Monday night football makes a rare reappearance as the struggling St Kilda try to fight the slide, while a resurgent Carlton will be determined to give them a final shove. We’ll have live scores from 7.
The Saints have been a shadow of the side that played three Grand Finals in two years at the end of the last decade.
Their first-up loss to Gold Coast proved to be no aberration, as they’ve lost four more times this season and only recorded a win at the expense of the still-hapless GWS.
Carlton started just as badly, losing three in a row to have Malthouse critics crowding around looking for an early departure.
They needn’t have wasted their time though, as the unflappable Confucius of the Australian Football League brought his wisdom to bear on his new side.
Carlton won their next three to climb back up to 10th on the ladder, five spots clear of the men from Moorabbin.
The Saints have had the better of recent matches, having won the last three between these sides, as well as holding a record of 15-2 since 2002.
But tonight should see the end of that era of dominance.
Relying increasingly on a few ageing stars, Nick Riewoldt and Steven Milne will be important for the Saints, while the Blues have an increasingly confident young brigade led (spiritually, if not technically) by the wise old head of Chris Judd.
Expect a fierce contest. The Saints still have quality in their ranks, they just need to rediscover some ferocity in their game.
We saw signs last week against Collingwood, now the signs have to be followed to their destination.
Carlton, on the other hand, will spring up to seventh spot with a win, so there’s plenty to play for there.
Tune in with us from 7.40pm AEST, to leave us your thoughts on the match and join the conversation.
bryan
Guest
Did you see the nutter with the "Liverpool United/Melbourne Victory" scarf prancing around behind the presenter at 1/2 time? Must have been at the wrong stadium! :)
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
The brownlow vote comment? Surely you recognise the one and only Magical Eddie McGuire?
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Hey look, I tipped Carlton and this is fixing to cost me in my comp - if I thought Carlton were robbed, I'd be getting aggro. But they really weren't.
Greeny
Guest
The whistles were away for 50/50's all game (except perhaps the one and only 'below the knees' decision paid against Warnock that led directly to a Riewoldt goal), but you have to pay obvious frees EVEN if they are inside fifty and EVEN if the game is on the line ... weak, weak umpiring on display
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Can't really play that game without talking about two free kicks that weren't paid to St Kilda that went coast to coast goal in the fourth. It was a close one, the umpires recognised it and the whistles were put away to let football players play football. I can't complain about the spectacle that resulted.
jennysue55
Guest
I arrived back in WA from overseas today and turned on to watch football on Monday night. Great game from St Kilda BUT the comments from one of the commentators re the Dockers game was absolutely disgusting. The thought that ANY body derserves a hit to the nuts is deplorable and maybe he shoud be put in that position and see if his reaction is the same. NOT NICE COMMENT. Can anyone tell me who this JERK is?
Greeny
Guest
haha maybe in the first three qtrs, but he'd just kicked a pearler from the boundary, so I'd say he was 80/20 to kick what might well have been the winner
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Much prefer that sort of game to the opposite, Nathan. I imagine you'd agree.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
The way Carlton was shooting tonight he would probably have hoofed the shot into some kid's pie in the stand at centre wing.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Yes Jan, a great fightback from the Saints in terms of their season, and perhaps they can turn it into some momentum as they head on. Best of luck to your boys this year.
Jan
Guest
Geoff as a passionate Saints supporter I fervently hoped that the mighty Saints would prove you wrong when you so eloquently stated "Carlton will be determined to give them a final shove". Welll they didn't get to give Saints a "final shove" and our great team prevailed. So glad to be able to stick this right to you!
Greeny
Guest
Nathan obviously a Saints fan (no one else has heard of Steven). The unmistakable fact is that the umps decided the game when they denied Garlett a 99/100 free kick 30m out, and stopped the Blues taking the lead and rolling home
Geoff Lemon
Expert
That's it from us at The Roar. Leave us your thoughts on the game below, and we'll see you next time we board the merry-go-round.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
A huge game for Jack Steven with 39 possessions, Fisher 27, Dal Santo 26, and Riewoldt 25 with 13 marks and three goals. THIRTEEN marks. 10 marks for McEvoy, including a few telling defensive grabs, and laid 8 tackles, while Montagna laid 9. Goals: Riewoldt 3, Milne and Saad 2, singles to Armitage, Milera, Siposs, Roberton. Not so impressive for the Blues. 27 possessions to Judd, 25 to Armfield, who was electrifying at times. 10 marks to Henderson, who dragged them back into the game with three goals. 8 tackles to Robinson, who tried hard in midfield. Goals: Henderson 3, Garlett 2, Hampson, Walker, Simpson, McLean
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Sarcastic schmarcastic, hadn't really heard of him before; of course, I've certainly heard of him now!
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Hell of a game! Carlton had no right to be in that but set up a barnstormer finish!
Nathan
Guest
Unless you're sarcastically commenting on the extra s, he's one of the most promising midfielders in the competition who is too often overlooked by the media.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Saints won the possession count 388 - 305, and contested possessions 147 - 134, tackles 81 - 61. Carlton won the clearances 44 - 33, and inside-50s 51-41, and dominated the hitouts 55-29, but couldn't make them count. St Kilda defensively just took marks and cleared, and there wasn't much Carlton's forwards could do with that delivery. 11.11 to 9.14, so Carlton actually had one more scoring shot. If they'd converted a bit better, they could have won despite all the factors that were against them.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Whistles got put away - Saints could ask questions about a pair of non-free kicks that were rebounded for Carlton goals!
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Who TF is Jack Stevens??