SportLate surge over Saints delivers Collingwood a sixth-straight win

© AAP Travis Varcoe keeps tabs on Jack Billings.

In a week where the lack of scoring again became an issue, whatever elements combined to produce a 10-goal combined third term by Collingwood and St Kilda should be bottled and preserved. It was end-to-end football, with both sides benefiting from the new 6-6-6 rule, not to mention what appeared to be less officious umpiring.

The perfect Autumnal conditions and 60,072 fans at the MCG also helped - not that this would have been on the minds of Saints coach Alan Richardson and his players on Saturday night, for the joy of the third term morphed into the shock of a six-goal-to-one final quarter, and a stinging 41-point loss against an opponent that was a man down in the second half.

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The Giants got over the line by two points against Collingwood for a vital win —but it could so easily have gone the other way. GWS held off a late charge by Collingwood to win by four points at Giants Stadium in Sydney. The Giants shut down key Collingwood midfielder Steele Sidebottom on the way

The Saints (11-4) never punted, and set a record of yards gained in a game by a Vikings opponent with 583. They might have won by a greater margin if In a game that saw both defenses struggle, Saints receiver Marquez Callaway made a play that any defensive back would appreciate when he prevented

The result? St Kilda's fourth-straight defeat, all against premiership hopefuls, reinforcing how much work they still have to do despite the promise shown with four wins in their opening five games.

Despite the late withdrawals of Jordan De Goey and Darcy Moore, a knee injury to Tom Langdon and the report of Travis Varcoe, the Magpies claimed their sixth-straight win, strengthening their hold on a top-two spot.

The two teams celebrated five goals each in an entertaining third term. Where the Saints had been inefficient in the second term, squandering an 18-8 inside-50 advantage, they hit back. Tim Membrey was superb up forward, and finished with four goals, while Luke Dunstan and Jack Billings were instrumental through the midfield. Debutant Robbie Young also made his presence felt. But the Saints are work in progress and could not sustain this against a deep and talented Magpies unit.

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Collingwood defender Jack Madgen probably has mixed memories of his senior debut. The 26-year-old was thrown in the deep end when he was forced to line up on Sydney superstar Lance Franklin in their round 20 clash at the SCG last season. Buddy already had his tail up on the night, having booted three goals before his opponent, Darcy Moore, was ruled out of the second half with injury. Madgen got the job on Franklin who outclassed the debutant, helping himself to three more goals as the Swans escaped with a two-point, come-from-behind win.

Collingwood 's third win for the season eases the pressure slightly on Buckley — a marked contrast to how it had been looking for him early in the match. Pendlebury was sublime with 36 disposals and a goal — plus a stoush late in the last term with Luke Hodge.

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Steele Sidebottom was typically robust, his ability to split, even fool, two opponents in the final term and goal on the run the highlight of his day. When the Magpies needed to take a stand, he was instrumental. Adam Treloar, Dayne Beams and Jack Crisp also found plenty of the ball, Jaidyn Stephenson conjured a 60-metre torpedo to cap a fine performance while the Pies' undermanned defence stood firm.

Emerging Saints ruckman Rowan Marshall had negated Brodie Grundy early in the contest, including a big goal in the second term, but the latter took charge and was influential in the final term. Grundy, with 49 hit outs and 24 disposals through the day, finished as the No.1 ranked player.

"It was good to get the win. We are sticking to our brand. We just have that belief in the group now that we can take care of business in the final quarter," Grundy said.

GETTING HIS KICKS

Mason Cox or Ben Reid? While Reid's comeback from long-term injury was saluted a fortnight ago, the key forward had contributed only one goal since, and managed only four kicks against Carlton last week. He had also been 0.3 in set shots. His relief was palpable when took a strong mark and converted from about 40 metres 20 minutes into the first term. Reid finished with three goals, and has an edge over Cox in his ground work and ability to mark in different positions.

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Surging Giants overwhelm Saints . St Kilda's Rowan Marshall contests the ball against the Giants' Rory Lobb. Jade Gresham kicked two straight for the Saints , who had just five goalkickers, while the Giants Demons get the win over Crows in Adelaide. Jordan Lewis is congratulated by his Demons

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TWO FOR ONE

The Phillips brothers, Ed with the Saints and Tom with the Magpies, started off all smiles when they lined up on each other on a wing. But those smiles disappeared when both were crunched by Varcoe in the shadows of quarter-time. Varcoe was reported for rough conduct for his head high contact with a crouching Ed Phillips as the Saint attempted to take possession of a loose ball. In doing so, Varcoe also collected his Magpies teammate who was standing behind his younger brother. Varcoe apologised immediately but faces a fight to clear his name, even though Ed Phillips passed a concussion test. Varcoe retained his composure and kicked a goal in the second term.

© AAP Brodie Grundy and Rowan Marshall.

HEAD CASE

The second quarter provided a bit of everything. Phillips returned from a concussion test but Brody Mihocek and Treloar had their issues. Mihocek had a head clash with Ben Patton and looked to be in serious trouble, for he was immediately wobbly on his feet. But he was cleared to return and booted four goals. Treloar was poked in the eye, which swelled, but played on. However, Langdon could not because of a right knee issue.

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YOUNG TALENT TIME

Young, the mature-age Saints' recruit, had only three touches to the main break but the confidence of the Port Adelaide product was clear in the third term when he capitalised on an 'advantage' call by the umpire to burn off an opponent and run into an open goal. His aeroplane-style celebration told the story. The left-footer was in the action again minutes later when his well-weighted pass found Membrey, who slotted through his third goal, leaving the Saints just a point adrift 11 minutes into the term. Young wasn't done there, drilling a long bomb.

COLLINGWOOD 3.1 6.2 11.4 17.10 (112)ST KILDA 1.3 4.9 9.11 10.11 (71)Goals: Collingwood: B Mihocek 4 B Reid 3 J Stephenson 3 J Thomas 2 S Sidebottom 2 T Varcoe 2 W Hoskin-Elliott. St Kilda: T Membrey 4 R Young 2 J Battle J Bruce R Marshall S Savage.Best: Collingwood: Sidebottom, Treloar, Grundy, Mihocek, Stephenson, Beams, Reid, Crisp. St Kilda: Billings, Dunstan, Membrey, SavageUmpires: Simon Meredith, Robert Findlay, Andre Gianfagna.Official Crowd: 60,702 at MCG

VOTES8: Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood)8: Adam Treloar (Collingwood)8: Brodie Grundy (Collingwood)8: Dayne Beams (Collingwood)7: Luke Dunstan (St Kilda)

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