ARGUABLY the biggest shock result of the weekend, St Kilda came away with a season-defining win \u2013 albeit in the first round \u2013 by knocking off perennial contender Adelaide. However it was not just the result that was telling, but the manner in which the Moorabbin-based side won which is to say by beating Adelaide at its own game.<\/p>\n
The Saints started strongly last year, but the result on Sunday felt different, as the home team almost bullied a quality outfit by 22 points at RSEA Park, 6.5 (41) to 2.7 (19). St Kilda dominated around the clearances (27-19) with the stoppage differential the most telling (23-13). That, and the fact Adelaide produced a whopping 50 inside 50s to 28, but the red, white and black defended superbly in the game.<\/p>\n
Coach Nick Dal Santo said it was a combination of the midfield group as a whole, inclusions and high running capacity that helped the Saints get the result.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had Ari Clarke<\/a> playing her first game for the club as well off a limited preparation, we only put her on our list two weeks ago I think it was as a replacement,\u201d he said. \u201cThen she rolls out two weeks later and gets to play an AFLW game, which is really special for her. \u201cThen you mention the three mainstays who have played mainly on-ball over the last couple of years.<\/p>\n \u201cSo they\u2019re evolving and they\u2019re growing, and then you put them together in that sort of combination, they\u2019re playing better together. \u201cBut I also think it takes the outside perimeter players as well. \u201cI thought our wingers did a really good job as they do, so I don\u2019t necessarily think it\u2019s just one, it was our clearance work as a whole that was really pleasing today, and it hasn\u2019t been a strength of ours, historically.\u201d<\/p>\n StatSt Kilda (vs Adelaide)DifferentialClearances27+8 (19)Stoppage Clearances23+10 (13)Contested Possessions115+4 (111)Uncontested Possessions153+5 (148)<\/p>\n The likes of Tyanna Smith<\/a> (seven clearances from 25 touches) and ex-Hawk Charlotte Baskaran<\/a> (19 disposals, four clearances) were outstanding, allowing the class of Georgia Patrikios<\/a> and Jaimee Lambert<\/a> to shine as well.<\/p>\n When asked where the win stacks up compared to others during his coaching regime, Dal Santo said it was up there.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d have to say relatively high, and I say that out of absolute respect for the Crows and what they\u2019ve done for the previous nine seasons and we\u2019ve admired them and what \u2018Doc\u2019 (Matthew) Clarke has been able to do with that group consistently.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s still a huge challenge, I understand that our seasons are shorter than obviously the men\u2019s but it doesn\u2019t take away from the intensity of the week to week, so we\u2019re really respectful of what the Crows have been able to do. We knew today would be a huge challenge, which it really was, but I\u2019m really pleased with the outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n