The Western Bulldogs will take on the St Kilda Saints in the headline AFL clash this Saturday night from Marvel Stadium. We have you covered with a full preview and betting tips for the clash below!
Remember to head to our AFL Tips page for regular weekly updates including previews and betting tips for every game of the 2023 season.
AFL Round 2 Preview & Betting Tips
Western Bulldogs vs St Kilda
Marvel Stadium, Saturday, 7.25pm (AEDT)
Western Bulldogs
The Dogs were taught a bit of a lesson in their opening game of the season, going down to the Demons by 50 points on Saturday night. They were smashed in all areas of the ground, and to compound their loss, they suffered injuries to key players Liam Jones and Rory Lobb, both of whom will miss this weekend’s clash. The Dogs will also still be without key defender Tim O’Brien, leaving them pretty exposed at the back.
Key Injuries: Ryan Gardner, Liam Jones, Rory Lobb, Tim O’Brien, Roarke Smith, Laitham Vandermeer, Cody Weightman
The Western Bulldogs get a good chance to bounce back on Saturday night against a Saints side they defeated twice last year by an average margin of 69.5 points. Those two wins snapped a three game losing streak they had against the Saints, which included the thrilling three point loss in the 2020 elimination final.
St Kilda
The Ross Lyon era kicked off with a fantastic win in Round 1 as the Saints downed Fremantle as underdogs at Marvel Stadium. Their injury concerns were well documented heading into the opening round but it didn’t matter for the Saints, whose youngsters looked hungrier than ever as they ran the Dockers off the park in the win.
Key Injuries: Jack Billings, Jack Bytel, Nick Coffield, Jack Hayes, Max King, Dan McKenzie, Tim Membrey, Jimmy Webster
The Saints were dealt more injury blows in the win, with defender Jimmy Webster and midfielder Jack Bytel going down. Marcus Windhager will be the likely replacement in the midfield, while Ben Paton started as the sub in Round 1 but should replace Webster in the backline.
Match Prediction
The Dogs start as 12.5 point favourites for the clash, which was around the same closing line that the Dockers were favoured by over the Saints in Round 1. Given their dominance over the Saints last season as well as the extensive St Kilda injury list at the moment, I’m inclined to go with the Dogs here, but I just have real doubts over the Dogs and their ability to put a winning score on the board with what is looking like a lacklustre forward line.
Combine that fact with a Saints forward line that is sans their best two goalkickers in Membrey and King, and I’m leaning towards the under as being the main play here. Both of these teams scores in the 60s on the weekend and I think the Saints defence was arguably the most impressive of any team in Round 1.
Under 163.5
$1.88 (1.5 Units)
Same Game Multi
Jack Steele got his season off to a good start with a 28 disposal game in the win over the Dockers. Adding him to have 25+ touches again on the weekend, a feat he has now achieved in six of his last eight games.
The other leg of the multi will be the value leg in Ryan Byrnes to have 20+ touches. The youngster was a standout for the Saints in the midfield on the weekend, racking up 27 touches in the win. Clearly has a new role so making the most of this value while we can.
Jack Steele 25+ Disposals
Ryan Byrnes 20+ Disposals
Same Game Multi Odds - $2.40
