St Kilda is still a chance of making the finals after claiming a shock 21-point win over fourth-placed Brisbane
The top-four Lions were favoured to claim another four points against the mid-table Saints to set up a last-round battle for the lucrative prize against Melbourne next week, but the home side stole the limelight with a memorable 8.7 (55) to 5.4 (34) upset win.
SAINTS v LIONS Full match coverage and stats
The result will see Melbourne claim the McClelland-Trophy treasure, with Collingwood one game and nearly 18 percentage points behind.
Brisbane’s chance to claim the $1m bounty went begging after it was simply outworked by a Saints side desperate to keep in touch with the top eight.
The Lions’ top-four chances have suddenly been turned into a tenuous prospect, with Essendon and Gold Coast now hot on their heels heading into the final round.
The Lions were challenged before the game even began, with Sophie Conway, who averages more than a goal and 15 disposals a game, withdrawn from the starting line-up with hamstring tightness.
The Saints claimed more early gains by kicking with a strong wind in the first quarter, helping them open a lead they would never relent.
The breeze advantage was such that even St Kilda’s 21-point lead at the last break wasn’t cause for comfort, but that changed when the home side booted the first two goals of the last quarter against the gusts
They were the first majors scored against the breeze all day, and the knockout blow came when the Saints added a third for the quarter through a Deanna Jolliffe snap.
Brisbane’s top-four aspirations now appear in jeopardy, with Essendon’s big win over Carlton meaning both the Bombers and Gold Coast are now a chance to snare fourth spot.
Fittingly, those teams meet on Friday night, so Brisbane will need to defeat the top-placed Melbourne on Saturday night to hold on to the double chance.
St Kilda, powered by big performances from former Lion Jesse Wardlaw (two goals) and Jaimee Lambert (20 disposals, eight tackles) catapulted themselves into the top eight – for now – meaning they can dare to dream with a round to play.
