TonyK
CibbuanoRound one preview: Sydney v St Kilda
March 26th 2010 16:49
VENUE and TIME: ANZ Stadium, Saturday 27 March, 7.10pm (AEDT)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 203, Sydney 125, St Kilda 75, Drawn: 3
LAST TIME: St Kilda 2.9.7 (79) def Sydney 0.12.6 (78), 2010 NAB Cup quarter-final, Etihad Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: The Saints have won five of their past seven matches against Sydney.
FORM: The Swans enjoyed their best pre-season campaign under coach Paul Roos, winning their first-round NAB Cup match against Carlton before going down to St Kilda by just one point. They then recorded victories over Essendon and North Melbourne in the NAB Challenge series. St Kilda progressed through to the grand final of the NAB Cup where they were outclassed by the Western Bulldogs.
MEDICAL ROOM: Sydney will be without the services of injury Lewis Johnston (foot), Brett Meredith (quad) Jake Orreal (back) for the short term while midfielder Craig Bird (foot) and Kristin Thornton (knee) are not expected to play until round 10. For the Saints, star defender Sam Fisher will be out for up to four weeks with an ankle injury sustained in the loss to the Bulldogs while Raphael Clarke (hamstring), Robert Eddy (ankle), Jack Steven (foot) and Jesse Smith (ankle) are also sidelined.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Craig Bolton vs. Nick Riewoldt
Riewoldt enjoyed a stellar 2009 season, booting 73 goals in 24 games to almost lift his side to their first premiership since 1966.
The Saints skipper looks in even better shape than he did last year - a scary thought for opposition sides - and will need to be contained if Sydney is going to pull off what would be somewhat of an upset win.
The ever-reliable Bolton has lined up on Riewoldt in the past and it won’t be any different on Saturday night.
While Bolton is a superb defender, he will need help from his teammates.
The Swans will need to suffocate the Saints’ classy on-ball division with their tackling pressure otherwise Riewoldt - who is virtually unstoppable on the lead - will receive enough quality supply to have an influence on the outcome of the contest.
James Gwilt vs. Adam Goodes
After years of wreaking havoc through the middle of the ground, Goodes will be a part of a new-look Sydney forward line in 2010.
The dual Brownlow medallist will fill the centre-half forward post vacated by former premiership captain Barry Hall with ex-Lion Daniel Bradshaw and promising youngster Jesse White providing the other tall marking options inside 50.
Gwilt will be given first crack at Goodes given that he kept the Swans star goalless when the two sides met in the second round of the NAB Cup.
It is vital that the Swans are quick and clean with their movement of the football to give Goodes and co. the best chance of having an impact otherwise St Kilda will be able to push numbers back and punish them on the rebound.
Clinton Jones vs. Jarrad McVeigh
McVeigh was among Sydney’s best the last time these two sides met in a home-and-away season match in round 18 last year with 24 possessions, one goal and five inside 50s.
When on-song McVeigh is able to hurt sides with his ability to push forward and have an impact on the scoreboard.
However, the 24-year-old midfielder faces a tough night at the office however as he will be tagged by Jones who kept him quiet when these two teams faced each other in the second round of the NAB Cup.
Not only is Jones regarded as one of the best taggers in the competition but is also capable of winning his fair share of the football.
McVeigh will need to work hard going both ways.
Ben McGlynn vs. Leigh Montagna
Montagna was instrumental in St Kilda’s thrilling one-point win over Sydney in round 18 last year with a game-high 34 touches, five inside 50’s and the behind in the dying seconds that got his side over the line.
The 26-year-old is an integral part of the Saints’ midfield because he is able to consistently break the lines and deliver the football inside 50.
Limiting his influence will be a key for the Swans if they are going to contain a St Kilda attack that was the third most productive in the competition last season.
McGlynn played a tagging role on Montagna in the round two NAB Cup clash and could well be given the job on the Saints star once again.
Expect the former Hawk to apply plenty of body pressure in a bid to put Montagna off his game.
VERDICT: This shapes as being one of the matches of the round given that both Sydney and St Kilda performed well during the pre-season and little has separated the two sides in their past couple of clashes. The Saints have the edge in class in the middle with Nick Dal Santo, Lenny Hayes, Jason Gram and Montagna all quality. They should win enough of the football against the likes of Brett Kirk, Jude Bolton, McVeigh and co. to provide their forwards with ample scoring opportunities. Saints by 14 points.
SYDNEY SWANS v ST KILDA
SYDNEY SWANS
B: Craig Bolton, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Rhyce Shaw
HB: Tadhg Kennelly, Heath Grundy, Nick Malceski
C: Jarrad McVeigh, Brett Kirk, Lewis Jetta
HF: Ryan O'Keefe, Adam Goodes, Ben McGlynn
F: Jesse White, Daniel Bradshaw, Jarred Moore
Foll: Mark Seaby, Josh Kennedy, Jude Bolton
I/C: Kieren Jack, Martin Mattner, Shane Mumford, Ted Richards
Emg: Paul Bevan, Gary Rohan, Nick Smith
New: Daniel Bradshaw (Brisbane Lions), Lewis Jetta (Swan Districts), Josh Kennedy (Hawthorn), Ben McGlynn (Hawthorn), Shane Mumford (Geelong), Mark Seaby (West Coast)
ST KILDA
B: Jason Gram, Zac Dawson, Sam Gilbert
HB: Steven Baker, Jason Blake, Brendon Goddard
C: Leigh Montagna, Clint Jones, Nick Dal Santo
HF: Andrew McQualter, Nick Riewoldt, Adam Schneider
F: James Gwilt, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne
Foll: Ben McEvoy, David Armitage, Farren Ray
I/C: Steven King, Brett Peake, Lenny Hayes, Jarryn Geary
Emg: Alistair Smith, Robert Eddy, Adam Pattison
New: Brett Peake (Fremantle)
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