Preview: Sydney v St Kilda
VENUE & TIME: SCG, Saturday 1 August, 7.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 201, St Kilda 73, Sydney 125, Draws: 3
LAST TIME: St Kilda 12.8 (80) def Sydney 9.11 (65), Round 1 2009 at Etihad Stadium
WALKING WOUNDED: Justin Koschitzke (split webbing) and Michael Gardiner (calf) are St Kilda's main injury concerns. The club will take no chances with either. Jarryd Allen (hip, indefinite) and Xavier Clarke (knee, season) are the only other Saints on the club's official injury list. Sydney's Amon Buchanan and Nick Malceski (quad) face fitness tests though most of the remaining players on the club's list including Ted Richards (punctured lung), Lewis Johnston (foot), Brett Meredith (forearm) and Campbell Heath (knee-ACL) are unlikely to play again this year.
FORM: The Saints are undefeated from 17 matches and sit atop the ladder two games clear of Geelong following last Saturday night's rout of top-four contenders the Western Bulldogs. Sydney's past eight outings have produced only two wins, one of them last Sunday by 18 points over Melbourne at Manuka Oval. The Swans sit 11th on the ladder with a 7-10 record.
WHO'S HOT: The Saints had a host of stars against the Bulldogs but none more effective than Sam Gilbert who was outstanding in a rebounding role from half-back. The 22-year-old picked up 30 disposals, grabbed nine marks and laid four tackles. Darren Jolly gave the Swans a real physical presence at the stoppages last Sunday to be his team's best with 14 disposals, three goals, 26 hitouts and five tackles in a fine all-round performance.
WE THINK: The Round 1 clash between these teams was intriguing. The Swans led 5.4 to 1.1 at quarter-time but were held goalless for the next two quarters as St Kilda unveiled Ross Lyon's blueprint for pressuring the opposition into submission. At the time, the Saints were credited with beating the Swans at their own game, but St Kilda has since elevated the art form to a whole new level. The Saints have managed just one win from their past nine trips to the SCG - by a mere two points in Round 11, 2006. The Swans have won six of their eight matches at home so far this season but with the finals almost out of reach, they'll be no match for the all-conquering Saints. St Kilda by 33 points.