Live: Tigers–Saints starts big day of footy, ahead of Q-Clash, Hawks–Pies

• Inside 50s: 23-20 Richmond

• Clearances: 23-11 St Kilda

• Centre clearances: 5-4 St Kilda

• Contested possessions: 150-105 St Kilda

• Marks inside 50: 6-3 St Kilda

• Tackles: 54-36 St Kilda

• Tackles inside 50: 22-6 St Kilda

It’s been very much a St Kilda first half, and nothing says “we are a Ross Lyon side” if not the 22 tackles inside forward 50.

The pressure they have brought to bear has been vital, not to mention the 11 free kicks to 1 for the Saints (largely off the back of said pressure).

I’m back after some technical problems, thank you to Kyle Pollard for stepping in. The Tigers have been having some skill and accuracy problems at the MCG, but they’ve just shown they aren’t totally without hope here

Tom Brown got the ball in midfield and steered a beautiful kick to Tim Taranto on the edge of 50. The former Giant thumped it through, and that’s a valuable goal for Richmond. Still a long way back, but that should lift the home side.   

That was a bit of a surprise there!

The Tigers were under huge pressure, cand Campbell Lake had it in forward 50 – was surprised he didn’t kick on the run – but he switched across field and Steely Green tried to flick a pass two-handed. it was a clear throw, and the umps agreed.

So Marcus Windhager said thank you very much and slotted the Saints’ seventh of the day. The lead is out to 29 points, and Richmond are in all sorts here. 

They need that, and it’s the retiring Dion Prestia that opens it up down the field.

It’s then Sam Lalor to Tom Lynch, back to Lalor, who puts it perfectly over the back for Mykelti Lefau.

Lefau converts and gets it back under four goals.

Mitch Owens gets a high tackle free kick with the old Joel Selwood shoulder slip move, and he converts the snap from the pocket.

Saints lead by 28 and Owens has a hat-trick.

Hill, Marshall and Hall are all involved again as the long ball comes into Cooper Sharman, who takes a good contested mark out the back.

He waltzes into the open goal and the Tigers are looking shaky right now.

Rowan Marshall gets the holding decision against Luke Trainer while on a lead and it’s absolutely there.

The shot is about 40m and a slight angle, and it is poetry in motion. The big man has a lovely boot!

Saints first on the board in the second quarter.

Another lovely clunk from Owens on the lead, but the big talking point is the fact Bradley Hill as 15 – YES FIFTEEN – first quarter touches.

The ball can’t not find him.

It’s lovely big bomb from Jack Ross to get the Tigers their first major of the day.

Just before that play though, Hugh Ralphsmith has nudged his Saints opponent into another Saint in a marking contest, and he may have some questions to ask about that one.

We’ve got technical difficulties with Andrew at the moment so I’ll step in briefly to tell you what’s happening … and I tell you what, it hasn’t been much until right now.

Mitch Owens takes a strong contested mark just outside the square and converts, but it’s a turnover fest since St Kilda’s first.

This would be frustrating to watch for Richmond fans early. The Tigers aren’t playing too badly, but they are just giving it away with errors and missed targets.

They better hope the Saints don’t make them pay here.

It’s been a sticky start at the MCG, with both teams struggling to put it together and a few skill errors.

But suddenly there was a free given for a hold on Callum Wilkie in the middle. The Tigers stood around, the Saints were off and Max Hall slotted the opening goal from just inside 50.

• R10, 2026: St Kilda by 36 (Docklands)

• R22, 2025: St Kilda by 4 (MCG)

• R3, 2025: St Kilda by 82 (Docklands)

• R23, 2024: St Kilda by 48 (Docklands)

• R4, 2024: St Kilda by 7 (Norwood Oval)

• R22, 2023: St Kilda by 36 (Docklands)

The Saints have swept the six most recent encounters in this matchup. But that doesn’t mean it’s all been one-sided.

The last time they played at today’s venue, almost exactly a year ago, the Saints just got over the line by just four points.

And at Gather Round two years ago, they won by seven. There have been a few six, eight and 13 goal victories as well, but could we be in for another close one?

This is a real must-win game for the Saints. They trail Carlton by two games, and if the Blues beat the Bulldogs tomorrow, then that will be that and the top-10 is set.

But if the Saints win here, and the Blues lose tomorrow, it will come down to the final round, where St Kilda hosts Gold Coast at Docklands, and Carlton plays Fremantle (also at Docklands).

So no pressure … but the Saints HAVE to win today, and they have to do it without a heap of their top players.

Richmond is in 17th spot on the ladder, but the Tigers came close to knocking off the Crows in Adelaide last week, and they beat West Coast the week before.

The Saints will no doubt want to put their foot down early and create a big break and not let the Tigers think they are in with a sniff. The longer this game goes and Richmond is in range, the bigger the chance of an upset.

There are no late changes to either side, and you can catch up with both line-ups above.

To be fair, both teams have made plenty of changes already from last week’s lists.

Richmond only have two new faces from last week against the Crows.

Samson Ryan and Tyler Sonsie are omitted. In come Harry Armstrong and Luke Trainor.

For the Saints, it’s a little different.

Mason Wood is out with a calf strain, and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has the most high-profile hamstring strain in the league right now. In addition, Liam Ryan and Hunter Clark are managed, while Anthony Caminiti is omitted.

The ins? Glad you asked — Angus Hastie, Dan Butler, Jack Macrae, Tobie Travaglia and Alix Tauru (the Flying Viking) who took a rake of marks in the VFL last weekend.