News & Events

28 June 2024

The Saints delivered a dominant performance under lights at Richard Guelfi Reserve, defeating Trinity Aquinas by a commanding 109 points to notch up their sixth consecutive win.

 

With a vocal crowd in attendance for Past Players Day, the Saints set the tone early with a blistering first quarter. Goals from Marcus Filocamo, James Spicer, Mitch Hunter and Jayden Cappeau saw Stirling kick four in the opening 10 minutes. Trinity Aquinas responded with a pair of majors, but back-to-back goals from Taylor Chircop extended Stirling’s lead to 25 points at quarter time.

 

Trinity threatened to rally in the second quarter, slotting two early goals, but Stirling’s defence held strong. Cappeau’s second goal in the dying moments of the half steadied the home side, who entered the main break 22 points ahead.

 

The third quarter proved decisive, with Stirling unleashing a seven-goal blitz. Highlights included a spectacular running goal from Sam Handcock, featuring a sequence of possessions starting deep in defence. Chircop added his third, while Hunter, Spicer, Lazic and Beurs also hit the scoreboard, as the Saints kept Trinity scoreless and blew the margin out to 68 points at the final change.

 

The Saints maintained their intensity in the final term. Mitch Hunter opened the quarter with his third, before Joel Julian and Jake Atkinson (three final-quarter goals) added to the rout. Callum Mitchell also chimed in, and Trinity again failed to register a score in the quarter.

 

Stirling’s 20.13 (133) to 4.0 (24) victory marked their highest score and biggest winning margin of the season.

 

Earlier in the day, the Thirds enjoyed a strong 59-point win over Ellenbrook. However, the Reserves suffered another narrow loss – their third in four weeks by under a goal – falling to Trinity Aquinas by just four points in Ben Mollett’s 300th game for the Club.

21 June 2024

In wet and blustery conditions at James Miller Oval, the Saints held their nerve in a hard-fought contest to defeat the Manning Rippers Lions by 10 points.  It is the Saints’ fifth win in a row – a feat the club hasn’t achieved since mid-2021.

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The wet and muddy conditions made clean possession and ball movement difficult early on, with both sides struggling to adapt. Despite dominating early territory and possession, the Saints didn’t register a goal until the 19-minute mark, when Marcus Filocamo slotted their first. Manning, against the run of play, had opened the scoring moments earlier. At the first break, Stirling held a narrow 3-point lead.

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The second quarter saw the Saints begin to find some rhythm. Mitch Hunter added a quick goal, and after Manning responded mid-way through the term, Jayden Cappeau sparked the Saints with two quick goals to push the margin to 16 points at halftime.

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Injuries began to test Stirling’s depth in the third quarter, as two midfielders were forced from the ground, limiting rotations. Manning capitalised with the only goal of the term, reducing the Saints’ lead to 11 points at the final change.

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Momentum swung dramatically in the fourth quarter. Manning kicked consecutive goals to hit the front for the first time at the nine-minute mark. Just when the game appeared to be slipping away, Jayden Cappeau stepped up once more, kicking his third to restore the Saints' lead.  Mitch Hunter then sealed the match with a remarkable dribble goal from the boundary, extending the lead to 10 points. The final minutes were tense and goalless, but Stirling’s defence held firm to secure a gritty 6.7 (43) to 5.3 (33) victory.

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Marcus Lazic and Marcus Filocamo both had their best games for the season to dominate the centre line, while Daniel Frost once again played a key role across half back. 

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Earlier in the day, the Reserves overcame a slow start to snap a six-game losing streak, recording an emphatic 55-point win. The Thirds had the bye.