Both GWS Giants and St Kilda will be out for their first win of the season to keep touch with the competition and avoid falling into a 0-3 hole. We’ll have live scores and commentary from 4.40pm AEST.
Greater Western Sydney have been winless, but not hapless.
They were solid in their 30-point loss to the Swans in Round 1 and were good in patches when beaten by Port Adelaide to the tune of 56 points.
Coach Kevin Sheedy said he has been impressed by the competitiveness of his team, but their showing against Port Adelaide wasn’t up to his standard.
“We were disappointed in a lot of efforts of our players,” Sheedy said.
“We could have been a little bit more physical at times when the ball was there to be won.”
St Kilda has made its worst start to a season in 13 years, and the last time the Saints were 0-2 they went on to claim the wooden spoon in 2000.
The Saints appear confident to reverse their worrying start, with midfielder Leigh Montagna saying:
“It’s a long season, you can’t start getting too down on yourself now otherwise it makes it a hell of a tough year.”
“We’ve had slow starts before and come back and salvaged our season.”
But despite any outward confidence, St Kilda will be desperate to get some points on the table.
GWS continue to suffer from injuries, with Andrew Phillips (hamstring) and Matt Buntine (lung) out for this week, while Joe Redfern (knee) and Josh Growden (lower leg) will miss the next two weeks.
Dom Tyson (knee), James Stewart (back), and Chad Cornes (knee) are all on the long-term list.
St Kilda will be without the services of Sean Dempster (hand) for the next three weeks, with James Gwilt (knee) and Jackson Ferguson (knee) also out for two weeks at least. Farren Ray and Tom Hickey are doubtful, but may return.
Both GWS fans and players are quietly confident of a win come Saturday afternoon, but the Saints were dangerous for most of their game against Richmond last week and will be no pushovers.
St Kilda’s star trio of Nick Riewoldt, Stephen Milne, and Nick Dal Santo will be playing their 200th game together but a weakened Saints defence gives the physical and hard-working Giants hope of an upset win in Canberra – their home away from home.
However, the St Kilda forward line which tore a 128-point hole in the Giants last season will be very hard to contain.
If the Giants give their all they have every chance of winning this. If the Saints don’t win, their start to the season goes from worrying to borderline disastrous.
John
Guest
I'm a GWS fan, from Western Sydney but currently residing in Canberra. GWS are doing a lot of things right but I am not sure it'll be enough. Time will tell. In the meantime, if you don't like the Giants, feel free to ignore any posts about them so we don't have to keep putting up with the same comments over and over again
John
Guest
It is meant to be Telstra Tower. It is always on their guernseys when they play in Canberra. Usually however it is white, not yellow. Unsure of the reason behind the colour change. Probably something to do with the centenary celebrations the ACT government won't shut up about.....
John
Guest
It is meant to be Telstra Tower. It is always on their guernseys when they play in Canberra. Usually however it is white, not yellow. Unsure of the reason behind the colour change. Probably something to do with the centenary celebrations the ACT government won't shut up about.....
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
FULL TIME St Kilda beat the Greater Western Sydney Giants 140 - 68. A dominant performance by a St Kilda team that never looked like losing. The Giants were out-passed, out-run, and out-bodied. GWS coach Kevin Sheedy is hastily scribbling notes in the coach's box, and will have plenty to say to the team tonight. St Kilda coach Scott Watters will be happy with this performance, but will the know they must not get ahead of themselves. The Saints have not fallen into a 0-3 hole, nor have they fully get their season on track. Their true test comes next week against a surging Bombers. Meanwhile, GWS need to win next week against the Dees, or at least come close. Tonight they were no pushovers, but nowhere near good enough to be considered competitive.
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
Q4 1:25 GOAL ST KILDA Nick Riewoldt takes a strong mark about 20 out from goal, and scores. Though he may not be quite 100%, he easily overpowered the Giants defender. ST KILDA 140 - GWS 68 The Saints really are piling them on now.
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
Q4 2:06 GOAL ST KILDA After hard running, Nick Reiwoldt gets the crumb off a contest in front of goal, and scores. A deserved goal for him, and 2.2 for the night ST KILDA 134 - GWS 68
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
Q4 2:40 A lack of composure and maturity is taking it's toll on GWS, with set shots being wasted on 50-50 passes instead of shots on goal.
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
Q4 4:50 Under five minutes to go here at Manuka Stadium. Saints fans will have one eye on next week's game against Essendon, while GWS fans will be thinking they surely must get a win next week against Melbourne.
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
Q4 6:20 GWS have an almost identical opportunity up the other end, but its wasted. The Giants aren't taking enough of their chances, and it's hurt them big time.
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
Q4 7:20 GOAL ST KILDA St Kilda once again go through the motions. Milne takes the mark, scores the goal. It's like a training exercise out here. ST KILDA 127 - GWS 65
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
Q4 7' Nick Riewoldt has a set shot from 50 meters out, and drags it wide. He's only scored one tonight, and after a good first quarter has often gone missing. Also seems to be nursing a limp.
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
Q4 19:30 GOAL ST KILDA Two uncontested inside 50 marks lead to a well taken goal by Sam Gilbert. ST KILDA 120 - GWS 65
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
Q4 12:50 GOAL ST KILDA Saad takes a very good mark, and then scores from about 50 meters out. That's 4 goals for Ahmed Saad, who has looked dangerous with every touch of the ball he gets ST KILDA 114 - GWS 64
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
Q4 Armitage has been top quality all night, and is topping the disposals count with 29.
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
Q4 14' The Giants have had more inside 50's this term, but the final pass or kick at goal is letting them down. Saints lethal as ever on the counter.
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
Q4 16:47 GOAL ST KILDA Armitage takes yet another uncontested mark inside 50, and scores from the set shot. ST KILDA 108 - GWS 63
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
q4 18:00 GOAL GWS Giles earns a free kick inside 50, and scores the goal. Could they actually come back? It would be a mighty tale if they did. ST KILDA 102 - GWS 63
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
Q4 18:34 GOAL GWS Giles gets the ball in front of goal from a handpass, and snaps a goal. ST KILDA 102 - GWS 57
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
4TH QUARTER Can the Giants make this more respectable than it currently is, or will the Saints run away with it?
Caleb Shepherd
Roar Guru
3 QUARTER TIME ST KILDA 102 - GWS 51 Some news I failed to pick up on during the quarter, both substitutes are now on the field. Still finding out who was subbed off. The Giants picked up in that quarter, and went goal for goal with St Kilda for most of it. However, the Saints hold too big of a lead for it to be of any difference. Promising stuff from the young GWS, and a classy performance from the Saints.