CARLTON will take on St Kilda for the second time in the 2019 season: this time, at the home of footy.

It will be the Blues’ final home game for the 2019 season, hosting the 13th-placed Saints as they aim to end the year on a high.

Carlton will be aiming to reverse recent history against St Kilda, after it went down by a narrow margin of 13 points the last time these two sides met.

THE GAME IN FOCUS:

With only two games left in the season, Carlton will aim to have another win under its belt by the end of the year.

The Saints have won their last three out of four games since being led by caretaker coach Brett Ratten, with the change in coach seeing an uptick in form in recent weeks.

This game could still determine where the Blues and Saints end on the ladder, with both teams capable of surpassing teams above them on the AFL ladder.

Carlton will be hoping to earn a win to celebrate the appointment of David Teague, its new Senior Coach.

LAST TIME WE MET:

The last time the Blues took on the Saints was in Round 10 at Marvel Stadium.

Since then, Carlton have shown significant improvement in its style of play, with the collective continuing to embrace their own roles.

Sam Walsh and Patrick Cripps managed 29 and 28 disposals respectively when the Blues last met the Saints, on par with St Kilda’s two leading ball-winners Jade Gresham and Jack Steele.

Michael Gibbons kicked two classy goals against the Saints, while a late Matthew Kreuzer goal saw the Blues close the gap to as little as five points.

However, having led by 23 points in the third term, the Saints held on to finish the game 13-point victors.

BLUE FOCUS:

In the absence of star defender Liam Jones, could Levi Casboult return to the backline?

Jones will be sidelined for the remainder of the season with a fractured larynx, so the way Carlton fills the void will be of keen interest.

Casboult had his first experience down back earlier this season, thriving as an intercept defender alongside Jacob Weitering.

What could also sway the coaching staff was Casboult’s performance the last time the Blues met the Saints: playing in defence, Casboult recorded 12 disposals and 13 one percenters.

GET EXCITED ABOUT:

This week’s game will be the 100th game for the skipper Patrick Cripps.

Cripps has become one of the dominant midfielders in the competition since his debut in 2014: and, as he said this week, his best football is still ahead of him.

As co-captain of the Blues, Cripps’ leadership and effort on and off field makes him a huge presence around the Club.

You can be sure that both the playing group and supporter base will be hoping to mark the special occasion with a fitting victory.

BLUE VIEW:

It’s safe to say it’s been a big week at Ikon Park.

In what will be Teague’s first game officially as Senior Coach of the Blues, he’ll be looking to make his mark at the beginning of his senior coaching career.

With the Blues just falling short of a win against the Saints in Round 10 and having improved dramatically since, there is a confidence among the Blues that they can take home their seventh win for the season.