Teague said he did not have any inclination about what had been documented in the wide-ranging,externally-conducted report into the club’s football department,which is likely to have a major impact on his future.
The Blues were able to rebound froma stinging loss to the bottom-placed North Melbourne by scoring 112 points against the Saints,their second-highest score of the season,at a season-high 77 per cent scoring accuracy,and their third-best pressure count of 194. The latter was the result of a robust one-on-one defence,an area the Blues have repeatedly struggled in this year.
This victory ensures they remain an outside chance of making the finals with three matches remaining.
Teague praised the undersized Jack Silvagni,who was forced to ruck for three quarters after a pectoral injury to Tom De Koning. While Saints talls Rowan Marshall and Paul Hunter dominated the hit outs,Silvagni had 25 disposals and was influential around the ground.
Harry McKay,returning from a toe injury,booted five goals and stretched his lead in the Coleman Medal race.
Charlie Curnow booted a 55-metre goal with his first touch in a senior game in more than two years and finished with eight disposals. Importantly,he emerged unscathed after repeated knee issues.
“It was great to see him out there,even late he was rallying the group,” Teague said.
Sam Walsh was superb with 26 disposals - he has been the No.1 rated player over the past month - and strengthened his claims for the Brownlow Medal. He later said last week’s loss to the Kangaroos had been “pretty shocking”.
The Blues now prepare to face the Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium next Saturday.
Saints great Nick Riewoldt maintained there is a “fragility” within his former team,on a night their ball use was poor.
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“We were into the low 60 (per cent),that is not good enough,” coach Brett Ratten said,adding the dominance his rucks had through the hit outs was not reflected in the clearances.
Hunter Clark,in his first match back since breaking his jaw in a clash with Adelaide’s David Mackay,had a head clash with Matthew Owies in the final term and finished on the bench with concussion. Teammates rallied around him after the match.
Paddy Ryder (Achilles soreness) was a late withdrawal,while Dougal Howard (hamstring) will miss at least a fortnight.
The Saints would have been in the top eight - at least for a night - had they won,but now must win their final three matches to have any chance of returning to September action.
“The stakes for us were a lot higher and we didn’t deliver,” Ratten said.
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