The Saints are gunning to get their season back on level terms, but a smarting Carlton outfit equally desperate to respond stands in their way.
Alan Richardson’s men are back home under the roof for the Sir Doug Nicholls Round clash, but with an injury cloud still hovering over a few Saints, who will make the cut?
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Ben Long was back to his best in the VFL, as he aggressively hunted the opposition all afternoon, applying his trademark inside grunt and elite pressure.
The 21-year-old’s fierce tackling and sound decision-making with ball in hand could see him earn an immediate recall to wear the Indigenous Guernsey inspired by his family’s story.
Hunter Clark’s biggest weapons are his sleek ball movement and toughness, both clearly on display for the Zebras last Sunday.
The 20-year-old has struggled for consistency at senior level in 2019, but after two influential VFL performances, his name is firmly in the mix.
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Big man Billy Longer once again dominated proceedings in the ruck, winning 129 hit-outs over the past two games.
The 26-year-old has played just six senior games since the start of 2018, but his fiery competitive streak and strong marking ability could see him feature against the Blues.
Mature-age recruit Nicholas Hind has been on the cusp of senior selection for the majority of the season, and continues to show promise with his run-and-carry off half-back.
Darragh Joyce stood tall in the Zebras’ defence with a team-high eight marks, and the athletic Irishman could be called upon to curtail the influence of one of the Blues’ key talls.
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Talented youngster Nick Coffield picked up 22 touches across half-back for Sandringham in arguably his best game for the year, and he continues to show the growth and improvement his coaches are after.
The Saints face the Blues at 3.20pm this Sunday, 26 May at Marvel Stadium.
