‘Three wins in a row’ is a phrase Saints fans haven’t heard since 2017.
But with the Saints in full swing under Brett Ratten, this week’s encounter against Adelaide could make it a long-awaited reality.
Don Pyke’s men have enjoyed more success following its Grand Final appearance two years ago, but haven’t enjoyed the last few weeks.
A comprehensive loss to Carlton on Saturday and four losses from its past five weeks has Adelaide hanging onto eighth spot as the pressure begins to mount on the embattled side.
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Although a return to their home ground will help in reunifying the Crows, they have failed to record a win there since Round 13, when they knocked off the Tigers by 33 points.
Adelaide Oval hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the red, white and black either.
In fact, the Saints have never won a game there from its nine encounters – four defeats of which have come at the hands of the Crows.
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Going even further back is the last time the Saints toppled their South Australian opposition, with St Kilda last knocking off Adelaide in 2011.
Across those nine matches, Adelaide has recorded a winning margin of 53 points.
The last time the two sides met, it was a match the Saints would rather forget; the 29-point loss also marking the significant injury to Jack Lonie, and Jack Steven's last senior appearance before his break to focus on his mental health.
After a series of surprising omissions, the Crows are set to welcome back a host of seasoned stars ahead of Saturday night.
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And they’ll be relying on that collective experience to get them over the line, with Eddie Betts, Bryce Gibbs and Richard Douglas all set to return.
Save a six-goal haul against Gold Coast, Betts has been kept goalless in three of his past four matches, but his ability to light up the game will have the Saints' defence wary.
Gibbs has found himself on the outer numerous times this season, but his 40 disposals and 10 clearances in the SANFL could see him deployed as a dangerous weapon through the midfield and off half-back.
For the remaining Crows in the senior side, there have been strong individual contributors, yet a lack of cohesion between lines has restricted on-field success.
Adelaide were comprehensively thrashed through the middle by Carlton last week, but underestimating its midfield could be a serious mistake.
Brad Crouch has racked up footy at will, topping the Crows’ total disposals (553) and placing fifth in the league in that statistic.
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After missing all of last year following a niggling groin injury, the 25-year-old has lined up in every game this season, averaging over 30 disposals per game.
His uncontested possession dominance (329) has enabled him to utilise his engine through the middle, gain valuable territory (7274m) and fire the ball inside 50 the equal-most times of any Crow this season (74).
Shutting him down will be integral to the Saints’ success, but his brother, Matt Crouch is more than capable of picking up the slack.
Always a high accumulator of possessions, the No. 5 has topped 30 disposals nine times this season and could regain the confidence they’ve lacked over the past few weeks.
And with Crouch brothers and Rory Sloane rounding out Adelaide’s top-three clearance winners (278), it shapes as a daunting challenge for St Kilda’s on-ball brigade.
Co-captain Rory Sloane grapples with Saints Seb Ross and Jack Steele.
Sloane will be pivotal in rekindling the Crows’ belief, with his hardness at the contest, consistent tackling pressure (111) and ability to win the ball at the coalface (238) potentially the catalyst for change.
He will likely be pitted against contested bull Luke Dunstan, who will celebrate his 100th game this weekend, while Seb Ross will be channelling last week’s inspiring performance in the hopes of owning the midfield.
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Co-captain Taylor Walker has been a positive over the past few months amid a season punctuated with criticism, with the powerhouse forward leading Adelaide’s goalkicking with 32 majors.
Jake Carlisle’s superb run of form, aggression and height makes him a likely candidate to tangle with the 199cm forward, yet the return of Josh Battle could prove as a viable second option.
With Josh Jenkins returning to the SANFL this week, the door has opened for 19-year-old Darcy Fogarty to play his first game for the season.
Adelaide will be without their chief interceptor, Alex Keath, who was ruled out of the contest in order to fully overcome ankle soreness.
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Rory Laird and Daniel Talia are more than capable of holding their own in defence, with the former arguably the Crows’ best player this season.
The 2018 Malcolm Blight medallist and two-time All Australian has averaged 28 disposals across half-back this season, and also tops his side for rebound 50s (91) and effective kicks (190).
Talia meanwhile is likely to be given the task of reining in Josh Bruce, whose four-goal performance last Saturday has him as a focal point in Adelaide’s war room.
Brodie Smith has also shone down back, accumulating almost 9.5km gained and firing the footy inside 50 the equal-most times of any other Crow (74).
There’s no denying Adelaide is under immense pressure.
And that’s something the Saints will look to capitalise on under the Saturday night lights.
