Head to head: Richmond 102 wins, St Kilda 68 wins, two draws
Last time: St Kilda 14.13 (97) d Richmond 8.11 (59), round 11, 2010 at Etihad Stadium
MISSING IN ACTION
Richmond
Matthew White (calf) - test
Matt Dea (foot) - test
Jordan McMahon (ankle) - 1 week
Tyrone Vickery (hip) - season
Mitch Farmer (knee) - season
Luke McGuane (groin) - season
Nathan Foley (leg) - season
Ben Griffiths (shoulder) - season
Tom Hislop (patella) - season
Richard Tambling (leg) - season
Adam Thomson (groin) - season
St Kilda
Steven Baker (toe/suspension) - 2 weeks
Raphael Clarke (hamstring) - season
Zac Dawson (hand) - test
Michael Gardiner (hamstring) - test
Steven King (hamstring) - test
Jesse Smith (ankle) - season
FORM
Richmond: LLWLL
St Kilda: LDLWW
SUMMARY
The Saints are hitting their peak form at the right time of the year while the Tigers are trying to finish off 2010 holding their head as high as possible. After a mid-season surge, the Tigers have dropped away and sit in 15th place. Daniel Connors has been one of the best performed of late as has the retiring Ben Cousins while, Brett Deledio and Chris Newman continue to do the job across half-back.
The Saints big name players Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes and Jason Gram, are all stepping up a notch as September approaches. Their final two home and away games are against the Tigers and Crows which should mean they would have plenty of momentum coming into the most important stage of the year. Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has already said some players have to prove themselves worthy of a spot on the list next year so expect a solid performance.
PLAYER TO WATCHThe Saints big name players Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes and Jason Gram, are all stepping up a notch as September approaches. Their final two home and away games are against the Tigers and Crows which should mean they would have plenty of momentum coming into the most important stage of the year. Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has already said some players have to prove themselves worthy of a spot on the list next year so expect a solid performance.
Last week the football world saw a glimpse, albeit a brief one, of Justin Koschitzke's best football. Koschitzke crashed a couple of packs and hit targets with his kicks. Against a weakened Richmond defence, and with Nick Riewoldt commanding all the attention, this could be Koschitzke week as he looks to build a platform from which to launch into the finals.
It might have escaped your attention but Ben Cousins retired earlier this week. With two games to go and his place in history very much up for debate, the troubled star will be keen to remind everyone just what it was that made him famous in the first place. You can guarantee he will leave nothing in the tank.
QUESTION MARKS
Which Riewoldt will have more effect? This is the first time the two cousins have played on the same field since Jack became a bona fide star, but Nick’s seven-goal haul last week reminded everyone just which of the two has long been considered one of the best in the competition.
Who will win the ruck? With Michael Gardiner a chance to miss at least one more week with hamstring tightness, the Saints have inexperienced duo Ben McEvoy and Rhys Stanley sharing the duties. Angus Graham has done well for Richmond but is starting to show the effects of shouldering the ruck load all season while Andrew Browne is yet to prove his worth. The Saints should come out on top.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
No one in their right mind would tip the Tigers to win this one. Maybe a mid-season upset would be on the cards but St Kilda wouldn’t let one slip at this stage of the campaign.
PREDICTION
St Kilda by 41 points
Chat with host Murray Belkin and other fans in the AFL Match Centre on afl.com.au from 1.40pm Saturday or join the conversation on Twitter: #aflsaintstigers
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
