Key posts
Up and going at Marvel
A fast-paced start under the roof at Marvel. St Kilda have put two behinds on the board early.
Only a few minutes until the bounce
The crowd is reasonable it appears. I reckon there’s 15,000 to 20,000 fans in the house.
Interactive: Where does your club rank for wins against the top eight?
It’s game No.200 for Saint Sinclair
Contract frenzy: Two clubs lock away stars on huge deals
By Jake Niall and Michael Gleeson
Carlton are about to begin talks over a potential new contract for in-form key defender Jack Silvagni.
The AFL’s mid-season byes have delivered a flurry of contract activity; Kysaiah Pickett turned his back on strong interest from WA to remain with Melbourne, signing until the end of 2034 on deal estimated to be worth $12 million over nine years, and free agent Brayden Maynard re-signed with Collingwood for four more years on a deal worth about $3.3 million.
Now the Blues are preparing for negotiations to lock away Silvagni, who is an unrestricted free agent. Silvagni is having his best season in 2025 after a relocation to defence, and the Blues are soon to begin discussions with his management about a new deal for the 27-year-old.
It’s been a sunny winter’s day
.… BUT it will be chilly tonight, and especially cold in Melbourne on Friday morning
Bulldogs struggle against top teams
Tonight’s substitutions
Dogs welcome back ‘enormous threat’ Darcy
Western Bulldogs star Sam Darcy will complete a remarkable comeback from a knee injury less than eight weeks after it was feared his season was over.
Darcy was initially told he had probably torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee when he landed awkwardly in the Bulldogs’ win over St Kilda in round six.
Luke Darcy on the field after he was subbed off with a serious knee injury.Credit: AFL Photos
It was then thought the 21-year-old would require surgery and face a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
But he ultimately avoided the need for surgery and missed only six games with an impaction fracture and associated ligament damage.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confirmed Darcy will return to action in another clash with the Saints at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
“He’s done a really scrupulous and professional job on rehabilitation from that injury,” Beveridge said on Wednesday.
“We welcome him back and look forward to having him part of tomorrow night.”
Darcy enjoyed a hot start to the year, kicking 14 goals in his first five games.
The 205-centimetre aerial threat will add to the free-scoring Bulldogs’ attacking weapons against St Kilda as they look to bounce back from a humbling last-start defeat to Hawthorn.
“We’ll blend a little bit of ruck time in there to make sure he’s involved in the game,” Beveridge said.
“But he’s an enormous threat [in the forward line] and we saw the way that his early part of the season was evolving and his presence.
“Early in the game last week, Hawthorn took a lot of intercept marks. With Sam there [against St Kilda], that definitely won’t happen.”
Darcy’s return is a further boost for the Bulldogs after confirmation Beveridge had agreed to a two-year contract extension, tying him to the club until 2027.
The Bulldogs’ longest-serving coach – who led the club to the 2016 premiership – is hopeful out-of-contract captain Marcus Bontempelli will soon follow suit.
AAP
Good evening
G’day everyone and welcome to our AFL live blog as round 14 begins with St Kilda facing the Bulldogs.
First bounce is set for 7.30pm AEST, enjoy the match to come. It’s a mid-season, mid-week special in chilly conditions in Melbourne.
