Saints v Bombers - snippets
Andrew Wu at Telstra Dome
TURNING POINT: Nick Riewoldt kicked a clutch goal 30 minutes into the third quarter which ended a run of six unanswered goals from Essendon. That allowed the Saints to carry a 23-point buffer into the final term.
STAR MAN: Lenny Hayes was very good all night, even during the third term when the Saints were under siege. He finished with 25 touches, seven clearances and nine hard-ball-gets.
WHAT A GOAL! Adam McPhee kicked what will be one of the goals of the season in the final quarter. With no handball options, McPhee, hemmed in on the boundary line, unloaded a checkside punt off one step from about 35 metres out. He could have a new car by season's end.
ABSOLUTE SHOCKER: Leigh Montagna's eyes lit up in the second term when Jason Laycock's laid a boundary hit-out straight into his path, allowing him to snap a classic rover's goal. If Laycock was a Saint it would have been textbook ruckwork.
UNSUNG HERO: The Saints were lambasted in the Melbourne press on Friday by Michael Voss for a lack of teamwork. But the former Brisbane premiership captain would have nodded his head in approval at Robert Harvey's shepherd in the final term which allowed Stephen Milne extra time to snap one from the boundary line.