St Kilda may look to make minimal changes to the side that nearly ended Hawthorn’s dominance at Aurora Stadium last weekend, although the fitness of Jarryn Geary may force at least one change at the selection table.
The reliable small defender blanketed four-time Hawthorn premiership star Cyril Rioli before being assisted off the ground with concussion due to a big collision in the final term. Geary will be assessed throughout the week and might be cleared to face Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.
With Dylan Roberton (knee) still sidelined due to injury, and Jimmy Webster (quad) facing a fitness test after missing last week, the Saints depth down back is being tested early in the season. Although the form of Tom Lee in his first game in nearly two years has provided another option.
Inside midfielder Luke Dunstan was one three players to miss the trip to Tasmania due to injury, along with Roberton and Webster. The 21-year-old suffered a minor hamstring strain following the win over Collingwood, but remains a chance to return to face the Giants on Sunday.
With Sandringham not having a game last weekend due to the bye, the match committee does not exactly have anyone banging on the door, especially given the inclusions of Lee, Blake Acres and Eli Templeton last weekend – all three were the standouts in the Zebras Round 1 loss.
Tim Membrey and Jade Gresham were the traveling emergencies last weekend in Tasmania and could come into selection calculations this week. Membrey was the carryover emergency in Round 3 and missed Sandringham’s game as a consequence, so the power forward hasn’t played for a fortnight.
After playing both NAB Challenge games, the opening two weeks of the AFL season and Sandringham’s Round 1 game against Box Hill, first-year midfielder Gresham received an important rest opportunity last weekend.
Midfielder Tom Curren was one of St Kilda’s emergencies in the opening two rounds of the season, but is yet to earn an opportunity in Alan Richardson’s setup this year.
After an impressive NAB Challenge game against North Melbourne and strong form for Sandringham in the pre-season, Curren wasn’t at his best for the Zebras in Round 1, but given his form over the pre-season he might be in the mix.
