The St Kilda Saints take on the winless Adelaide Crows on Sunday afternoon at Etihad Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 3:20pm (AEST).
The Saints are sitting on two wins and one loss after three rounds, following wins over the Demons and the Giants. Their loss came against the Eagles in Perth last week – a match they managed to contest for three quarters.
They will be confident of putting another win on the board this week against a struggling Crows outfit.
The Crows have not banked a win yet this season, and none of their losses have been particularly impressive.
Their 38-point loss to the Cats in Round 1 was followed by a 54-point loss to the Power and a 63-point loss to the Swans. It’s getting to the stage where this game should be seen as a must-win for the Crows.
The Saints have been forced to make one change for this clash, with Sam Gilbert being unavailable with a foot injury. Jack Steven has been named to the 25 man squad for his season debut, alongside Tom Lee, Jack Billings and Josh Bruce.
The Crows have added three (Sam Shaw, Brodie Martin and Cam Ellis-Yolmen) to their squad from last weekend’s loss.
This matchup has gone the way of the Crows in recent years, with 4 of the last 5 being wins for the boys from Adelaide, including last year’s 40 point win at AAMI Stadium.
The lone win for the Saints came in 2011.
Prediction
As good as the Saints have been to start this season, you’ve got to assume the Crows will get themselves in order for this match.
The Crows have the more talented list and I’m backing them to put their first win on the board today.
Adelaide by 12.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Unfortunately, Saints were terrible today. Just took too long making their decisions a lot of the time today. Ran themselves into pressure a lot.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Crows finally get on the board for season 2014 with a thumping 86 point win over the Saints. Crows fans will be hoping this performance acts as a springboard as they go into a fairly easy part of their schedule. Saints have easily played their worst game of the season so far. No fight from them after quarter time.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
0' Lenny Hayes goes long to Nick Riewoldt who takes the mark inside the centre square. There's the siren, ending a dirty day for the Saints. Saints 7.8 50 Crows 20.16 136
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
1' Sting went out of this game a long time ago. Just under 90 seconds left in this contest. Saints just winning a bit of footy on the wing at the moment, where Webster uses Jones to go inside 50. No mark taken though, so the Crows get out once again. Saints 7.8 50 Crows 20.16 136
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
2' Saints threatened to kick back-to-back goals there, but Matthew Jaensch does a fantastic job against Clint Jones. Saints 7.8 50 Crows 20.16 136
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL SAINTS Douglas probably lucky to get away with holding the ball here, but his kick forward off the ground goes straight down the defenders throat. Now the Saints actually go forward with the footy, and Shane Savage finds himself with an uncontested mark about 30 from home. His kick is a good one Saints 7.8 50 Crows 20.16 136
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
4' Saints just going sideways and backwards at the moment. Rhys Stanley uses the body well on the wing, but he also goes backwards once he's won the footy. Riewoldt now wins the ball against Talia, but his centreing ball is cut off easily. Saints 6.8 44 Crows 20.16 136
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND CROWS Brodie Martin has his shot now, but he also misses to the left Saints 6.8 44 Crows 20.16 136
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND CROWS Long ball for Matt Crouch, but it's offline Saints 6.8 44 Crows 20.15 135
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
6' Another clearance for the Crows, but the Saints manage to win the ball. Now Shane Savage is held up on the 50, so we'll get a ball up Saints 6.8 44 Crows 20.14 134
Axle an the guru
Guest
This win is a good one no fade out yet. The poor old saints had to crack. They just bit past there use by date.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Disgusted by the Saints today, all that good work they have just done counts for nothing. They played a ton of bruise free footy and made basic errors, injuries don't help. It's going to be one of those years again... *sigh*
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL CROWS Lenny Hayes goes long to David Armitage, who manages to bring the ball to ground, then toe the ball forward, but the Crows are away now through the switch. Long kick to the goalsquare looking for Dangerfield, who can't mark. Now Sam Kerridge comes through and toes the ball for a goal. 90 point margin. Saints 6.8 44 Crows 20.14 134
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL CROWS Clearance win for the Saints now, but Smith takes the intercepting mark. That's been the story of the day for the Saints. Now Matthew Jaensch kicks for Podsiadly, who takes a strong mark inside 50. He goes back and slots his second in about a minute. Saints 6.8 44 Crows 19.14 128
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL CROWS Patrick Dangerfield attacks the footy hard, and handballs over the top to James Podsiadly who kicks the simplest of goals. Saints 6.8 44 Crows 18.14 122
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
10' Saunders has been a live wire since he came on to the ground. Saints just going backwards at the moment, but Webster sends the ball inside 50, but the Crows easily clean up, and get out through Josh Jenkins. Saints 6.8 44 Crows 17.14 116
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL CROWS Petrenko wins a clearance and uses his speed to break away down the flank. He goes inside 50 to Rory Sloane, who takes a strong one-on-one mark. He goes back and slots an easy goal. Saints 6.8 44 Crows 17.14 116
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND SAINTS Leigh Montagna wins the clearance for the Saints and hacks the ball forward. Clinton Jones wins the contested footy inside 50, and goes sideways to James Gwilt about 35 out from goal. His set shot misses to the right. Saints 6.8 44 Crows 16.14 110
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL CROWS Josh Jenkins takes a mark just outside 50. He goes back and slots his fourth goal of the afternoon. Saints 6.7 43 Crows 16.14 110
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
14' Crows have been stuck on 104 for a while now. Saints take an intercepting mark and should work their way out of trouble here. Patrick Dangerfield though has other thoughts and takes a great intercepting mark just outside the 50. HE goes long to a dangerous spot, but the Saints manage to win the ball and get free Saints 6.7 43 Crows 15.14 104