Geelong will get a second opportunity to take down St Kilda in the 2025 season, when the two teams meet once again on Sunday afternoon. 

The Saints came out on top in Round 2 at Marvel Stadium and have held a strong record against Geelong in recent times, winning four of the last six clashes but this time the game is at GMHBA Stadium, a venue the Saints have not won at since 1999. 

While St Kilda are sitting in 15th position on the ladder this year, it is still not a challenge the Cats can afford to take lightly as we enter the final six rounds of the home and away season. 

Take a look at the Saints strengths in this weeks Opposition Analysis, proudly presented by Deakin University. 

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 22: Mark Blicavs of the Cats marks the ball during the 2025 AFL Round 02 match between the St Kilda Saints and the Geelong Cats at Marvel Stadium on March 22, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

Ladder 

Geelong: 4th (11-6)

St Kilda: 15th (5-12)

Points For 

Geelong: 1686

St Kilda: 1357

Points Against 

Geelong: 1321

St Kilda: 1574

Deakin Performance Stat of the Week 

Shutting down their uncontested game

It will be interesting to see just how much Geelong has learned from their previous losses to the Saints. 

Across the last two clashes between the teams, St Kilda has been able to dictate the game and move the football as they please, amassing 119 more uncontested possessions than Geelong during the two matches. 

The Saints have been able to pick their way through the Cats defensive zone, accumulating 67 more marks in those two games and hitting the scoreboard with great effect, St Kilda also ranked fifth in the competition for uncontested possessions per game in 2025.

This notion is lead by Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jack Sinclair, who both rank in the AFL's top five players for total kicks this year, helping to set up plenty of the Saints attacking forays from half back. The pair were also instrumental in the Round 2 clash, with Wanganeen-Milera (24 disposals, eight intercept possessions) and Sinclair (25 disposals, two goals) both given far too much space to work in. 

It will be intriguing to see how the Cats plan to wrestle back control in this area of the game on Sunday afternoon. 

08:12

AFL Highlights | Round 2

The Saints and Cats clash in round two of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

Limiting Jack Macrae's Impact

A real shining light for the Saints in 2025 has been Jack Macrae, the experienced on-baller putting together a strong campaign in his first season with St Kilda. 

Macrae ranks sixth in the AFL for clearances this year (7.7 per game) and seventh for contested possessions (14.5), despite missing two games through the middle of the season. 

Always a reliable contributor, Macrae proved to be a match-winner in the Round 2 clash with the Cats collecting 35 disposals, 10 score involvements, 10 tackles and nine clearances to help guide the Saints home. 

Keeping Jack Higgins quiet

Another player that has caused Geelong headaches in recent clashes is Jack Higgins, with the crafty small forward able to generate scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. 

Higgins booted a game high four goals in the Round 2 clash at Marvel Stadium while also dishing off two goal assists, finishing the match with a total of nine score involvements from his 12 disposals. 

The most recent match prior to that between the two sides was no different (Round 23, 2024), with Higgins kicking three goals and dishing off three goal assists, again finishing with nine score involvements from 17 possessions. 

2025 has been an impressive season for Higgins, who currently sits 11th in the Coleman Medal with 33 goals for the year which is one of the best returns from any small forward across the competition.