What a monster matchup we have in store for Friday night in the AFL! St Kilda will face off against GWS in a game that is absolutely crucial for both of their hopes of playing finals in 2020. As usual, PuntingInDanger has you covered with a full preview and betting tips for the Friday night game in Round 18.
As usual, we have a full preview and betting tips for the Friday night clash below and remember to check out our AFL Round 18 Betting Tips page for our dedicated preview for every game across the weekend.
AFL St Kilda vs Greater Western Sydney Tips
Gabba, Friday 7.50pm (AEST)
Both the Saints and the Giants are fighting for a spot in the top eight and Friday night’s clash in the final round of the season is super important for both of them! The Saints have the slight upper hand, currently sitting a game clear inside the eight but there’s still a slight chance they fall out.
St Kilda
All the Saints need to do on Friday night is avoid getting absolutely pulverised and they will play their first final in over five years. They currently sit clear from the training Demons and Giants by four points as well as percentage points, so dropping out of the right is unlikely for the Saints. They will however, be desperate to win and secure a spot in the 6th-7th slot and avoid the first round matchup with 5th place, which will inevitably be the Tigers, Cats or Eagles.
The Saints If a few kicks had gone another way this season than the Saints could easily find themselves in the top four at the moment. Since they were pulverised by Geelong in Round 11, they have a 2-3 record and have lost to the Lions by two points, the Demons by three points and the Eagles by 15 points. In all three games, they had a lead in the dying moments of the game.
Regardless of whether they have been winning or losing this season, one constant has remained for the Saints and that is Jack Steele. The midfielder has been one of the standout players in the league this season and is a lock for All Australian. He averages 22 touches per game in his last four against the Giants and has greatly increased his output this season. Racked up 26 against the Eagles last week and should be in the thick of it again.
Steele 25+ Disposals
$1.91
GWS
After back to back wins against the Dockers and Blues, the Giants looked destined to make the top eight. Then they imploded. They lost to the Crows and Demons over the last two weeks to all but end their chances of playing finals. To make the eight now, they need to win this game by a large margin, enough to make up a whopping 11% on the Saints or 3% on the Dogs, providing they lose.
The Giants made the snap call to drop their skipper Stephen Coniglio for last week’s game against the Demons but the move was to no avail. It’s likely that the skipper will come back into the side this week and the Giants could also get Phil Davis back from injury for the important clash.
Tom Green was one of the Giants best on the weekend and had a magnified role in the midfield in the absence of Coniglio. Green racked up 30 disposals in the loss and even if the Giants do get some more help in the midfield, Green seems to have earned his spot in the rotation.
Green 20+ Disposals
$2.30
Prediction
Tough to like the Giants after their performances over the last two weeks. Granted the Saints have lost three of their last four as well but I feel that their performances have been a little more gallant, especially close losses to good teams in the Lions and Eagles. In that same span the Giants looked abysmal against the Crows.
The Saints start as 5.5 point favourites for the clash and we like them at that all important spot in the 6-7 seeding on the line.
