St Kilda won’t make any changes to the side that beat North Melbourne ahead of Sunday’s clash against Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium.
After ending a three-game losing streak last Friday night, the Saints have decided to reward the form by not making any personnel changes for the first time in 2017.
Emerging key forward Paddy McCartin has recovered from the knee soreness that kept him out last weekend, but hasn’t found a spot inside a forward line that contains Nick Riewoldt, Josh Bruce and Tim Membrey.
Young midfield recruit Jack Steele, dashing half-back Shane Savage and McCartin have all been named as emergencies.
St Kilda has lost the last three encounters between the two sides, although all three of those losses have come in south-east Queensland.
The last time the Saints beat Gold Coast was midway through Alan Richardson’s first season at the helm, in the last fixture at Etihad Stadium.
Despite a week of celebration, and despite being named in the side on Thursday night, dual Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett has been ruled out of Sunday’s game due to a calf strain, pushing his 300th out by at least a week.
The Suns have also removed half-back Kade Kolodjashnij from their 25-man squad, replacing the pair with Josh Schoenfeld and Trent McKenzie, who could play his first AFL game in 12 months and his 100th at the highest level.
Gold Coast will make a minimum of six forced changes to the side that lost to Carlton at Metricon Stadium last Saturday night, with Michael Barlow (broken leg), Aaron Hall (hamstring), Brandon Matera (foot) and Matt Rosa (suspension) joining Ablett and Kolodjashnij out of the side.
Round 14 Team v Gold Coast Suns
Sunday, June 25 at 4.40 pm
Etihad Stadium
B: Jarryn Geary, Nathan Brown, Dylan Roberton
HB: Jack Newnes, Jake Carlisle, Sam Gilbert
C: Leigh Montagna, Koby Stevens, Jack Billings
HF: Jack Sinclair, Nick Riewoldt, Maverick Weller
F: Jade Gresham, Josh Bruce, Tim Membrey
R: Billy Longer, Seb Ross, Jack Steven
Interchange: Luke Dunstan, Blake Acres, Jack Lonie, Jimmy Webster
Emergencies: Shane Savage, Jack Steele, Paddy McCartin
NO CHANGE
