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AFL: Saints get the spoon

Aug 31, 2014

St Kilda great Lenny Hayes set an AFL record but his struggling club collected the wooden spoon when trounced by 79 points by Adelaide on Sunday.

Hayes, in his last AFL game, broke the competition’s record for most tackles as the Crows posted a 22.9 (141) to 9.8 (62) win at Adelaide Oval.

Hayes surpassed the all-time record of Sydney’s Jude Bolton – the esteemed Saint laid 13 tackles for a career tally of 1496, six more than the ex-Swan.

While Hayes claimed a milestone, Adelaide backman Ben Rutten could end his career with a suspension.

Rutten, playing his last AFL game, felled Saint Adam Schneider with a right elbow to the head in a crude shepherd in the opening quarter.

The Crows end their season in 10th spot with 11 wins and 11 losses while the Saints, winners just four times, finish bottom for the first time since 2000.

After St Kilda kicked two of the initial three goals before a 44,969-strong crowd, Adelaide cracked the game open.

The Crows booted 11 of the next 12 goals en route to a resounding victory punctuated by a five-goal haul from livewire forward Eddie Betts.

Adelaide’s acting captain Rory Sloane was best afield with three goals and 30 disposals in his 100th AFL match while Taylor Walker also potted three majors.

Their teammates Brodie Smith (33 touches), Sam Jacobs (50 hit outs), Matthew Jaensch (27 possessions) and Patrick Dangerfield (25 disposals) were all prominent.

The Saints were overly reliant on midfielder Jack Stevens, who was their standout with 30 disposals.

Hayes gathered 21 disposals, while fellow onballer David Armitage was the visitor’s only multiple goalkicker with two majors. Defender Sam Fisher (28 possessions) battled gamely to try and stem Adelaide’s scoring tide.

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