SPORT sundayterritorian.com.au Sliding Ablett leads Suns’ rise rule gets

GOLD COAST V ST KILDA more By GREG DAVIS

GARY Ablett won the latest ridicule battle in his personal war with St Kilda last night as he WHEN St Kilda champion guided the Gold Coast to a was pinged for stunning 13-point upset vic- sliding into an opponent’s tory over the Saints at Metri- knees last night it was as if con Stadium. the AFL had shot Bambi. In grand finals and block- Social media was abuzz busters with Geelong, Ablett with fans condemning the enjoyed mixed success league’s controversial new against the Saints being rule that penalises players tagged by Steve Baker or who slide in and make con- Clint Jones. tact with an opponent below Last night, there was no the knees. stopping the Suns skipper as Hayes was nabbed after he kicked four goals — in- pouncing on the loose ball, cluding three in the final his head and shoulders term — and collected 34 dis- merely brushing, but not posals, six inside 50s, 19 con- moving, the legs of Gold tested possessions and nine Coast’s Matthew Shaw. clearances in a magnificent The decision against the

PUB: individual display that lifted 264-game veteran battering the Suns to their seventh win ram prompted calls of ‘‘what in club history and their more could he do’’ from the third-straight home success. Fox Footy commentary TNEWS NT His fourth and final major team which included Brian was a beauty from an acute Taylor, Matthew Richard- angle that appeared to sink son and Geelong premier- the Saints. ship captain . But St Kilda closed to with- Ling’s premiership team- in 10 points only for Ablett to mate also help set-up a goal for Luke joined the chorus. DATE: Russell to keep the gutsy vis- Territorian Jared Brennan gets the handball away for the Suns last night Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS SUNS 90 ‘‘That free kick against itors at bay. Lenny Hayes for contact A Terry Milera goal with away sides and the Saints the first change, which was a having a game- SAINTS 77 below the knees has forced two minutes to go reduced were undermanned and fair indication of the home high 18 touches up until the GOLD COAST me to turn the footy off. Sug-

31-MAR-2013 3.6 3.8 6.11 13.12 (90) the Gold Coast’s lead to eight under-sized, it made for an side’s superiority. main break. ST KILDA gest you do the same,’’ points but Aaron Hall strol- even more dour arm-wrestle. The Saints then blitzed the The Saints appeared well 1.7 6.9 7.14 10.17 (77) Wojcinski tweeted. GOALS — Gold Coast: G Ablett 4 C led into goal in the dying With St Kilda missing the Suns in the second term. on their way but the gritty Dixon 2 L Russell 2 A Hall H Bennell J The AFL introduced the seconds to seal the gritty — , St Kilda kicked five goals Suns clawed their way back O’Meara M Shaw S Day. St Kilda: T rule this season in a bid to Milera 3 N Riewoldt 2 A Siposs B Mai- not pretty — win. and Sean Dempster, the in the quarter with David with three goals after half- ster D Armitage J Steven S Milne. improve player safety fol- It was always going to be an Saints were below full- Armitage (17 disposals, five time to reduce St Kilda’s buf- BEST — Gold Coast: G Ablett C Dixon lowing a sickening collision D Prestia J Harbrow J O’Meara R ugly, scrappy affair given the strength and were always go- inside 50s and four clear- fer to just nine points. Thompson. St Kilda: J Geary D Ar- between North Melbourne hot and humid conditions ing to be vulnerable. ances up to half-time) at the The Gold Coast refused to mitage N Dal Santo L Hayes J Steven goalsneak Lindsay Thomas R Stanley. that turned the Sherrin into a They were often indecisive, forefront for the visitors. go away and closed the gap to Umpires: Chris Donlon, Chris Ka- and Sydney forward Gary PAGE: cake of soap. indirect and guilty of poor Skipper just two points early in the molins, Andrew Mitchell. Rohan last year. Rohan’s leg Given the Suns do not have discipline. booted two goals as the Saints final quarter to set-up a thrill- Crowd: 13,832 at Metricon Stadium snapped when Thomas slid the experience or class to put The Suns led by 11 points at midfield got on top with ing finish. into him on a sodden SCG. 58 COLOR: C M Y K

2012 MODEL

58 Sunday Territorian. Sunday, March 31, 2013. www.sundayterritorian.com.au