Saints looks the goods against Blues

Carlton has won its past two against West Coast and Brisbane to move to fourth spot on the AFL ladder with a 6-5 win-loss record.

St Kilda remains on top of the ladder undefeated after recording a come-from-behind 46-point win over North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium last Saturday.

MEDICAL ROOM: Carlton will be without Simon Wiggins (hamstring) for at least another week while ruckmen Robbie Warnock and Sam Jacobs, who both have foot injuries, are two and four weeks away respectively. Andrew Walker is a chance to return from a shoulder injury in round 18 while utility Jarrad Waite (knee) will miss the remainder of the year. For the Saints, Sam Gilbert and small forward Stephen Milne return from ankle and knee injuries respectively but Jarryd Allen (hip) remains on the sidelines while Xavier Clarke (knee) is out for the season.

KEY MATCH-UPS:
Clinton Jones vs. Chris Judd
Judd was one of his side’s best against the Lions with a team-high 28 possessions, one goal and seven inside 50’s.

The 2004 Brownlow medallist is damaging with his ability to win the football at close quarters, break the lines and deliver it cleanly inside 50.

Limiting his influence in the middle will be a key for St Kilda if they are going to contain a Carlton side that has the fourth most potent forward line in the competition.

Jones has claimed some big scalps so far this season and will be given the task of tagging Judd in what shapes as being a pivotal duel in determining the outcome of this match.

St Kilda will need Jones to deny Judd any time or space at the stoppages otherwise he will continually win the football in close and help get his side’s running game going.

Jones, who has averaged just under 19 disposals per game in 2009, will also need to be proactive and win his fair share of the football in order to make Judd accountable otherwise the former West Coast skipper will be able to dictate terms and dominate.

Aaron Joseph vs. Nick Dal Santo
Dal Santo continued his brilliant start to the season with 26 disposals, one goal and six inside 50’s against North Melbourne.

The 25-year-old has continually set up scoring opportunities for his teammates in 2009 with his clean use of the football.

If the Blues are going to have any hope of quelling the influence of St Kilda’s twin towers in Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke they will need to keep Dal Santo quiet.

Expect Joseph, who more than held his own against West Coast star Daniel Kerr before keeping Brisbane’s Rhan Hooper to just four possessions last Saturday night, to be given the job of running with Dal Santo.

Joseph is a traditional tagger in the sense that he isn’t overly concerned with winning the football so the Saints will need to block for Dal Santo if he is going to have any hope of breaking what is likely to be a tight tag.

Max Hudghton vs. Brendan Fevola
Fevola starred against Brisbane, booting eight goals to help lift his side to a valuable six-point victory.

The enigmatic forward has booted 14 goals in his past two matches and the Blues will need him to fire once again on Friday night if they are going to have any chance of recording a rare win against St Kilda.

Hudghton has performed well on Fevola in the past and will be given first crack at the Carlton star again on Friday night.

If Fevola is going to have any hope of winning his duel with Hudghton he will need his teammates to move the football quickly through the corridor otherwise the Saints will be able to push numbers back and continually rebound the football out of defensive 50.

Michael Jamison vs. Justin Koschitzke
Koschitzke played a key role in the win over the Kangaroos, booting a career-best six goals.

The 129-gamer has now kicked 27 goals in 10 games and could well kick yet another bag against a relatively inexperienced Carlton backline.

Jamison, who is usually given a job on one of the opposition’s most dangerous key forwards, has shown some promising signs in his 30-game career and looms as the obvious candidate to line-up on Koschitzke.

The 22-year-old will need his midfield to get on top at the stoppages and also apply relentless pressure when they don’t have the football otherwise Koschitzke will receive enough quality supply to have a meaningful impact.

VERDICT: Carlton has the class in the midfield to match St Kilda and if they break even in the middle they are a chance of causing an upset. The Blues will enjoy brief periods of dominance but the ladder leaders simply have too many in-form players for Brett Ratten’s men to contain and should get up with their multiple avenues to goal likely to be the difference in what shapes as being an engrossing contest.

Saints by 17 points.

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