The inability of the West Coast Eagles to sustain effort and method for four quarters again proved decisive in a 28-point loss to St Kilda at Optus Stadium today.

While it was a tense arm wrestle for most of the match, a seven-goal surge from the Saints in the second term  - including two goals in the last minute – proved decisive in their 14.6 (90) to 10.2 (62).

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 24: Rhett Bazzo of the Eagles handballs during the round 19 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the St Kilda Saints at Optus Stadium on July 24, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

The Eagles hung in the battle but were not clean enough and struggled to get enough presence around the ball. Despite all of that the inside 50 count was just a slight advantage to the Saints – 52-47 where they were well led by captain Jack Steele.

Dan Butler was a constant menace up forward while the Eagles had moments inside the forward arc as the ball movement into the attacking zone was again hap-hazard. Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy were dangerous when given reasonable service but too much scrambled ball was seen inside the arc.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 24: Josh Rotham of the Eagles celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2022 AFL Round 19 match between the West Coast Eagles and the St Kilda Saints at Optus Stadium on July 24, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos)

The defensive unit, again well led by Tom Barrass, held up under pressure is the Eagles remained a live chance of winning until the last five minutes when the Saints broke the game open.

Barrass, Jamaine Jones, who provided aggressive run off half-back, and Liam Duggan worked hard behind the ball while Jai Culley was again a positive through the midfield and captain Luke Shuey did everything he could to lift his team over the line.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 24: Luke Shuey of the Eagles tackles Rowan Marshall of the Saints during the round 19 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the St Kilda Saints at Optus Stadium on July 24, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

The Eagles went in with regular defender Josh Rotham deployed as the support ruckman to Bailey Williams and the tactic was successful with Rotham kicking two goals – the first of his AFL career.

The 24-year-old Rotham had to wait 43 games to hit the scoreboard while Culley kicked his first, in his second game, from a set shot deep in the last quarter. After taking a mark about 35 metres from goal he cramped badly in a calf but was still able to convert.

After St Kilda posted the first two goals of the match the Eagles responded to lead b y five points at the first change. Once the Saints grabbed the initiative in the middle of the second term, however. the Eagles never again held the advantage.

St Kilda                              2.2         9.5         10.5       14.6       90
West Coast Eagles           3.1         7.1         9.2        10.2       62
Goals – St Kilda: Butler 5; Higgins, King, Membrey 2; Wood, Crouch, Long. West Coast Eagles: Darling, Kennedy, Rotham 2; Waterman, Culley, Ryan, Williams.
Best – St Kilda: Steele, Butler, Windhager, Ross, Crouch, Sinclair. West Coast Eagles: Barrass, Jones, Culley, Rotham, Duggan, Shuey.
Injuries – West Coast Eagles: Nil               St Kilda: Billings (calf) replaced by Long in the first quarter.