St Kilda v Essendon
Ballarat
17.13 (115) d 10.12 (72)
The match
St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was hailed as the most exciting player in the AFL, ahead of Nick Daicos, after a dominant display against Essendon on Saturday, but the Saints will sweat on the fitness of co-captain Callum Wilkie ahead of next Sunday’s blockbuster against Collingwood.
The brilliant Wanganeen-Milera, the league’s first $2 million-a-season man, had 28 disposals and four goals against the Bombers in a 43-point win in Ballarat.
While he began in the midfield, coach Ross Lyon made the surprise move of sending the silky onballer forward for long spells, where he was lethal.
“Obviously, I have been up forward a bit. It’s, obviously, been pretty good. The forwards work well. The ball movement up the field, credit to them, they get it down there,” Wanganeen-Milera said on Fox Footy.
Best in the business: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was hailed as the league’s most exciting player during a dominant display against Essendon on Saturday.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
After his fourth goal, a set-shot snap from the left boundary, former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley said during Fox Footy’s coverage: “This bloke is the most exciting thing in football at the moment.”
Asked whether Wanganeen-Milera had “gone past” Daicos, widely considered the AFL’s best player, Hinkley replied: “Yeah, I think so, because of this – 4.1. That’s what he has gone past.”
Wanganeen-Milera’s forward craft was obvious all afternoon, including in the shadows of quarter-time after a strong mark and long goal.
Daicos and Wanganeen-Milera each booted 17 goals last year, the latter with four in a famous come-from-behind win over Melbourne.
“They get him the ball at all costs, and why not? He is a real weapon for Ross,” Hinkley said.
Saints ruckman Rowan Marshall was also full of praise for his teammate. “You can put him anywhere, he is a superstar, he can do everything,” Marshall said.
Wanganeen-Milera’s move came after Essendon coach Brad Scott had sent Zach Merrett to full forward. Rather than resting the blue-chip midfielder, Merrett was still put to good use, ensuring a quality defender needed to go to him.
Saints small forward Jack Higgins (three goals) is primed for another strong goalkicking year, and worked well alongside Mitch Owens (two goals). Marcus Windhager (41 disposals), spending much time in a new role at half-back, found the ball at will.
That’s trouble: Saint Mitch Owens is tackled by multiple Bombers on Saturday.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
The Saints led by eight points at half-time in a contest dominated by stoppages, but took charge in the third term.
Bombers draftee Dyson Sharp displayed tremendous work-rate, while former Sun Brayden Fiorini was impressive up forward. Archie Roberts (29 disposals) was busy, Nate Caddy worked hard inside attacking 50 and further afield, but the Bombers too often looked for Peter Wright when streaming forward. Mature-age ruckman Lachlan Blakiston gave himself every chance of round one selection.
The moment
A strong mark and goal from Liam Ryan late in the final term highlighted why the Saints pursued the former Eagle. While the contest was done, Ryan reinforced he will be a major threat.
The eye-catcher
This wasn’t so much eye-catching, as easy on the eyes for Saints fans wondering how Tom De Koning and Rowan Marshall would feature in the same team. At first glance, there shouldn’t be a problem.
Marshall was drafted as a forward, and blossomed into a blue-chip ruck. De Koning is a frontline ruckman but has been working on his forward craft.
“They can be real threats in the forward line, real threats in the ruck. They have a real bonus in that position, the Saints,” Hinkley said.
For the Bombers, it’s great to see Darcy Parish fit and finding plenty of the ball through the midfield. There is also excitement around small forward Hussien El Achkar, the draftee from the Calder Cannons delivering a lovely banana goal in the second term. A pairing with Isaac Kako (hamstring strain) will be dangerous for opponents. Small defender Jayden Nguyen was courageous in defence.
Injuries
Wilkie began this clash in excellent touch, patrolling the Saints’ defensive half with typical poise. However, he finished the first term on the bench with ice on a corked right calf, the club said.
He hobbled around at quarter-time, and had Hinkley worried about his fitness ahead of the MCG clash against the Magpies.
“He was hobbling a fair bit, I think that would be a concern for them coming up to the round zero game,” Hinkley said.
Wilkie has joined Jack Sinclair as co-captains this season, and is pivotal to the Saints’ plans to return to the finals after their off-season recruiting spree. He will be monitored through the week.
Ryan Byrnes (ankle) hobbled from the field and is in doubt. Brad Hill (illness) was a late withdrawal, but the Saints expect him to be fit to face the Magpies.
De Koning took an errant elbow to cheekbone in the second term which left him bloodied, but he played on and later said he was fine.
The verdict
The Saints are likely to maintain Lyon’s typical gameplan – have numbers back in defence, patient ball use from half-back, then look for a teammate forward of centre. There is no reason why they cannot finish in the top 10. There was much to like for the Bombers. But while they have plenty of talent, it shapes as another year of building for Scott and his men, although they will cause an upset or two.
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