St Kilda will return to Etihad Stadium for its first Saturday night fixture since Round 13, with the Western Bulldogs standing in the way of a fifth win.

Luke Beveridge’s men have been starved of success since Round 15, but on the back of four consecutive big losses, they’ll be desperate to turn their fortunes around.

While the Dogs have endured several comprehensive losses this season – with an average losing margin of 45 points – they’ve shown glimpses of the form that made them so dangerous in their premiership year.

But these glimpses have progressed no further, with their consistency over four quarters telling.

In 10 matches this season, the Bulldogs have kicked two goals or less in the final term, twice failing to register a single major; the Dogs have led five of these 10 at half-time but have only produced one win against Carlton.

READ: AFL Media preview Saints v Dogs

While the absences of premiership heroes Easton Wood, Luke Dahlhaus, Liam Picken and Tom Liberatore have impeded the Bulldogs, several remaining stars have been unable to channel their menacing impact of 2016.

Nonetheless, it has opened the door for a host of gifted youngsters, with Ed Richards, Aaron Naughton and Patrick Lipinski building solid games under the tutelage of Beveridge, who has rewarded the hard-working Dogs with senior selection.

Richards’ ability to explode off half-back has been commendable, but his opposition counterpart in Jimmy Webster will be set on stamping his authority on the contest after overcoming a niggling groin issue.

But the most anticipated inclusion by far is that of Nathan Freeman, who will make his long-awaited AFL debut after almost five years in the system.

In a career ravaged by injury, the talented 23-year-old will finally have his opportunity to impress on the big stage after receiving glowing endorsements from both the Sandringham and St Kilda coaching panels.


Freeman and the other St Kilda midfielders will have their work cut out for them though, with Jack Macrae, Lachie Hunter and Toby McLean all a serious threat in the centre.

The trio have enjoyed career-best seasons, with Brownlow contender Macrae leading the Dogs for clearances (90) and average disposals (31.4).

Dogs midfielder Josh Dunkley has been influential in 2018, and his foil in Jack Steele will have a major role to play this week, Steele’s efforts against Callan Ward serving as the backbone for another solid performance.

With both teams intent on making a statement, the Saints will come out firing under the Saturday night lights to take home the Barker/Whitten Challenge Plate.