Where has this form been for the Saints?
What happens to Carlton when they have their future in their own hands?
Each and every week, we explore the Big Questions at The Mongrel, and this week is no different.
St Kilda have finished the season like the team they threatened to be last year. Powerful, resolute, with a strong chin and able to take a hit.
Carlton have finished the season like the team that tumbled out of finals a couple of years ago. Mentally weak. Fragile. Fraudulent.
A pulsating last quarter saw the Blues throw everything at the Saints, but the men in red, white, and black stood up. With five minutes remaining, I said to my fellow Mongrels that St Kilda needed someone to stand up – just one player to make a name for themselves, but I was not sure who it could be. I mean, Carlton had the stars, right? They had Cripps, who was crashing and bashing through packs all game. They also had Sam Walsh, and all we heard of all game was his aerobic ability and how well he’d run out the game.
Not much was said about the Saints – it was almost expected that they’d roll over. It was expected that they’d capitulate, and the game would be Carlton’s to lose.
But that didn’t happen.
Some will say the Blues choked. Some will say they’re making a habit of doing it. But that would not be giving St Kilda the credit they deserve. And they deserve plenty from this game. This was Saints Footy the way the club should have been playing all season, and this is the type of win you take from 2024 and use to build into 2025.
And I reckon the Saints will be something to contend with in 2025.
Let’s jump into The Mongrel’s Quarter-By-Quarter wrap
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