Lesley Weston

Hot Pies Not So Hot

// May 12th, 2009 // AFL

Pies running through the banner

The Pies went into the game as underdogs, as they were missing important players  John Anthony, Alan Didak,  Paul Medhurst, and Leon Davis. And sure enough, those outs were enough to render the Pies useless in front of goal.

The first quarter was reasonably equal in terms of skills and possession time. The end result of the opening 20 minutes was 1.4.10 to 3.3.21, the Saints leading.

However, St Kilda dominated the last 3 quarters to beat the Pies by 88 points. The final score being 20.8.128 to 5.10.40.

St Kilda dominated the play during the remaining 3 quarters, out-classing the Pies easily, with the Pies being made to look like headless chooks! Pies players continued to handball to team mates in worse positions that themselves, resulting in turnovers.

When the Saints would have the ball, it was a quick few kicks or handballs down to their 50, and put away the goals with 5 going to Schneider and 4 going to Stevie Milne, who also scored all three goals for St Kilda in their opening quarter. Nick Riewoldt was powerful on field during the entire game, stamping his leadership with some great possessions and a bag of 5 goals.

Collingwood’s evening at the dome consisted of just 5 goals, coming from Wellingham, Lockyer, Pendlebury, and Rocca, who was particularly bad, missing many shots on goal.

All in all, the game was a frustrating one. I never thought I’d be cheering for the Magpies (as I generally have a bad taste for them…particularly since the demons’ father bashing), but I was hopeful that they would be able to string a few passes together and get themselves a few more goals. Unfortunately they were unable to see what I could see from my seat and constantly did the wrong thing.

Not only that, but, all of their players would run right next to eachother, resulting in NO space made to get the ball downfield.

I went to this game because my cousin Rachael is in town (from England) and the Demons had an away game this week. Just to clarify this for my readers, as I generally will not be going to any further Saints or Collingwood games for the rest of my life, unless it is ofcourse, when they lose to the Demons at the MCG (c’mon 2014!)

My brownlow votes: Riewoldt, Del Santo, Montagna.