The Saints will take on the Cats at Marvel Stadium from 7.30pm this Saturday night in what should be an interesting clash. Check out our full preview and betting tips for the game below.
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AFL Round 23 Preview & Betting Tips
St Kilda vs Geelong
Marvel Stadium, Saturday, 7.30pm (AEST)
It’s been a tumultuous year for the Saints, filled with massive form swings, injuries to key players and ultimately, a lot of disappointment. They have, however, won four of their last six games, highlighted by a fantastic win over the finals bound Swans back in Round 17. While their hopes of playing finals are dashed, they have an great opportunity to play the spoiling role over the next two weeks as they square off against teams desperate for a win in Geelong and Carlton.
They were too good for the Tigers last week, winning by 48 points at Marvel Stadium on the back of strong games from Jack Sinclair, Josh Battle and Rowan Marshall, who was best on ground with 23 disposals, 25 hitouts, 11 marks and three goals. The Saints will only make one change to the team that defeated the Tigers last week, with Hugo Garcia coming in for fellow youngster Angus McLennan.
The Cats season looked in danger when they went down by 47 points to the Dogs at home in Round 19, but they have bounced back to win their last three games in a row over the Kangaroos, Crows and Dockers to maintain their spot in the top four, currently by just half a game.
The win last week on the road against the Dockers was particularly impressive, keeping their opponents to just 62 points in a strangling defensive display. The Cats will welcome back livewire Gary Rohan to the side this week alongside Mitch Knevitt with Zach Touhy and Tanner Bruhn making way.
Match Prediction
The Cats start as 10.5 point favourites at Marvel, which I think is a little low given their recent form. The Saints have been solid but outside of the win against the Swans six weeks ago, they haven’t really beaten anyone of note during their recent string of wins.
Despite a late flurry from the Saints that brought the margin back to just eight points, the Cats were the better side throughout their Round 1 clash against the Saints and I think with much more on the line, they should be too good here.
Geelong -10.5
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
Same Game Multi
Jack Sinclair 25+ Disposals - The Saints midfielder has been on an absolute tear in the back half of the season, becoming one of the best accumulators in the league, passing the 25 disposal mark in eight of his last nine games.
Rowan Marshall 20+ Disposals - Marshall has been one of the best ruckman in the league over the past few months and should have an absolute field day against the undersized Rhys Stanley here. Has had 20+ in four of his last five.
Patrick Dangerfield 20+ Disposals - Dangerfield has had 20+ in his last two straight games but it was his dominance in the Round 1 clash against the Saints that has me favouring him here. The Saints didn’t have a big bodied midfielder to go with him that night, and still don't.
SGM Odds: $2.75 at BoomBet
