Round 17 2020

St Kilda v West Coast
Round 17, 2020

Ainsworth in action. Photo: aflphotos.com.au

Date

Thur, 10 September 2020 (7.10pm EST)

Venue

Gabba

Attendance

1,925

Result

Won by 15

Score

WCE 9.11.65 - 6.14.50 STK

Brownlow

3 T.Kelly (WCE)
2 N.Naitanui (WCE)
1 A.Gaff (WCE)

Ladder

5th

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An injury-ravaged West Coast overcome a horror schedule and the mid-game loss of acting captain Jeremy McGovern to record a stirring victory over St Kilda in Queensland. The Eagles took control of the game with three unanswered goals in the second quarter, and were able to hold the surging Saints at bay until the start of the final quarter, when the Victorians kicked three quick goals to take the lead. West Coast rallied, kicking four goals of their own to take the points and ensure their top-four chances remained alive. In the absence of the majority of the team's usual midfield, Tim Kelly stood up in a big way witgh 29 possesions, nine clearances and a vital last-quarter goal, while Nic Naitanui had a season-high 18 possessions and nine clearances of his own.

Summary

		1/4 time		1/2 time		3/4 time		Final
St Kilda		3.5.23		3.5.23		3.9.27		6.14.50
West Coast		2.1.13		5.6.36		5.9.39		9.11.65

Goals: Allen, Darling 2, Cole, Gaff, Kelly, Kennedy, Ryan

Best: Kelly, Gaff, Naitanui, Ryan, Barrass, Darling

Injuries: McGovern (hamstring), Allen (head knock)

Milestones: Duggan 100th game, Brayshaw AFL debut

Jumper: Away, white shorts

Named sides

	West Coast				St Kilda
B:	31.Schofield	37.Barrass	5.Sheppard	B:	14.Geary	20.Howard	1.Coffield
HB:	25.Hurn	20.McGovern	14.Duggan	HB:	11.Clark	44.Wilkie	21.Long
C:	30.Nelson	11.Kelly	2.Waterman	C:	26.Battle	6.Ross	15.Billings
HF:	10.Brander	27.Darling	21.Petruccelle	HF:	13.Lonie	19.Marshall	8.Hill
F:	12.Allen	17.Kennedy	1.Ryan	F:	12.King	28.Membrey	16.Butler
R:	9.Naitanui	33.Ainsworth	3.Gaff	R:	18.Ryder	9.Steele	3.Jones
I:	28.Cole	24.X.O’Neill	22.Brayshaw	I:	40.Hind	25.Kent	35.Sinclair
	35.Rotham				33.Paton
E:	29.Foley	32.Williams	39.Cameron	E:	5.Savage	17.Roberton	43.Marsh
	46.Reid				2.Carlisle

In: Hurn, Schofield, Naitanui, Brander, Petruccelle, Brayshaw

Out: Redden (thumb), Hutchings (hamstring), Sheed (hamstring), Jetta (calf), Ah Chee (finger), Hickey

New: Hamish Brayshaw (Sandringham Dragons/Hampton Rovers JFC)

Quarter by quarter

Both sides went in as named. Intermittent rain made for a slippery contest.

From the coach

"It was one of our best wins for the club in my time. It was a really brave effort. It would have been, hopefully, a good game to watch. I think it was our youngest side for I don’t know how many years. We were missing some players and the Saints threw everything at us as well. We lost Gov early. The guys just played their role and played with real spirit. We said that coming up here the second time that as long as we play with energy and spirit we’ll be proud of them. To get that win tonight, it was a good feeling in the rooms.

"...Obviously we’ve lost McGovern, so we’ve got to work through that, but some of our individuals tonight – I think Nic Nat and TK – just stood up. And then Tom Barrass started really well. Ainsworth did a job on (Zak) Jones and Jones had seven (disposals) in the first but he stuck to it and he (Jones) ended up with 15, so he did a good job. And the Saints threw everything at us, so it was a pretty combative game and in the end we ended up on top.

"...Duggo played in the midfield, Tom Cole played in the midfield and we had a couple of first, second and third gamers playing. We drafted (Duggan) as a midfielder, so he’s high end talent. It was his 100th (game) tonight. He played his role. He knows how to play as a midfielder, but he just hasn’t been there for probably 60 games. Halfway through 2018, well the start of 2018, we thought we’d try him down back and he really gravitated towards that position so he’s been there since, but he can pinch hit in the midfield if we need him. We’ll need him there next week as well."

From the papers

The West Australian

"The signs were ominous early. St Kilda kicked 2.3 in the first 10 minutes and led the inside 50s six to one.

By quarter time, the inside 50s were 15-6, St Kilda had collected 40 more disposals and led by 10 points..

It all pointed to a Saints win. But the players disagreed.

West Coast didn’t concede another goal until the final term and showed their class."

The Age

"The Eagles settled in the second term and Tim Kelly lifted them with critical interventions around the ball. Then their tall forwards began to stretch St Kilda and exploit mismatches. Jack Darling booted his second and Oscar Allen marked on the goal line for another, while Liam Ryan was creative.

Meantime St Kilda did not score a goal for the quarter. Nor the next.

But suddenly the Saints scored two goals in two minutes in the last term to give themselves a one-goal lead with all the momentum. With a full bench they surged.

The Eagles against that had no right to think they would get back into it but Tim Kelly, who was far and away the best player on the ground all night, was the difference."

Reserves

No scratch match was played.

Injury list

In the leadup to the match the following players were listed as injured or unavailable:

Player		Injury		Expected return
Venables		Concussion		Season		(placed on inactive list 4/3/20)
Watson		Knee		Season
Rioli		Suspension		Indefinite
Cripps		Personal		Indefinite
Redden		Thumb		TBC
Johnson		Groin		6 weeks
Hutchings		Hamstring		2-3 weeks
Jetta		Calf		2-3 weeks
Vardy		Thigh		2-3 weeks
Shuey		Hamstring		2 weeks
Yeo		Groin		1 week
Jones*		Hamstring		Season
M.O'Neill*		Back		1 week

References

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2020/151820200910.html

https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2887