Tessa Lee, Sports journalist reporting on global leagues since 2021.
St Kilda will be without leading forward Jack Higgins for its clash against Fremantle after the club confirmed the sharpshooter has been ruled out with a knee injury. The Saints are also continuing to manage Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera carefully as coach Ross Lyon remains cautious about the young star’s calf issue ahead of a crucial AFL fixture.
Higgins suffered swelling in his knee following St Kilda’s victory over Richmond last weekend and will not face the Dockers. The injury setback adds to an already growing casualty list at Moorabbin, with Wanganeen-Milera, Max King, Mitch Owens and Liam Ryan all currently sidelined.
The Saints now face a major challenge against an in-form Fremantle side featuring one of the AFL’s strongest midfields.
Higgins unavailable for Dockers clash
Ross Lyon confirmed Higgins would miss the match after experiencing ongoing soreness and swelling following the Richmond game.
The small forward has been one of St Kilda’s most important attacking players in recent seasons and is a three time club leading goal kicker.
His absence removes a major source of scoreboard pressure for the Saints at a time when they are already missing several key attacking options.
Higgins has consistently provided energy and finishing ability inside forward 50, making him a difficult player to replace within St Kilda’s structure.
The Saints have not yet indicated how long Higgins is expected to be sidelined, with the immediate focus remaining on reducing the swelling in his knee.
Saints taking cautious approach with Wanganeen-Milera
St Kilda is also refusing to rush Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera back into action despite the talented youngster reportedly feeling ready to play.
The exciting midfielder and half back is officially listed as approximately two weeks away as he recovers from a calf injury.
Lyon stressed the club would prioritise Wanganeen-Milera’s long term health rather than risk aggravating the issue through an early return.
The experienced coach referenced several AFL players whose careers were heavily impacted by chronic calf injuries, including Dan Hannebery, Harley Bennell and Eric Mackenzie.
Lyon also pointed to Collingwood captain Darcy Moore as another example of the ongoing challenges calf injuries can create even for elite players.
The Saints believe cautious management is critical given Wanganeen-Milera’s importance to the club’s future.
The 23 year old has developed into one of St Kilda’s most influential and creative players, with his ball use and decision making becoming central to the team’s ball movement.
Midfield battle set to shape contest
Despite the growing injury concerns, St Kilda enters the Fremantle clash with confidence after last season’s dominant victory over the Dockers at Marvel Stadium.
In that game, the Saints controlled the contest through stoppages and contested possessions, winning clearances 50 to 22 and contested ball 151 to 103.
Lyon believes the midfield contest will again decide the outcome, particularly against a Fremantle engine room led by Luke Jackson, Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong.
The Saints coach described Jackson as a “unicorn” due to his unique athletic ability and versatility around the ground.
He also praised Brayshaw and Serong as elite midfielders capable of heavily influencing games through their clearance work and ball winning ability.
St Kilda is expected to rely heavily on Rowan Marshall and Tom De Koning in the ruck and stoppage battles as they attempt to limit Fremantle’s midfield dominance.
Saints embracing challenge against in-form Dockers
Fremantle enters the match in strong form and is widely regarded as one of the AFL’s toughest midfield teams to contain.
The Dockers also possess dangerous attacking weapons including Shai Bolton, whose pace and creativity add another layer of complexity for opposition defences.
Lyon said the challenge represented an important opportunity for St Kilda to measure itself against one of the competition’s strongest teams.
The Saints have shown periods of improvement this season but continue to battle inconsistency and injury setbacks across several key positions.
Victory against Fremantle would provide a major boost to St Kilda’s season, particularly given the quality of players currently unavailable.
However, with Higgins sidelined and Wanganeen-Milera still recovering, the Saints will need strong performances across the entire squad to overcome the Dockers’ depth and midfield strength.
