Saturday fifth AFL Round 19 match is between Brisbane Lions and St Kilda Saints with the game to be played at Gabba. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:40pm local time with home team Brisbane Lions currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Brisbane Lions and St Kilda Saints.

WHERE AND WHEN: Gabba, 7:40pm AEST Saturday, August 3, 2013

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Opening odds comparison:

Brisbane Lions	1.21	1.20	1.20	1.20	1.21	1.22
St Kilda Saints	4.40	4.50	4.50	4.50	4.50	4.40

Preview:

The Brisbane Lions take on St Kilda on Saturday, 7.40pm at The Gabba. The Lions will be expected to win this one, with St Kilda’s year turning from ordinary to bad over
the last few months. With Ahmed Saad in the news this week for alleged use of a banned substance, the Saints are unlikely to find the corner-turning confidence needed
to turn their recent form around. In contrast, while the Lions have certainly not set the competition on fire in 2013, the second half of their season has at least been better
than the first.

Teams:

Brisbane Lions:

FF: 34 Jesse O’Brien 21 Daniel Merrett 14 Brent Staker
HF: 15 Dayne Zorko 16 Jonathan Brown 6 Josh Green
C: 11 Pearce Hanley 38 Tom Rockliff 32 Sam Mayes
HB: 41 Mitch Golby 24 Joel Patfull 7 Jed Adcock
FB: 2 Ryan Harwood 36 Matt Maguire 42 Justin Clarke
FOLL: 23 Matthew Leuenberger, 30 Jack Redden, 10 Daniel Rich

INT: 29 Andrew Raines, 8 Rohan Bewick, 1 Sam Docherty, 26 Elliot Yeo
EMG: 35 Ryan Lester, 9 Ashley McGrath, 47 Jack Crisp

In: P.Hanley, J.O’Brien, R.Harwood
Out: A.McGrath, B.Moloney (soreness), J.Crisp

St Kilda Saints:

FF: 44 Stephen Milne 9 Tom Lee 35 Josh Saunders
HF: 26 Nick Dal Santo 12 Nick Riewoldt 11 Leigh Montagna
C: 22 Farren Ray 7 Lenny Hayes 4 Clinton Jones
HB: 14 Jarryn Geary 28 Rhys Stanley 16 Jack Newnes
FB: 17 Dylan Roberton 31 Tom Simpkin 24 Sean Dempster
FOLL: 5 Ben McEvoy, 20 David Armitage, 3 Jack Steven

INT: 2 Arryn Siposs, 29 Jimmy Webster, 38 Sam Dunell, 43 Tom Curren
EMG: 8 Trent Dennis-Lane, 1 Tom Hickey, 6 Sebastian Ross

In: D.Roberton, S.Dunell
Out: J.Gwilt (knee), T.Hickey

Lion Leuey savours Moloney chemistry

Wounded St Kilda have bigger AFL names battling for fitness but Brisbane ruckman Matthew Leuenberger believes his partner-in-crime, Brent Moloney, is just as crucial for Saturday night’s Gabba clash.

Moloney strained his hamstring late in the Lions’ costly nine-point loss to Port Adelaide and is in danger of joining fellow midfielder Simon Black on the sidelines.

The former Melbourne club champion has been among Brisbane’s shining lights in his maiden season at the Gabba and built up a superb combination with Leuenberger at the stoppages.

Leuenberger, also rested from training on Wednesday to overcome hamstring tightness, said Moloney looked on track to play in what would be a major relief to the A-grade ruckman.

“He’s a very important player for us,” the 25-year-old said.

“He’s probably my favourite player to play with and he’s awesome in the contest so hopefully he gets up.

“He’s an elite clearance player and that’s his biggest strength so it hasn’t been too hard to build a chemistry with him.

“It’s been an enjoyable journey so far and hopefully for a few more years to come.”

Despite receiving an injection to alleviate his own hamstring problem, Leuenberger insisted he’d be a certain starter against the Saints.

St Kilda have their own worries with Nick Riewoldt (foot), Lenny Hayes (hamstring) and James Gwilt (knee) all injured in the 101-point hammering by Geelong – the club’s worst loss in a decade.

Gwilt’s absence would be just as painful as star’s Riewoldt and Hayes due to their already-threadbare defensive stocks.

But Leuenberger stressed the Lions would not be underestimating the 16th-placed Saints, who Brisbane have never beaten under Michael Voss.

“You always have to be wary when you come up against sides that have been whacked,” he said. “They want to come out and prove that they’re competitive and we’ve been in that boat before and how we’ve approached it.”