Match report: Saints be praised as Blues crumble

Callum Twomey June 12, 2016 3:45 PM

NOT LONG after being thumped by Adelaide last week, St Kilda coach Alan Richardson said it would depend on how his side responded before he could assess whether the group had progressed this season.

On Sunday, the Saints' statement against Carlton was emphatic. St Kilda claimed its fifth win of the season with its 32-point victory over the Blues at Etihad Stadium, and did it in comprehensive fashion.

After heavy interstate defeats in the past month to the Crows and West Coast, Richardson could hardly have asked for a better outing, with his side triumphing 17.8 (110) to 12.6 (78).

The Saints extended their lead at every change, dominated the midfield battle and covered the absence of senior players Nick Riewoldt, Sam Fisher and Sean Dempster by sharing the load.

The Blues were targeting their seventh win from eight games and would have been out of the top eight only on percentage had they clinched the win, but they were outplayed throughout the contest.

A sell-out crowd of 47,945 packed the Docklands venue to see Jack Steven put in a brilliant performance through the midfield with 25 disposals and three goals, while Saints forward Tim Membrey kicked an equal career-high bag of five goals.

Seb Ross's 33-disposal and one-goal performance was one of the best in his five seasons at the club, while Jack Newnes (24 disposals), Jimmy Webster (23) and Leigh Montagna (26) helped set up the Saints' swift ball movement.

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Quelle: St Kilda Vs Carlton - Match Centre - AFL.com.au