Analysis Games that have defined 'The Rebuild' ?

[George]

What are some of the games that you think have defined the current list? I have our rebuild beginning around 2013 after we bottomed out and finished 16th that year.

What are some of your favourites (win or lose) over the last 3 seasons?





Game 1: Round 23, 2013 - Etihad Stadium

ST KILDA 16.16.112 def FREMANTLE 6.5.41
The 16th placed Saints were particularly souped up for their big day, with club stalwarts Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne and Jason Blake all playing their final games for the club and in the case of Koschitzke and Adam Schneider, their 200th matches as well. The Saints jumped to a 28-point lead at quarter-time, leaving the 3rd placed Dockers scoreless in the process. Fremantle would enjoy a good 10-minute period in the second term, kicking four goals for the term, but was still outscored. But the rest of the match was a procession for the Saints, whose fans were out of their seats all afternoon heaping praise and love on the retiring champions.

​

GOALS
St Kilda: Lee 3, Riewoldt 2, Milne 2, Montagna 2, Hayes, Ledger, Ross, Steven, McEvoy, Curren, Blake
Fremantle: Hannath, Simpson, Taberner, De Boer, Pavlich, Crozier

BEST
St Kilda: Steven, Curren, Montagna, Dal Santo, Geary, Dempster, Jones, Gilbert
Fremantle: Mzungu, Crowley, Barlow.





Game 2: Round 1, 2014 - Etihad Stadium

ST KILDA 10.8.68 def MELBOURNE 6.15.51
A vintage third-quarter performance from St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt inspired the Saints to a 17-point victory over Melbourne at Etihad Stadium. Riewoldt, possibly impatient at the prospect of the Saints' long-term plan to reach the top four by 2018, turned back the clock with a dominating term that gave his team an important first-up win. After a dour first half, the final score was 10.8 (68) to 6.15 (51) in a match that won't go down as one of 2014's best. However, it will be fondly remembered by St Kilda's Alan Richardson, who started his coaching career with a perfect record.

​

GOALS
St Kilda: Riewoldt 3, Stanley 2, Saunders, Templeton, Armitage, Gwilt, Geary
Melbourne: Byrnes 2, Toumpas, Terlich, Tyson, M.Jones

BEST
St Kilda: Riewoldt, Jones, Ray, Hickey, Dunstan, Curran, Saunders
Melbourne: Jones, Vince, Watts, Tyson, Dunn





Game 3: Round 18, 2014 - Etihad Stadium

ST KILDA 17.16.118 def FREMANTLE 9.6.60
St Kilda rode a wave of Lenny Hayes-inspired emotion to register the upset of the season, downing Fremantle by 58 points at Etihad Stadium. The bottom-placed Saints were given almost no chance against a Dockers outfit that seemed on an inexorable rise to the top of the AFL ladder, but cooked up a scarcely-believable boilover. Fremantle had won its past eight games to sit in second spot, while St Kilda had slumped to 11-straight defeats. With just six games left to send retiring champion Hayes off in style, the Saints hit the contest with more desperation and intensity. It was Alan Richardson's men who engineered a win for the ages.

​

GOALS
St Kilda: Riewoldt 4, Stanley 3, Ray 2, Dunstan 2, Murdoch, Curren, Schneider, Montagna, Armitage, Shenton
Fremantle: Pavlich 2, Fyfe 2, Mayne, Morabito, Barlow, Pearce, Taberner

BEST
St Kilda: Riewoldt, Stanley, Savage, Dunstan, Ray, Hayes
Fremantle: Barlow, Crowley, Duffield





Game 4: Round 6, 2015 - Etihad Stadium
ST KILDA 14.10.94 def WESTERN BULLDOGS 13.9.87
St.Kilda staged a historic comeback at Etihad Stadium in Round 6, overturning a 55-point deficit to overrun the Western Bulldogs by seven points. The Saints found themselves 55 points down early in the third term, but remarkably kicked 12 goals to the Bulldogs three in the second half to run out victors 14.10 (94) to 13.9 (87). The win equaled the fifth biggest comeback in AFL/VFL history, and equaled the Saints biggest ever come-from-behind win in its history. The last time the Saints came back from a 55 point deficit and won was in 1937 against Hawthorn at Glenferrie Oval.

​

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Stringer 4, Picken 2, Goodes, Stevens, Wood, Crameri, Dahlhaus, Cordy, Honeychurch
St Kilda: Billings 4, Sinclair 2, Hickey 2, Schneider, Riewoldt, Lonie, Dunstan, Bruce, Armitage

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Picken, Stringer, Johannisen, Dickson, Macrae, Goodes Wood
St Kilda: Armitage, Billings, Steven, Schneider, Fisher, Newnes, Sinclair





Game 5: Round 14, 2016 - Etihad Stadium
ST KILDA 14.9.93 def GEELONG 13.12.90
The Saints snatched a famous three-point victory from the jaws of defeat and claimed the scalp the club so desperately wanted by downing league leaders Geelong in a thrilling clash at Etihad Stadium. In a nailbiting final term, St Kilda came back from nine points down at the 18-minute mark thanks to a miraculous soccer off the ground by Jack Steven, after Jade Gresham's stunning snap from the pocket. For the final five-and-a-half minutes the Cats surged in search of the match-winning goal, but the Saints held on grimly for an epic 14.9 (93) to 13.12 (90) triumph.

​

GOALS

St Kilda: Minchington 3, Wright 2, Newnes 2, Weller 2, McCartin, Bruce, Membrey, Gresham, Steven
Geelong: McCarthy 3, Hawkins 3, Kersten, Lonergan, Dangerfield, Menzel, Murdoch, Blicavs, Motlop

BEST 

St Kilda: Steven, Ross, Riewoldt, Dunstan, Minchington, Gresham, Weller
Geelong: Selwood, Dangerfield, Henderson, Blicavs, Taylor, Guthrie, McCarthy

 

[Joffaboy]

Watched the Bulldogs game on an Ipad on a Bus in the Czech Republic on rhe way to Prague.

Great collection of wins in a lean period

 

[AFLOnline]

Every win is significant in our rebuild. But the WB, Melbourne and Geelong ones stand out the most. I think the thumping we have given Brisbane in the last couple of years have been massive for the confidence. Watch us come out firing round 1 this year.

 

[JG22]

No doubt the Bulldogs game comes to mind as it was some of the younger guys who played a strong part. Armo is somewhat part of the new crop as he wasn't playing in the grand finals.

The Geelong game particularly with first yearer Gresham being super alongside Ross and Steven.

Both Carlton games this year were also super, Skunk running a muck.
No Roo, JB dropped for the first one but we were still strong.

 

[Fyfe2Shenton]

Some amazing memories!

Just one very minor correction! Alan Richardson was senior coach of Port for a game and they lost, so he didn't start his coaching career with a perfect record

 

[Fyfe2Shenton]

Also, I think the Collingwood game this year could be included

 

[Joffaboy]

Every win is significant in our rebuild. But the WB, Melbourne and Geelong ones stand out the most. I think the thumping we have given Brisbane in the last couple of years have been massive for the confidence. Watch us come out firing round 1 this year.

Best win I have seen was the demolition of Carlton at the G this season. Surgical and smashed them on the switch.

Absolutely clinical. Most impressed.

 

[FlyingSledghamer]

We play alot of best games against cats and dogs. Good rivalry.

 

[Diehard Saint]

What about the destroy-ation of the Bombers in 2015, with their full list?

 

[George]

What about the destroy-ation of the Bombers in 2015, with their full list?

Yeah that was considered, I went for more gutsy performances, although a good drubbing is great for confidence lol

 

[Diehard Saint]

Also, I think the Collingwood game this year could be included

We had quite a few injuries that game too, from what I recall which makes it even more meritorious.

 

[Diehard Saint]

Yeah that was considered, I went for more gutsy performances, although a good drubbing is great for confidence lol

And how about the great "they're through, they're through" game when Steven and Joey combined to score a great goal in the dying seconds to snatch the game from the Dees?

I was just starting to congratulate my Dees supporting friend next to me on breaking their hoodoo when nek minit....

 

[JG22]

Best win I have seen was the demolition of Carlton at the G this season. Surgical and smashed them on the switch.

Absolutely clinical. Most impressed.

Possibly the best game played under Richo.
Extended the lead at every change, albeit an average opponent

 

[goodie23]

I still remember where I was for the Doggies game. I couldn't make it so I went to the the old man's place to watch it with him (goes down the male line of my family). Dad was so disgusted with the first half he went outside to do some gardening, I had to shout at him to come back in for the second half. We're both glad I did...

 

[George]

And how about the great "they're through, they're through" game when Steven and Joey combined to score a great goal in the dying seconds to snatch the game from the Dees?

I was just starting to congratulate my Dees supporting friend next to me on breaking their hoodoo when nek minit....

That was also considered lol.

So was the win vs Brisbane at the Gabba (first interstate win with Richo), Bruce's 6 goals vs Suns in Round 2 2015, Collingwood this year at the 'G, and Round 18 vs the Dogs this year (gutsy 15pt win).

 

[St Kilda Death]

Great write up.
Not a win but nearly as good the draw against geelong was a banger.

 

[saintkildaman]

For me one game in particular doesn't get enough credit and it was a point in the season where the boys showed incredible amount of belief and it made me one of the proudest I've ever been of the Saints.

Round 12 2016 vs Carlton.

We had just been smashed by 88 points against the Crows and been demolished by injuries with Riewoldt, Fisher, Dempster, Goddard, McCartin all missing. The Blues on the other hand had just won their sixth straight match.

Carlton were favourites, deservedly so, but we came out and not only tackled the **** out of them in typical Saints fashion but we outclassed them all game. Hickey, Steven and Membery were enormous whilst Jimmy Webster went maniac and had one of, if not the best game of his career.

If we had lost that game we would have been 4-8 and our season would've been in serious trouble but the boys dug deep against the odds and produced an inspiring performance.

 

[bergholt]

Round 12 2016 vs Carlton.

If we had lost that game we would have been 4-8 and our season would've been in serious trouble but the boys dug deep against the odds and produced an inspiring performance.

Yeah. There were three games this year that made me think the rebuild might be ahead of schedule:

Round 12 v Carlton
Round 14 v Geelong
Round 18 v Western Bulldogs

If we'd lost those three then we would have finished on 9 wins in 12th or 13th, which is about what I expected for the year. Winning them all and finishing 9th was pretty impressive. If we'd also beaten North once or Hawthorn then that would have been unbelievable.

Of course, if we'd finished 9th then we would have had pick 7 in the draft and a serious chance at a very good kid. But on the whole I'd rather the wins!

 

[crasha301]

And how about the great "they're through, they're through" game when Steven and Joey combined to score a great goal in the dying seconds to snatch the game from the Dees?

I was just starting to congratulate my Dees supporting friend next to me on breaking their hoodoo when nek minit....

Lonie the forgotten man in that play?

 

[Fehring]

For me one game in particular doesn't get enough credit and it was a point in the season where the boys showed incredible amount of belief and it made me one of the proudest I've ever been of the Saints.

Round 12 2016 vs Carlton.

We had just been smashed by 88 points against the Crows and been demolished by injuries with Riewoldt, Fisher, Dempster, Goddard, McCartin all missing. The Blues on the other hand had just won their sixth straight match.

Carlton were favourites, deservedly so, but we came out and not only tackled the **** out of them in typical Saints fashion but we outclassed them all game. Hickey, Steven and Membery were enormous whilst Jimmy Webster went maniac and had one of, if not the best game of his career.

If we had lost that game we would have been 4-8 and our season would've been in serious trouble but the boys dug deep against the odds and produced an inspiring performance.

"This is a danger game for us".

 

[St Kilda Death]

For me one game in particular doesn't get enough credit and it was a point in the season where the boys showed incredible amount of belief and it made me one of the proudest I've ever been of the Saints.

Round 12 2016 vs Carlton.

We had just been smashed by 88 points against the Crows and been demolished by injuries with Riewoldt, Fisher, Dempster, Goddard, McCartin all missing. The Blues on the other hand had just won their sixth straight match.

Carlton were favourites, deservedly so, but we came out and not only tackled the **** out of them in typical Saints fashion but we outclassed them all game. Hickey, Steven and Membery were enormous whilst Jimmy Webster went maniac and had one of, if not the best game of his career.

If we had lost that game we would have been 4-8 and our season would've been in serious trouble but the boys dug deep against the odds and produced an inspiring performance.

Yeah webster that game! Steven was beast mode.
The joint was packed full of cartlon fans too, thought they were in for a win..

 

[JG22]

The Hawthorn game this year was one of our better games, even spread from the guys aswell.

Billings, Paddy, Armo, Roo, that pesty umpire were all good

 

[theprospect]

For me one game in particular doesn't get enough credit and it was a point in the season where the boys showed incredible amount of belief and it made me one of the proudest I've ever been of the Saints.

Round 12 2016 vs Carlton.

We had just been smashed by 88 points against the Crows and been demolished by injuries with Riewoldt, Fisher, Dempster, Goddard, McCartin all missing. The Blues on the other hand had just won their sixth straight match.

Carlton were favourites, deservedly so, but we came out and not only tackled the **** out of them in typical Saints fashion but we outclassed them all game. Hickey, Steven and Membery were enormous whilst Jimmy Webster went maniac and had one of, if not the best game of his career.

If we had lost that game we would have been 4-8 and our season would've been in serious trouble but the boys dug deep against the odds and produced an inspiring performance.

Think from memory we also had no Riewoldt, Dempster, McCartin, and Billings was dropped.

EDIT: Didn't realise you had already included that, my bad

 

[StCicatriz]

seriously under-rated thread. awesome read!

 

[Rors]

The Hawthorn game this year was one of our better games, even spread from the guys aswell.

Billings, Paddy, Armo, Roo, that pesty umpire were all good

This.

To arguably lose the game due to some very significant umpiring errors after having lost to them the previous 2 years by 145 & 63 points respectively, this game showed we are on our way