Marvel Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 3 AFL game between Essendon Bombers and St Kilda Saints. The game kicks off at 4:20 pm with St Kilda Saints heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Essendon Bombers vs. St Kilda Saints game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Saturday March 30, 2024 at 4:20 pm
Where: Marvel Stadium
Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE
Essendon Bombers vs St Kilda Saints Odds
Essendon Bombers vs St Kilda Saints Preview
Is it time to start taking the Saints seriously?
Ross Lyon’s side defied most people’s expectations last week when they ran out 15-point winners against Collingwood, another inspiring defensive effort fans might look back on if they finish top four.
Jack Higgins was brilliant on the night, but if you’re a Saints fan, there’s plenty to like about the run through the middle of the ground with Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Jack Higgins touching plenty of the footy.
The Bombers had their moments in a 30-point loss to the Swans, but it felt like there was still a significant gap between Essendon and Sydney’s effort levels at times.
Brad Scott’s side was strong around the clearances but failed to match the Swans’ pressure ‘ particularly in their own back half with the Swans taking their fair share of uncontested marks.
Adding further concern, key forward Peter Wright is set for an extended stint on the sideline following a dangerous bump, while Matt Guelfi is still out for a couple more weeks with a calf injury.
Essendon’s forward line has been the subject of concern for quite some time, making this assignment even more difficult against a St Kilda outfit that rebounds so well from their own defensive 50.
To me, it feels like the Saints are a team many are sleeping on. They finally have options moving the ball forward, and their work around the stoppages has been strong. The Bombers should measure up early, but I think the Saints do this comfortably in the end.
BETTING:
In today’s AFL match between Essendon and St Kilda, the odds favor St Kilda as the likely victor. St Kilda enters the match with a recent impressive win against Collingwood, showcasing a solid defensive effort and strong midfield play. Meanwhile, Essendon faced a 30-point loss to Sydney Swans in their last outing, highlighting concerns about their forward line and overall effort level. With St Kilda demonstrating better form and cohesion in their gameplay, they are considered the favourites to come out on top in this matchup with online betting apps.
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Head To Head Bet
We're tipping St Kilda Saints to win at $1.70 odds.
First Goal Scorer
First Goal Scorer: Jake Stringer at $10.
Essendon Bombers vs St Kilda Saints Teams
BOMBERS
B: D.Heppell, B.McKay, N.Hind
HB: N.Martin, M.Redman, A.McGrath
C: X.Duursma, D.Parish, J.Kelly
HF: A.Perkins, K.Langford, J.Caldwell
F: J.Gresham, J.Stringer, B.Hobbs
FOLL: T.Goldstein, W.Setterfield, Z.Merrett – C
I/C: S.Draper, N.Cox, J.Laverde, S.Durham, J.Menzie
EMG: E.Tsatas, H.Jones, A.Davey Jnr
IN: M.Redman, D.Parish, J.Kelly
OUT: E.Tsatas (Omitted), P.Wright (Suspension), A.Davey Jnr (Omitted)
SAINTS
B: J.Battle, Z.Cordy, C.Wilkie
HB: R.Bonner, J.Sinclair, N.Wanganeen-Milera
C: R.Byrnes, S.Ross, B.Hill
HF: J.Higgins, D.Butler, M.Owens
F: D.Wilson, A.Caminiti, T.Membrey
FOLL: R.Marshall, J.Steele – C, M.Windhager
I/C: Z.Jones, L.Stocker, A.Hastie, M.Phillipou, C.Sharman
EMG: A.Schoenmaker, H.Garcia, T.Campbell
IN: D.Butler, A.Caminiti, A.Hastie
OUT: M.Wood (Injured), L.Henry (Injured), M.King (Suspension)