The underdogs led all day and had a 33 point advantage at three-quarter time, in what was a thrilling contest at Telstra Dome. But four straight goals saw the Crows reduce the margin to nine points at the 20–minute mark of the final term.
From that point it went goal for goal, with the margin swaying from 15- to nine points over six tense but scintillating minutes. But Jason Torney missed a set shot from 40 metres out at the 29-and-a-half minute mark, and St Kilda held on for just their seventh win under coach Grant Thomas.
The Crows kicked seven goals in the memorable fourth quarter, and looked like they might outrun their opponents who have not been familiar with victory in recent times.
But a blistering start held the Saints in good stead, as they posted their first win for the 2003 season.
Exciting goalsneak Stephen Milne scored five majors and opened his club’s account in the opening 30 seconds of the match.
In his first premiership match since round four last year, 2001 National Rising Star Justin Koschitzke marked and goaled a couple of minutes later. Daniel Wulf and Steven Baker followed suit to give their side a 19-point advantage at quarter-time.
Koschitzke lined up at full-forward, while Nick Riewoldt began on the wing against dangerous Crow Brett Burton. Returning after hip surgery, Saints skipper Aaron Hamill played with his usual determination at centre-half forward and with Milne crumbing all he could, the St Kilda forward line was potent.
In contrast, Adelaide trio Wayne Carey, Ian Perrie and Mark Stevens scored just the one goal between them, after contributing ten combined in the club’s round one defeat of Fremantle.
Continuing their early form, St Kilda dominated for much of the second term, goaling through skipper Aaron Hamill within two minutes to extend its lead to 21 points.
With Adelaide skipper Mark Ricciuto on the bench, the Saints slammed on three more – the most exciting from Koschitzke who took a brilliant diving mark under pressure and then kicked truly from 50 metres.
The Crows struggled to manage a centre break, and Carey kicked the ball out of bounds on the full in his side’s first forward thrust of the term. But how quickly the fortunes of a good team can turn – Simon Goodwin kicked just his side’s second goal for the match and his team subsequently nailed three more.
In time-on alone, Mark Stevens, Jason Torney and Matthew Burton reduced what had been a 43-point gap to a manageable 24-point margin.
Adelaide reduced the match to a scrap in the third, peppering the goal but missing four.
Carey was removed from the ground just before the seven-minute mark and was replaced by Chris Ladhams who kicked a goal shortly after.
The Crows threw everything at their opponents, but to the Saints’ credit they not only weathered the pressure successfully but added two late goals through Hamill and yet another freakish major from Milne.
ST KILDA: 4.4, 9.6, 12.7, 15. 9 (99)
ADELAIDE: 1.3, 5.6, 6.10, 13.13 (91)
GOALS: St Kilda: Milne 5, Koschitzke 3, Hamill 2, Hudghton, Baker, Ball, Wulf, Moyle 1.
Adelaide: Edwards, Ricciuto, Torney 2, Smart, Stevens, Stenglein, McLeod, Burton, Goodwin, Ladhams 1.
BEST:St Kilda: Riewoldt, Jones, Powell, Gehrig, Hayes, Penny, Hamill, Milne.
Adelaide: McLeod, Goodwin, Edwards, Bickley, Johncock, Bassett, Clarke
INJURIES: St Kilda: none
Adelaide: Burton (ankle), Johncock (cramp).
CHANGES: Adelaide – Bode replaced in selected team by Gallagher.
REPORTS: none
UMPIRES: Ellis, Schmitt, Nicholls
CROWD: 19,131 at Telstra Dome.
