Carlton’s hopes of finishing in the top eight have been dashed by the strength of St Kilda.
St Kilda defeated Carlton by 20 points on Sunday afternoon at Ikon Park, and will anxiously await word on whether it has earned a spot in the finals.
The Saints added five percent to give themselves the best chance of extending their season with two important games remaining.
The Blues were up for the challenge, but once St Kilda got going in the second term, they were hard to stop. Carlton’s season ended as they lost 7.4 (46) to 3.8 (26) in the end.
For St Kilda, Georgia Patrikios was a dominant wing player who accumulated 25 disposals while putting in a lot of effort up and down the ground. Jaimee Lambert, on the other hand, was a vital defensive midfield player with 10 tackles.
When Carlton was in its attacking half, the Saints concentrated on packing the forward half with as many players as possible, getting everyone within 40 metres of the ball and creating a lot of space for grass.
View all of the news, statistics, and videos from Round 10 at SAINTS MATCH CENTRE.
They forced the Blues to use the ball poorly and frantically by causing such congestion and chaos. Throughout the game, Carlton lost its poise and strategy, as it has been known to do this year.
The Blues were sucked into hurrying their disposal when it wasn’t necessary, which helped St Kilda, who were intent on applying pressure to the ball carrier and making quick breaks after turnovers.
The home team was unable to adjust to St Kilda’s defensive structure, which frequently resulted in an outnumbering when the Blues went forward.
Carlton’s poor ball handling was another issue in front of goal, as they were unable to score despite spending a lot of time in their forward 50.
In the meantime, St Kilda was lethal in the middle quarters, scoring five goals on seven attempts.
With 12 clearances, Abbie McKay led all midfield players on the pitch; Patrikios and Lambert came in second and third, respectively. Sadly, McKay’s dominance on the ground didn’t translate into pressure on the scoreboard.
For the entirety of the match, star defender Harriet Cordner (12 touches, four marks) continued her recent role up front, working hard to create chances at goal but frequently acting as the only navy hand in a sea of Saints.
When Jesse Wardlaw was tackled late in the fourth quarter, with the Saints winning the game, the team’s camp was shaken. Deep in St Kilda’s attack, Wardlaw and Carlton young gun Keeley Sherar battled for a ground ball. Wardlaw came out on the short end and took a while to stand up and leave the ground. The last thing the Saints need is an injured Jesse Wardlaw with the finals on the line and his role so important to the team’s success.
Next up
Carlton’s season is over, having posted their best win-loss record since season six despite a turbulent offseason. Meanwhile, the Saints will have to anxiously wait the next few hours to find out if they will advance to their first-ever finals series.
Everything at stake
St Kilda was in its fifth AFLW season and had never made it to the finals series. Its destiny wasn’t entirely in its hands going into Sunday’s game because other outcomes would also matter. The Saints’ own outcome against the Blues, though, was within their control. If they won, they would still have a chance to play in the postseason for the first time.
The Saints not only won four points, but they also gained a significant five percent in ladder rankings, which might mean the difference between making it to the finals or having to take a break right away.
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