Preview: Round 1 -- Saints V Cat

"ST KILDA v GEELONG at Telstra Dome, 7.15pm
Head to head: St Kilda 76 Geelong 116
Last time: Geelong 12.12 (84) bt St Kilda 9.11 (65) - R22 2003
TAB Sportsbet: St Kilda $1.50 Geelong $2.40
Centrebet: St Kilda $1.50 Geelong $2.60
An unusual amount of interest centres on this game after verbal exchanges between St Kilda coach Grant Thomas and Geelong's Mark Thompson and the spectre of a rape investigation involving Saints players Leigh Montagna and Stephen Milne. Thompson and Thomas have been bickering since St Kilda hardman Aaron Hamill was accused of 'cheap shots' against the opposition behind play. There is also the matter of St Kilda's victory over the Cats in the Wizard Cup grand final and the insistence by Geelong's Paul Chapman that his side was the better team. The tone set by Brent Guerra, who crashed into Geelong's Cameron Ling at the opening bounce and was subsequently suspended for three weeks, could well be repeated on Saturday night.
Key: St Kilda still looks more impressive, especially with the mixture of young stars Nick Riewoldt and captain Lenny Hayes with seasoned players Robert Harvey and Fraser Gehrig, although the avalanche of negative publicity surrounding St Kilda and off-field allegations could have some impact.
Tip: St Kilda by 15 points. "