Credit: <\/span>AFL Photos \/ Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n\u201cYou can hear the guys there in the background having some fun and that\u2019s who we are and that\u2019s what we want to be. I think we\u2019ve been that across the course of the year irrespective of win and loss,\u201d Kingsley said in the countdown to Saturday\u2019s match.<\/p>\n
That fun was on show after the final siren at the MCG on Saturday. The Giants were exhausted, but were full all smiles, having posted their 10th win in their past 12 games.<\/p>\n
Star midfielder Josh Kelly (27 disposals) was arguably the best afield, the Giants without fellow veteran Stephen Coniglio (eye), while rebounding halfbacks Lachie Ash and Lachie Whitfield were superb. Midfielder Tom Green was also elite, the Giants enjoying maximum impact from their top talent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had the belief we could get it right, and we have done that in the second half (of the season),\u201d Green said.<\/p>\n
Forward Jake Riccardi (three goals) was also threat all game, on a day star Saints forward Max King and GWS defensive ace Sam Taylor neutralised each other.<\/p>\n
Trailing by 25 points at the final break, the Saints needed the first goal when play resumed to have any hope. They got that when Jack Higgins sprung to life. But the Giants responded with the next two majors, Higgins effectively handing back his own goal by conceding a 50m penalty and a goal to Finn Callaghan. The contest was over.<\/p>\n
The Giants have been the road warriors this season, now adding victory at the home of football to their long list.<\/p>\n
For the Saints, it was a learning experience, for 10 players hadn\u2019t played a final. The defeat capped a tough day, with forward Tim Membrey a late withdrawal because of a personal health challenge . Skipper Jack Steele, with a season-high 38 disposals, and Jack Sinclair were busy, keeping their side in the contest when the Giants threatened to storm away in the second term.<\/p>\n
Saints ruckman Rowan Marshall was dominant around the ground, while Mason Wood battled on after a poke to the eye. In his first season back in charge, Ross Lyon lifted the Saints into the finals. But now comes the challenge of determining how much reshaping the list needs to be a serious premiership threat.<\/p>\n
The third term delivered momentum swings, the Giants extending a 23-point lead to 37 points when Toby Bedford booted his second goal, the Saints then finding their spark to boot the final three goals of the term, including a snap by Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera on the siren which was reviewed.<\/p>\n
Lyon made positional moves to start the term, notably shifting Hill onto Whitfield, and Marcus Windhager onto Kelly. Hill got busy, but Kelly was still imperious.<\/p>\n
Sinning Saints suddenly surge<\/h3>\n
Early on with the Saints trailing by three goals, they needed to rebound early in the second term, but had only themselves to blame for their inability to initially respond. Seb Ross hit the post from a 40m set shot, Dan Butler did not make the distance from a snap just inside the boundary, having won a free kick against Harry Himmelberg, while Mattaes Phillipou and Anthony Caminiti then got in each other\u2019s way in a marking contest that should have seen one of the pair line up from goal from about 20m out. Instead, that spillage led to a Jesse Hogan goal on the rebound, the Giants taking control and jumping to a 42-point lead. Lyon shifted Steele and Sinclair into the midfield, and it worked a treat. Cooper Sharman finally delivered the Saints their first goal of the term, and King made amends for a botched set-shot snap from the pocket with a strong mark over Taylor, converting from 40m. King had his second in the blink of an eye after an off-the-ball free kick against Taylor, the Saints building momentum to eventually cut the deficit to 23 points by half-time.<\/p>\n
Ups and downs<\/h3>\n
Lyon felt fluctuating emotions in the first term. Sharman\u2019s brave mark backing into a pack, leading to the Saints\u2019 opening goal, reinforced the unflinching desperation needed in finals. However, that was later offset by frustration after Hogan marked amid three Saints defenders. Hogan then snapped successfully.<\/p>\n
Great appeal<\/h3>\n
The Giants\u2019 decision to appeal the one-match suspension Toby Bedford was handed for an off-the-ball bump against Carlton paid immediate dividends in the first term when the pressure forward marked and converted from about 40m. Bedford is not a major name, but the former Demon played an important role through the midfield and inside attacking 50.<\/p>\n
ST KILDA <\/strong>2.3 6.6 9.8 11.11 (77)<\/strong>
GWS GIANTS <\/strong>5.3 10.5 13.9 15.11 (101)
<\/strong>GOALS – <\/strong>St Kilda:<\/strong> King 3, Hill 2, Sharman 2, Wanganeen-Milera, Owens, Marshall, Higgins
GWS Giants:<\/strong> Riccardi 3, Hogan 2, Bedford 2, Kelly 2, Brown 2, Greene, Lloyd, Daniels, Callaghan
UMPIRES<\/strong> – Donlon, Foot, Rosebury, O\u2019Gorman
CROWD<\/strong> – 68,465 at the MCG<\/p>\nKeep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Sport<\/h2>\nFrom our partners<\/h3>\n
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