Media articles and stats: Slick Saints run reigning premiers off their feet

[one-eyed]

Slick Saints run reigning premiers off their feet

By Riley Beveridge
afl.com.au
27 June 2020

ST KILDA         5.2    8.2     12.2    15.3 (93)
RICHMOND       4.1    6.3     9.5      10.7 (67)

GOALS
St Kilda: Butler 3, Membrey 3, Lonie 2, Kent 2, Marshall 2, Battle, Hill, Marsh
Richmond: Lynch 2, Bolton 2, Edwards, Castagna, Riewoldt, Stack, Higgins, Nankervis

BEST
St Kilda: Butler, Steele, Membrey, Lonie, Billings, Long, Battle
Richmond: Nankervis, Higgins, Prestia, Edwards, Lynch

INJURIES
St Kilda: Ryder (soreness) replaced in selected side by Kent, Gresham (eye)
Richmond: Nil

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IS THAT the sound of alarm bells ringing?

The frustration on Richmond faces couldn't have been more evident on Saturday, as the reigning premier's winless restart to the 2020 season continued at the hands of swarming St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.

The impressive Saints were rampant, strangling the Tigers with their relentless pressure at every opportunity on their way to a convincing 15.3 (93) to 10.7 (67) victory.

The 26-point defeat leaves Richmond without a win since the season was abruptly interrupted in March, with its flag defence now hanging in the balance at a crucial juncture in the campaign.

Rubbing salt into the wound, it was an ex-Tiger doing the damage as 2017 premiership hero Dan Butler (13 disposals, three goals) tormented his former team to help the Saints break even on the season with their second win in three weeks.

Tim Membrey (13 disposals, three goals) and Jack Lonie (16 disposals, two goals) also grew into the game, as three successive St Kilda majors after half-time helped the Saints carve open a crucial 28-point buffer in a slick and highly entertaining clash under the roof.

Toby Nankervis (17 disposals, 26 hitouts) was perhaps Richmond's best in his return to the team and kicked a crucial goal on the three-quarter time buzzer to cut the deficit to just 15 points at the final change.

But St Kilda kept its composure when it mattered, with Brett Ratten's team producing a mature performance in the face of Richmond's late desperation to secure a thoroughly satisfying win.

Ex-Tiger gives the Saints silver service
Dan Butler was once a fan-favourite at Punt Road. However, at quarter-time on Saturday, Richmond fans might have been getting sick of the sight of him. Traded to the Saints for peanuts last October, the 2017 premiership Tiger has been a revelation for his new club so far this season and enjoyed perhaps his best term yet against his former side. Butler snapped St Kilda's first goal of the afternoon, then moments later steadied with a brilliant kick to set up Tim Membrey for another major in a quarter that yielded six disposals, three marks, three score involvements and 191m gained. Another in the second term, and a special goal from the boundary in the third quarter, was the icing on the cake.

Saints sort their tall order
On the surface, St Kilda's forward line looked just a tad too tall against Collingwood last week. It was noticeable for Brett Ratten, as well, who made the decision to withdraw Paddy Ryder before the first bounce for zippy small forward Dean Kent. It was therefore no surprise that the Saints looked far more mobile in attack, and far more dangerous as well. Dan Butler and Jack Lonie were perhaps the biggest threats on the ground throughout Saturday's encounter, while Tim Membrey shouldered the burden of being the main target in attack nicely. Jonathon Marsh, playing a negating role on Richmond's elite crop of interceptors, was also solid as St Kilda moved the ball smoothly heading forward. It culminated in an impressive 15-goal Saints performance.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/457939/slick-saints-run-reigning-premiers-off-their-feet

[one-eyed]

Fearless Saints upset flailing Richmond

Anthony Colangelo
The Age
27 June 2020

The Saints' win leaves defending premiers Richmond flailing, without a victory since the resumption of the 2020 season.

Damien Hardwick's men were sloppy, ill-disciplined, hesitant and largely out-grunted by St Kilda at Marvel Stadium. When their chaos-ball style worked it looked really good. The only problem was the Saints caution to the wind style worked better.

We know the Richmond system works when the players charged to carry it out are playing at a frenzied crescendo. At the moment too many aren't. Having been up for three seasons, which generated two premierships, there seems a lack of spark at the moment.

Zak Jones and Brad Hill were superb through the middle for St Kilda. Dan Butler, against his old club for the first time, continued his fantastic 2020 form and looked dangerous constantly in attack.

The run and carry St Kilda played with exposed holes in the Tigers' defence and midfield, and it didn't help they gave away silly free-kicks and 50m penalties that led to crucial goals. Nick Vlastuin was responsible for two of these in the third and fourth term.

Sydney Stack dropped a simple chest mark that led to a Butler crumb and goal in the first term. Tom Lynch missed three very gettable set shots by his standards.

Dustin Martin had 16 possessions in his return from injury yet he failed to provide enough impetus for the Tigers.

Brett Ratten's Saints have been up and down in 2020 and were completely overwhelmed last week against a strong Collingwood. That was probably the perfect preparation for this game.

They got an example of one of the top sides last week and spent this week preparing for another.

They did not fall short.

Marshall on his own

Paddy Ryder was a late out for the Saints (general soreness) replaced by Dean Kent (who kicked two goals including a crucial final term major), meaning Rowan Marshall rucked solo. There has been some discussion about the Saints' need to play two ruckmen. Does it slow Marshall's development? Can you play two ruckman these days?

Marshall did very well against Richmond's Toby Nankervis, who is a solid player but by no means an AFL benchmark. Around the ground he was better, save for Nankervis' important third quarter goal.

Ryder's centre bounce ruckwork and his ability in the forward line are in his favour for selection, although you can't drop Marshall and stunt his development. It's an interesting subplot for 2020.

Let me entertain you

This was one of the best games to watch all season. Decent scoring (although this is not a pre-requisite for a good game), but most importantly two teams who weren’t really ever interested in slowing down the contest’s tempo.

BEST

St Kilda: Hill, Butler, Billings, Jones, Carlisle, Steele, Membrey, Lonie, Howard

Richmond: Prestia, Lynch, Houli, Edwards, Martin

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/fearless-saints-upset-flailing-richmond-20200627-p556tq.html