The changes

B: Brandon White, Nathan Brown, Shane Savage
HB: Sam Gilbert, Jake Carlisle, Jack Newnes
C: Jack Sinclair, Jack Steele, Blake Acres
HF: Jarryn Geary, Paddy McCartin, Jack Billings
F: Jade Gresham, Tim Membrey, Ben Long
FOL: Tom Hickey, Sebastian Ross, Jack Steven
I/C: Luke Dunstan, Jimmy Webster, Nick Coffield, Maverick Weller
E: Hunter Clark, David Armitage, Logan Austin, Rowan Marshall

 

What to expect

The fourth-youngest club in the competition, St Kilda have shown signs of promise this season despite having just one win to show to this point in the season. 

The Saints have had little issue getting their hands on the ball so far this year, ranking fifth in the league for disposals.

Alan Richardson’s side have one of the biggest preferences to handball in the competition, behind only Melbourne and Collingwood, with a kick to handball ratio of 1.28:1, while they are also the number one club in uncontested possession numbers.

But the balance in their game has been lacking throughout the first five rounds, struggling in the contested areas of the game as they sit 16th for contested possession and rock bottom for clearances. 

Because of this, the Saints are not providing enough scoreboard pressure on their opposition, having scored the least points of any other side in the competition.

Their leading goal kicker is 20-year old forward Jade Gresham, who has kicked just six goals for the year- no other club’s season-high goal kicker has kicked fewer majors. 

St Kilda showed some improvement in their draw with GWS last week, with a season-high 67 inside 50s, yet they failed to surpass the 75-point threshold for the fourth week in a row.

Read: The five players to keep your eye on in Round 6

 

Players to watch

Jack Steven has been the Saints’ best ball-winner throughout the first five rounds of the year. The 28-year old is averaging a career-high 28.5 disposals as well as a personal best rate of six clearances per game. The three-time Trevor Barker Award winner has strong form against the Hawks, earning the three Brownlow votes in two of their last three meetings with averages of 32.3 disposals and 6.7 tackles. 

One of St Kilda’s most improved players in 2018 has been 22-year old Blake Acres. Alongside Steven, Acres has recorded the most contested possessions for the Saints this season with 9.8 per game. The 191cm midfielder’s career-highs of 24.2 disposals and 0.8 goals per game have made him one of the Saints’ most valuable players this year. The damaging ball-user is certainly one to watch.