Demons fire past Saints to keep touch with the Top 8
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TODAY’S LINE-UP from 2PM: Matthew Richardson, Cameron Ling, Tim Lane, Tony Leonard, and Mick Warner.
Photo: Joe Castro / AAP
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FULL TIME
Melbourne has run away for a 41-point win.
The result puts Melbourne just percentage outside the top eight.
Clayton Oliver (36 disposals, four tackles, one goal) was influential in midfield, while Jesse Hogan rotated through the midfield to good effect.
LINGY’S VOTES
5. Jesse Hogan
4. Clayton Oliver
3. Angus Brayshaw
2. Michael Hibberd
1. Max Gawn#AFLSaintsDees pic.twitter.com/W3bYwNkF4u— 3AW Football (@3AWisfootball) May 6, 2018
Angus Brayshaw (33 touches and a goal) was another Demon who starred, earning three votes from Cameron Ling.
He told 3AW Football it’s good the side has been able to play out four quarters.
“My first two games this year were both losses but we’ve showed a bit the last couple of weeks,” he said.
Brayshaw joked that he doesn’t remember much of the Demons’ poor recent history.
“I can throw a concussion joke in here. It’s been long enough to joke about it!”
Click PLAY for the full-time wrap
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HOGAN’S HORROR
Matthew Richardson thinks a fine is heading Jesse Hogan’s way.
Hogan fell to the floor right in front of goal after minimal contact from Jake Carlisle during the third term, and was awarded a free kick.
Richo said Hogan will come under the scrutiny of Match Review Officer Michael Christian, who has come down hard on staging in 2018.
“He’s dived there,” Richo said.
“That’ll be fined, for sure.”
Hogan missed the resultant shot at goal.
Click PLAY to judge for yourself
Jesse Hogan 😱#AFLSaintsDees pic.twitter.com/Vh4tGofVOz
— AFL (@AFL) May 6, 2018
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HALF TIME
Melbourne leads by 28 points at the main break.
St Kilda’s recurring nightmare has struck again: their goal-kicking has been atrocious.
It is 8.6 to 3.8 at half time.
Matthew Richardson said the Saints need to change their game plan.
“Their inside 50s are just not working,” Richo said.
Click PLAY for the half-time wrap
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THE BUILD-UP
It’s a Heaven and Hell clash at Etihad as the Saints and Demons do battle.
St Kilda desperately needs a good performance, having booted just 36 goals over the past five matches.
But the Demons have to win games like this if their finals charge is to be taken seriously.
The Dees can leap into the eight if they win by around nine goals.
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