Many a young St Kilda player will be reaching for their Melways this Saturday afternoon as they prepare to trek across the Westgate to face Geelong at Simonds Stadium for the first time since 2004. Live scores and commentary will be available from 7.40pm AEST.
Both Geelong and St Kilda enter Round 18 smarting from narrow losses to Adelaide and Port Adelaide respectively, however the pressure will well and truly be on the Saints to reverse a long run of outs to the Cats at home.
St Kilda have not beaten Geelong at home since Round 10, 1999 and have notched up 13 wins from 56 matches at the Cats’ home ground.
Geelong hold many of the statistical ascendancies, having won seven of their past ten games, including perhaps most importantly the 2009 Grand Final.
The Cats have made five changes following their disappointing loss to the Crows, with Jordan Murdoch (Omitted), Mark Blicavs (Managed), Josh Hunt (Shin), Jesse Stringer (Knee) and Jimmy Bartel (suspension) making way for Taylor Hunt, Steve Johnson, Mitch Brown, Nathan Vardy and George Horlin-Smith.
Geelong has played well in spurts throughout 2013, often doing enough to get themselves over the line as evident by their 13-3 record.
Yet it has been against the lower-ranked sides that Chris Scott’s men have come undone.
After last-week’s shock loss, Geelong will be ready to come out firing as they return to play on their home turf under lights.
In a match that the home side has dedicated to the Casey Tutungi Appeal, the Cats will be aiming for a repeat of their 2012 clash from which they went home comfortable 42-point victors.
The visiting side will have their hands full with big man Tom Hawkins knocking on the door of a big goal haul, a task made ever more achievable through the absence of St Kilda key defender Sam Fisher.
St Kilda on the other hand have replaced Trent Dennis-Lane and a head-sore Dylan Roberton with Arryn Siposs and Jarryn Geary.
They will sorely miss the run Roberton has provided so far this season, with the ex-Docker accumulating more running bounces than any other Saint, with a club high 62 placing him 10th best in the league.
Nick Dal Santo enters Round 18 off a season-high 33 disposals and five tackles against Port Adelaide, while the evergreen Nick Reiwoldt leads the AFL for marks, averaging 9.9 per game.
The Saints will need the pair to produce their best this Saturday night if they are to stand a chance against the second-placed Cats.
Interestingly, both teams are ranked as low as 16th and 17th in the league for clearances.
But the tough-bodied Cats have been countering that anomaly with pure, physical force; as they are currently leading the competition in forcing and scoring from turnovers.
Geelong will be hurting from their narrow loss last week and should come out firing and prove too strong for the Saints.
Watch out for Stevie Johnson to put on an exhibition this week. After his second suspension of the month, Stevie J owes his team mates a big one and should prove a handful.
While the Saints are in their rebuilding phase, it’s hard to see them overpowering the Cats at home, however as we saw last week – stranger things have happened.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
That second quarter was unrelenting domination. Yeowch.
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Twitter - @danielmiles90
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
FULL TIME SCORE | GEEL 21.11 (137) | StK 5.6 (36) After a spirited opening quarter from both sides, Geelong showed their class to steam roll the Saints tonight. Jack Stevens was a shining light for the saints amassing 36 disposals as was Montagna who kicked 1.1 while collecting 34 disposals. However the main story for the night was the absolute dominance of the Cats. They have well and truly bounced back after a disappointing loss last round. Injury wise, Dawson Simpson looks to be out for the rest of the year and James Gwilt was again encumbered by his troublesome knee. However the Cats will now march on to September as they lock down second position and look on to an intriguing battle against North Melbourne next round. The Saints must pick themselves up again as they face a difficult battle against Brisbane next round as they attempt to piece together some positives out of what has been a notably disappointing season. That's all from me, hope you enjoyed tonight's coverage of Geelong's dominant victory over the Saints.
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Q4 | GEEL 21.10 (136) | StK 5.6 (36) Captain Selwood swoops on the ball through a pack, throwing the ball on his boot to snap a goal and take the margin out to an even 100 points. Everything going Geelong's way at the moment.
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Q4 | GEEL 20.9 (129) | StK 5.6 (36) Hawkins receives a 50m penalty and converts from 40m out to take his total to 5 goals for the night. Kicks it straight over the goal umpires head.
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Q4 | GEEL 19.9 (123) | StK 5.6 (36) 7 minutes to go, Cats lead by 87 points.....will they break into a triple digit lead?
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Q4 | GEEL 19.9 (123) | StK 5.6 (36) St Kilda register a behind through a poor kick from Siposs Their first score for a long time.
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Q4 | GEEL 19.9 (123) | StK 5.5 (35) Off a step from 45m out, Kelly kicks truly and the Cats continue out to an 88 point lead. Will it be a 100 point drubbing?
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Q4 | GEEL 18.9 (117) | StK 5.5 (35) Motlop receives a look-away handball and kicks truly from directly infront. Reiwoldt is out for the rest of the game and the Geelong steam train rolls on
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Q4 | GEEL 17.9 (111) | StK 5.5 (35) Stevie J strolls in to the goal square to kick his second goal of the night. This is becoming a thumping of monumental proportions!
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Q4 | GEEL 16.9 (105) | StK 5.5 (35) This game is all over from here on in. The only question is how far will the cats win by now.
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Q3 | GEEL 16.9 (105) | StK 5.5 (35) Varcoe puts the Cat out to a 70 point lead with a dead-eye 50m kick after the siren. Cats dominating in every aspect of the game now.
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Q3 | GEEL 15.9 (99) | StK 5.5 (35) Hayes and Reiwoldt have both returned to the field for the Saints, despite both being in obvious pain - true leaders of the St Kilda Football Club
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Q3 | GEEL 15.8 (98) | StK 5.5 (35) Stevie J slots one from straight in front after a wobbly around the corner kick falls in his lap at the top of the Square. Hard to see the Saints even registering a major score at this point as the Cats are running all over them
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Q3 | GEEL 14.7 (91) | StK 5.5 (35) Mitch Duncan has a superb kick for goal from the 50m arc by the boundary, umpires call for a score review which results in a behind. The crowd is not happy though, however they are a very biased crowd out at Geelong
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Q3 | GEEL 14.5 (89) | StK 5.5 (35) Wonderful captains goal from Joel Selwood as the Cats keep piling on the pressure. The run and carry and attacking football on display is superb In other news Nick Reiwoldt and Lenny Hayes have both limped off the field with knee and hamstring concerns respectively.
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Q3 | GEEL 13.5 (83) | StK 5.2 (32) Lenny Hayes is rewarded for a ruthless tackle, however can only must a behind from 45m out. First St Kilda score for a long while here
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Q3 | GEEL 13.5 (83) | StK 5.1 (31) Wonderful centring kick from Selwood gives Vardy an easy set shot directly in front from which he duly converts. Cats continue on their merry way
Daniel Miles
Roar Pro
Saints are really struggling to match it with the bigger bodies of the Cats. Both could easily kick a bag tonight.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Pods and Hawkins, it is the round for the power forward! What a mark!