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Reimagine Moorabbin
- Aug 17, 2015
- 45,306
- 127,286
- AFL Club
- St Kilda
- Other Teams
- Phi Eagles & Phillies, Liverpool, PAO FC
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Preview
Geelong v St.Kilda
St.Kilda fell to 6-9 on the season after another poor performance on Sunday against North Melbourne. After trailing by as much as 46 points early in the second term, the Saints staged a fightback to cut the margin to 11 before the Kangaroos ran away with it after half time.
Geelong have been head and shoulders above everyone in the competition this season, however had a slight slip up last Saturday night against a much improved Western Bulldogs outfit, with the Cats eager to return to the winners list when they face St.Kilda at home on Saturday night.
Let’s have a look at possible best 22s:
St.Kilda Best 22
B: Nick Coffield, Nathan Brown, Shane Savage
HB: Callum Wilkie, Jake Carlisle, Hunter Clark
C: Jack Billings, Sebastian Ross, Jack Newnes
HF: Nick Hind, Josh Bruce, Jack Sinclair
F: Jack Lonie, Tim Membrey, Ben Long
Foll: Rowan Marshall, Jade Gresham, Jack Steele
I/C: Luke Dunstan, Blake Acres, Ben Paton, Matthew Parker
Geelong Best 22
B: Zach Tuohy, Jake Kolodjashnij, Gary Rohan
HB: Jack Henry, Harry Taylor, Tom Stewart
C: Patrick Dangerfield, Tim Kelly, Mitch Duncan
HF: Luke Dahlhaus, Rhys Stanley, Tom Hawkins
F: Gary Ablett, Mark O'Connor, Tom Atkins
Foll: Mark Blicavs, Jordan Clark, Joel Selwood
I/C: Lachie Fogarty, Jed Bews, Cameron Guthrie, Gryan Miers
Medical Room
St Kilda's Josh Battle limped from the field just a few minutes into the first quarter with an adductor complaint and played no further part in the game..
For Geelong, defender Jake Kolodjashnij suffered a head knock in the first quarter and was ruled out of the rest of the game with concussion. Brandan Parfitt was rested and replaced in the starting line up by Gary Rohan.
Preview
St.Kilda were looking to keep pace with those above them in the race for the top eight after last weekends brave but ultimately disappointing loss against Richmond. A spate of injury and poor form had the Saints sitting 6-8 heading into the game against North Melbourne last Sunday, and after a lacklustre first quarter, St.Kilda could never get back in the game - the 39 point loss sees them slip to 6-9 and 15th place on the AFL ladder after 16 rounds. Pressure continues to mount on senior coach Alan Richardson as the target of finals seems incredibly unlikely.
In what was another incredibly disappointing day, key forward Josh Bruce got back to some of his best form, kicking a career high six goals from 17 possessions and 7 marks to be voted as the Saints best for the day.
Other notable performances included star midfielder Jack Billings (celebrating his 100th AFL game with 35 disposals to go along with 5 marks and 6 tackles), tagger Jack Steele (18 disposals, 5 marks and a club record 18 tackles), ruckman Rowan Marshall (20 disposals, 31 hit-outs, 6 tackles and a goal) and inside midfielder Luke Dunstan (27 touches, 6 marks and 9 tackles).
Geelong have been humming all year, and have been one of the best teams of 2019 - evidenced by almost all year sitting in pole position with a very healthy 12-3 record after 16 rounds - having beaten Collingwood, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hawthorn, West Coast, Essendon, North Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast, Sydney, Richmond and Adelaide, showing why they are premiership favourites. Their only losses coming against GWS, Port Adelaide and last Saturday night against the Western Bulldogs.
In a frustrating night for the Cats, there were some positives - including top performers Patrick Dangerfield (23 disposals, 6 marks, 7 tackles & 2 goals), Tom Stewart (24 possessions, 10 marks & 3 tackles) and Irishman Zach Tuohy (30 touches & 6 marks).
Potential changes
Exciting small forward Jack Lonie looks set to return to the senior side after three goals in the VFL on the weekend, following an extended stint on the sidelines with a knee injury sustained against Adelaide earlier in the year..
Other notable inclusions could be Jimmy Webster & Nathan Brown.
Key Match-Ups
Tom Hawkins
Hawkins has had a terrific season for the top of the table Cats, kicking 39 goals to sit second in the race for the Coleman medal. With St.Kilda having to replace Josh Battle due to injury, it will take a real team effort to stop Hawkins influence on Saturday night.
Patrick Dangerfield
Very obvious choice here, the former Brownlow medallist was best on ground for Geelong last weekend with 23 disposals, 6 marks, 7 tackles and 2 goals. One would expect tagging midfielder Jack Steele to have the match-up here, and after 18 tackles of his own last weekend it will take a similar effort to keep Dangerfield out of the game.
Tip
St.Kilda's year has quickly unravelled after a spate of injuries and poor form during the middle stages of the year. With Geelong coming off a tough loss against the Western Bulldogs last weekend, coupled by the fact they're clearly one of the top two sides in the competition, I can't see the Saints causing an upset on Saturday night. Geelong will be far too strong.
Cats by 56 points.
Thoughts?
