st kilda delivered a crushing performance at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon, powering past West Coast by 101 points win. The Saints finished 22. 11 to 5. 12 after taking control after half-time, with the game played in front of a young Eagles side that could not match the pressure. It was st kilda’s highest score under Ross Lyon in his second stint at the helm and the club’s first 100-plus point win in 10 seasons.
St Kilda puts the game away after half-time
West Coast stayed in touch early enough to keep the contest alive in the first half, but st kilda shifted gears after the main break and never looked back. The Saints’ 15-goal second half turned a competitive match into a one-sided result, and the final margin matched their biggest winning margin against West Coast. The Eagles opened the game with Liam Ryan kicking the first goal, but the response from the home side quickly took over the afternoon.
Seven St Kilda players kicked two goals or more, showing how widely the scoring was spread. Jack Higgins led the way with five goals, while Rowan Marshall and other forwards helped keep the pressure on as the margin grew sharply after half-time. On the other side, West Coast’s scoring dried up again, and the heavy defeat marked its fourth loss by more than nine goals this season.
Key performances and the result behind them
Callum Wilkie was one of the most important players on the ground, finishing with 16 marks and 25 disposals in defence. Willem Duursma was among the better Eagles, finishing with 25 disposals, 11 marks and three clearances in a difficult afternoon for the visitors. West Coast coach Andrew McQualter’s side was also kept goalless in the opening quarter for the third time in four weeks, underlining the scale of the early momentum St Kilda was able to build.
The match also featured a major ARC review moment that briefly halted play after Rowan Marshall’s mark near the goal line was taken to review. The decision was eventually overturned and the moment added tension to a game already moving heavily in St Kilda’s favour. By then, though, the result was effectively beyond doubt.
What the result means for St Kilda
For st kilda, the margin and scoring output matter as much as the four points. The 143-point total is a clear marker of attacking form, and the club’s ability to break the game open after half-time suggests a side finding its rhythm at the right time. West Coast, meanwhile, remains under pressure after another lopsided loss, with the Eagles conceding at least 90 points in every game this season.
For now, the headline is simple: st kilda was clinical, ruthless and far too strong, and the scale of the win will shape the conversation going into the next round.
