Sat 15 Aug 2026 at 2:09pmSat 15 Aug 2026 at 2:09pm

Hugo Garcia gets the Saints away in the second half

That was too easy from the Saints!

Richmond was attacking, but it fell down in the right forward pocket and the Saints bounced back.

The ball was moved quickly, and even when they didn’t quite hit a target they still managed to keep it going, before a kick across field was punched clear but only as far as the Saints who found Hugo Garcia for a dribbled goal from 30 or so out.

The lead is out beyond 30 points, and the alarm bells are going for the Tigers once more. 

Sat 15 Aug 2026 at 2:02pmSat 15 Aug 2026 at 2:02pm

Brad Hill having one hell of a half for the Saints

If you had asked before this game, who was the likeliest Saint to gather the pill in the absence of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, the obvious answer would have been Brad Hill.

And you would have been proved right.

Two quarters of footy, and Hill already has: 26 disposals, nine marks, five score involvements and a whopping 533 metres gained. He’s on for the kilometre!

Let’s see if he can keep this going!

Sat 15 Aug 2026 at 1:53pmSat 15 Aug 2026 at 1:53pm

HT statsInside 50s: 23-20 RichmondClearances: 23-11 St KildaCentre clearances: 5-4 St KildaContested possessions: 150-105 St KildaMarks inside 50: 6-3 St KildaTackles inside 50: 22-6 St Kilda

It’s been very much a St Kilda first half, and nothing says “we are a Ross Lyon side” if not the 22 tackles inside forward 50.

The pressure they have brought to bear has been vital, not to mention the 11 free kicks to 1 for the Saints (largely off the back of said pressure).

Sat 15 Aug 2026 at 1:33pmSat 15 Aug 2026 at 1:33pm

Taranto thumps a vital goal for the Tigers

I’m back after some technical problems, thank you to Kyle Pollard for stepping in. The Tigers have been having some skill and accuracy problems at the MCG, but they’ve just shown they aren’t totally without hope here

Tom Brown got the ball in midfield and steered a beautiful kick to Tim Taranto on the edge of 50. The former Giant thumped it through, and that’s a valuable goal for Richmond. Still a long way back, but that should lift the home side.   

Sat 15 Aug 2026 at 1:29pmSat 15 Aug 2026 at 1:29pm

Windhager restores order at the MCG

That was a bit of a surprise there!

The Tigers were under huge pressure, cand Campbell Lake had it in forward 50 – was surprised he didn’t kick on the run – but he switched across field and Steely Green tried to flick a pass two-handed. it was a clear throw, and the umps agreed.

So Marcus Windhager said thank you very much and slotted the Saints’ seventh of the day. The lead is out to 29 points, and Richmond are in all sorts here. 

Sat 15 Aug 2026 at 1:23pmSat 15 Aug 2026 at 1:23pm

Tigers get one back

They need that, and it’s the retiring Dion Prestia that opens it up down the field.

It’s then Sam Lalor to Tom Lynch, back to Lalor, who puts it perfectly over the back for Mykelti Lefau.

Lefau converts and gets it back under four goals.

Sat 15 Aug 2026 at 1:19pmSat 15 Aug 2026 at 1:19pm

Owens has a third

Mitch Owens gets a high tackle free kick with the old Joel Selwood shoulder slip move, and he converts the snap from the pocket.

Saints lead by 28 and Owens has a hat-trick.

Sat 15 Aug 2026 at 1:17pmSat 15 Aug 2026 at 1:17pm

Sharman kicks one out the back

Hill, Marshall and Hall are all involved again as the long ball comes into Cooper Sharman, who takes a good contested mark out the back.

He waltzes into the open goal and the Tigers are looking shaky right now.

Sat 15 Aug 2026 at 1:13pmSat 15 Aug 2026 at 1:13pm

Great start for the Saints

Rowan Marshall gets the holding decision against Luke Trainer while on a lead and it’s absolutely there.

The shot is about 40m and a slight angle, and it is poetry in motion. The big man has a lovely boot!

Saints first on the board in the second quarter.

Sat 15 Aug 2026 at 12:58pmSat 15 Aug 2026 at 12:58pm

Owens gets his second

Another lovely clunk from Owens on the lead, but the big talking point is the fact Bradley Hill as 15 – YES FIFTEEN – first quarter touches.

The ball can’t not find him.

Sat 15 Aug 2026 at 12:56pmSat 15 Aug 2026 at 12:56pm

Tigers get their first!

It’s lovely big bomb from Jack Ross to get the Tigers their first major of the day.

Just before that play though, Hugh Ralphsmith has nudged his Saints opponent into another Saint in a marking contest, and he may have some questions to ask about that one.

Sat 15 Aug 2026 at 12:54pmSat 15 Aug 2026 at 12:54pm

Saints get a second

We’ve got technical difficulties with Andrew at the moment so I’ll step in briefly to tell you what’s happening … and I tell you what, it hasn’t been much until right now.

Mitch Owens takes a strong contested mark just outside the square and converts, but it’s a turnover fest since St Kilda’s first.

Sat 15 Aug 2026 at 12:47pmSat 15 Aug 2026 at 12:47pm

Tigers not hitting the mark

This would be frustrating to watch for Richmond fans early. The Tigers aren’t playing too badly, but they are just giving it away with errors and missed targets.

They better hope the Saints don’t make them pay here.

Sat 15 Aug 2026 at 12:41pmSat 15 Aug 2026 at 12:41pm

Slow start at the MCG – but Hall opens the scoring for Saints

It’s been a sticky start at the MCG, with both teams struggling to put it together and a few skill errors.

But suddenly there was a free given for a hold on Callum Wilkie in the middle. The Tigers stood around, the Saints were off and Max Hall slotted the opening goal from just inside 50.

Sat 15 Aug 2026 at 12:32pmSat 15 Aug 2026 at 12:32pm

Recent results between Richmond vs St KildaR10, 2026: St Kilda by 36 (Docklands)R22, 2025: St Kilda by 4 (MCG)R3, 2025: St Kilda by 82 (Docklands)R23, 2024: St Kilda by 48 (Docklands)R4, 2024: St Kilda by 7 (Norwood Oval)R22, 2023: St Kilda by 36 (Docklands)

The Saints have swept the six most recent encounters in this matchup. But that doesn’t mean it’s all been one-sided.

The last time they played at today’s venue, almost exactly a year ago, the Saints just got over the line by just four points.

And at Gather Round two years ago, they won by seven. There have been a few six, eight and 13 goal victories as well, but could we be in for another close one?

Sat 15 Aug 2026 at 12:25pmSat 15 Aug 2026 at 12:25pm

Crunch time for the Saints

This is a real must-win game for the Saints. They trail Carlton by two games, and if the Blues beat the Bulldogs tomorrow, then that will be that and the top-10 is set.

But if the Saints win here, and the Blues lose tomorrow, it will come down to the final round, where St Kilda hosts Gold Coast at Docklands, and Carlton plays Fremantle (also at Docklands).

So no pressure … but the Saints HAVE to win today, and they have to do it without a heap of their top players.

Richmond is in 17th spot on the ladder, but the Tigers came close to knocking off the Crows in Adelaide last week, and they beat West Coast the week before.

The Saints will no doubt want to put their foot down early and create a big break and not let the Tigers think they are in with a sniff. The longer this game goes and Richmond is in range, the bigger the chance of an upset.