saints.com.au has dissected the 2018 fixture and identified the six must-see games next season:
Round 2 v North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Friday, March 20 – Good Friday
A year after North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs played the first game on Good Friday, St Kilda will face the Kangaroos in the AFL’s newest marquee fixture.
The Saints will begin their 2018 campaign at Etihad Stadium six days earlier, facing last year’s wooden spooners Brisbane, while North Melbourne will start their season against Gold Coast in Cairns.
Alan Richardson’s men won both encounters between the two sides last year, winning the Round 22 game by 49-points at Etihad Stadium, with three-time Trevor Barker Award winner Jack Steven amassing 40 disposals.
Round 4 v Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday, April 21
After seven years on the Gold Coast, prodigal son Gary Ablett Jr plays his first game back at Kardinia Park as a Cat against St Kilda in Round 4.
The Saints play in Geelong for the first time since the new grandstand was unveiled last year, in their first game at the ground since 2014 and just the third time since 2004.
The Cats overran the Saints in the final quarter when the two sides met in 2017, with superstar midfielders Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood dragging Geelong across the line in Round 5.
Geelong unveiled their redeveloped home ground in Round 9 last season.
Round 7 v Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, May 6
With both sides travelling along a similar climb back up the ladder in recent years, many have been waiting to see who will take the next step and return to September first.
Melbourne won both games between the two sides last year, snapping a 14-game losing streak against the Saints when they claimed victory in the highly anticipated season opener, before winning the final before the finals in Round 21.
Just like in 2017, the two sides will meet twice in 2018. Firstly at Etihad Stadium in Round 7, before facing off again two months later at the MCG.
Round 12 v Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, June 9 – Pride Game
After Sydney hosted the second Pride Game this year, the fixture will return to Victoria in 2018, landing in a primetime Saturday night timeslot.
John Longmire’s side was far too good for the Saints in 2017, winning both fixtures comfortably.
Sydney has won the last eight encounters between the two teams, as well as 10 of the past 11 games.
While Nick Riewoldt won't be out there next year, Pride Game will return to Victoria in 2018.
Round 17 v Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Friday, July 13
St Kilda will face Carlton in the first of three Friday night games in the closing seven rounds of the home and away season.
Fans have flocked to Etihad Stadium in droves for recent encounters between the two sides and this game could hold even more significance when the whips are cracking in the race to September.
In a hard-fought battle at Docklands last season, a brilliant five-goal, 30-disposal performance by Jack Billings helped lead the Saints to victory in Round 8.
Round 18 v Richmond at Etihad Stadium on Friday, July 20 – Maddie’s Match
The Saints and Tigers will meet in the third edition of Maddie’s Match late next season, after first meeting at the MCG in Round 10.
While Richmond produced a stunning end to 2017 ending their 37-year premiership drought in spectacular fashion, the Saints should have plenty of belief against the Tigers given their stunning performance in Round 16 last year.
In a breathtaking half of football, that was perhaps the most dominant of any side in 2017, St Kilda booted 14 goals to just one to open up an 82-point lead at the main break. Less than three months later, Richmond held the premiership cup aloft on the biggest day of the year.
Etihad Stadium turns purple for Maddie's Match.
