St Kilda beat Brisbane Lions by 58 to end AFL season on a high Posted 35 minutes ago
A Nick Riewoldt masterclass has seen St Kilda finish its 2016 AFL season on a high, defeating Brisbane by 58 points at Docklands Stadium.
Riewoldt took his usual aerial dominance to the next level on Sunday, kicking nine goals as the Saints blew Brisbane away in a 25.11 (161) to 15.13 (103) victory.
The veteran skipper took a season-high 21 marks and equalled his career-best goal haul, transforming the near-meaningless match to a spectacle.
Despite the size of the defeat, the Lions avoided the wooden spoon after tallying a decent score of their own.
Brisbane started the day just half a percentage point above bottom-placed Essendon, whose defeat of Carlton on Saturday had put last place — and the selection of the coveted number one draft pick — in doubt.
Riewoldt's seventh goal had the Lions in last place on the live ladder, but late goals to Brisbane meant the AFL strugglers in fact improved their percentage.
In a half-time huddle positioned within earshot of the travelling cheer squad, Brisbane captain Tom Rockliff (37 disposals) delivered an impassioned plea to his team-mates, pointing to his shirt and retiring 200-gamer Daniel Merrett.
The bruising defender enjoyed the Lions' best moment of the day, kicking a goal that every Brisbane player on the ground saluted.
But St Kilda had too many routes to goal for Brisbane, finishing with 11 goal-kickers and their biggest score of the year.
Jack Lonie and Josh Bruce joined in the romp with three goals apiece, while David Armitage gathered 30 touches in game 150.
The Saints will be pleased with a 12-10 season — their first positive return in four years — but they will also wonder what might have been.
AFL Ladder
| W | L | % | P | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | 17 | 5 | 151.2 | 68 |
| 2 |  | 17 | 5 | 143.8 | 68 |
| 3 |  | 16 | 6 | 143.1 | 64 |
| 4 |  | 16 | 6 | 138.3 | 64 |
| 5 |  | 16 | 6 | 130 | 64 |
| 6 |  | 16 | 5 | 119.7 | 64* |
| 7 |  | 15 | 6 | 117.4 | 60* |
| 8 |  | 12 | 9 | 105.2 | 48 |
| 9 |  | 12 | 10 | 95.7 | 48 |
| 10 |  | 10 | 12 | 106 | 40 |
| 11 |  | 9 | 12 | 97.6 | 40 |
| 12 |  | 9 | 12 | 95.4 | 36* |
| 13 |  | 8 | 13 | 79.5 | 32 |
| 14 |  | 7 | 14 | 79.3 | 28 |
| 15 |  | 6 | 15 | 78.4 | 24 |
| 16 |  | 3 | 18 | 72.7 | 12* |
| 17 |  | 3 | 19 | 61.6 | 12 |
| 18 |  | 3 | 19 | 61 | 12 |
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