Saints streak stretches over a decade

Melbourne hasn’t beaten St Kilda for more than a decade, with the Saints unblemished sequence stretching all the way back to 2006, accounting for 13 wins across the journey. The last time the two sides faced back in Round 6, Melbourne burst out of the blocks early before Alan Richardson’s side reeled in a 27-point deficit before half-time. Then a third quarter masterclass from the Saints trio of tall forwards, Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey and Paddy McCartin, paved the way to a 39-point win at Etihad Stadium. The venue has been a graveyard for the Demons, given they’ve only won once in their past 24 visits to the ground.

Hickey doesn’t fear the beard

The rise of Max Gawn this season has been one of the major talking points of 2016, with the bearded beast emerging as the premier ruckman in the land. With Todd Goldstein down on his output last year and Nic Naitanui injured, Gawn is on track for a maiden All Australian guernsey. Back in Round 6, with Gawn at full flight, Saints big man Tom Hickey restricted his influence in the air and around the ground. Alan Richardson will be after more of the same on Sunday afternoon, with the game likely to be won or lost around the ball. If Gawn is the most improved ruckman in the game this year, Hickey isn’t far behind. After getting first crack at the No. 1 job in Round 1, Hickey hasn’t looked back, playing every game this year, averaging 29.7 hitouts (No. 6 in the AFL) and 9.7 hitouts to advantage (No. 5). And he doesn’t just get it done in the air; Hickey is equally effective when the ball hits the ground. From 15 games, he is averaging 3.4 clearances (No. 4 at St Kilda) and 3.5 tackles (No. 10).

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Just how good has Membrey’s season been?

If Hickey and Seb Ross are two of the most improved players at Linen House Centre this season, then Tim Membrey has attached himself to that group following his five goal haul against Essendon last Sunday. Having never previously kicked more than two goals until this year, the power forward has done it in six of his ten senior games this season. Talk about a phenomenal rise. The former Swan has kicked 28.12 in 2016 – including three bags of five – after working his way into the team in Round 6 following a delayed start to the year. If he holds this pace he could be on track for a half century, which would be even more remarkable given he missed the first five games of the year. Some questioned whether the Saints could play Membrey in the same forward line as Bruce, McCartin and Nick Riewoldt, but Membrey’s athleticism has proven to be his biggest asset. He moves like a midfielder, but marks like a powerhouse forward.

Saints wary of improved Demons attack

At the other end of the ground, St Kilda will be wary of Melbourne’s marquee forward Jesse Hogan. The Demons highly prized possession booted 7.1 against the Saints back in Round 6 in his finest performance to date. With no Sam Fisher, Alan Richardson will look to Sean Dempster to limit the West Australian’s impact. In his second full season in the AFL, Hogan has booted 38.22 (6th in the Coleman medal race), as well as averaging 15.9 possessions and 7.1 marks to continue his rise. Along with the spike in output from former No. 1 pick Jack Watts, the Demons have averaged four more goals per game this season, rising from 71.5 points (No.16) in 2015 to 95.9 points (No. 8) this year. It has been a dramatic shift, with Watts’ 30 majors being more than helpful. The match-ups in this part of the ground will be intriguing, with Sam Gilbert and Dylan Roberton set for important shifts.

Dunstan chalks up half century

In and under midfielder Luke Dunstan reaches the half century milestone on Sunday, becoming just the seventh player from his draft class to hit the mark. The 2013 draft looms as a crucial component of St Kilda’s list build, with pick No. 3 Jack Billings, No. 19 Blake Acres, off-season acquisition Nathan Freeman, who was pick No. 10, and Dunstan No. 18 part of that clique. The South Australian debuted against Melbourne in Round 1, 2014 and has played all but one game this season, averaging 18.2 possessions, 4.8 tackles and 3.4 clearances. He famously inherited Lenny Hayes celebrated No. 7 guernsey following his brilliant debut season, where his fearless attack on the ball prompted the triple Trevor Barker Award winner to pass his number on to the Woodville-West Torrens product.

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