Tessa Lee, Sports journalist reporting on global leagues since 2021.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has confirmed Jack Higgins will miss the Saints’ AFL Round 11 clash against Fremantle after suffering a knee setback, adding to the club’s growing injury concerns ahead of a crucial contest at Marvel Stadium. Higgins was ruled out after experiencing swelling following St Kilda’s win over Richmond last weekend, while Nasiah Wanganeen Milera, Max King, Mitch Owens and Liam Ryan also remain unavailable as the Saints prepare to take on one of the league’s form teams.
The absence of Higgins is a major blow for St Kilda’s forward line. The small forward has been one of the club’s most reliable goal scorers in recent seasons and has claimed the Saints’ leading goal kicker award three times. Lyon confirmed on Wednesday that Higgins would not be risked despite hopes he could recover in time for the match.
“Jack won’t play,” Lyon said.
“It’s just flared up a bit. There’s some swelling in the knee and we won’t take any chances with it.”
The injury leaves St Kilda without one of its most dangerous attacking players against a Fremantle side that has surged into finals contention behind a powerful midfield and improved ball movement.
The Saints are also continuing to carefully manage Wanganeen Milera, who remains listed as two weeks away with a calf injury. Lyon stressed the club would take a conservative approach with the exciting youngster, citing the long history of calf injuries derailing AFL careers.
“As far as I know, he’s on track,” Lyon said.
“He feels really good and wants to be playing, but sports science takes over in these situations.”
Lyon referenced several AFL players whose careers were significantly impacted by recurring calf problems, including Dan Hannebery, Harley Bennell and Eric Mackenzie. He also pointed to Collingwood captain Darcy Moore as another recent example of the challenges associated with managing calf injuries.
“You’ve got to be cautious with them,” Lyon said.
“We’re not going to create long term damage for short term gain.”
The Saints enter the contest after one of their better performances of the season against Richmond. However, the challenge becomes significantly tougher against a Fremantle side led by elite midfielders Caleb Serong and Andy Brayshaw, alongside versatile big man Luke Jackson.
Lyon was full of praise for Jackson, describing the Dockers star as a “unicorn” because of his unique ability to influence games both in the ruck and around the ground.
“Our stoppage work is pretty good and clearly Rowan Marshall and Tom De Koning as a combination are important to that,” Lyon said.
“But we come up against the unicorn. Jackson is a unicorn, isn’t he?”
Jackson has enjoyed a breakout season for Fremantle and looms as a key factor in the midfield battle. His athleticism and mobility have allowed the Dockers to dominate clearances and transition quickly from contest to attack.
Fremantle’s midfield depth has become one of the club’s biggest strengths in 2026. Brayshaw and Serong continue to perform at an elite level, while recruit Shai Bolton has added speed and creativity around stoppages.
Lyon acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge awaiting his side.
“If you want to be the best, then you’ve got to beat the best,” he said.
“It’s an opportunity for us.”
St Kilda will take confidence from last season’s dominant win over Fremantle at Marvel Stadium, where the Saints produced one of their best performances of the year. Led by veteran midfielder Jack Macrae, St Kilda controlled the contest at stoppages and comprehensively won the contested possession battle.
The Saints finished with a remarkable 50 to 22 advantage in clearances and dominated contested possessions 151 to 103 in that encounter. Replicating that level of midfield control will be essential if they are to overcome their mounting injury list this weekend.
Marshall and De Koning are expected to shoulder a heavy workload in the ruck division, particularly against Jackson’s influence around the contest. The Saints will also need strong contributions from Macrae and their inside midfield group to limit Fremantle’s clearance dominance.
The absence of Higgins places additional pressure on St Kilda’s forward line to find scoring options. Young forwards will likely be asked to step up in a game that could have major implications for both clubs’ finals hopes.
Fremantle enter the match in strong form and have developed into one of the AFL’s most balanced sides under their current system. Their defensive structure has improved significantly while their midfield continues to generate scoring opportunities through quick ball movement and pressure around stoppages.
For St Kilda, the clash presents another test of their resilience amid an injury interrupted campaign. Lyon has consistently emphasised competitiveness and discipline as foundations for the Saints’ progress, and the coach believes matches against top sides provide valuable opportunities for growth.
The Round 11 contest shapes as one of the weekend’s key fixtures, with Fremantle aiming to continue its push toward the top four while St Kilda looks to stay in touch with the finals race despite several key absences.