It’s a crucial 2018 season for the St Kilda Saints, which kicks off at Ikon Park when they face the Carlton Blues. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:10pm (AEDT).
Since walking into a club in turmoil at the end of 2013, Alan Richardson has overseen a steady rebuild which has resulted in the Saints slowly climbing up the ladder.
But crunch time has come for him, and no less than a first finals berth since 2011 will satisfy fans.
The retirement of club greats Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna at the end of last year leaves an obvious dearth of big-game experience, with Sam Gilbert the last remaining link to their 2010 grand final side. With only five players (Gilbert, captain Jarryn Geary, Jack Steven, David Armitage and Jack Newnes) having reached 100 games for the club, losing a combined 623 games and 873 goals’ worth of experience will undoubtedly have an impact.
It’s also a huge year for Paddy McCartin, the 2014 No.1 draft pick having underwhelmed in his first three seasons. With no Riewoldt up forward, the opportunity is there for the 21-year-old to form a potent key forward combination with regulars Josh Bruce and Tim Membrey.
While most pundits expect the Blues to finish in the bottom six once again, Brendon Bolton’s men must also be feeling the first hints of expectation from fans after a period of consolidation in the post-Mick Malthouse era.
The Blues have shown plenty of promise in their 44 games under Bolton, notching inspiring victories over Geelong and the Giants, but with only 13 victories over that period, supporters must be hoping for a few more chances to sing the song in 2018.
Crucially though, star rebounding defender Sam Docherty will miss 2018 after rupturing his ACL in the pre-season, and with partner-in-crime Kade Simpson nearing the end of his glittering career, the onus will be on the likes of Ciaran Byrne, Tom Williamson and Lachie Plowman to make the half-back position their own.
Prediction
Both sides are almost at full strength, with only Sam Rowe and Darcy Lang (Carlton) and Jack Billings and Josh Bruce (St Kilda) likely best-22 players sitting out. With that in mind, the Saints are much more advanced in their development than the Blues, and should win comfortably.
St Kilda by 36 points
Tune into The Roar’s live coverage from 7:10pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to leave us your thoughts in the comments section below.
Macca
Guest
Te week just keeps getting better for the blues with them agreeing with the Tigers to split the gate taking for every game for the next decade - with round 1 this year being a Tigers home game it should be a real financial windfall for the blues!!
Macca
Guest
All 4 of those will play, only Jones is above 195cm, Plowman has been doing a great job on the small forwards and Weitering coming in will release Marchbank, who has great running ability, to play a Docherty sort of role.
Rippa86
Roar Rookie
I thought Marchbank was brilliant accross half back. Reads the play very well. Its going to be interesting to see if we can fit Jones, Marchy, Plowman and weitering in defense. Surly one misses out.
Chris
Guest
The Blues will make the finals as I have said all along. They have youth pace and skill. As for all these doomsday prophets, they know nothing about our great game. The big flops as I also told you will be Port Adelaide and Essendon! Collingwood to surprise many tonight and throughout the year too...
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
AFL live pass for me. Dunno about the others.
Kane
Guest
Dale Thomas just like last year is about 5 minutes too slow and fumbles alot, he's just not up to it anymore. Give a kid a go. I'd rather get games into a couple of kids to see what they've got than to give him 20.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Happy with the effort from the Blues tonight. They maintained their defensive pressure from last year and there was a definite emphasis on quick movement into the forward line. Kreuzer showed he is in for another good season and Cripps showed his ability to go forward and kick some goals. Marchbank and Jones were solid down back and Plowman, Byrne, Mullett and Cunningham looked good in defence as well. Casboult and McKay provided tall options forward, Pickett and Garlett didn't get a lot of the ball but showed their speed when they did and Silvagni quiet early had a good last quarter. Happy with what I saw from Kennedy and Dow showed he certainly has talent and should be in the round 1 side.
Macca
Guest
Yes I did forget Weitering. Williamson has a bit of a hot spot in his back but when fit will play either at half back or the wing
Macca
Guest
I don't think anyone should be surprised about the new blues game style, the recruiting pointed to it and the club (and I) have been saying it is coming. One swallow does not make a spring but it is a positive start.
Zed16
Guest
Hey Macca you forgot Weitering and you would also have to say Lang as i think he would have played tonight if available. I for one would like to see Williamson at half back.
Tim Miller
Editor
That's it from me this evening. Thanks for your company! A great result for the Blues, while the Saints, well, they've got 3 weeks to get themselves match-ready for the season proper.
Tim Miller
Editor
Carlton 13.11 (89) defeated St Kilda 9.13 (67) by 22 points at Ikon Park. GOALS Carlton- Dow 2, Cripps 2, Kreuzer 2, Wright 2, Casboult, Simpson, Silvagni, McKay, Garlett. St Kilda- McCartin 2, Clark 2, Membrey 2, Gresham, Carlisle, Wright. BEST Carlton- Cripps, Jones, Marchbank, Kreuzer, Dow. St Kilda- Steven, Ross, Clark, Savage, McCartin. INJURIES Carlton- Garlett (shoulder), Cunningham (ankle).
Zed16
Guest
The thing that i liked most was that they were challenged by St Kilda in the thrid and looked like they maybe overrun in the last quart. However they regrouped and outplayed and outscored St Kilda in the last quarter. Dow showed why he was pick 3 Kruezer, Cripps, Marchbank, Jones, Murphy and Simpson had good contributions and there was also a lot to like about Kennedy. Good start and first step in a new season.
Tim Miller
Editor
@Macca A bit of an inconspicuous game from him, I'm afraid. Got enough of the ball, but wasn't really eye-catching with it. Still, 17 touches is more than handy from a second-year player, and he did nothing to suggest he wasn't in the Blues' best 22 this year.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
No Weitering as well, but yeah it wasn't a particularly understrength side.
Zed16
Guest
The thing that i liked most was that they were challenged by St Kilda in the third and looked like they maybe overrun in the last quarter. However they regrouped and outplayed and outscored St Kilda in the last quarter against a strong and difficult wind. Dow showed why he was pick 3 and there was also a lot to like about Kennedy and some good glimpses from Garlett and O'brien. Good start and a long way to go.
Tim Miller
Editor
Carlton have started 2018 in style with a 22-point win over St Kilda in front of a small but vocal crowd at Ikon Park. If 2016 and 2017 were years of defensive consolidation for the Blues under Brendon Bolton, then it seems they've been adding another string to their bow in the off-season: attacking flair. Most notably during a first quarter where, aided by a stiff breeze, they ran the Saints off their legs with some exhilarating rebound football, the sideways kicks and slow build of the past were replaced by a frenetic energy, a desire to move the ball forward? The result? Well, the Blues' forward line reaped the benefits of quick ball movement and an under-pressure Saints defence, looking constantly dangerous, particularly in the air. Patrick Cripps set the tone in the first quarter with a pair of strong marks and majors to show he has the power to be a dangerous proposition when resting forward, while Levi Casboult also looked strong early before fading late. But much of the hype from Blues fans will be directed at their No.2, both in terms of his draft position and his guernsey number, Paddy Dow. Looking every bit as composed and assured as recruiters would have hoped, he finished with 13 possessions, most of them classy, and bobbed up with a pair of goals, the second a nerveless finish from a tight angle after the three-quarter time siren. If you want an early favourite for the 2018 Rising Star Award, he's your man. The defence, too, barring a period in the last quarter when the game was iced, continued to hold firm, showing the new attacking game plan wasn't coming at the cost of their stinginess down back. Liam Jones was again a dominant force in the first half, finishing with seven marks, most of them intercepts, and continually proving a thorn in the side of the Saints. Just as good was Caleb Marchbank, who was a chief architect of their speedy rebounds from half-back with 25 possessions. It's not quite the Sam Docherty role, but it's not far off. The Saints were able to whittle the margin down to a respectable total late, but if the first quarter is anything to go by, they will be up against it to secure that drought-breaking finals berth that you feel they sorely need. The Blues bullied them early at the coalface, with Marc Murphy and Ed Curnow too powerful for Seb Ross and David Armitage, while they were simply unable to keep up with their opponents on the transition. And while they broke even in those areas by full time, too often did they butcher the ball going inside 50, and once again, their goalkicking remains a serious issue. Jack Steven tried hard with 24 touches and Ross was likewise a consistent performer, while high draft pick Hunter Clark impressed with his efficient disposal and calmness under pressure, but while it's only a pre-season match, there are already concerns down at Seaford.
Macca
Guest
Understrength? SPS and Williamson are the only ones I can think of to come in. But still a good win.
Macca
Guest
Serious, there's is a lot of excitement among blues fans and I think a good preseason win will get quite a few to sign up
Mic
Guest
I’ve seen enough. Under strength Carlton meeting a full strength Saints, pencil us in for finals. Go Blues. Haha