St Kilda’s charge towards a maiden AFLW finals appearance has continued after they comfortably defeated struggling GWS by 13 points at Moorabbin.
The Saints coughed up the first goal of the match on Saturday, but responded emphatically with six of the next seven, including pairs to Jesse Wardlaw and Ashleigh Richards to open up a game-high 29-point lead early in the third quarter.
The Giants kept fighting until the end with three of the last four majors but it ultimately proved too big a hole for them to climb out of, going down 7.6 (48) to 5.5 (35).
"I thought we were relatively consistent today," St Kilda coach Nick Dal Santo said.
"We’ve focused heavily on giving ourselves opportunities together that we desire, areas of growth for individuals - more importantly as a collective.
"So we are continuing to grow and build."
After a slow start to life as a Saint, Wardlaw continued her resurgence with 13 touches (11 contested), two goals and 14 hitouts, while Tyanna Smith was also impressive with 17 disposals, eight tackles, six clearances and a goal.
For GWS, youngster Zarlie Goldsworthy again showed why she is going to be a star of the future with 18 possessions, nine tackles and two goals, and she was well supported by Alyce Parker who registered 24 touches (14 contested), eight tackles and a goal.
St Kilda's pressure was hot early but despite helping themselves to 14 of the first 17 inside 50s, and the last six shots on goal of the opening term, their dominance only yielded a nine-point lead at quarter time.
However, the hosts started to get more reward in the second period and after Goldsworthy kicked the opening goal of the game the Saints hit back with four of the next five to lead by 17 points at halftime.
The Giants (1-6) couldn’t capitalise on the strong breeze at their backs in the second stanza, struggling to cope with St Kilda’s overwhelming first-half superiority in the clearances (20-10) and forward entries (26-7).
GWS coach Cam Bernasconi said his players were "flat" after what he described as a "tough loss".
"St Kilda just adapted to the conditions," he added.
"It’s pretty windy rough conditions to play in today and I think St Kilda’s ability to just not overuse the ball and play a territory battle, especially in the first half, allowed them to get scoreboard pressure and to hold on.
"Pretty frustrated with how we didn’t adapt fast enough to what the game was giving us."
After losing their first three games of the season, the result extended the Saints’ club-record winning streak to four games, and provisionally saw them enter the top eight. They will stay there by the end of the round if results go their way.
St Kilda will probably need to win at least two of their last three games to make the finals, and with fellow top-eight aspirants Fremantle and Carlton still to come, as well as premiership contenders the Brisbane Lions, they still have the task ahead of themselves.
