Blog log from R20 of 2024: St Kilda vs Essendon

Shiel snaps a ball out of a forward stoppage that bounces towards goal but is cut off by Howard who walks it over (Q1 1:35)
A 50m penalty sees Caldwell find a lead of Menzie who marks 45m out. He gives off to Redman who take a shot from 50m out, but it hits the post. (Q1 4:04)
Martin chews off a kick through the middle of the ground which finds no one, Wilkie runs onto it and sparks a quick counter which ends with Owens, who misses his set shot (Q1 5:36)
Durham tries to fight through an army of Saints defenders but is caught and the ball spills to Parish who kicks sideways to Duursma 30m out. Duursma kicks the opening goal! (Q1 6:58)
A turnover at half back is costly as Durham surges it forward, Menzie gathers the loose ball and gives to Shiel who screws through a floater! (Q1 10:05)
Membrey heads to the pack inside 50, it comes off hands to Marshall who manages to get a snap away through a tackle and pinches a goal from nothing! (Q1 11:35)
Stringer bursts away from stoppage and sparks a handball chain that gets to Martin who chips a short ball to Langford’s lead. Langford marks 45m out, and misses left. (Q1 12:53)
Martin handballs it to Clark and the Saints rush forward through Butler who finds Caminiti with a nice lead. Caminiti converts from 30m out! (Q1 14:32)
Sharman contests well against Laverde and sends it down to Higgins who marks 35m out from goal. He squeezes it through! (Q1 19:07)
The Saints play around with the ball inside 50, but eventually Owens takes a mark along the boundary. Owens goes for a drop punt and threads the needle well! (Q1 23:07)
Owens marks in the pocket and chips it short to Membrey on a slightly better angle. He too threads the needle as the Saints have their kicking boots on! (Q1 28:17)
Sharman shanks it from 55m out and the ball wobbles into the behind post. (Q2 2:15)
Caddy bombs it inside 50 but the ball gets out the back to Jones who handballs it to Stringer. He stops and props, snapping it through! (Q2 9:04)
Gresham feeds it back to Merrett who snaps from 40m out on the boundary line, it bends back and keeps bending back and slides through for an insane goal!!! (Q2 11:31)
Caddy gathers a loose ball inside 50 as Stringers shovels out a clearance. He hooks a kick into the pocket and Jones marks strongly 20m out. Jones pops it through! (Q2 12:29)
Wanganeen-Milera screws a low dart to Butler who marks on the 50m arc. He gives it back to NWM as he steps around one defender to slot a goal from 45! (Q2 14:44)
Caldwell breaks away from a forward stoppage and tumbles a kick towards goal, but misses. (Q2 20:44)
Byrnes floats a kick across the face of goal which drops for Wood, but it’s spoiled over the line for a behind (Q2 21:47)
An error from Merrett sees the ball turned over at half back, Owens capitalises and pops through a low ball for Sharman who marks 35m out on a slight angle, and he converts! (Q2 25:31)
Byrnes concedes a silly free kick for a block and Merrett is able to chip it inside 50 for Langford. The clock ticks down to half time and Langford sprays it left for a point. (Half Time)
St Kilda spread down a wing through Hill and Byrnes who finds the lead of Sharman in the pocket. He steps around for the snap and slots his second goal! (Q3 3:37)
Steele chips a short kick to Caminiti in the pocket, it’s a tricky spot but Caminiti makes it look easy as he guides it through! (Q3 8:23)
Durham dives onto a loose ball and Steele makes sure it stays under, winning himself a free kick. Steele pops it through and the Saints are rolling! (Q3 10:52)
St Kilda surge out of defence and catch Essendon napping on transition. Sharman out-points McKay to mark, before handballing forward to Steele who runs into an open goal! (Q3 13:22)
Gresham tumbles a snap towards goal, but Wanganeen-Milera rushes back to take it over. (Q3 16:52)
Clark shovels a kick out of a tackle that bounces towards goal. Wilson tries to throw a boot at it but whiffs the kick and Redman walks it over. (Q3 19:14)
Redman kicks it directly to Sharman from the kick-in and Sharman makes him pay! That might just be the game right there! (Q3 19:47)
Butler tries to find Higgins with a chip pass but it goes to ground, Butler cleans up the mess and dribbles through a goal! (Q3 21:51)
Essendon get a rare look forward and it’s Gresham who flicks the ball out to Shiel at CHF, Shiel takes a couple steps and slots his second goal. (Q3 23:19)
Higgins goes searching for another goal but hooks the ball left for a point (Q3 25:07)
Stocker shovels a ball up to Steele who has the time and space to snap through his third goal in the quarter! (Q3 30:45)
Laverde is pinged for a hold on Membrey and the latter lines up from 45m out dead in front of goal. He steers it through as the Saints look to make a statement! (Q4 2:02)
Caminiti roves a contest 25m out from goal and is free to snap in another major as the ton comes up! (Q4 4:16)
The umpire spots a holding free on Draper and the big man pops through a goal from 35m out. (Q4 5:17)
Martin darts around half forward and squares the ball up for Durham at CHF. Durham converts. (Q4 17:16)
Caminiti clunks a contested mark 15m out in front of goal. He sprays it right for a point (Q4 21:14)
Higgins adds a goal in the final few seconds of the game, to cap of a comprehensive victory for the Saints! (Q4 25:57)