No direct score as yet, both teams running hard like it’s a Docklands game but both turning the ball over a lot. (Q1 6:47)
Acres gives away 50m for encroachment, somewhat unluckily as there was confusion as to whose free it was at a stoppage on the HFF, to bring Viney to the square for the first goal. (Q1 7:39)
Harmes flies over two Saints to take a big speccy from a long Lewis ball to the hotspot. He makes no mistake, Dees might be getting the jump here. (Q1 8:28)
After more chaotic play with many turnovers in midfield, Neal-Bullen gathers in the pocket and gives to Harmes to baulk and goal from 15m on the flank. (Q1 13:01)
Another turnover in midfield by St Kilda, Jones gives to Tyson who rams through another one with a snap from CHF. (Q1 14:57)
Jones releases Hunt to speed away from half back after the next centre bounce, he takes two bounces but shoots across the face. (Q1 16:17)
Webster passes to Bruce 20m out on a slight angle for the first Sainter goal, after Gresham beats Hunt in a ground battle on the HFF. (Q1 17:44)
Hunt baulks at half forward and kicks across CHF to the other side for Neal-Bullen to mark 45m out on a slight angle. He misses. (Q1 19:49)
Harmes is on his own again on the HFF, he baulks and bounces down the flank to 20m for his third goal of Q1! (Q1 22:19)
Melksham passes to Pedersen 40m out on a slight angle, he goals as well. Hogan and Watts, who needs ’em? (Q1 27:03)
Billings misses after a stoppage in the pocket. (Q2 1:44)
The Dees stream around the outer wing on the kick in, the coast to coast rebound ends with Harmes 40m out on the flank, who misses. (Q2 2:04)
Gawn gives to Wagner for a miss from 35m on the flank. (Q2 4:08)
Petracca makes a good decision to look outside a pack at half forward and find Gawn on his own 40m out on the flank. Gawn sails through another one for Melbourne. It’s a rout. (Q2 10:46)
Bruces crumbs his own contest with Oscar McDonald but shoots OOTF from 20m on a slight angle. (Q2 13:52)
Billings converts a set shot from 40m on a slight angle with an ugly mongrel of a kick. (Q2 17:16)
Neal-Bullen gets the quick replying goal from a set shot from near the hotspot after a pass from Harmes following the next centre bounce. (Q2 19:02)
Weller is front and centre for a long Acres ball to Carlisle in the square for a goal. (Q2 22:58)
Dunstan gives it everything from a set shot from 50m on a slight angle, and lands the ball the right side of the goal line. (Q2 24:51)
Savage misses a running snap from 50m on a slight angle. (Q2 26:03)
White misses a difficult long range set shot from the HFF. (Q2 27:36)
Hunt passes to Pedersen 40m out in the corridor just before the HT siren. Pedersen kicks truly. (Q2 28:38)
After a Lewis kick clanger, Carlisle passes to Gresham to mark in front of Tom McDonald 40m out on the flank. Gresham kicks across the face. (Q3 5:50)
Newnes gives to Membrey to snap a goal from 20m on the flank after Vince turns the ball over by foot on the HBF. (Q3 7:45)
Gawn snaps from behind a pack 40m on the flank, but it wobbles into the post. (Q3 10:06)
Steven speeds from CHB and goes to CHF, Hibberd spoils Membrey but Membrey butters up and finds Gresham 40m out on a slight angle… who misses. (Q3 11:01)
Melksham goes long from CHF after playing on from a mark, a pack forms in the square but it sails behind them for a goal! (Q3 12:53)
The crumb from a long centre clearance by Acres falls to the square where Bruce gets an ungainly volley off, but Oscar McDonald rushes it on the line. (Q3 14:15)
Pedersen turns the ball over by hand at defensive hotspot after roving, Steele gives to Sinclair who snaps… Pedersen touched it off the boot for a behind. (Q3 15:15)
Dunstan is released to run away from a pack on the wing and let fly from 50m on a slight angle… straight through! (Q3 17:20)
Steven speeds away from a pack on the HFF and bombs long… ump sees a free off the ball for Tom McDonald catching Longer high, downfield free for a Sinclair goal from the square. (Q3 19:51)
Longer gets a ruck free on Gawn at the next centre bounce, Webster has a snap from the HFF that sails through! Saints are coming! (Q3 20:59)
Steven jets away from the next centre bounce and bombs long to the square… spoiled for a behind. (Q3 22:00)
Pedersen misses badly on the run from 20m on the flank after a Geary turnover. (Q3 26:01)
Bruce takes a speccy on the HFF and goes inside to Billings 30m out on a slight angle. Billings, who has a massive shiner over his left eye, hits the post. (Q3 29:01)
Two Demons fly with Bruce in the pocket 25m out but the ball clears them and lands in the breadbasket of Membrey behind the pack. Membrey misses as the 3QT siren goes. (Q3 30:06)
After Membrey boots the first goal of Q4, Garlett receives from Harmes to snap the quick reply from 45m on a slight angle. (Q4 3:17)
Garlett marks on the lead 40m out on a slight angle, but misses. (Q4 8:15)
Billings misses on the run from near CHF. (Q4 8:47)
Vince passes short to Hannan 40m out on the flank after Geary halves a contest with Garlett. Hannan’s set shot looks a bit rightish but straightens for a big goal! (Q4 13:20)
Credit to Jetta for riding a tackle to win that loose footy. (Q4 14:02)
Hannan flies in front of Webster to take a contested grab at much the same position. He repeats the dose! (Q4 15:02)
8:49 left, momentum with Melbourne and good teams win from here. Have the Saints got anything left? (Q4 15:32)
Membrey gives to Billings who snaps OOTF under pressure from the pocket. (Q4 16:02)
Geary passes to Pedersen just inside 50m on the flank. The set shot drifts to the behind line… Gawn marks and goes to Weideman 30m out on the flank for a miss. (Q4 20:03)
4:32 left at the kick in, four kicks in it. Highly unlikely. But this is 2017! (Q4 20:37)
Neal-Bullen gives to Harmes who hits the post on the run from 45m on a slight angle. But enough time has elapsed, this one is done. (Q4 22:48)
Bruce loses the footy trying to bounce into goal in the pocket, looks like he stuffed up a certain goal but Sinclair mops up and grubbers home from 20m. (Q4 23:52)
Melksham eventually puts a full stop to proceedings with another goal from outside CHF. (Q4 26:17)
