AFL round eight 2026, scores, results, odds, stats and start time from Marvel Stadium in Melbourne
Taunts came thick and fast at Jack Silvagni and Tom De Koning from spurned Carlton fans, but the pair had the last laugh at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night as St Kilda cruised to a 39-point victory.
More pressure was placed on Blues coach Michael Voss after a 42-point comeback in the third term; The Blues turned a two-goal lead into a five-goal lead in the final half and eventually conceded 12 of the last 14 goals of the night.
It was a game in which the Blues have lost for the fifth time in six this season after leading at the main break.
Fox Footy analyst David King ripped the Blues apart, specifically targeting midfielders Patrick Cripps, Adam Cerra and Sam Walsh.
“There is a distinct lack of leadership,” King said.
“Well, we didn’t even see Cripps take a single shot. Cerra turned it around in the quarter, Walsh’s management was disgraceful.”
King later added: “The midfield was attacked for 30 minutes. [the Blues] Losing control in games is scary. Whatever it is, they lose faith in their own model at halftime.”
Voss, whose contract expires at the end of the season, faces a huge struggle to save his job.
Cripps was a shadow of his once great self; Cerra and Walsh, however, were busy in the first half before their impact came to nothing.
While the defeat left the Blues with just one win left, the Saints, who spent the half-time under the leadership of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, had a great month, winning three matches and their only defeat was by one point. They are taking a determined place in the final fight.
What made this conflict particularly spicy was the background. Of course, this focused on new Saints De Koning and Silvagni facing their former clubs for the first time following their high-profile off-season departures.
De Koning packed up and left, tempted by a multi-year deal worth about $12 million; Silvagni, a third-generation descendant of the Carlton royal family, also received an interesting offer while he was an unrestricted free agent.
Voss said before the match that he did not know what his men had prepared for their former team-mate. This became clear when there was no opposition ahead of the opening ball or when De Koning scored the first-term goal. If the Blues wanted, they could have lit a “fire in place” with De Koning. Instead, the defenders rallied as a group eager to move forward.
De Koning had started the match by winning the opening kick against Marc Pittonet. His athleticism was on display all night. Silvagni was consistent defensively and spent time with Mitch McGovern and Brodie Kemp.
There was a bizarre moment early on when Silvagni marked the defensive 50, only to kick at former teammate Matt Carroll on the wing, who then passed the ball straight back to Silvagni, prompting further booing from the Blues fans.
In the end it didn’t matter because the focus shifted back to how pathetic the Blues were.
Their frustration was made even more apparent when youngster Harry Dean nudged Liam Henry towards goal and dangerously pushed him onto his back. Henry LED slipped on the blitz, Wanganeen-Milera contested Dean, Dean paid a free kick against Dean and gifted Henry back-to-back goals in the blink of an eye.
Saints were forced to make two late changes, including the absence of small forward Higgins, but they still produced some expansive football. The Saints dominated the Blues in turnover, with Brad Hill, Mason Wood and Jack Sinclair providing runs and drives, while Rowan Marshall was excellent going forward.
The Saints have scored at least 100 points four times this season, having done so only once last year.
Ollie Florent and Nic Newman found plenty of possession, while Brodie Kemp was prolific in attack with 50 points, but the Blues’ efforts after half-time will be ruthlessly analysed.
