St Kilda celebrate their 150th anniversary, in wet conditions. Steele out for the Saints, Stringer in for Essendon. Two 50-metre penalties directly resulting in goals right off the bat for the Saints and they kick the first five. Essendon can't even get the footy, before Perkins finally gets them on the board. Davey with some good tackling pressure, the Saints lead by 27 at quarter-time. The Bombers lift a bit in the 2nd, picking up their pressure, but the execution not so much. It's a pretty sloppy game, the margin 18 at the half. Wilkie cutting off so many of the Bombers forward entries. Perkins goals from outside 50 and Essendon gets back into it. The Saints reply all too easy though, aided by some one-sided umpiring a might add. They hold a 19-point lead going into the last. The Bombers get two quick fortunate goals in the 4th, two miracles from Caldwell and it's all tied. Davey not willing to get the ball or stand over it, hurts the Bombers chances and the Saints respond and run away with it. Elani Glouftsis may as well be wearing the Saints guernsey, with the calls tonight. The hit-outs were even, but Essendon dominated the clearances +14, had a bit more of the footy and applied 8 more tackles. The Saints had 4 more inside 50's though, for 5 more scoring shots. Wood best afield, with 27 disposals, 2 contested marks, 6 inside 50's, 9 intercepts, 592 metres gained, a goal and 2 assists. Wilkie 19 disposals, 2 contested marks and 11 intercepts. Butler 13 disposals, 6 inside 50's, an assist and 4 straight goals. Higgins, opting to snap every shot now, with 18 disposals, 2 assists and 4 straight goals as well. Ross 24 disposals, 5 inside 50's, 9 tackles, 7 intercepts and 497 metres gained. For Essendon, Parish 35 disposals, 5 inside 50's, 507 metres gained and a goal. Ridley 21 disposals, 3 contested marks and 9 intercepts. Perkins 14 disposals, 5 inside 50's, 428 metres gained and 2 goals.
3. (Stk) M. Wood, 2. (Stk) C. Wilkie, 1. (Stk) D. Butler.
3. (Stk) M. Wood, 2. (Stk) C. Wilkie, 1. (Stk) D. Butler.