Blog log from P1 of 2026: St Kilda vs Essendon

Higgins marks 40m out on the flank on the end of a rebound around outer wing, his drop punt is straight through for the opening goal. (Q1 2:39)
Caminiti is whistled for some rather soft hands in the back on Wright at the hotspot for Essendon’s first goal. (Q1 4:19)
Wanganeen-Milera just misses a snap from near CHF that had the crowd up and going. (Q1 5:51)
Sharman marks a quick kick to to the top of the square by Marshall over Redman… but Sharman sprays the soda. (Q1 6:59)
Marshall gets a ruck free on Blakiston 50m out on a slight angle, points at the goals and roosts high… not long enough, cleared from the square. (Q1 11:49)
Downfield free to Sharman 40m out on the flank for Roberts dropping Macrae after disposal but he’s called to play on and snaps poorly on the hurry-up. (Q1 13:09)
Caminiti drops an intercept mark 15m out with Caddy spoiling, the latter roves and goals despite two Saints trying to smother. (Q1 15:05)
Fiorini hits the post with a set shot from 40m near the boundary after Marshall is pinged on the last-disposal rule on outer wing. (Q1 18:51)
Caddy is called to stand as he runs past an empty mark in the centre, 50m penalty brings Stocker to the hotspot where he kicks straight. (Q1 20:05)
Caminiti is whistled for insufficient intent 40m out, bit red hot but it was there. Duursma misses with a curling set shot. (Q1 22:06)
Ryan takes a link mark on outer wing and passes long to the pocket over Blakiston to Marshall 20m out, who curls in a nice set shot off his left. (Q1 25:04)
Langford beats Stocker to mark a Sharp kick to the top of the square, he converts with no problem. (Q1 26:35)
Macrae strips El Achkar at the Don hotspot to prevent what looked a big chance for a surge goal. (Q1 29:17)
De Koning misses a long-range set shot. (Q1 30:25)
Wanganeen-Milera beats Nguyen easily in the air to mark a speculator by Byrnes to 45m on a slight angle, he goals just before the QT siren sounds. (Q1 31:21)
Langford marks on the boundary 40m out and kicks across the face for a behind. (Q2 3:02)
El Achkar curls in a lovely checkside finish off the right after roving a stoppage 20m out deep in the pocket. (Q2 4:39)
Johnson rushes a dribble attempt by Marshall from near the behind line. (Q2 6:42)
Sinclair’s dump kick from a big pack deep in defence is straight to Johnson on his own 45m out on the flank, who shoots across the face to the left. (Q2 9:25)
Macrae receives from Phillipou and snaps a goal from the hotspot after a series of stoppages in the Saints forward 50. (Q2 12:24)
Nguyen passes to the lead of Wright to slide on his knees in front of Keeler and mark 45m out on a slight angle. His set shot is a peach, no hint of interference by the wind there. (Q2 16:28)
Boxshall earns a high contact free on Reid in the pocket and passes back to Wanganeen-Milera who had kicked inside 50 to him. NWM lines up from 40m on a slight angle, and goals. (Q2 18:05)
Dons surge around the boundary, Clarke taps down a quick handball in the pocket by Stocker and soccers the crumb for an opportunist goal. (Q2 22:55)
Wanganeen-Milera marks a Ryan pass in front of Farrow in the pocket 20m out and shoots for goal number three… swervy but straight over David Rodan’s head. (Q2 30:55)
Higgins marks Wanganeen-Milera’s pass to deep in the pocket 25m out in front of McGrath, he uses his non-preferred left to curl in a nice finish. (Q3 5:21)
Sharp feeds Merrett to run to CHF after the next centre tap won by Blakiston, but the kick drifts to the right. (Q3 6:29)
Langford marks in front of Keeler 45m out on a slight angle and kicks truly. (Q3 7:51)
Owens misses to the right from a stoppage 35m out. (Q3 10:11)
Caddy hits the post with a long-range set shot, crowd goes aww. (Q3 17:22)
Owens converts from 35m after a 50 against Nguyen on outer wing for not much at all, throwing the ball back on the bounce. (Q3 19:07)
Higgins marks a dart by Wanganeen-Milera from the next centre jump, he kicks straight from 40m in front. (Q3 20:12)
Garcia continues the Saints’ stoppage dominance with a goal from near the hotspot. (Q3 23:52)
Ryan passes to Wanganeen-Milera deep in the pocket 30m out who curls in goal number four with another pretty curling set shot. (Q3 24:12)
Fiorini snaps from a pack near the hotspot off his left just before the 3QT siren for a goal to keep the margin within reach. (3 Qtr Time)
Ryan checksides narrow from the boundary 20m out. (Q4 1:08)
Sharp starts a rebound around outer wing that ends with Caddy who misses from 40m. (Q4 3:03)
Higgins roves at the top of the square and gives to Banfield for his first kick, which is a goal. (Q4 3:41)
Owens takes a link mark on the HFF and passes to the pocket for Hall 30m out, who leaves his set shot narrow. (Q4 6:47)
Langford feeds Parish for a flying snap from 40m on a slight angle that skews left. (Q4 6:47)
Ryan comes out of the square against Nguyen for a mark over McKay at the hotspot, his kick is a swerver but is straight enough. (Q4 14:02)
Marshall completes the narrative of this game with the highly-credentialled Sainter ruck tandem wearing Blakiston down, with a goal from ruck 30m out. (Q4 15:52)
May marks on the goal line for his first of the day, having spent the first three quarters on the bench. (Q4 15:52)
Wanganeen-Milera bounces away from Caldwell on a barnstorming run around members wing, bombs long to the hotspot where Owens provides the crumb for Sharman to rove and goal. (Q4 15:52)
Fiorini feeds May to grubber his second goal from 25m on a slight angle. (Q4 22:02)
Owens beats McKay to mark Boxshall’s high speculator to the hotspot from the HFF, he converts. (Q4 25:08)