Saints on the march

While it’s been trendy to say the top eight has been set since early in the season, recent results have opened up eighth spot to a couple of sides, one of them being the St.Kilda.  

Having won four of their past five matches, they’ve got blood in the nostrils, the Saints, and they’ll no doubt be determined to keep their September hopes alive with a win over the Dogs on Saturday night.

Three of our last five contests have been decided by just seven points and there’s no reason to think this weekend will be any different.

 

Return to sender?

The Dogs forward structure will have a very different look this weekend without the injured Jake Stringer lurking in front of goal.  

This season the Dogs have gone to Stringer 84 times inside 50 according to Champion Data, with Jack Redpath and Tory Dickson next in line at 44 apiece.

But with Tom Boyd in the side alongside Jack Redpath, Jordan Roughead available to pinch-hit and a suite of goal-kicking small to medium players, the Dogs will have no shortage of firepower going forward in the absence of ‘The Package.”

 

Guard Dogs

Ladder position aside, there are more similarities between these two sides than you’d expect. 

While the Dogs’ play a higher possession game, in other statistical areas they’re neck and neck.  Ball use is identical, average effectiveness going inside 50 is similar and average score?  It’s the Dogs by a point.  Even the list profile is the same – the average age of both sides is 23.

The biggest gap is in defence.  The Bulldogs are holding opponents to just 73 points per contest, while the Saints give up 96 to their opposition each week.

Could this be the difference on Saturday night?

 

Riewoldt vs. ?

Even going into his 314th game, we need to talk about Nick Riewoldt.

The 33-year-old seems to dig deep when he faces the Dogs, topping his season averages in three key areas (disposals, marks and goals.) over the last three contests.

So, who marks him? The Dogs rely on disciplined team defence to contain opposition forwards but there will be times when someone is left one out with the St.Kilda captain.  

Champion Data tells us that man is likely to be Bulldogs skipper, Easton Wood who stood next to him in 33 of a possible 98 minutes in round 2.  

Not a bad option.