The first game on Friday for AFL Round 20 is between St Kilda Saints and Hawthorn Hawks. The match is to be played at Etihad Stadium with the opening bounce set to commence at  7:50pm local time with away team Hawthorn Hawks currently holding favouritism in the market. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between St Kilda Saints and Hawthorn Hawks.

WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, 7:50pm AEST, Friday 9 August

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Opening odds comparison:

St Kilda Saints	10.00	11.50	12.00	11.50	10.00	10.00
Hawthorn Hawks	1.03	1.03	1.03	1.03	1.03	1.05

Preview:

After an eventful round last week, round 20 of the AFL kicks into action this weekend. The first match is between St Kilda and Hawthorn on Friday, 7.50pm at Etihad Stadium. The Hawks should be able to win this one easily, even after their defeat at the hands of the Tigers last week. Hawthorn will want to make amends, and the Saints could end up on the wrong end of an ugly scoreline if they’re not careful. St Kilda have managed only three wins so far this season, and could end up with their first bottom four season in 13 years if they’re not careful.

Teams:

St Kilda Saints:
B: D.Roberton, J.Blake, S.Dempster
HB: J.Geary, J.Gwilt, B.Murdoch
C: F.Ray, L.Hayes, L.Montagna
HF: D.Armitage, N.Riewoldt, C.Jones
F: S.Milne, T.Lee, J.Newnes
FOLL: B.McEvoy, N.Dal Santo, J.Steven
I/C: J.Webster, J.Saunders, D.Minchington, T.Curren
EMG: T.Hickey, S.Ross, A.Schneider
IN: Jack Newnes, James Gwilt, Darren Minchington, Brodie Murdoch, Jason Blake
OUT: Arryn Siposs (shoulder), Tom Simpkin (leg), Sam Dunell (omitted), Rhys Stanley (shoulder), Ahmed Saad (leg)

Hawthorn Hawks:
B: B.Stratton, B.Lake, B.Guerra
HB: B.Sewell, J.Gibson, T.Duryea
C: I.Smith, S.Mitchell, B.Hill
HF: B.Whitecross, J.Gunston, S.Savage
F: S.Burgoyne, J.Roughead, C.Rioli
R: D.Hale, J.Lewis, P.Puopolo
I/C: L.Breust, M.Spangher, S.Grimley, J.Simpkin
EMG: J.Ceglar, K.Cheney, J.Anderson
IN: Sam Grimley, Matt Spangher, Jonathan Simpkin
OUT: Luke Hodge (thumb), Lance Franklin (hamstring soreness), Jonathon Ceglar (omitted)

Saints’ defence undermanned for AFL clash

St Kilda’s defensive injury spate has hit crisis proportions as they prepare to take on a star-studded Hawthorn AFL attack on the rebound on Friday night.

The Saints have lost Rhys Stanley and Tom Simpkin, who had been filling key defensive positions, to season-ending injuries.

St Kilda were already without three of their best defenders – James Gwilt, Sam Fisher and Sam Gilbert – plus rookie-listed tall defender Jackson Ferguson.

It leaves them desperately light on for options as they prepare to combat Hawthorn star tall forwards Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Jack Gunston at Etihad Stadium on Friday.

The Hawks trio will all be keen to bounce back after they had a rare quiet day against Richmond at the MCG on Saturday.

Stanley needs surgery after fracturing his collarbone during Saturday’s loss to Brisbane.

Simpkin had a leg operation on Monday.

Forward Arryn Siposs has also had his season ended, by a shoulder injury, for which he will also have surgery.

All three are expected to be fit by the start of pre-season.

The injury plight means Saints backmen such as Sean Dempster and Dylan Roberton are likely to have to step up and play on taller opponents.

And veteran utility Jason Blake, who hasn’t played an AFL game since round three, might push for a recall.