By Michael Whiting
Captain Nick Riewoldt kicked his 500th career goal as St Kilda marched into the top eight with a crushing 95-point win over Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
Ahead of their trip to Adelaide next Saturday, the Saints (6-5) vaulted Carlton and Fremantle and moved into the eight on percentage with the 21.18 (144) to 7.7 (49) win.
Riewoldt had a night out in his return 'home' to the Gold Coast SUNS, kicking seven goals, including his landmark major in the second quarter.
The skipper shone in a lacklustre contest that was effectively over at half-time with the Saints leading by 42 points.
It was the second thrashing St Kilda have given the SUNS this season after the 92-point round-two hiding.
Riewoldt had 21 disposals and eight marks to go with his season-high goal tally.
Following quick goals at the start of the second quarter to SUNS Danny Stanley and Aaron Hall that reduced the margin to six points, St Kilda found another gear and never looked back.
The Saints kicked nine successive goals either side of half-time to extend the Suns' losing record at Metricon Stadium to 12 matches.
It was arguably their worst performance of the 0-11 season to date.
St Kilda's midfield was as ruthless as the Suns' was listless.
Queenslander David Armitage (27 disposals) enjoyed his return to the Sunshine State, Nick Dal Santo (25) shook the run-with role of Michael Rischitelli and Leigh Montagna (24), Lenny Hayes (23) and Jack Steven (21) were also prolific.
Sam Gilbert summed up the intensity of the Saints with his back-slamming tackle on Brandon Matera in the third quarter.
St Kilda dominated all aspects, winning the disposal count 398-305, the clearances 42-27 and the inside 50s, 65-31.
The only sour note for the victors was a head injury to small forward Aamed Saad who was stretchered off during the third term after a head clash with Josh Caddy.
He will be assessed in Melbourne upon St Kilda's return.
The SUNS also have an injury worry with Campbell Brown hobbling from the field in the second quarter and heading straight to the SUNS dressing-room.
He re-appeared on the bench after half-time in a leg brace.
ST KILDA 4.3 10.6 15.12 21.18 (144)
GOLD COAST 1.3 3.6 6.6 7.7 (49)
GOALS
St Kilda: Riewoldt 7, Koschitzke 3, Milne 2, Saad 2, Steven 2, Blake, Clarke, Dal Santo, Milera, Siposs
Gold Coast: Hickey 2, Brennan 2, Rischitelli, Stanley, Hall
BEST
St Kilda: Riewoldt, Hayes, Armitage, Gram, Steven, Blake, Goddard
Gold Coast: Iles, Hickey, Stanley, Brennan
INJURIES
St Kilda: Cripps replaced in selected side by Clarke; Ray replaced in selected side by Schneider; Saad (head)
Gold Coast: Brown (cork)
SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Adam Schneider replaced Ahmed Saad in the third quarter
Gold Coast: Matt Shaw replaced Campbell Brown in the second quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Hay, Findlay, Jeffery
Official crowd: 12,534 at Metricon Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
