St Kilda has all but ended North Melbourne’s 2010 finals hopes, beating the Kangaroos by 52 points in the Sunday twilight match at Etihad Stadium.
With Hawthorn defeating Melbourne earlier in the day, North Melbourne needed to win to keep their slim finals hopes alive, but the Kangaroos loss means they now sit a game and a half below eighth-placed Hawthorn, and are unlikely to feature in September.
In a match that never reached any great heights as a spectacle, St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt regained some of his best form, kicking seven goals and reasserting himself as the focal point of the St Kilda forward line.
In an ominous sign for opposition sides, Riewoldt attacked the ball at full pace for the first time since returning from a hamstring injury and looked confident his body could withstand the rigours of his physically demanding style of play.
In a scrappy first quarter, neither side was able to gain a decisive advantage. Both sides had chances to kick ahead with Riewoldt missing twice for the Saints, and Lachlan Hansen and Leigh Adams both missing set shots for goal in the first quarter for North Melbourne.
St Kilda went into the quarter time break seven points down, but a seven goal to one onslaught from the Saints in the second quarter proved the difference between the two sides.
Riewoldt marked strongly several times, setting up teammate Brett Peake for a goal, and kicking two goals of his own in the second term.
The Kangaroos managed just the one goal for the second term as the Saints dominated general play.
Andrew Swallow - who had the tagging job on Lenny Hayes for most of the day - had a kick for goal thirty metres out directly in front after the half-time siren which would have kept the Kangaroos within four goals. Swallow missed and the Saints took a 29 point lead into the half-time break.
The third quarter saw both sides exchange goals, before two quick goals from Sam Wright put the Kangaroos within four goals as they threatened to get back on level terms. The Saints were quick to reply, with Riewoldt kicking his sixth goal from a strong mark late in the third quarter, which extended the Saints lead to five goals at three quarter time.
The Saints kicked away in the final quarter, and following their win look certain to face Geelong in the first round of the finals in three weeks time.
The match featured plenty of skill errors from both sides, and although the result was never in doubt after half-time, the Saints will need to play considerably better if they are to challenge Collingwood and Geelong for the AFL premiership this year.
ST KILDA: 2.2, 9.4, 13.7, 17.13 (115)
NORTH MELBOURNE: 3.3, 4.5, 8.7, 9.9 (63)
GOALS: St Kilda: Riewoldt 7, Milne 2, Koschitzke 2, Eddy 2, Hayes, Schneider, Peake, Stanley
North Melbourne: Hansen 4, Wright 3, Edwards 2
BEST: St Kilda: Riewoldt, Hayes, Goddard, Gram, Gilbert
North Melbourne: Rawlings, Hansen, Thompson, Grima, Wright
INJURIES: St Kilda: Montagna (cut to eye)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
CROWD: 23,118 at Etihad Stadium