Saints squeeze into prelim

Nick Reiwoldt celebrates after kicking
one of his three goals on Friday night.

St Kilda has become a strong flag contender after scraping past the cats in a nail-biter at the MCG on Friday night, beating Geelong: 12.11 (83) to 11.13 (79).
A crowd of almost 64,000 watched as the Saints broke out to a 33 point lead early in the third quarter, however the Cats fought back.


With rain falling strong and steady the Cats controlled the fourth quarter, getting the ball inside their attacking 50 seventeen times whilst the Saints could only manage five inside 50's for the quarter.


Geelong brought the margin to one goal after Paul Chapman kicked a goal from a tight angle, Dennis Cometti labeling Chapman "Mr September". The Cats looked to have won the game when Cameron Ling kicked a goal with one minute and one second remaining on the clock.


However umpire Matt Stevic disallowed the goal because Cameron Mooney's  tackle on James Gwilt (which had spilled the ball out to Ling) had been ruled a push in the back. Mooney questioned the call stating these words to Stevic: "You've just lost us the game".


St Kilda then held on to win a classic, progressing straight to a preliminary final where they will play the winner of Collingwood v Western Bulldogs. 


Information below courtesy of www.afl.com.au


Geelong  3.4  5.6  10.6  11.13 (79)
St Kilda  4.7  8.8  11.11 12.11  (83)

GOALS
Geelong: Mooney 3, Johnson 2, Stokes 2, Varcoe 2, Byrnes, ChapmanSt Kilda: Milne 3, Riewoldt 3, Gardiner, Goddard, Jones, Koschitzke, Montagna, Schneider
BEST
Geelong: Bartel, Chapman, Ablett, Ling, MilburnSt Kilda: Hayes, Riewoldt, Goddard, Fisher, Milne, Dal Santo
INJURIES
Geelong: NoneSt Kilda: None
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Stevic, Ryan
Official crowd: 63,608 at the MCG