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St Kilda maintained its unbeaten start to the season with a convincing victory over Collingwood at Etihad Stadium last Monday night. The 88-point win was their fourth in excess of 10 goals this season.
The Bombers have won four of their first seven matches. Essendon caused one of the biggest upsets of 2009 so far, downing reigning premiers Hawthorn by 44 points.
VENUE and TIME: Etihad Stadium, Sunday May 17, 4.40pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 200, St Kilda 62, Essendon 134, Draw 4
LAST TIME: St Kilda 21.21 (147) def Essendon 5.9 (39), Round 22 2008 at Etihad Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: St Kilda has won three of its past four against Essendon with two of those wins coming at Etihad Stadium.
MEDICAL ROOM: St Kilda welcomes back ruckman Steven King from a hamstring injury while defender Max Hudghton made his return from a calf injury via the VFL. For the Bombers, Hayden Skipworth will miss at least another week with a hamstring injury while veteran defender Dustin Fletcher (ankle) is out for another three weeks. Andrew Welsh (ankle) and Scott Gumbleton (back) are unavailable while ruckman David Hille (knee) is out for the remainder of the season. The Dons are unsure how many matches midfielder Mark McVeigh will miss after aggravating a pre-season ankle injury in round four.
Cale Hooker vs. Nick Riewoldt
Riewoldt continued his brilliant form with 17 possessions, 11 marks and five goals against the Magpies.
The last time these two sides met in round 22 last year Riewoldt was influential with 21 disposals, 11 marks and 4.5.
If the Bombers are going to claim their fourth major scalp of the season they will need to quell the influence of Riewoldt who is currently in All-Australian form.
Hooker kept Hawthorn forward Jarryd Roughead to just two goals last weekend and looms as the obvious candidate to match-up on the Saints skipper.
In the win over the Hawks the Bombers laid 65 tackles – they will need to apply the same relentless pressure on Sunday otherwise Riewoldt will continually receive the football lace out.
Clinton Jones vs. Jobe Watson
Watson has been his side’s most consistent midfielder so far this season, averaging 27 disposals per game.
The 24-year-old is damaging with his ability to win the football at close quarters and use it cleanly by hand to find the likes of Brent Stanton, Andrew Lovett and Jason Winderlich in space.
If the Saints are going to shut-down Essendon’s running game they will need to prevent Watson from having an impact at the stoppages.
Jones has been getting the job on the opposition’s best midfielder so far this season and will most likely be given the task of running with Watson.
The Saints will need Jones to deny Watson any time or space at the stoppages and also make him accountable by winning his fair share of the football.
Heath Hocking vs. Nick Dal Santo
Dal Santo played a key role in the win over the Magpies, helping himself to a game-high 38 possessions and four inside 50’s
If the Dons are going to be any hope of containing St Kilda’s potent forward line they will need to curb the influence of Dal Santo who is damaging with his ability to set up scoring opportunities for his teammates with his clean use of the football.
Hocking has been given some big tagging roles so far this season and will most likely be given the unenviable task of running with the classy St Kilda midfielder.
The 21-year-old, who is ranked second at the Bombers for tackles per game, will need to apply relentless pressure all afternoon otherwise Dal Santo will cut the Bombers to shreds with his sublime skills.
Zac Dawson vs. Matthew Lloyd
Lloyd was among his side’s best against Hawthorn with 19 possessions, three goals and a career-best 15 marks.
The Bombers will need their skipper to fire if they are going to have any chance of overcoming a St Kilda outfit that is the second most attacking side in the competition.
Dawson continued his impressive start to his career at the Saints against the Magpies, restricting Collingwood veteran Anthony Rocca to just one goal.
Expect the former Hawk to be given first crack at Lloyd in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.
The Bombers will need to break the lines and get the football quickly into the forward line to give Lloyd the best chance of having an impact otherwise the Saints will be able to push numbers back and continually rebound the football out of defensive 50.
VERDICT: Essendon has surprised many people so far this season but it is highly unlikely that the Bombers will cause another major upset on Sunday as St Kilda is a well-drilled side that will shut-down the Dons’ running game with their pressure skills. Expect the class of the likes of Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montagna and Dal Santo to come to the fore as the match wears on. Saints by 38 points.
ST KILDA v ESSENDON
ST KILDA
B: Farren Ray, Jason Blake, Zac Dawson
HB: Steven Baker, Sam Fisher, Brendon Goddard
C: Jason Gram, Luke Ball, Nick Dal Santo
HF: Stephen Milne, Nick Riewoldt, Adam Schneider
F: Lenny Hayes, Justin Koschitzke, Sam Gilbert
Foll: Michael Gardiner, Clint Jones, Leigh Montagna
I/C: Andrew McQualter, Jarryn Geary, James Gwilt, Steven King
Emg: Ben McEvoy, David Armitage, Raphael Clarke
In: King
Out: Ben McEvoy
ESSENDON
B: Heath Hocking, Tayte Pears, Henry Slattery
HB: Courtenay Dempsey, Cale Hooker, Adam McPhee
C: David Zaharakis, Brent Stanton, Jason Winderlich
HF: Angus Monfries, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Sam Lonergan
F: Matthew Lloyd, Jay Neagle, Alwyn Davey
Foll: Patrick Ryder, Jobe Watson, Andrew Lovett
I/C: Bachar Houli, Tom Bellchambers, Ricky Dyson, David Myers
Emg: Jay Nash, Tyson Slattery, Leroy Jetta
No change
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