St Kilda's Jack Steven and Adelaide's Matthew Wright contest for the ball at AAMI Stadium. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser
Clinton Jones looks to handball. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser
A RAZOR sharp St Kilda has drawn first blood in today's NAB Cup triangular series at AAMI Stadium.
The impressive Saints led from start to finish in scorching 38-degree heat to crush last year's NAB Cup premier Adelaide by 26 points, 0.8.2 (50) to 0.3.6 (24).
St Kilda - fielding a far stronger side than the Crows - booted four goals without reply in the first half to effectively knock Adelaide out of pre-season grand final contention in the opening round.
The Crows did not lose a game in five NAB Cup matches last year.
Today they were never in the hunt.
The Saints - whose game was built on short kicks to open targets - controlled the midfield, were well-marshalled in defence by Farren Ray and Arryn Siposs and had a dominant forward line.
Former Swan Trent Dennis-Lane and Beau Maister each kicked two goals for St Kilda while smalls Terry Milera (two), Ahmed Saad and Stephen Milne (one each) led their opponents a merry dance.
In contrast, the Crows - fielding a second-string team - had only one goalkicker.
Small forward Graham Johncock booted all three of their goals in an encouraging inside-50 display.
Adelaide badly missed key players Scott Thompson, Patrick Dangerfield, Taylor Walker, Rory Sloane, Sam Jacobs and captain Nathan van Berlo, who were all rested as coach Brenton Sanderson focuses solely on the premiership season.
But he would have been disappointed with most of his kids, who did not grab their opportunities.
Josh Jenkins - who wants departed Kurt Tippett's spot in attack - failed to take a mark, while fellow key forward Lewis Johnston had just one disposal.
Apart from Johncock, Brodie Smith stood out at half-back for Adelaide while Matthew Wright was impressive in the midfield with nine possessions.
Beginning a new era without its former star Brendon Goddard, who joined Essendon in free agency, St Kilda used the ball with great precision, recording 47 marks to the Crows' 26.
Playing without captain Nick Riewoldt, Justin Koschitzke, Lenny Hayes and Sam Fisher, the Saints were sharp, quick and well-drilled.
Dennis-Lane showed he would be a handy addition from Sydney while ruckman Tom Hickey highlighted why the club was so keen to trade for him from Gold Coast.
Surprisingly, the 20/20 match was not shortened by five minutes despite the high temperatures.
ST KILDA 0.4.1 0.8.2 (50)
ADELAIDE 0.0.4 0.3.6 (24)
BEST
St Kilda: Ray, Siposs, McEvoy, Dal Santo, Geary, Gwilt, Saad.
Adelaide: Johncock, Smith, Wright, Mackay.
GOALS
St Kilda: Dennis-Lane, Maister, Milera 2, Saad, Milne.
Adelaide: Johncock 3.
UMPIRES
S. McBurney, D. Harris, C. Bowen.
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