St Kilda will be forced to make wholesale changes to the side that was beaten by Adelaide on Sunday, following a spate of injuries in the loss at Adelaide Oval.

Key defenders Hugh Goddard (Achilles) and Sean Dempster (knee) won’t be available, with Goddard set to miss the next 12 months, while Dempster is set for a month on the sidelines.

Saints Captain Nick Riewoldt is in doubt for Sunday’s game against Carlton after he jarred his knee in the opening minute of the loss to the Crows. The champion forward will need to prove his fitness later in the week before being ruled in or out.

Emerging spearhead Paddy McCartin has already been ruled out this week after the strong marking forward suffered his second concussion in a matter of months against Adelaide.

With injuries to Goddard and Dempster compounding the loss of Sam Fisher (hamstring) last week, Alan Richardson and the match committee will be looking to restock the defensive key posts.

Transformed backman Tom Lee is likely to earn another opportunity after he travelled to South Australia as an emergency. While Luke Delaney could also come in for his first game since the middle of last season to help strengthen the Saints defence.

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Second-year midfielder Jack Sinclair was the other travelling emergency in the loss to Adelaide and Daniel McKenzie was a late withdrawal on Sunday after succumbing to an illness. McKenzie played the last fortnight and could come straight back into the senior side.

Midfield pair Blake Acres and Darren Minchington have been in strong form at VFL level with Sandringham since being demoted from the senior side in the last month.

Minchington was one of Sandringham’s better players in their two-point win over Geelong on Sunday, collecting 29 possessions and five tackles to mount his case for a recall.

West Australian Acres was quieter than he was a fortnight earlier when he collected 38 touches, but given he did receive a Rising Star nomination earlier this season he may come back into the selection frame.

Damaging utility Nathan Wright continued his recent run of form, with Paul Hudson including the Victorian in his best players for the third time in a row. Wright hasn’t played since Round 20 last season, but could be thrust back into the fold following his sustained patch of strong form.

Uncapped ruckman Lewis Pierce put his name up for a debut again on the weekend with another eye catching performance. Splitting his time between the ruck and inside 50, the 22-year-old was named among Sandringham’s best players for the fourth week in succession.

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