St Kilda beat Bulldogs to stay unbeaten

St Kilda extended their unbeaten start to the AFL season by cruising to a 28-point
win over the disappointing Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday night.
Not even squandered chances - St Kilda had 3.11 on the board at one stage - could
prevent the high-flying Saints from notching their sixth straight win, 14.20 (104)
to 11.10 (76), before a crowd of 36,302.
Saints captain Nick Riewoldt overcame his early goal kicking yips to finish with
4.5, Brendon Goddard's pinpoint kicking amid 33 disposals was a highlight and
midfielder Farren Ray starred against his old side.
Missed chances aside, St Kilda were by far the better side at hard running, applying
tackling pressure, finding teammates by disposal and having marking targets in
attack.
These sides both reached preliminary finals in 2008, but on current form, only the
Saints look capable of matching or bettering that achievement this year.
The Bulldogs were kept to their lowest score at the roofed stadium since late 2007,
had a lot of key players down and were again sloppy by foot given their renowned
kicking ability.
The Doggies have now lost their past three games and must rebound for a tricky away
clash against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.
St Kilda's dominance across the field earned them a rack of chances in the first
term, but that was not reflected by a 15-point lead at quarter-time.
The Bulldogs looked like making the Saints pay for their wastefulness by dobbing
three goals in the second term to close the margin to eight points.
But Riewoldt found his range and, after four early behinds and a couple of shots
that did not score, goaled from in front and then threaded a banana kick - his most
difficult shot of the game - after the half-time siren.
That brace and Adam Schneider's snap after a nice piece of crumbing gave the Saints
a 27-point lead at the main break.
St Kilda sealed the contest through five goals in the third term, during which the
Bulldogs' defensive pressure dropped away badly.
Schneider finished with three goals, Michael Gardiner did well in the ruck and
booted a goal resting in the forward line, Nick Dal Santo and Jason Gram hurt the
Bulldogs with their disposal, and Sam Gilbert and Zac Dawson again had good days in
defence.
Josh Hill booted three goals for the Bulldogs, Ryan Hargrave did well in defence and
Matthew Boyd and Daniel Cross got their share of the ball in the midfield.
But the likes of Brad Johnson, Robert Murphy, Adam Cooney and Daniel Giansiracusa
did not have the impact the Bulldogs would have liked, and Rodney Eade's side was
flattered by out-scoring its opponent four goals to two in the final term.