Round 8 of this exciting AFL season continues on Sunday where there are two games on the schedule. Here, we preview the clash between the Demons and the Saints and bring you our best betting tips!
As always, we have you covered with a full preview and betting tips for the game and remember to head to our AFL Tips page, where you can catch our coverage of all the Round 8 action.
Melbourne vs St Kilda Betting Tips
MCG, Sunday 8th May 1:10pm (AEST)
Melbourne
Injuries: Michael Hibberd (Calf), Blake Howes (Foot), Christian Salem (Knee), Joel Smith (Ankle), Daniel Turner (Foot), Taj Woewodin (Concussion)
The Demons have had a relatively good run with injuries so far this season, with only Christian Salem missing from their best 22. The silky half-back flanker is expected to be fit for action in three weeks time.
The Demons were too strong for the Hawks in their most recent outing, downing them by 10 points in an entertaining game. That win was their seventh from seven matches this season, also extending their unbeaten run to 14 matches when you take last season into consideration. In my opinion, the Demons are head and shoulders above every other team in the competition and their consistency from week to week is extremely impressive.
St Kilda
Injuries: Jack Bytel (Knee), Hunter Clark (Shoulder), Nick Coffield (ACL), Dan Hannebery (Calf), Jack Hayes (Knee)
Like their opponents here, the Saints can’t complain too much about injuries. Of players in their best 22 when fit, Hunter Clark, Nick Coffield and Dan Hannebery are the only ones missing. Of the three, Clark is closest to a return to AFL.
Once again, selling a home game came back to bite the Saints and cost them four valuable points when they were defeated by the Power last weekend. Instead of playing under a roof at Marvel Stadium, the Saints played in some of the worst conditions possible at Cazalys Stadium. That loss also snapped a five match winning streak for the Saints and means they’re only four points clear of the Magpies in ninth.
Match Prediction
The Saints had the wood over the Demons for a while there, but that’s all changed in recent times with the Demons winning the last two meetings between these teams. They haven’t hit peak form yet this season, yet they remain the only team undefeated heading into Round 8. The Demons have won six of their seven matches by a margin of 1-39 and I expect more of the same on Sunday.
Melbourne Demons 1-39 (1.5 UNITS)
$2
Prop Bets
Luke Jackson returns to the team after missing for the first time last weekend. He’s formed a formidable ruck/forward combination with Max Gawn and can certainly hurt teams by hitting the scoreboard. He’s nice value to kick at least one goal in this one.
Luke Jackson Anytime Goal Kicker ($1.62 Ladbrokes)
Jack Sinclair is having a superb season to date and has been as consistent as they come in terms of collecting disposals. The lowest he’s accumulated from seven games is 23 and that was last weekend in horribly conditions. I expect him to bounce back and to have at least 25 on Sunday.
Jack Sinclair 25+ Disposals ($1.87 Ladbrokes)
Another Saints player that continues to rack up high disposal numbers on a weekly basis is Seb Ross. He had 31 in the sloppy conditions against the Power last weekend and has had 26+ in four of his last five outings. He remains good value this weekend.
Seb Ross 25+ Disposals ($1.88 Ladbrokes)
