Match Details

Melbourne v St Kilda
MCG
Sunday July 1, 1.10pm AEST

Summary

After two consecutive losses, Melbourne face St Kilda in a crucial Sunday afternoon clash at the MCG. A win will be vital for the red and blue in its quest to seal a top-four spot come September.

The on-field action will form the backdrop to Melbourne’s annual ‘The Welcome Game’. Now in its second year, The Welcome Game is all about embracing Melbourne’s diverse population and welcoming new audiences to enjoy Aussie Rules at the MCG.

2017’s Welcome Game was also played against the Saints, who are coming off a bye in round 14. St Kilda will take confidence from their last outing against the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium, when they turned around a 31-point deficit at three quarter-time to run out winners by two points.

Team news

Melbourne have named talls Sam Weideman and debutant Harry Petty in the final 22 for Sunday. 

Petty has been a solid performer at VFL level this season and will add much-needed height to the Melbourne backline. Forward Weideman warranted selection following a bag of seven for Casey against Coburg last weekend. Weideman has not played in the AFL since round eight. 

For the Saints, Jarryn Geary returns from injury after a two-week absence. Geary joins Irish debutant Darragh Joyce as one of two ins for St Kilda, with Jimmy Webster and Logan Austin the outs.

Key match-ups

Neville Jetta v Jade Gresham
Jetta has strung together a number of high-quality performances in recent weeks and is likely to match-up against Saints small forward Jade Gresham.

Gresham is the Saints’ leading goalkicker so far in 2018 (22 goals) and has been a handy contributor in attack with nine goal assists. After a solid performance on Port Adelaide’s Robbie Gray in round 14, Jetta will be looking forward to taking on the emerging small forward.

In the media

St Kilda senior coach Alan Richardson on Melbourne
“Whilst they’ve come off of a couple of losses, they’ve been in really good form. Where we were really strong last week [against Gold Coast] in contests and clearances, we know that’s a strength of Melbourne’s. We know that the challenge is a stronger one [and] we’re looking forward to it.” (via saints.com.au).

Melbourne senior coach Simon Goodwin on his side’s tactics
“We’ve continued to test our defensive system and we’ve made some really big improvements since round four or five around that area. We’ll continue to try and play a forward half game. There is a really big balance in doing that and if we connect better inside our forward 50, we don’t look as exposed in that phase of the game.”

2018 so far

Ladder position (as of June 29)
Melbourne: 6th (W8, L5)
St Kilda: 16th (W2, L10, D1)

Past five matches
Melbourne: WWWLL
St Kilda: LLLLW

Scoring record
Melbourne: For – 198.154 (1342). Against – 153.135 (1054)
St Kilda: For – 123.148 (886). Against – 182.159 (1251)

Did you know…

  • Jesse Hogan averages more than three goals per game against St Kilda from six matches. After going two rounds without scoring a goal, Hogan will be eager to get back on the board this Sunday.
  • Melbourne hasn’t won four matches in a row against St Kilda since it won seven in succession from 2000-04
  • St Kilda has lost its past three matches at the MCG

Head-to-head history

Total
Played: 213 games
Melbourne: 121 wins
St Kilda: 91 wins
Drawn: 2 games

At the MCG
Played: 94 games
Melbourne: 59 wins
St Kilda: 35 wins

Last decade
Played: 15 games
Melbourne: 3 wins
St Kilda: 12 wins

Highest home and away season attendance
72,114 – Round 9, 1965 at the MCG

Biggest wins
Melbourne: 105 points (round 13, 1948 at the MCG)
St Kilda: 88 points (round 18, 2005 at the MCG)

Last time we met
Round 7, 2018: Melbourne 16.10 (106) d St Kilda 9.13 (67) at Etihad Stadium

Match Day Hub

The Welcome Game will be a massive occasion with plenty going on around the ground before the match. For all the key info, head to our Match Day Hub.