The Hawks and Saints will travel to Tasmania to kick off Super Saturday in the AFL in Round 9 from 1.45pm (AEST). As always, we have you covered with a full preview and betting tips for the clash below.
Also, Before You Bet will be providing free previews and betting tips for EVERY game in the 2024 AFL season, so make sure to head over to out our AFL Tips regularly to keep up to date with all of our free content.
AFL Round 9 Preview & Betting Tips
Hawthorn vs St Kilda
UTAS Stadium, Saturday 1.45pm (AEST)
The Saints are coming off a solid but not super impressive win over the Kangaroos last Saturday, and have two more winnable games against the Hawks and Dockers over the next two weeks which could get their season back on track.
Jack Sinclair shone in a full time midfield role in the win over the Roos, racking up 33 disposals and two goals in a best on ground performance while youngster Darcy Wilson had his best outing of the season with three goals.
The Saints made some tough decisions at the selection table throughout the week, dropping young star Mattaes Phillipou alongside Ryan Byrnes as both Liam Henry and Ben Paton make their way back from injury.
The Hawks recorded a fantastic upset win over the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Sunday in Round 8, coming back from a first quarter deficit to record a seven point win, there second win in the last three games.
Skipper James Sicily was inspiring for his side, coming back from a dislocated shoulder and a hamstring niggle to play forward and kick a crucial goal in the final quarter which helped secure the win. Unfortunately, he’ll be out this week alongside Josh Ward and Harry Morrison with Luke Breust, Seamus Mitchell and Jai Serong coming into the side.
Sicily has had monster games against the Saints in their last few matchups so his absence will be a huge loss for the Hawks here. The Saints start as just 10.5 point favourites here, which I think is a touch low and I’m keen to back them at that line.
I think Liam Henry adds another element to this Saints midfield, one that they have sorely missed over the course of his absence. His ability to extract the ball and come out the front of the pack is something that no other Saints player possesses and should be massive for their clearance game.
The return of Jimmy Webster and now Ben Paton also frees up Jack Sinclair to play solely in the midfield, which I think is massive for the Saints. Without Sicily, I think the Saints forward line of Membrey, King, Owens and the newly added Jack Hayes, could be a little too big for the Hawks.
Back them to get the job done and cover the line here.
St Kilda -10.5
$1.90 (1 Unit)
Same Game Multi
St Kilda to win - Largely explained above, I think the Saints should be too strong here, particualy defensively in what should be a pretty scrappy game in windy Tasmanian conditions.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera & Marcus Windhager 20+ Disposals - Love the tandem here to record 20+ disposals each. Wanganeen-Milera has recorded the number in six of eight games this season while Windhager has relished a full time midfield role of late, picking up 20+ in his last four straight.
SGM Odds: $2.30 at BoomBet
