Saints smash Pies to stay unbeaten

St Kilda regain top spot on the ladder after belting the Magpies by 88 points in front of 46,880 at the Telstra Dome on Monday night, their biggest win against Collingwood.

Lyon’s men were switched on right from the start when Stephen Milne kicked the first goal of the match just 42 seconds in. After Tarkyn Lockyer booted the Pies first at the 8 minute mark, the Saints started to pull away with a goal to Adam Schneider and a second to Mile giving them a 11 point quarter time lead.

The Pies struggled up forward with the  late withdrawals of Leon Davis and Paul Medhurst hurting their structure and couldn’t convert on the scoreboard.

St Kilda dominated the second quarter, booting six unanswered goals. Nick Riewoldt kicked his first was the only goal in the first 15 minutes of the quarter, but his second brought a flurry of goals. Milne and Schneider added to their tally’s before Goddard and Koschitzke added their first each and the Saints lead was out to 49 points at the main break.

Anthony Rocca’s first early in third quarter broke a streak of eight St Kilda goals and was the first since Lockyer’s opener at the 8 minute mark of the first quater. Schneider replied soon after with his third goal before setting up Clinton Jones who booted his first. After Wellingham kicked the Pies third goal the Saints then booted the last three of the term, with Andrew McQualter booting two and Schneider kicking his forth goal for the game. 

The Saints took a 73 point lead into 3 quarter time and didn’t let up in the final term with the usual suspects adding goals. Riewoldt, Schneider and Milne all added one each before Scott Pendlebury goaled for the Pies. The Skipper then bagged his forth and fifth goals to match Schneider to cap off a big win and build on their already huge percentage.

Midfield dominance was prevelant once again with Nick Dal Santo and Leigh Montagna picking up 38 disposals each with O’Bree having 32 for the Pies.

Further bad news for Collingwood is the injuries to ruckman Josh Fraser and midfielder Dane Swan.

Official crowd: 46,880 at Docklands