The Saints have revitalised their season, while an emerging Melbourne forward appears almost certain to face suspension after the Demons’ resurgence was curtailed in Alice Springs on Sunday.
The Saints, having lost six of their past seven games, posted their fifth win of the season with a 28-point victory in Alice Springs, 14.7 (91) to 7.21 (63).
On a day Ross Lyon implored his team to dominate the contest and spread the ball wide on the field, his men responded with a victory that ensures they remain in the finals hunt heading into their mid-season bye.
That’s mine: Clayton Oliver wins possession here, but Zak Jones had the better of the Demons midfielder on Sunday.Credit: AFL Photos
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who endured a heavy hit in the second term but returned to the fray, was superb, while half-back Jack Sinclair, small forward Dan Butler, and intercept defender Callum Wilkie were pivotal to the win. Wilkie, dubbed a “brick wall” by teammates, finished with 31 disposals, including 15 marks, and was dominant in the final term.
Tagger Marcus Windhager, who shut down potential match winner Kysaiah Pickett, said the Saints were determined to make a statement.
“The last couple of weeks we have spoken about getting desperate. We needed to get desperate. We had a big focus on coming out in the first quarter and throwing the first punch,” Windhager said.
“We had all strings of our game. The big one for us was defensive transition… when we have a collective group doing it, it goes a long way.”
Pickett has been a match winner recently, but because of Windhager he had little influence. The master tagger held Pickett goalless and to only 12 disposals, while having 28 of his own. Pickett pushed into the midfield and spent time up forward, but Windhager had him covered.
“He is tough to play against. When he is forward of centre and he is humming, it is pretty scary, but I have so many teammates that roll back and help me. It’s a tough task, but that’s what I want to build with the group – everyone getting their role done – and that’s what we did,” Windhager told Fox Footy.
Veteran Saint Zak Jones spent most of the afternoon on Clayton Oliver and held the gun midfielder to 16 disposals, including just three clearances. Oliver had been used as a tagger recently, but on this day could not handle being the hunted.
The Demons had won five of their past six games, including back-to-back wins over the Brisbane Lions and Sydney, but they were jumped in the first term and never really recovered. Their kicking for goal was woeful. They somehow managed just 1.12 in the second half, and finished the afternoon with a head-turning 7.21.
That their final quarter was their worst final term ever in terms of pressure rating under coach Simon Goodwin, with the entire match their eighth worst, according to Fox Footy, told the tale.
And there is almost certainly more pain to come for the Demons. Forward Aidan Johnson chose to bump Wanganeen-Milera in a midfield clash in the second term, with the Saints star immediately feeling for his head. Wanganeen-Milera left the field and was tested for concussion.
That the umpires did not pay a free kick against Johnson, and Wanganeen-Milera later returned to the field, may help him avoid a typical three-week suspension for a high, heavy hit, but he still faces time on the sidelines.
“He is in some trouble, Johnson,” Former Hawthorn and Melbourne star Jordan Lewis said on Fox Footy.
Former Essendon captain Jobe Watson said Johnson had chosen to jump into Wanganeen-Milera and bump, and was likely to be given a two-match ban.
The Saints lost Mattaes Phillipou (calf) early in the first term, and he was replaced by Jack Carroll – the former Blue impressing in his first senior game at his new club.
Steven May was excellent for the Demons, both in defending and rebounding, but Melbourne needed more from Christian Petracca, despite his two goals.
The Demons booted the opening goal of the contest, but the Saints delivered the punch they had wanted, supplying the next six – sparked by a lackadaisical left-foot snap from Pickett that was marked on the goal line by Brad Hill, who then engineered a coast-to-coast goal.
Melbourne had control of the third term and closed to within two goals after Harrison Petty tackled Mason Wood and converted a free kick, but the Saints responded in style.
Windhager said Wilkie had been a “brick wall” in defence when the contest was on the line.
“He is the centrepiece of our back six, and he is so strong down there. A lot of times you have to rely on him heaps, and he just steps up every time,” Windhager said.
Jack Viney missed his fourth-straight match after the Demons ruled he was not ready to return from concussion. The former Melbourne skipper trained on Sunday, with Goodwin hopeful the veteran will return next week. Viney had said early last week he had expected to face the Saints.
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