Matthew Pavlich is the club’s greatest ever player and one of the best forwards in the competition for more than a decade.
Aaron Sandilands has been All Australian ruckman three years in a row from 2008-10, and while he’s now 30 years old, he’s still 211cm.
Senior coach Ross Lyon has indicated that ‘Sandi’ will play up forward in his comeback game, news that St Kilda defenders probably didn’t want to hear.
The Saints normally possess an experienced and battle-hardened backline, but injury has cut them down this season.
Sam Fisher, Sam Gilbert, Sean Dempster and Jason Blake are all currently unavailable, and opposition sides have made it count on the scoreboard, with the Saints ranking 14th for points conceded this season.
They’ve given up an average of 95 points per game.
Past 200cm Rhys Stanley, who would struggle to match Sandilands physically, St Kilda’s next tallest defenders come in at 194cm and under.
Ruckman Tom Hickey, who is 201cm, has been included in the team and may be called upon to stand Sandilands when the giant plays inside the attacking 50.
Expect ‘Pav’ and ‘Sandi’ to get lots of opportunities to out-body their opponents in marking contests on Sunday.
Circling at their feet like sharks around a school of fish will be goal-sneaks Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters, waiting to pounce on any spillage.
At the other end of the ground, Fremantle’s league-leading defence won’t have to worry about Saints’ champion Nick Riewoldt or 199-gamer Justin Koschitzke.
The purple backs have allowed just an average of 68 points a game in 2013.
Interestingly, when the regular back six setup of LukeMcPharlin, Zac Dawson, Paul Duffield, Michael Johnson, Garrick Ibbotson and Lee Spurr all play, Freo is 8-0 this season.
In games that one or more of the six have not played, the club has one win, three losses and a draw.
