2026 St Kilda Saints vs Western Bulldogs Preview
The Western Bulldogs will bounce back with a win against St Kilda in what shapes as a crucial clash for both sides.
The Bulldogs were pummelled by Adelaide last weekend, going down by 57 points, and come up against a Saints outfit that outlasted GWS by eight. While there are still question marks over the Bulldogs' consistency, they have an excellent recent record against St Kilda and sides in the bottom half of the ladder.
The Saints have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks with a narrow loss against Sydney before their win over GWS highlighted some of their strengths. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Jack Sinclair and Brad Hill have also helped drive a noticeable improvement in St Kilda's ball movement from half-back, an area that has become a genuine strength in recent weeks, while Liam Ryan has been flyin' of late up forward with 11 goals in his past two.
However, the Bulldogs appear better equipped around the contest and should hold the edge through the midfield in the Round 15 match. Marcus Bontempelli, Matthew Kennedy and Ed Richards continue to find plenty of the football, while the return of experienced players over the coming weeks should only strengthen their depth. Despite last week's result, the Bulldogs still generated plenty of midfield ball and should be able to win the clearance battle against the Saints.
The key for the Bulldogs will be tightening up defensively after their struggles against Adelaide. The Crows exposed them early through pressure, contested ball and aerial contests, areas that have generally been strengths for the Bulldogs when they are at their best. After being comprehensively beaten in the pressure battle, expect a much stronger response in that area this week.
Cody Weightman's return also adds another layer to the Bulldogs' forward line. The lively small forward kicked his first goal in almost two years against Adelaide and provides extra support for Aaron Naughton and the other key targets inside 50.
If they convert their inside 50 opportunities more effectively than they have at times this season, they should create enough opportunities to get the job done.
Expect a tighter affair than recent meetings between the two sides, but the Bulldogs' clearance strength, midfield depth and strong recent record against St Kilda can help them bounce back from last week's disappointment. Take Weightman to chalk up 2+ goals as he continues to progress, while Bailey Dale loves this match up and is one to consider in disposals markets.
- The Bulldogs have won the past three between the two sides by an average of 68 points
- St Kilda have a win-loss record of 6-8, the Bulldogs are 8-6
- Bailey Dale has averaged 35 disposals in his past three against the Saints
- Cody Weightman has played two matches since returning from long term injury and has a strong record against the Saints
Head to Head
The Bulldogs have won their past three against St Kilda by an average margin of 68 points.
Standout player performances in the recent head-to-heads have come from:
- Cody Weightman (Dogs) - Six goals in his past three matches against the Saints
- Aaron Naughton (Dogs) - 19 goals in his past five matches against St Kilda
- Bailey Dale (Dogs) - Averaging over 35 disposals in his past three against the Saints
- Jack Sinclair (Saints) - 30+ disposals in three of his past five against the Dogs
St Kilda Saints Form Analysis
St Kilda head in with a win-loss record of 6-8 and snapped a three-match losing streak with an eight-point win over GWS at Marvel Stadium last weekend. They have won seven of their past nine at the venue.
St Kilda's defensive organisation caused significant headaches for GWS and helped them absorb momentum swings throughout the match. Their ability to stay connected defensively and apply pressure at ground level ensured they were able to respond whenever the Giants threatened to take control.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera made it two weeks in a row with 32 disposals and a goal, while Liam Ryan bagged six goals, making it 11 in the past fortnight. Cooper Sharman chimed in with four and has booted six in his past two matches.
Jack Sinclair has had 25+ disposals in his past eight matches, while Max Hall has reached that mark in his past four. Wanganeen-Milera has had 30+ in his past three, while Ryan has booted 11 goals in his past two matches.
St Kilda Saints Team News
There were no injuries for the Saints to come out of the win over GWS. Mattaes Phillipou responded to his omission with a solid match in the VFL and is a chance to come back in, while Liam Henry was prominent once again at that level. Jack Higgins is edging closer to a return from injury.
Western Bulldogs Form Analysis
The Bulldogs have had an up-and-down season, starting off on fire before injuries began to take their toll. They have rebounded from a four-game losing streak to win four of their past six, but the 57-point loss to Adelaide was cause for concern.
They managed just nine goals against the Crows and in their past 10 matches are averaging 75 points per game, often failing to capitalise on strong clearance and inside 50 numbers.
Matthew Kennedy, Marcus Bontempelli and Ed Richards all had over 25 disposals in the loss to Adelaide. Richards has had 25+ in three of his past four matches, while Bailey Dale has reached that mark in eight of his past nine. Aaron Naughton booted two goals last weekend and has reached 2+ goals in five of his past seven matches.
Western Bulldogs Team News
There were no injuries to come out of the loss to Adelaide. Cody Weightman continues to progress and booted a goal against the Crows, while Lachie McNeil and Latham Vandermeer are among those edging towards a return. Tom Liberatore is also a chance to be available if he gets through training during the week.