St Kilda v West Coast - Teams

[Kildonan]

ST KILDA v WEST COAST
Friday, 7:40pm AEST, Telstra Dome

ST KILDA
B: Baker, Hudghton, L.Fisher
HB: S.Fisher, Maguire, Gram
C: Dal Santo, Ball, Peckett
HF: Powell, Riewoldt, Montagna
F: Voss, Gehrig, Milne
FOLL: Ackland, Goddard, Harvey
I/C: Blake, Fiora, Gwilt, Thompson
EMG: Gilbert, McQualter, Rix
IN: Gwilt
OUT: McQualter

WEST COAST
B: Chick, Glass, Wirrpanda
HB: Waters, Graham, Selwood
C: A.Embley, Cousins, Braun
HF: Fletcher, Hansen, Stenglein
F: Armstrong, Lynch, Sampi
FOLL: Seaby, Judd, Kerr
I/C: Banfield, Butler, R.Jones, Staker
EMG: B.Jones, Morton, Rosa
IN: A.Embley, Fletcher
OUT: B.Jones, Morton

Field umpires: Rosebury, Allen, Ryan

 

[Kildonan]

Match Preview

St Kilda v West Coast
3 August 2006
Nick Hulett
saints.com.au

Round 18 2006 St Kilda v West Coast
Friday August 4, Telstra Dome at 7.40pm (EST)

Head to head: St Kilda 12, West Coast 17, Drawn 1

Current standings: St Kilda (4th - 11 wins, 6 losses, 122.5%), West Coast (2nd – 13 wins, 4 losses, 115.21%)

Last time: Round 1, 2006
West Coast 11.18 (84) d St Kilda 9.12 (66)
On a warm Thursday evening in the season opener at Subiaco, the Saints started well, but inaccuracy cost the side dearly in the first half and the Eagles went to the main break with a 15-point lead. The second half was fairly even and although the Eagles’ own poor kicking meant they didn’t register a goal in the final term, the Saints couldn’t bridge the gap and went down by 18 points. Lenny Hayes and Robert Harvey were excellent in the midfield and Nick Riewoldt worked hard, while Andrew Embley and Daniel Kerr played well, and ruckman Dean Cox was best afield.

The match
Easily the biggest match of St Kilda’s season thus far looms with the second-placed Eagles travelling to Melbourne for Friday night’s blockbuster encounter at the Telstra Dome.

Rarely do two teams go in to a contest with so much at stake and with both in such stellar form.

The Saints, of course, are coming off a stunning 103-point demolition of the hapless Tigers that made it five triumphs on the trot, while West Coast completed possibly the most comprehensive victory of any team this season when it smashed the seemingly unconquerable Crows by 82 points.

Of the Saints’ five-straight wins, only one has been against a top-eight team (Collingwood), so this week presents the perfect opportunity to take down a quality side.

A win to St Kilda will consolidate a top-four spot after the club jumped ahead of Collingwood into fourth spot last week due to a hefty percentage boost. The Eagles, meanwhile, have Melbourne breathing down their necks for the coveted second spot and a home final in the first week, a position the Saints are also not writing off.

What’s more, this is St Kilda’s final home game of season 2006, despite two more matches to come at Telstra Dome, and never will a bigger or more crucial home-and-away match take place in front of a national audience on a Friday night.

While the St Kilda forwards have been on song and the defence continues to disallow any easy goals, it will be in the midfield where the Saints will be truly tested.

Skipper Luke Ball, who came back into some excellent form against the Tigers, will go into battle with Nick Dal Santo, who is due for a big one, the incredible Robert Harvey, the much-improved Brendon Goddard, and veterans Andrew Thompson, Stephen Powell and Steven Baker.

At the time of writing a decision was yet to be made on Steven Baker’s appeal against his two-match ban for his apparent high contact, low impact attempted strike, something that doesn’t seem possible, so hopefully Bakes will be right to take on Eagles skipper Chris Judd.

West Coast boasts the deepest and most talented midfield in the league, with Judd assisted by Ben Cousins, Daniel Kerr, Chad Fletcher (back from injury), Michael Braun, Tyson Stenglein and Adam Selwood. The Eagles will, however, be without one of their biggest weapons in ruckman Dean Cox, who is still recovering from a broken collarbone, so Cain Ackland and Jason Blake will be up against Mark Seaby.

The Eagles looked awesome against the Crows, with their star-studded midfield leading the way, but the Saints appear to have a distinct advantage over their opponents at either end of the ground.

Fraser Gehrig played his best game for the season last week against the Tigers, leading and marking strongly, and kicking straight for ten big ones. His battle with the reliable Darren Glass could go a long way to deciding the outcome of the match.

Nick Riewoldt’s fine season continues with the big half forward proving too versatile for most opponents, as he can lead up the ground and take marks on the flanks, or haul in a contested grab closer to goal. The inexperienced, yet much-improved Jaymie Graham may well take the big number 12.

It will also be important for the Saints forwards Stephen Milne and Brett Voss to keep an eye on David Wirrpanda and Daniel Chick, who are able to repel forward thrusts as effectively as anyone.

St Kilda’s backmen have been equally as damaging in rebounding from the defensive 50, with Jason Gram’s game going to another level against the Tigers, and Leigh Montagna pushing back hard from his wing to run the ball out of defence. Last week these two players combined for seven goals, 62 possessions and countless bounces, and will again be crucial to the Saints’ chances.

On paper West Coast’s forward line is not overly imposing, yet with support from its midfield, manages to contribute to winning scores most weeks. Quinten Lynch is big and has a booming kick, yet tends to lead wide and with enough pressure is shaky overhead. Max Hudghton seems a good matchup, as he has the speed to go with Lynch and the experience and strength to nullify the Eagle in the air.

Centre half-forward Ashley Hansen recently returned from a stint in the WAFL and like Lynch, and even another Eagle forward in Brent Staker, leads hard and wide and doesn’t take a whole lot of contested marks, a strategy that works well on the vast expanses of Subiaco Oval, but up against the might of Matt Maguire, who could go to Hansen, and Sam Fisher, who’ll take Staker, the Saints have the edge.

Rowan Jones is a versatile player capable of taking an overhead mark and kicking a crumbing goal, with Leigh Fisher a sound match up, while the dangerous and aerobically gifted Andrew Embley, if fit, will have to be watched closely, perhaps by Gram.

The Saints are flying, the whole football world is set to tune in, and this is the last chance Saints fans will have to get along to a home game this season before the finals.

A big occasion, a huge crowd, and just maybe a massive win.

Carn the Saints!

 

[bubblegoose]

ST KILDA v WEST COAST
Friday, 7:40pm AEST, Telstra Dome

ST KILDA
B: Baker, Hudghton, L.Fisher
HB: S.Fisher, Maguire, Gram
C: Dal Santo, Ball, Peckett
HF: Powell, Riewoldt, Montagna
F: Voss, Gehrig, Milne
FOLL: Ackland, Goddard, Harvey
I/C: Blake, Fiora, Gwilt, Thompson
EMG: Gilbert, McQualter, Rix
IN: Gwilt
OUT: McQualter

WEST COAST
B: Chick, Glass, Wirrpanda
HB: Waters, Graham, Selwood
C: A.Embley, Cousins, Braun
HF: Fletcher, Hansen, Stenglein
F: Armstrong, Lynch, Sampi
FOLL: Seaby, Judd, Kerr
I/C: Banfield, Butler, R.Jones, Staker
EMG: B.Jones, Morton, Rosa
IN: A.Embley, Fletcher
OUT: B.Jones, Morton

Field umpires: Rosebury, Allen, Ryan

Thanks StKildonan.

I reckon if the Eagles play without Cox, they'll play like girls ....

... boom boom!

 

[bluejay]

Thanks StKildonan.

I reckon if the Eagles play without Cox, they'll play like girls ....

... boom boom!

I'd like to, really, but I don't think so. I'm sure it's going to be a great game, very close and disputed and I hope we end up winning it.

 

[bubblegoose]

I'd like to, really, but I don't think so. I'm sure it's going to be a great game, very close and disputed and I hope we end up winning it.

Same here BJ. Just my poor attempt at being funny.

 

[PHX]

Saint Sam's big chance
August 4, 2006

ST KILDA has added defender Sam Gilbert to its team for tonight's match with West Coast Eagles at Telstra Dome.



He replaces tagger Steven Baker, who last night failed in an appeal against a two-match suspension.

James Gwilt also comes in for his first game of the season, with Andrew McQualter the other player omitted.

West Coast has regained midfield players Andrew Embley and Chad Fletcher after hamstring injuries, but has decided against recalling ruckman Dean Cox.


Advertisement:

Coach Jon Worsfold said the club wants to be cautious and give him an extra week before he returns after a broken collarbone.

AAP

 

[sainter]

Big night for the kid.

I guess the likes of Riewoldt, Dal Santo, Kosi, Ball and the other players in their early 20's got to start their careers in a poor team and we don't have that luxury at the moment.

I've liked what I've seen of him so far. His only other game was against Carlton so at the very least he'll get a chance to see what league footy is about.