Source : the age
The Suns showed some speed on the turnover as Leo Lombard blasted home a running goal and Nick Holman was involved in the lead up with a cracking release handball.
The visitors are finishing this term stronger than the Saints.
For those wondering about the crowd, it hasn’t got that much bigger. Perhaps they should have played this game at Moorabbin.
Meanwhile, Noah Anderson has booted another goal for the Suns.
Suns 21, Saints 13 with seven mins to go in Q1.
It’s been a joy to see Liam Ryan playing in Victoria this year after his long tenure at West Coast and he’s just shown his speedy skills as he dodged two Suns players and managed to get a low kick through a gap in the pack and through the goals.
Class act.
This game is beginning to open up after an intense start.
Saints 13, Suns 7 with 11 mins to go in Q1.
That was a quick response from the Suns who pushed the ball forward where Bailey Humphrey won it quickly and handballed over the top to Ben King who booted the goal.
According to Kayo Sports, he is the only player to kick a goal in every match his side has played in 2026.
Saints 7, Suns 6 with 13 mins to go in Q1.
Max Hall has shone in the final weeks of this season and he was held by Miller at a ball-up in the forward line, which led to a free kick.
He went back and kicked the goal. The Saints will need a huge match from Hall tonight if they are to win.
That’s goal number 26 for Hall.
Saints 7, Suns 0 with 13 mins to go in Q1.
The energy has been high from both sides so far. This is not a dead rubber, no matter what the pundits might say.
But both sides have lacked some polish when moving the ball from defence as there have been smothers and miskicks from both clubs.
Touk Miller and Mac Andrew have had a heap of the footy already while Hugh Boxall, Bradley Hill and Max Hall have been prominent for the Saints.
Saints 1, Suns 0 with 15 mins to go in Q1.
It’s a Thursday night, so there may well be scores of fans who turn up late due to finishing work or going out for dinner, but the crowd looks very sparse currently.
There are a number of fans in fluorescent hard hats courtesy of a Saints sponsor, which has given the place some brightness, but the fans are light on the ground.
It feels like getting to 20,000 fans could be a great achievement tonight.
Suns coach Damien Hardwick is certain this year of frustration will be ‘the making’ of the club and he wants to finish tonight with a win.
The Suns will also say goodbye to hardman Nick Holman.
“We want to reestablish our identity ahead of next season, and we want to give our fans a genuine send-off, and we have a great player finishing at our football club in Nick Holman who is incredibly popular in our playing group,” Hardwick told Kayo Sports.
“It’s not a wasted year. I firmly believe this will be the making of our footy club.
“Absolutely. I have no doubt. We just have to get better. We will bounce [back].”
Saints coach Ross Lyon has paid tribute to 300-gamer Bradley Hill recounting what he has seen in the star playmaker become one of the Saints most reliable players and leaders.
Hill is the 113th player to reach 300 games and just the ninth Indigenous player to do so.
“He did his apprenticeship at Hawthorn and I probably got the best of him,” Lyon told Kayo Sports with a laugh.
“He was a little rascal, but he came to Fremantle and brought energy to the locker room and anyone who describes Bradley says he is just so happy.
Long-time Saint Dougal Howard will play his last game tonight and coach Ross Lyon admits his selection was a nod to his service, rather than his form after injuries have ruined his season.
Howard announced this week that his time at the Saints would finish and Lyon said he wanted to repay Howard for his loyal service and leadership by making sure he played 100 games for the Saints rather than remain stuck on 99.
“I’ve said we have really good integrity, but this is a love job,” Lyon told Kayo Sports.
“And we make no apologies for that. His integrity for fighting on and fighting the club since he has been here, we were really keen to get him to 100 [games] and if I get a clip for that, then so be it.
“Myself and our leaders thought it was the right thing to do.”
St Kilda’s season-ending match against Gold Coast is a long way from a dead rubber for forward Dan Butler.
Carlton’s draw last Sunday killed off the last faint hope the Saints had of making the wildcard round. But the day before, Butler had returned to the senior side and kicked two goals in their win over Richmond.
It was only his ninth senior game this season after managing just six last year, and the 30-year-old is about to come out of contract.
So Butler has plenty to play for on Thursday night at Marvel Stadium.
