ST KILDA has earned a preliminary final berth and a week off after beating Collingwood by 28 points in the first qualifying final at the MCG on Sunday.

The Saints won 12.8 (80) to 7.10 (52), after breaking away from the Magpies with a six-goal-to-three second half in a low-scoring game.

Collingwood will now face Adelaide in a do-or-die semi-final at the MCG next Saturday night, while St Kilda will enjoy a football-free weekend.

Saints captain Nick Riewoldt was simply awesome for his side. Pitted against Simon Prestigiacomo, he kicked five goals and took 10 marks – seven of which were on the lead.

He was supported by Andrew McQualter (six tackles, two goals), Sam Fisher (42 touches) and Brendon Goddard (28), while Clint Jones was excellent to keep Alan Didak to just 13 and no score.

For Collingwood, Travis Cloke did well for 19 touches and 13 marks but missed with his two shots on goal. Dale Thomas was also good in the second half despite receiving a heavy bump from Goddard in the second term.

The Magpies lacked winners through the midfield, with Dane Swan, Tarkyn Lockyer, Dayne Beams and Leon Davis all below their best.

It didn't help they were dealt a blow in the first quarter when Scott Pendlebury injured his leg in the opening two minutes.

He hobbled through the half, but conceded after the main break and watched the rest of the game from the bench. The club suspects he may have a broken leg.

The Saints had the better start with Justin Koschitzke having two shots at goal within four minutes after beating Leigh Brown to the ball twice.

He converted just the first of his kicks, which left the momentum somewhat up for grabs.

The Magpies then wasted two opportunities with Brown and Beams booting points, before John Anthony and Thomas found the spot between the big sticks to put them seven points clear.

With Nick Maxwell loose behind the ball and Heath Shaw getting plenty of it, the Saints struggled to make the most of their forward chances.

Although they equalled the Pies for inside-50s and had 26 more possessions, they trailed by eight points at the first change.

Anthony Rocca dealt Zac Dawson a psychological blow to add to those he inflicted several seasons ago when he out-marked him early in the second. The goal that followed pushed the Pies 15 points clear.

The Saints then started to hit their marks. Riewoldt got on top of Prestigiacomo to take four leading marks for the term, which translated into three goals.

Meanwhile, the Pies struggled to break through the Saints' midfield pressure, which increased after an indifferent first term. They lacked forward opportunities, and could add just 2.2 to their tally compared to the Saints' 5.2.

The result was a 10-point lead to the Saints at half time. With Riewoldt in form, Jones silencing Didak and Thomas groggy, it appeared the minor premiers were in the box seat.

They emerged from the rooms with an attitude to match. The pressure in the Saints' forward arc was stifling for the Magpies, which was reflected in the opening minute when Lockyer was forced to kick the ball out on the full.

McQualter used the free that followed to kick a goal, which was the first of three unanswered for the Saints and moved them 29 points clear.

As red time commenced, the Saints slowed their attack. The Pies capitalised, and with the increased work rate of Thomas and Medhurst and a late goal to Rocca, the three-quarter time margin was back to 17 points.

Collingwood needed the first goal of the fourth if it was to remain a chance in the low-scoring encounter. That was denied when it took just one minute for McQualter to tackle Didak within range.

His second goal, combined with Riewoldt's fifth seven minutes later, put the result beyond doubt.


St Kilda                      1.2 6.4 9.7 12.8 (80)
Collingwood               2.4 4.6 6.8 7.10 (52)

GOALS
St Kilda: Riewoldt 5, Koschitzke 2, McQualter 2, Goddard, Schneider, Milne
Collingwood: Rocca 2, Thomas 2, Anthony, Medhurst, Davis

BEST
St Kilda: Riewoldt, McQualter, Fisher, Hayes, Goddard, Montagna, Jones, Gram
Collingwood: Cloke, Thomas, Shaw, Maxwell, O'Brien, Swan

INJURIES
St Kilda: Nil
Collingwood: Pendlebury (suspected broken leg), Rocca (ankle)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Rosebury, Chamberlain, McInerney

Official crowd: 84,213 at the MCG


The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.

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