St Kilda has played party-pooper on the night Lance Franklin celebrated his 350th game, prevailing by 14 points over Sydney in front of over 30,000 fans at the SCG.
In a game that will be remembered as much for the comical football which unfolded in the first quarter as anything else, the Saints did what they have to do and will bank a crucial four points and rocket to fifth on the ladder as the top eight race continues to tighten.
Sydney gave away two 50 metre penalties which turned into St Kilda goals in the last quarter, largely proving the difference in a tight contest.
“The Swans are their own worst enemy in this final term,” Gerard Whateley said on AFL Nation.
Max King continues to impress on his return from injury, booting three majors and providing a constant aerial threat. His game-ending goal summed up a night where he looked the most threatening forward on the ground.
The opening exchanges were some of the most laborious football you’re ever likely to see, with Sydney going not only goal less but scoreless at quarter time.
It was the first time the Swans have ever been held scoreless in a quarter at the SCG, while it was the lowest quarter time score from both teams since Champion Data records began in 1999.
It was also the lowest score at quarter time for a clash between these two sides since 1903.
“The skill level is just abysmal,” Whateley said.
“Very rarely has the feats of human endeavour has so much effort resulted in so little outcome.”
The turgid nature of the first term gave way to a much more palatable second quarter, with Sydney kicking five goals in a row before the Saints fought back to trail by just nine points at the main break.
St Kilda kept plugging away and eventually were rewarded, re-taking the lead after stringing four goals together as the game tightened in the third term.
On his big night, Franklin kicked two majors to move into outright fourth in the all-time VFL/AFL goal kicking leaderboard.
Franklin becomes just the 22nd player in VFL/AFL history to notch up 350 games in what is likely to be his 19th and final season of senior football.
Dan Butler will almost certainly come under MRO scrutiny as a result of the AFL’s crackdown on dangerous tackles, after Nick Blakey’s head was driven into the turf in the third term.
Blakey was later subbed out of the game with concussion, leaving Michael Christian with a big decision to make.
Dan Butler was penalised for this dangerous tackle on Nick Blakey.#AFLSwansSaints pic.twitter.com/kYiFqzkrrP
— AFL (@AFL) June 8, 2023
Seb Ross’ dangerous tackle on Joel Amartey in the final term is set to also come under scrutiny.
FULL SCORE
Sydney: 0.0, 5.5, 7.10, 9.12 (66)
St Kilda: 1.1, 4.2, 7.4, 12.8 (80)
GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 2, Papley 2, Gulden, Campbell, Wicks, Clarke, Lloyd
St Kilda: King 3, Owens 2, Butler 2, Caminiti, Higgins, Phillipou, Sharman, Wanganeen-Milera
BEST
Sydney: Papley, Flornt, Rowbottom, Franklin
St Kilda: King, Crouch, Wilkie, Owens
INJURIES
Sydney: Nick Blakey (head knock), replaced by Joel Amartey
St Kilda: N/A
CROWD: 30,123 at the SCG.