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WHEN St Kilda full forward Tom Lee slotted the first goal of this match, there was the whiff of an upset in the air.
When the Saints did as they pleased for the next 45 minutes, opening up an eight-goal-to-nil lead, there was the dodgy odour of a Fremantle team not giving its all.
| 4.4 (28) | Q1 | 0.0 (0) |
| 9.6 (60) | Q2 | 4.3 (27) |
| 12.9 (81) | Q3 | 5.5 (35) |
| 16.16 (112) | Q4 | 6.5 (41) |
| Thomas Lee 3 | Matthew De Boer 1 |
| Stephen Milne 2 | Hayden Crozier 1 |
| Leigh Montagna 2 | Jack Hannath 1 |
| Nick Riewoldt 2 | Matthew Pavlich 1 |
| Jason Blake 1 | Joshua Simpson 1 |
| Thomas Curren 1 | Matthew Taberner 1 |
| Lenny Hayes 1 | |
| Tom Ledger 1 | |
| Ben McEvoy 1 | |
| Seb Ross 1 | |
| Jack Steven 1 | |
But make no mistake, as the game wore on it became clear that what we were smelling was a party
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It is rare that circumstances conspire and allow you to witness an on-field celebration unfolding during a game of AFL football. But after half time, as it became clear that the result was not in doubt, this match became all about a send off for retiring champions Stephen Milne, Justin Koschitzke and Jason Blake.
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St Kilda coach Scott Watters spoke of how the trio ''have been incredible servants of the club'' and that this match signified a figurative ''passing of the baton'' from the old guard to the new brigade.
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The coach revealed there was considerable emotion in the rooms before the game, but added: ''You can't sweep it under the carpet, you've got to acknowledge that it's there. We know it's going to make some impact, we've just to ensure it's a positive one.''
And so it proved.
All three -- as well as 200-gamer Adam Schneider -- made useful contributions.
Milne was the most influential early. His first touch, within seconds of the opening bounce, was roundly cheered despite coming in the unfamiliar territory of a back flank.
When his direct opponent, Clancee Pearce, was subbed off with a calf injury just four minutes into the match, it seemed this might be his day. He did get numerous chances to goal, but was strangely wasteful.
The best effort came midway through the third term when he crumbed the ball from and Adam Schneider leap and slotted the snap, raising both arms in celebration before being swamped by teammates.
Blake, as had been his lot for the past 218 games, was the most understated but dependable of the three players.
For one of the few times in his career he lined up on a man with less career Brownlow votes than him, fourth-gamer Matt Taberner.
As the match wore on he became more and more of a presence marking balls across half back. With about five minutes remaining in the match, teammate Sam Gilbert ran down the backline and signalled for his to move forward.
He promptly demanded the ball on the lead, and moments later kicked a goal that gave him a rare chance to be the centre of attention. He even managed a fist pump for the crowd.
Koschitzke, the sentimental favourite, started on the bench with the green subs vest on. At one point late in the third term he removed the vest expecting to come on for Tom Hickey, and was roundly cheered for completing a run through along the boundary.
Alas he had to put it back on because Dylan Roberton went down injured and needed to be assessed.
When he did come on it was lucky that the match was played with the Etihad Stadium roof open, because it was have been blown off by the ovation.
The last quarter became largely an exercise in kick it to Kosi, even at times when he was outnumbered. The fairy-tale ending seemed complete when he took a powerful grab from a Leigh Montagna pass and went back and slotted the shot from 45 metres.
Every teammate surrounded him and the crowd cheered for close to a minute, however as the ball was about to be bounced the umpires called for a goal review, which showed the ball had clipped the post.
This was the romance, but the driving force for the win was provided in the midfield. Jack Steven capped off what may well be a best-and-fairest season with a club record 47 possessions, a mark equalled in this match by Montagna.
Early in the match Nick Dal Santo did as he pleased across half back, gathering 14 damaging disposals in the first quarter alone, until Alex Forster applied a tag late in the match.
Fremantle, on the other hand, would have struggled to find a player who had the better of his man. The Dockers did not have their first realistic chance to score until the 22-minute mark, but first-gamer Josh Simpson sprayed the shot out of bounds on the full.
Their first point came midway through the second quarter, their first goal not until Jack Hannath plucked a contested mark 45 metres out just before half time.
At times Fremanlte produced about as much pressure as a two-week old party balloon.
Regardless of what Fremantle coach Ross Lyon was attempting to achieve by making 12 changes at the selection table, the insipid performance that the Dockers produced here may yet backfire.
The farcical Fremantle effort may have actually played the Dockers team and several individuals out of form going into the finals.
The great wonder is that Lyon didn't hand over the white board to assistant coach Peter Sumich and stay back in Perth to freshen up for the finals.
