St.Kilda vs Richmond - Etihad Stadium - Saturday
St.Kilda 3rd - 15-6-1 - 124.51%
Richmond 15th - 6-14 - 71.44%
On Saturday afternoon Ben Cousins will play his penultimate AFL game in what looms as a huge test for his young tiger teammates against one of the competitions best teams St.Kilda.
Signs of fatigue have been evident in recent weeks for Richmond with a fade out late against Melbourne, followed by probably their worst loss of the season last week against the Blues.
They were again strong in the clearances which has been a big area for them all year, but they lost a bit of that ferocity and aggression at the contest.
With young legs this can happen. The ability to push to the next contest and keep chasing and harassing can be a struggle as a long season drags on but they owe it to themselves to finish this year with a strong last fortnight to do justice to their efforts.
They haven't undone their hard work by any means in the last few weeks, but fans would have felt a touch dissapointed no doubt.
Jack Riewoldt is being double and sometimes triple teamed at present and this was always going to happen after his red hot patch a month or so ago. The problem now is that the Tigers don't have a mature key forward to help him out. They will in time, just not yet as Griffiths is injured, Jayden Post is still raw and Mitch Morton is a) not big enough and b) being groomed elsewhere.
Jake King continues to perform as a small forward kicking goals and also restricting an opposition runner off half back. He might get Jason Gram this week.
Brett Deledio is also copping a fair bit of attention as teams put homework into his run off halfback, and also that of the skipper Chris Newman.
It's all part of the learning process for the young emerging Tigers who have a ton of upside, they just need to mature a bit, and develop some bigger bodies.
Last time they met St.Kilda, Richmond had a staggering 19 more clearances then the Saints, and for much of the evening they made life quite difficult for the reigning Grand Finalists.
The blueprint this week needs to be similar. Daniel Jackson didn't play that night, he will tag probably Montagna like he did last year, but he along with Martin, Cousins, Tuck and the returning Trent Cotchin will go against Hayes, Dal Santo, Goddard, Montagna, Jones and co for the Saints.
St.Kilda appear to have the better names, but the Tigers strength is clearance work and St.Kilda will be well aware of what happened last time in that third term.
For St.Kilda last week was the first time they have won the clearances since Round 14 which arrested a trend that was starting to get quite alarming.
The next fortnight is all about building momentum and further developing their game for another assault on a flag commencing with a likely first final against Geelong.
They have secured top four which was the prime objective, and will be hoping to use the plucky Tigers, and the dogged Adelaide next week at Aami Stadium to get the structure right and the "Saints footy" model functioning well.
The last two weeks have seen a greater spread of goal kickers, more flair and a bit more freedom of ball movement which is more like St.Kilda's model.
They are actually quite a high scoring and attacking team when executing the game plan properly.
There is no doubt the style is built on defence, but it is only when they are tied down or struggling that they look cumbersome, as most sides do.
Michael Gardiner should return this week, and Steven Baker is probably the only other member of the best 22 to return for the finals, meaning they have a fairly fit list to choose from.
Zac Dawson is another who will be considered, but that may be a horses for courses scenario.
Justin Koschitzke showed some better signs last week in terms of his contested marking and attack on the ball, but he still needs to get his hands on the pill a bit more and hit the scoreboard consistently.
They cannot win the flag without him, so he must find peak form if they are to have a legitimate chance against the Cats, Pies, Dogs and Hawks.
Nick Riewoldt was the other big positive last week with seven goals from twelve shots and also the good games of Sam Fisher and Sam Gilbert who seem to have re-discovered their run off half back.
This week I'd expect Blake to get first crack at Riewoldt, with Fisher an option if pace becomes a problem and probably Gwilt as option three.
King v Gram will be interesting, with Gilbert perhaps getting Morton or Post if they float accross half forward.
At the other end, Will Thursfield might return and play on Nick Riewoldt as he had a reasonable game on him a few years back, Moore or McGuane should take Kozi, but it is the Milne match up they will need to sort out.
Milne has kicked 7, 4 and 5 against the Tigers in his last three meetings with Newman and Edwards both getting a gig on him in recent times.
Perhaps Jake King might have to go back, or maybe the skipper will get another go at it.
Clinton Jones will probably tag Martin I dare say in the middle which is a huge wrap for the young kid.
Richmond have to be respected given their flair, pace and clearance work, but St.Kilda are building for September, have the more mature bodies and the greater spread of talent and should win their third game in a row quite comfortably.
For Ben Cousins, this is the second last time he will take to the field and fans should get along to pay tribute to one of the modern era's finest footballers. A fact I hope is remembered much more then his off field troubles.
Expect him to play a big game this week as he will be making every post a winner in the next two weeks before heading off into the sunset.
Expect his teammates to lift for him too as they love him to bits, but that probably won't be enough to topple one of the flag fancies who need to maintain their momentum over a crucial fortnight leading into September.
St.Kilda by 40 points
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