WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Saturday 3 September, 7.10pm
HEAD TO HEAD: Carlton 158 wins, St Kilda 47 wins, two draws
LAST TIME: Carlton 11.18 (84) d St Kilda 12.9 (81), round 7, 2011 at Etihad Stadium
TV, RADIO AND BETTING: Click here for broadcast guide and odds
A full replay will be available on afl.com.au 12 hours after the completion of the match
FORM: Carlton: WWWLB St Kilda: WWLLW
SUMMARY
Although they seem to have had vastly contrasting seasons, the outcome of this game could mean that these two teams finish 2011 just one ladder position apart.
One thing they have in common is a perceived weakness against other top eight teams, so a win here would be a significant boost for their confidence on the eve of finals, even though only the Saints can move on the ladder.
Apart from a loss to Hawthorn, the Blues were in good form going in to the bye and probably have the edge over St Kilda.
But the Saints are not to be underestimated, especially with Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke both hitting form at the right end of the season while some doubts linger about Carlton's defence, with Michael Jamison's VFL performance at the weekend underwhelming.
Jarrad Waite is another who could possibly be in line for a recall after being sidelined with a hip injury.
QUESTION MARKS
Will Chris Judd be Sean Dempster's biggest test? Dempster has been one of the Saints' best players in recent weeks, tagging Brent Harvey out of the game on Saturday night, while rebounding strongly from the back half against his former team the Sydney Swans two weeks earlier. His size, pace and close-checking ability make him the perfect candidate to take on Judd, who will be keen to bounce back from a relatively quiet game against Hawthorn two weeks ago.
Will the bye be a blessing or a burden for the Blues? Many teams have struggled in the game after a week off this year but there is a fair case for arguing that the week before the final home and away game is the perfect time for a bye. The Blues will be better for resting their tired bodies, while also getting one last hit-out before the finals to fine-tune their game.
PREDICTION
Carlton by 15 points
TOYOTA AFL DREAM TEAM WATCH
Kade Simpson managed his second-highest score against Hawthorn with 127 and could be worth a punt at $354,700. Chris Judd's poor score of 65 makes him dip under $400,000 for the first time in six weeks.
Nick Riewoldt came back in to town with 121 points last week and is a relatively cheap option at $332,200. This hasn't been Riewoldt's best Dream Team year but he is a proven performer in seasons gone by. It's well within the realms of possibility that his best score might come this week.
Follow the game live in the AFL Match Centre on afl.com.au and join the conversation on Twitter using #aflbluessaints
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
