‘Faceless’ foes to face off as Carlton and St Kilda scrap for wildcard spot

Carlton and St Kilda will lock horns at Marvel Stadium on Sunday in a crucial match that could determine the outcome of the wildcard race. The encounter, described as one of the most significant clashes between the two clubs since the 1972 preliminary final, features several familiar faces on both sides. Liam Stocker will make his 100th AFL appearance for St Kilda, lining up alongside former Blues Jack Silvagni and Tom De Koning. Meanwhile, former Saint Blake Acres will wear the No.13 Carlton jumper that Stocker previously donned during his 28 matches with the Blues. A victory for Carlton under interim coach Josh Fraser would push the Blues two games ahead of St Kilda in the race for a wildcard berth. Conversely, a win for Ross Lyon’s Saints would allow them to leapfrog Carlton, especially given the more favorable schedule awaiting them in their remaining two matches. The stakes are high, with both teams vying for a chance to secure a top-eight finish and potentially reach the finals. The match carries particular significance for St Kilda, who acquired De Koning and Silvagni as free agents last year in an effort to build a competitive squad capable of challenging for a finals spot. Both players were prominent figures at Carlton before departing as free agents. However, the tension between the clubs has reportedly eased significantly. Sources from both teams, along with former club officials who wished to remain anonymous, indicated that the previous animosity, rooted in the acrimonious departure of Stephen Silvagni, Jack Silvagni's father, from Carlton in 2019, has largely dissipated. Under the current regime at Carlton, which differs from the one during Silvagni’s exit, the relationship between the clubs appears more cooperative. While Carlton resisted attempts to poach Brodie Kemp at the end of 2024 and expressed disappointment over losing De Koning to an “outrageous” offer, Silvagni himself was not a priority for retention despite his historical ties to the club. A minor incident involving the delayed clearance of Carlton VFL player Ethan Phillips to St Kilda’s VFL list earlier this year suggested the clubs were willing to compete fiercely, but not at the expense of damaging their working relationship. Despite these past tensions, the focus on Sunday will be solely on the game itself. Ross Lyon emphasized that the challenge lies within the team rather than external factors. “Every week it is about a faceless opponent, everyone builds up who you are playing, [but] your biggest opponent is yourself,” Lyon stated following Silvagni and De Koning’s return to their former club in round eight. Historically, the rivalry between Carlton and St Kilda has been relatively limited. Over the decades, the two clubs have shared 46 players, with notable figures such as Jack Carroll and Paddy Dow currently on St Kilda’s roster. The two teams have faced each other in just five finals, with the 1972 preliminary final marking their most recent meeting. St Kilda’s winning record against Carlton stands at 26.75 percent, the lowest among all opponents in their history. In the late 1980s, St Kilda attempted to improve its fortunes by signing several veteran Carlton players, including premiership winners Alex Marcou, Peter McConville, and Ken Sheldon, alongside others like Spiro Kourkoumelis, Warren Jones, and Ricky Nixon. However, these efforts did not yield lasting success, as St Kilda struggled to climb the ladder while Carlton continued to contend for major honors. The turning point came with the arrival of Aaron Hamill at Moorabbin in 2001, which helped shift the balance of power, particularly at Marvel Stadium, where the Saints now hold a commanding 22-8 record. Their most recent triumph over Carlton occurred in the final round of 2024, when a two-point win sent the Blues tumbling out of the finals picture just hours before Port Adelaide secured their own spot. This latest contest represents another chapter in a long-standing but often overlooked rivalry, with both teams focused on the immediate task of securing their position in the finals race.