Bye, oh bye
St Kilda won’t only be facing a red-hot Geelong outfit on Saturday night, the Saints are also up against a record that doesn’t bode well for teams coming off the bye. Of the nine games last year where teams fresh from the week off faced sides who played the previous week, only one team got the chocolates – Carlton over Port Adelaide. However, Adelaide quickly dispelled this myth last night when they comprehensively dispatched North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval. Geelong’s form over the last three weeks has seen them rocket to the top of the ladder, and the Cats’ boast an imposing record over St Kilda. Despite recording a draw in Round 21 last season, the Saints haven’t beaten Chris Scott’s side since the 2010 qualifying final, a winless streak that currently stands at six games.
Returning spearheads bolster Saints attack
The return of Nick Riewoldt and Paddy McCartin provides St Kilda’s attacking arsenal with some potent weapons. And the Saints will need them given the calibre of Geelong’s defence. Both Riewoldt and McCartin missed the 32-point over Carlton before the bye, having suffered minor injuries in the loss to Adelaide. In the pairs absence, mobile key forward Tim Membrey stood up against the Blues, booting an equal career-high five goals to pave the way to victory. With the Cats’ back six stacked full of premiership stars, including Harry Taylor, Corey Enright, Jimmy Bartel, Andrew Mackie and Tom Lonergan, as well as prized recruit Lachie Henderson, Geelong is ranked No. 2 in the AFL for points against at a stingy 72.4 points per game. Alan Richardson will be looking for an even spread in the forward half if the Saints are going to put a winning score past Geelong.
Can St Kilda nullify the influence of Dangerfield and Selwood?
The phenomenal form of Geelong superstars Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood has led the Cats away from a mid-season slump following losses to Collingwood and Carlton and into premiership favouritism. Dangerfield and Selwood’s form has been so good that both feature at the top of most bookmakers Brownlow medal odds, and both feature prominently in all media awards at this stage of the year. St Kilda’s engine room will face the gigantic task of quelling the pairs influence around the ball, which has led the Cats to be ranked No. 1 for inside 50 differential (+12.7), time in forward half differential (+10:02) and scores from clearances differential (+6.3). Dangerfield and Selwood sit atop the AFLCA player of the year prize on 66 and 60 votes respectively. With the game to be won in the midfield duel, it’s going to be a big night for Jack Steven, David Armitage and co.
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Ross and Webster reach the half century
2011 recruits Seb Ross (pick No. 25) and Jimmy Webster (No. 42) will reach the half century mark against Geelong on Saturday night, with the pair forming part of the wave of exciting youth coming through at Linen House Centre. Ross’ start to 2016 has been right out of the top drawer, with the budding midfielder becoming a crucial cog in the Saints engine room. After a false start last season, Ross has gone from strength to strength through the opening half of this year, averaging 26.6 possessions (No. 3 at St Kilda), 4.7 inside 50s and 4.2 clearances per game. His rise, along with the improvement of Tom Hickey, Jack Newnes and Luke Dunstan this season has boosted the midfield depth at St Kilda. Webster has followed up his 2015 campaign with further improvement this year. He reaches the 50-game mark having played ten of the first 12 games and according to Saints Coach Alan Richardson he has become a more trusted member of the back six.
Big job set for Delaney
With no Sam Fisher, no Sean Dempster, plus Hugh Goddard and Tom Lee out injured, key defender Luke Delaney will be handed the colossal task of manning powerhouse forward Tom Hawkins. The two-time premiership full forward returned from a one-game suspension last weekend and booted 4.0 against the Western Bulldogs to help steer the Cats to their third consecutive win. Despite playing just his first senior game of the year, and first since the middle of last year, against Carlton, Delaney has been in form at VFL level, and performed strongly on Mitch Clark the week before he was recalled to Alan Richardson’s 22. With the likes of Dylan Roberton, Sam Gilbert and Jimmy Webster around him, St Kilda will need to limit the amount of one-on-one contests.
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