Sidebottom
Injuries
St Kilda: Riewoldt (hamstring), Fisher (concussion)
Collingwood: Cloke (ankle)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Vozzo, Meredith, Ryan
Official crowd: 49, 669 at Docklands
Dreamteam – Top 5
Sam Gilbert – 152
Steven Baker – 118
Dane Swan – 112
Nick Dal Santo – 112
Leight Montagna – 108
