St Kilda has an opportunity to secure its fourth win of the season against Carlton, in what will be the Saints’ first clash this season under Friday night lights.
While the Blues have pieced together commendable performances against Port Adelaide and Collingwood over the past month, the story of their season has been a 1-14 record.
A 65-point defeat at the hands of Brisbane and a goalless first half against Fremantle has placed Brendon Bolton’s men under duress, with Friday night looming as a massive test of their resolve.
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Patrick Cripps, however, has been one of the Blues’ shining lights this season, the 23-year-old earmarked as the cornerstone of Carlton’s future.
Leading the league for contested possessions (263) and trailing only Tom Mitchell for clearances (108), Cripps’ destructive midfield presence has provided the Blues with some much-needed grunt.
The recently re-signed Marc Murphy has been solid in the few games he’s played this year, while Ed Curnow has delivered reliable performances despite the tribulations of season 2018.
But for the most part, Cripps has led the charge solo, with his efforts as yet unable to snatch the Blues’ second victory for the year.
With seven 30-disposal games and an average of 28.2 touches a game, the Brownlow contender simply cannot be underestimated by Alan Richardson’s men.
Another beacon of hope for the Blues has come in the form of Charlie Curnow, who like Cripps, has given fans optimism for the path going forward.
Aerially dominant and armed with a commanding lead, Curnow has impressed over the past three weeks, booting 10 goals to take his season tally to 26.
Wrangling the 21-year-old powerhouse will be a tough challenge for the St Kilda defence, but the return of Jake Carlisle should prove instrumental in negating the forward’s influence.
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The absences of Paddy McCartin and Josh Battle have opened the door for Rowan Marshall, with his three-goal performance for Sandringham last week enough to earn his first senior game since Round 11.
The inclusions of Kade Simpson and Caleb Marchbank will be similarly welcomed by the Blues, as the latter was sidelined in the clash against the Lions with a raised heartbeat.
With a chance to prove themselves on their maiden Friday night appearance of 2018, St Kilda’s focus will be firmly fixed on continuing their good run of form and notching up a victory over Carlton.
