Elimination Final, 2006
Melbourne vs St. Kilda
Friday 8 September
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 67,528
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 2.2 | 3.4 | 8.5 | 13.12.90 |
| St. Kilda | 5.4 | 6.6 | 9.8 | 10.12.72 |
Melbourne win by 18 points
Goalkickers: David Neitz 4, Brock McLean 2, Matthew Bate 1, Cameron Bruce 1, James McDonald 1, Brad Miller 1, Byron Pickett 1, Russell Robertson 1
Milestones:
Nil
The Demons lined up arm in arm for the national anthem, but as the ball bounced St. Kilda jumped out of the blocks better. In rainy conditions, Ben Holland matched up on the dangerous Fraser Gehrig, but the Saint spearhead had three goals in the first 16 minutes. Nathan Carroll moved onto him, and it was a Carroll tackle which later twisted Gehrig's ankle and forced him out of the match. The Saints were 27 points in front and Gehrig had marked well within his range, but he tried to run around Carroll on the mark when he could have had a set shot, and it was one of the turning points of the match.
St Kilda suffered a rash of injuries that left them with 18 fit men, but Melbourne also had issues. Jeff White was forced to ruck on his own for most of the game after Mark Jamar suffered a fractured right foot. Colin Sylvia began on Robert Harvey, but as Cameron Bruce was shifted onto him his influence was quelled - while Bruce's increased. Harvey battled injury, heavily collected in a marking contest by Nathan Carroll, but his side managed to weather the first storm to kick three straight goals in the third quarter to set up what might have been a match winning lead. Only two late goals by the Demons gave them any hope of victory.
Fifteen points down 13 minutes into the last term, Melbourne kicked the last five goals of the game to win. Aaron Davey had earlier been dragged for giving away two 50 metre penalties, but 16 minutes into the last quarter he set up David Neitz for the goal that put his side in front. Like Melbourne's finals win over St Kilda in 1998 caused the Saints to change their coaching, sacking Grant Thomas just days later.
Best were Brock McLean, Jeff White and Cameron Bruce. Matthew Whelan suffered an shoulder injury which ruled him out of the semi final against Fremantle. Jared Rivers was fined $900 for wrestling.
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Age - 08/09/2006, 09/09/2006