Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Carlton know beating St Kilda isn’t as simple as stopping Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.
But curtailing the scintillating St Kilda No.7 will go a long way towards a win that would keep the Blues ahead of the chasing pack for the last wildcard spot.
St Kilda (11th place, 36 points) host Carlton (10th place, 40 points) at Marvel Stadium on Sunday night.
When asked about St Kilda’s strengths, interim coach Josh Fraser quipped that “number seven goes alright”.
The Blues were pondering whether to deploy a hard tag on the silky St Kilda sensation, who was named despite struggling with a hip pointer issue this week.
The 23-year-old has averaged 30 disposals, a goal and a direct goal assist.
Two weeks ago, Wanganeen-Milera kicked four goals and had 46 disposals – one of three hauls of 40-plus disposals in the past six weeks – while he still collected three goals and 24 touches against Sydney last week.
“Talk about decision making,” Fraser said.
“It’s been a tough one to get my head around, how we do that.
“I think we’ll have a couple of plans for him. But we’re also understanding you can’t stop everything.
“Our ability to nullify his impact is important, centre-forward he’s clearly damaging and then there’s the metres gained aspect he brings as well.
“We’re just working through whether it’ll be a collective approach or whether we’ll send someone to him.”
Fraser, who has a 9-2 record since taking the reins, will decide next week whether to apply for the full-time head coach role.
But he was focused on having Carlton in the right headspace for Sunday.
“It’s important, as a football club, that we attach ourselves to a process around this game and not get too outcome-driven,” Fraser said on Friday.
“I just think this club, maybe historically, has ridden the wave. I just look at where we’re at and I think we’ve got so much work in front of us still.”
Fraser made it clear beating reigning premiers Brisbane last week wouldn’t guarantee anything against “well-drilled” St Kilda.
“But the occasion itself, these are the games you want to play in and the opportunities you want to be afforded,” he said.
“We’ve done enough work to this point to have the opportunity to play in a game like this.”
Unchanged Carlton are still without key defender Jacob Weitering, who will build up minutes in the VFL after a calf injury.
Cooper Sharman replaces Tobie Travaglia (omitted) in St Kilda’s only change for ‘Spud’s Game’ for mental health awareness.
Saints recruit and ex-Blue Jack Silvagni has been named after a shoulder dislocation.
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