St Kilda has made two changes ahead of Friday night’s blockbuster clash with Essendon at Etihad Stadium, with ruckman Tom Hickey and key forward Josh Battle coming into the side that beat Richmond.
Schoolboy Battle will make his debut against the Bombers and replace the suspended Tim Membrey, while a hamstring injury for in-form ruckman Billy Longer will provide Hickey with his first senior opportunity since Round 4.
Longer and Membrey both
Mature-age rookie Rowan Marshall has been elevated onto the senior list and named as an emergency for Friday night, alongside midfielders Luke Dunstan and Blake Acres.
While St Kilda is a long way off the 19-game winning streak they produced in 2009, the Saints banked their fourth consecutive win last Saturday night against Richmond – the most games they have won in a row in Alan Richardson’s time at the club and the most since 2011, which was the last time the Saints played finals.
The Saints have won the last three meetings between the two sides and will be out to weave four consecutive wins against the Bombers together for the first time since the start of the 1970s.
After narrow losses against Brisbane (eight points) and Sydney (one-point) after the siren, John Worsfold’s side returned to the winners list against Collingwood (37 points) and sit a game outside the eight on seven wins after 16 rounds.
A week after reaching the 100-game milestone, St Kilda key defender Jake Carlisle will face his old side for the first time since being traded to Linen House Centre at the end of 2015, in an exchange of picks that also landed the Saints the pick that secured Jade Gresham.
The inclusion of Carlisle and former Collingwood premiership
Essendon possesses a variety of weapons in the forward half. Key forward Joe Daniher is equal second in the Coleman Medal on 41 goals – two behind Lance Franklin – Orazio Fantasia has exploded onto the scene this year and booted 32 goals as a small forward, while All-Australian defender Cale Hooker has transformed into a key forward, booting 26 goals so far.
Round 17 Team v Essendon
Etihad Stadium
B: Jarryn Geary, Nathan Brown, Dylan Roberton
HB: Jack Newnes, Jake Carlisle, Shane Savage
C: Leigh Montagna, Koby Stevens, Jack Billings
HF: Jack Sinclair, Nick Riewoldt, Jack Lonie
F: Jade Gresham, Josh Bruce, Josh Battle
R: Tom Hickey, Seb Ross, Jack Steven
Interchange: Jack Steele, Sam Gilbert, Ben Long, Daniel McKenzie
IN: T. Hickey, J. Battle
OUT: B. Longer (hamstring), T. Membrey (suspended)
