Dons upset Saints again - by 12 points

Essendon reprised their AFL heroics against St Kilda in beating the Saints by 12
points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday night.
The Bombers were the first side to beat the Saints last year and nine months on
inflicted a third defeat from four games on the team coached by Ross Lyon with a
14.9 (93) to 11.15 (81) victory before a crowd of 39,204.
Essendon were devastating on the fast break, as they constantly ran the ball out of
defence and into attack, and scored several goals on counter-assaults without the
Saints getting a touch.
David Hille kicked four goals for the Bombers and ruck partner Patrick Ryder three,
while veteran fullback Dustin Fletcher and half-back Heath Hocking were among the
Bombers' best.
St Kilda's big men Michael Gardiner and Justin Koschitzke threatened to pinch the
game from Essendon's grasp in the last quarter with a combined three goals, to bring
the margin under a goal.
But Ryder snapped two vital majors to steady his side, the second of which proved
the final scoring shot of the game.
Essendon's win improved their win-loss record to 3-5 this season and left the Saints
with a 5-3 record.
The defeat continued the St Kilda's struggles over the past month, as they have now
lost as many games as they did for the entire 2009 campaign, with only the
three-point win over the Western Bulldogs in between.
The Bombers took some time to get into the contest, as they only managed one goal
for the first quarter, when Hille kicked truly late in the term.
But the Dons slipped into their running game in the second term and grabbed a
half-time lead when David Zaharakis goaled after he was on the end of a chain of
handballs.
Essendon then opened up a break through three unanswered goals in the third quarter,
when their speed and slick skills set up scoring opportunities on the break.
Gardiner's goal six minutes into the last quarter brought St Kilda within two
points, but Ryder's move to full-forward was pivotal.
Essendon's win came at a cost though, as key defender Cale Hooker suffered a
hamstring injury during the second quarter.
His loss meant Fletcher moved on to Koschitzke and coach Matthew Knights moved
Michael Hurley from attack into defence.
But the Bombers' backline held firm, although Koschitzke and Gardiner finished with
three goals apiece.
Koschitzke kicked his first two, both in the first quarter, through fortunate
circumstances, as he received a free kick down the field after Hille put Brendon
Goddard down in the centre, and gained another when Hooker was penalised for
deliberately rushing the ball for a behind.
St Kilda were also a man down for most of the game, as utility Jason Gram spent a
long stint on the bench, although it was not clear why.