St Kilda has kicked off their 2010 campaign with an 8-point win over the Swans at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night. After kicking the first two goals of the match the Swans had the Saints playing out of character, but once they put through their first major for the night they went on to kick 5 straight consecutive goals.
St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt led the way for the Saints kicking 4 goals in an almost trademark dominant performance. Daniel Bradshaw was relatively quite in his debut game for the Swans, the former Lion kicked one goal from two shots.
A late goal to Gram in the 3rd quarter saw the Saints lead the Swans by 20 points at 3-quarter-time. A furious Paul Roos inspired a final quarter comeback by the Swans but failed to make the most of their opportunities. The umpires refused to put the whistle away in what was a frustrating quarter for players and fans alike.
Justin Koschitzke will have a nervous couple of days while he awaits the decision of the Match Review Panel after he laid a solid head high bump on Nick Malceski within seconds of the opening bounce.
Sydney Swans – 3.3 7.5 9.8 13.10 (88)
St Kilda – 5.0 9.0 13.4 15.6 (96)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Goodes 3, Mattner 2, O’Keefe, Malceski, Kirk, Bradshaw, White, Jack, McVeigh, Moore
St Kilda: Riewoldt 4, Koschitzke 2, Gram 2, Dal Santo, Milne, Schneider, Geary, Peake, McQualter, Goddard
BEST
Sydney Swans: Goodes, McVeigh, O’Keefe, Seaby, Shaw, Malceski
St Kilda: Riewoldt, Gram, Montagna, Gilbert, Dal Santo, McQualter
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Kennelly (concussion)
St Kilda: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, McBurney, Grun
Official crowd: 31,330
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