Cameron returns from month long ban

In a week where star Gold Coast defender Steven May received a five-week ban for his front on bump on Brisbane’s Stefan Martin, another star of the competition returns following a lengthy lay off for a similar indiscretion. That star is of course Jeremy Cameron, who comes straight back into Leon Cameron’s forward line after serving a four-week suspension for a hit on Brisbane’s Rhys Mathieson. The Giants’ four-time leading goal kicker has an imposing recent record against St Kilda, having booted nine goals across two games last season. Although only one of those goals was kicked on Sean Dempster, who spent a half on the athletic full forward when the teams last met in Round 15 last season. Expect the reliable defender to get the job on Cameron on Sunday, especially given his recent form on Jake Stringer, Darcy Moore and James Sicily in the last three weeks.

Lee transformation culminates in return

Richo brings up the half century

Sunday’s fixture at Etihad Stadium will mark Alan Richardson’s 50th game as an AFL coach, including one match in charge at Port Adelaide in 2013 when Ken Hinkley was unavailable due to an illness. St Kilda has undergone a comprehensive list regeneration under Richardson, and courtesy of List Manager Tony Elshaug and his team, as the Saints look to build the club back into a force after a handful of lean years following the Grand Final era in 2009-10. And after an encouraging start to 2016, St Kilda appears to have taken another stride forward under the watchful eye of Richardson. The next step will be capitalising on winnable opportunities like against Hawthorn in Tasmania and Port Adelaide in Adelaide in Round 1.

Midfield spread helping the Saints stride forward

Throughout the pre-season and in the lead up to this season, Alan Richardson and a plethora of players regularly said St Kilda’s improvement would come from the phalanx of youth at Linen House Centre; from the collection of players in their third, fourth and fifth seasons – not from the clubs established stars. And that’s precisely where the improvement has come, particularly in the midfield. David Armitage and Jack Steven have done their thing, but the form of Jack Newnes, Seb Ross, Luke Dunstan and Jack Billings has seen a wider spread of contribution. The increased depth in the engine room has the Saints ranked second in the competition for disposals (410 per game), third for uncontested possession differential (+26.5) and sixth for kicking efficiency differential as the Saints have become more fluent on transition. With the Giants batting extremely deep in the middle of the ground, a tough test looms.

Montagna: We're going about it the right way

Giants midfield depth presents enthralling challenge

And whilst St Kilda may have improved their midfield depth, Greater Western Sydney possess one of the most potent onball divisions in the game, despite losing Adam Treloar (Collingwood) and Tom Bugg (Melbourne) at the end of last season. Led by dominant ruckman Shane Mumford, the Giants are one of the best, if not the best, stoppage sides in the league, ranked 1st for clearances differential (+9), 2nd for scores from clearances differential (+19.2) and 4th for hitouts to advantage differential (+4.2). Explosive midfielder Dylan Shiel has regained the form he found in the first half of 2015 before his season was ended prematurely due to a knee injury. He is averaging 28.8 possessions, 10.8 contested possessions and 5.8 clearances, whilst Tom Scully is the big improver on the outside, averaging 27.3 possessions and 560 metres gained (6th in the AFL) in the first month of 2016. And then there is Callan Ward, the Giants fearless leader who is one of the most underrated midfielders in the game.

Opposition Analysis: Greater Western Sydney

Take a closer look at the Giants at Etihad, not as bad as it looks on paper

Under the lid at Etihad Stadium, the Giants have one of their least successful records, winning only three of 11 games at the venue. Although, Greater Western Sydney did defeat St Kilda at Docklands in Round 1 last season by nine-points, before completing the double at Spotless Stadium in Round 15. Given their development as an expansion side, there is little value going further back than last season. The Giants saluted in two of their four games at Etihad Stadium last year, defeating Carlton as well as the Saints, before losing to the Bulldogs and Melbourne in Round 23 when the season was already over. At 2-2, which could easily have another win had they not lost their way against Melbourne late in Round 1 before losing by two-points, the Sydney side sit just outside the eight and loom as a potential finalist for the first time in their short history.