Looking to make it three wins in a row, St Kilda head into Sunday’s clash aiming to rectify a five-game losing streak to Adelaide. These two last met at Adelaide Oval in round seven of 2015, a costly afternoon as both sides suffered significant injuries to key players.

Adelaide Crows vs St Kilda
Round 7 - May 16, 2015

Summary 

It was an afternoon of carnage for St Kilda. Experienced leaders Jarryn Geary (corked thigh) and Leigh Montagna (hamstring tightness) were late omissions, while Jack Lonie was subbed out early in the first quarter after a ferocious attack on the footy resulted in concussion. Adelaide was also hit with injuries, as Matthew Jaensch suffered what would become a career-ending knee injury. 

Despite the early casualties, St Kilda jumped to a three-goal lead, continuing the manic pressure that produced a miraculous come from behind win over the Western Bulldogs in round six. 

Just as Adelaide began to work their way back into the contest, skipper Nick Riewoldt was knocked in a sickening collision with Adelaide defender Brodie Smith.

Stretched off and taken to hospital, Riewoldt would take no further part and left St Kilda to battle on minus their inspirational leader.

With only two fit players on the bench, the Saints faced an uphill battle against an Adelaide side with all the momentum.

St Kilda struggled to contain the Adelaide run. From midway through the first quarter to the ten-minute mark of second term, the Crows booted six unanswered goals. After the early three-goal lead, Adelaide kicked eight of the next nine to take a 19-point advantage into half time.

Eddie Betts took the game away from St Kilda in a scintillating 15-minutes period in the third quarter. Kicking three goals in quick succession, Betts was unstoppable as the Crows kicked six goals to the Saints two and set the platform for a 46-point win.

Player Performances

Left as St Kilda’s main man up forward, Josh Bruce worked tirelessly all day, booting five goals and taking 12 marks. David Armitage was St Kilda’s best player with 31 disposals and polling one Brownlow vote, while Jack Steven had 27 touches, five tackles and 10 inside 50s.

Eddie Betts starred for Adelaide with 17 disposals and six goals, while Tom Lynch, Taylor Walker and Charlie Cameron each kicked three majors as the Crows forward line combined for 15 of the side’s 18 goals. Scott Thompson was also influential with 35 disposals.

Stats that mattered 

With the loss of star midfielder Leigh Montagna and Luke Dunstan moving to the forward line, St Kilda were smashed in the clearances 43-28 and disposals 418-356.

However, the Saints won the inside 50 count 56-52, highlighting the significance of Riewoldt’s loss and the struggles to convert opportunities. 

Who was missing?

St Kilda initially went in unchanged, but their hand was forced when Jarryn Geary and Leigh Montagna were late omissions. Sam Gilbert also missed as he spent the first half of 2015 with a foot injury. 

15 players who featured in last year’s clash against Adelaide played in our round 10 win over Fremantle. Youngsters Jade Gresham, Paddy McCartin and Tim Membrey have since joined the senior side, showing solid form in the early stages of 2016.

Rory Sloane and Josh Jenkins were notable absentees last time these two met, with 12 of those who played in last year’s clash suiting up in their most recent win over Greater Western Sydney.

The loss of Patrick Dangerfield has been eased by the emergence of Mitch McGovern, Wayne Milera and Rory Atkins, who himself had career-high 28 disposals last week's victory.

What the coaches said?

“I thought our move today worked really well for us. We put Laird onto Steven – Mackay was set for that job and was moved into the backline and I thought we got benefit of both from the move,” – Adelaide coach Phil Walsh (May 16, 2015)

"David Armitage has been really good for us, Jack Steven again, those guys were strong performers again both in terms of clearance and contest. But we need some support for those and that's the challenge for the guys coming up underneath.” – St Kilda coach Alan Richardson (May 16, 2015)

ADELAIDE     3.3    9.3    15.6    18.13 (119)
ST KILDA       3.3    5.8    7.12    10.13 (73)

GOALS 
Adelaide: Betts 6, Lynch 3, Cameron 3, Walker 3, Grigg 2, Dangerfield 2
St Kilda: Bruce 5, Newnes, Hickey, Steven, Shenton, Savage         

BEST 
Adelaide: Betts, Lynch, Thompson, Cameron, Walker, Laird 
St Kilda: Bruce, Armitage, Steven, Newnes, Dempster, Billings 

INJURIES 
Adelaide: Smith (concussion), Jaensch (knee)
St Kilda: Montagna (hamstring soreness) replaced in the side by Eli Templeton, Riewoldt (concussion), Lonie (concussion)