The Victorian Premier Cricket season is set to conclude this weekend when St Kilda and Carlton battle it out for the Men’s First XI Premiership at the Junction Oval.
While the Saints will hope to end a 19-year premiership drought in the First XI, Carlton will be looking for back-to-back premierships as well as a third premiership in four years.
This weekend marks the first time in 15 years that St Kilda play in the decider while it’s a fifth time in the last six completed seasons that Carlton will contest a First XI Grand Final.
With both teams littered with current and former International & First-Class players, we could be set for an enthralling end to the 2024/25 season.
Season So Far
Both St Kilda and Carlton have had identical seasons in the First XI, finishing on 11 wins and two losses each.
The Saints finished atop the table though and will come into this game confident having not lost once in 2025.
With the bat they’ve averaged 260 runs per innings when facing the red ball whilst conceding just over 180 runs per innings bowled in the two-day format.
Last year’s premiers though have started to hit some form recently with three impressive wins on the trot.
Carlton’s bowling is their biggest asset by far, conceding 167.4 runs per innings with the red ball, while averaging just over 248 runs per innings in the longer format.
Key Players –
Harry Dixon
Nothing short of a sublime season from the rising star of not just Premier Cricket, but Victorian cricket.
Has averaged just under 50 and has often been the one to give the Saints a strong start with the bat whether that be with the white or red ball.
His second century of the season last weekend was crucial in getting St Kilda through to the decider and he’ll be key again this weekend.
Jai Lemire
Been a stellar season from the Vic-contracted keeper who currently sits fourth in the leading run scorer's chart.
Having taken 27 catches (fourth-most in the First XI) and had one stumping, he plays a crucial role behind the stumps for the Blues.
Lemire has scored a combined 195 runs in his last three innings and will be prized wicket for the Saints.
Last Meeting –2023/24 season, Round 3, Harry Trott Oval, St Kilda (186 all out) defeated Carlton (101 all out & 8-134)
It’s been just under 17 months since the Saints and the Blues have met at the First XI level, with their scheduled T20 matchup this season abandoned due to rain.
This game saw the Saints initially bowl the eventual premiers out cheaply, with now AFL player Zak Evans taking 4-18 and Jono Merlo taking 3-9.
Adam Crosthwaite’s 54 then helped the Saints over the line despite three wickets each from Xavier Crone and Dominic Sullivan.
Last First XI Grand Final Meeting – 1984/85 season, Albert Ground, March 23rd, 24th & 30th, St Kilda (194 all out) defeated Carlton (173 all out)
It’s been 40 years to the week since the Saints and Blues met in their first and only First XI Grand Final at the Albert.
Batting first, St Kilda were bowled out for 194 on the second day, with David Johnstone scoring 93 for the Saints and former Australian bowler Rodney Hogg taking 5-67 for Carlton.
Having Carlton 2-42 by the end of Day 2, St Kilda then bowled the Blues out for 173 to secure their 11th First XI premiership.
Another former Australian bowler in Gary Cosier took 4-42 for the Saints while Kevin Whichello’s 65 not out wasn’t enough to get Carlton over the line.