SATURDAY’S clash between Melbourne and St Kilda at Etihad Stadium promises to be a cracking encounter by two of the up-and-coming teams in the competition.
While the contest promises plenty, there are several subplots to the match.
Not only will it be Simon Goodwin’s first match as Melbourne senior coach, four-time Hawthorn premiership player Jordan Lewis will don the red and blue for the first time in a home and away match. Jack Viney will also step-up, joining Nathan Jones as co-captain, for the first time. In the process, Viney will join his father Todd as the first father/son combination to skipper Melbourne.
St Kilda, too, has several storylines entering round one, such as Jarryn Geary leading the club, meaning it will be the first time since 2008 that the great Nick Riewoldt hasn’t captained the Saints.
But Geary, who has become a quality player at St Kilda, playing 141 games since joining the club as a rookie in late 2006, also has an interesting story entering round one. His soon-to-be in-laws are likely to be wishing him well, but hoping Melbourne wins, as he explains.
“My fiancé Emma’s father actually played for Melbourne, Peter Giles, so there is a bit of a rivalry at home,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“They’re very much a Melbourne family, so in round one, I won’t just be competing with the current Melbourne players, but the past as well.
“It’s a tough situation, because my fiancé says she barracks for St Kilda, but every now and then, I see her giving Melbourne a bit of a fist pump, so she’s got a soft spot for the Dees.”
Giles was a fine contributor for Melbourne in the early to mid-1980s, when he played 124 matches for Melbourne from 1979-87.
He played most of his games – 101 from 1979-84 – before a knee injury halted his career in 1985-86. In his final season, in 1987, he managed 13 games, plus he was a member of Melbourne’s night Grand Final win over Essendon. (This was the final year before it became a pre-season competition in 1988).
In fact, Giles played a pivotal part in the victory under lights at Waverley Park, when he managed to fend off Essendon’s Neale Daniher – later Melbourne’s coach – and fire a handball to Bret Bailey, who kicked the winning goal, giving the club its first trophy since the 1971 night premiership.
Giles, who was Melbourne’s best first year player in 1979, was named one of the club’s 150 heroes in 2008. His older brother Glenn also played two matches for Melbourne in 1981.
Geary’s connection to Melbourne, via the Giles family, is just another part of the rivalry that has reemerged between the Demons and Saints in recent times.
“I think we’ve had a pretty healthy rivalry for a number of years and we have had the wood over them (Melbourne) for a period of time, but some of those wins have been pretty close,” he said.
“Melbourne probably feel they’ve been unlucky not to get over the line on a couple of those games, so really those few games could’ve gone either way really.
“Melbourne has been playing some really good footy in the off-season and played some really good footy last year, so we think it’s going to be a really good game.”
After finishing second in St Kilda’s best and fairest last year, Geary said it was an honour to lead the Saints.
“I’m really looking forward to leading the boys out in round one and it’ll really signify that I’m the captain,” he said.
“Some things I didn’t know were going to be my responsibility until they got thrust upon you, but I’m learning along the way and embracing new challenges.
“I’m just really excited that it’s round one.”
