VENUE & TIME: Telstra Dome, 2.10 pm AEST, Saturday 28 July
HEAD TO HEAD: St Kilda 43, Carlton 156, Draws - 2
LAST TIME: St Kilda 18.17 (125) bt Carlton 11.16 (82), Round 6, 2007 at Telstra Dome
WALKING WOUNDED: Brendan Fevola and Andrew Walker are significant additions to Carlton's injury list this week. Fevola strained a quad against Brisbane last week and will be sidelined for at least three weeks while the club has opted for Walker to undergo surgery on the shoulder he injured against Hawthorn back in round 12. Adam Hartlett (hamstring), Lance Whitnall (knee) and Joe Anderson (hamstring) are all at least a couple of weeks away while three players, Cameron Cloke (shoulder), Nick Stevens (neck) and Aisake O'hAilpin (groin) will not play again this season. The Saints' official list includes just three names - Michael Gardiner (foot - season), Brendon Goddard (knee - season) and Aaron Hamill (knee - test).
FORM: The contrast in form between the two could not be much greater. Had the Saints not collapsed late against Collingwood, they would be unbeaten from the past five weeks. Meanwhile, the Blues have not won since round 11, crunched in their past five games by an average margin of 76 points. That sealed the fate of Denis Pagan, who was given his marching orders on Monday, and replaced a day later by Brett Ratten.
WHO'S HOT: Relieved of pure defensive duties, Sam Fisher has been outstanding for the Saints during the past three weeks. Restricted earlier in the season by the absence of Matt Maguire and Max Hudghton, Fisher has thrived since the return of the key pair, providing damaging run from the Saints' back half. He was instrumental in the upset victory over Adelaide and again put the sword to Hawthorn last weekend. As for the Blues, the only thing hot at Princes Park is the seat vacated by Pagan.
WE THINK: The departures of Neale Daniher and Chris Connolly both produced wins in the following round for Melbourne and Fremantle but it will not be a case of three times lucky for Carlton. Now that Pagan has gone, the Blues are in a no-win situation, though harsher critics would argue Carlton has been a no-win zone since Pagan arrived. Regardless of your view on the axed coach, there is no way the Blues will get the points this week. For starters, the Saints have all the motivation in the world, namely a finals' berth, to win while the Blues have one very good reason to lose, the No.1 pick in this year's draft. Take out Walker and Fevola, two of the Blues' better players last week, and there's not much left on the Carlton shelf. Welcome to life as an AFL coach Rats! Saints by 49 points.