St Kilda vs Geelong
Sunday June 15, 1.10pm
Simonds Stadium
Fox Footy

RELATED: Round 13 Game Day information

Overview:  
Another stern test awaits St Kilda this Sunday at Simonds Stadium, with Geelong intent on recapturing its early season form in front of its home fans.

The Cats were thumped by a red-hot Sydney outfit a fortnight ago, before falling over the line in a thriller at Etihad Stadium last Friday against Carlton.

After a nine-day break, Chris Scott’s men should be primed for this encounter, while the Saints will have to recover after a trip to Adelaide in round 12.

Lenny Hayes was again impressive against Port, while Luke Dunstan, Seb Ross and Jack Newnes were also solid contributors in the 70-point defeat.

Yet despite all the positives that come with playing kids and developing the youngsters, Alan Richardson would dearly love a win – and there is almost no harder challenge in football than travelling over the Westgate Bridge to Geelong to take on the Cats.

David Armitage’s return to the team will make add some much-needed grunt to the engine room, while Jimmy Webster’s likely re-inclusion following a club-imposed sanction will add some creativity to the back six.

Stat focus:
- Geelong is the least accurate team in the AFL this year, converting just 45.9 per cent of its shots.
- Nick Riewoldt has booted 31 goals this year, ranked equal third in the competition.
- The Cats are ranked second for marks inside 50 in 2014.
- The Cats are ranked second last for clearances this year, averaging just 34.3 per game.
- St Kilda is ranked fifth in the above category.
- The Saints are ranked last in the AFL for one percenters, averaging 43.9 per match.
- Joel Selwood is ranked fourth in the AFL for total clearances, averaging seven per game.
- Lenny Hayes is St Kilda’s best, averaging 5.7 clearances per outing.
- James Kelly and Steve Johnson are ranked equal fourth in the AFL for total clangers with 40 for the season

Injury list:
St Kilda:
Sam Fisher (hamstring) – Test
Sam Gilbert (foot) – 7 weeks
Tom Hickey (foot) – 1 week
Nathan Wright (leg) – 2 weeks
Eli Templeton (arm) – 3 months
Jarryn Geary (elbow) – 3 months
Blake Acres (foot) – 3 weeks
Joe Baker-Thomas (leg) – 1 week
Adam Schneider (foot) – 3-4 weeks
Geelong:
Zac Bates (hamstring) – Test
Mitch Brown (shoulder) – 1-2 weeks
George Burbury (groin) – 1-2 weeks
Josh Caddy (broken foot) – Likely VFL
Allen Christensen (hip and back) – Likely VFL again
Josh Cowan (achilles) – 1-2 weeks
Lincoln McCarthy (back) – test
Daniel Menzel (knee) – indefinite
Jordan Schroder (calf) – 1-2 weeks
Dawson Simpson (rested – available
Nathan Vardy (knee) – Season

What we say: (St Kilda coach Alan Richardson)
Geelong at Geelong … Geelong anywhere, really, are a fantastic footy team.

It's another significant challenge for our group but everyone will go out with real clarity as to what's expected from their individual perspective and what's expected from a team point of view.

It's about maintaining certain facets of the game for longer and that will be our challenge against Geelong.

RELATED: Fisher on the cusp

Last week:
St Kilda 9.5 (59) defeated by Port Adelaide 19.15 (129)
Geelong 16.11 (107) defeated Carlton 15.12 (102)


Jack Steven will play an important role this weekend. (Photo: Dave Savell)

Running hot:
St Kilda: Lenny Hayes
The evergreen ball-winner looks to be getting better by the week. As the chorus gets louder for him to play on in 2015, Hayes continues to defy age and rack up numbers that compare favourably with his 2010 season.

Last weekend the 34-year-old accumulated up 26 touches, laid seven tackles and even booted a goal, and he is the only player remaining on St Kilda’s list who played the last time the Saints won in Geelong – in 1999.

RELATED: Chance to rub shoulders with Lenny and Richo

Geelong: Matthew Stokes
The fact that Stokes has collected more disposals (283 at 28.3 per game) than any other Cats player this year in one less game than Joel Selwood and , demonstrates just how important the nimble midfielder has become.

Last week was the first time Stokes dropped below 26 touches for a game, but he still managed three goals in the hard-fought win.

Watch out for:
St Kilda: David Armitage
He’s back! Armitage’s return to the senior fold will make a significant difference to St Kilda’s midfield structure given his experience, strength and tenacity.

He hasn’t played and AFL game since round four, so Armitage will be hungry to assert himself on the contest early. Expect a bullocking return from the important 25-year-old.

VFL: Armitage amongst the best in defeat

Geelong: Steve Johnson
At his best, Stevie J is one of the most damaging forward-running midfielders in the competition. Over the past three seasons, he’s developed a seemingly unquenchable appetite for the ball which has seen him become more than just a clever forward-flanker with an eye for goal.

Last time they met:
Round 18, 2013 at Simonds Stadium
St Kilda 5.16 (36) defeated by Geelong 21.11 (137)
Disposals: Steven (36), Selwood (32)
Goals: Riewoldt, Lee (2), Hawkins (5)