Monday;s only AFL Round 7 match is between St Kilda Saints and Carlton Blues. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:40 PM local time with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. The away team Carlton Blues are the overwhelming favourites for the match after back to back wins. View our preview and teams for the game between St Kilda Saints and Carlton Blues.

Round: Round 7 7:40 PM May 13, 2013
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
Weather: 20° Overcast

Featured Bookmakers:

St Kilda Saints $3.45 vs Carlton Blues $1.31 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

St Kilda Saints $3.75 vs Carlton Blues $1.27 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by AFL Odds:

St Kilda Saints	3.45	3.75	3.75	3.75	3.45	3.50
Carlton Blues	1.31	1.27	1.27	1.27	1.31	1.32

Preview:

Round 7 extends through until Monday with the Saints hosting Carlton.

St. Kilda are languishing at the bottom of the table with only one win this season – that coming over GWS in Round 3.

There efforts in the past two weeks against Sydney and Collingwood have been of a better standard despite being on the wrong side of the score-line.

They managed to lead in both games during the second quarter but found the quality of their opponents too strong at the big end of the match, losing by 16 and 26 points respectively.

Carlton are 3-3 this season, their three wins coming in the last three rounds against West Coast, Adelaide and last week over the Demons.

It has given the Blues much need momentum and with Port, Brisbane and GWS their opponents over the next month, there is a great opportunity here for Carlton to build on their last month’s results.

St. Kilda have won the last three clashes between the two sides but will miss key forward Justin Koschitzke who is serving a two match suspension but have performed well enough in the last two weeks and a repeat performance will see them competitive here.

Teams:

St Kilda Saints:
B: Nathan Wright, Sam Fisher, James Gwilt
HB: Sean Dempster, Dylan Roberton, Jack Newnes
C: Leigh Montagna, Nick Dal Santo, Arryn Siposs
HF: Ahmed Saad, Rhys Stanley, Jarryn Geary
F: David Armitage, Nick Riewoldt, Stephen Milne
Foll: Ben McEvoy, Sebastian Ross, Jack Steven
Int: Brodie Murdoch, Jimmy Webster, Tom Hickey, Terry Milera, Farren Ray, Clint Jones, Josh Saunders

In: F.Ray, J.Gwilt, T.Milera, J.Webster, T.Hickey
Out: J.Koschitzke (suspension), S.Gilbert (knee)

Carlton Blues:
B: Chris Yarran, Michael Jamison, Lachie Henderson
HB: Zach Tuohy, Dennis Armfield, Simon White
C: Kane Lucas, Mitch Robinson, David Ellard
HF: Chris Judd, Andrew Walker, Jeff Garlett
F: Ed Curnow, Shaun Hampson, Matthew Kreuzer
Foll: Robbie Warnock, Marc Murphy, Heath Scotland
Int: Kade Simpson, Brock McLean, Eddie Betts, Jaryd Cachia, Andrew Carrazzo, Levi Casboult, Aaron Joseph

In: A.Carrazzo, M.Kreuzer, A.Joseph, L.Casboult
Out: J.Waite (suspension)

Kreuzer in doubt for AFL Blues: coach

Returning Carlton ruck/forward Matthew Kreuzer trained with a protective glove on Sunday and is yet to be declared a certain starter for Monday night’s AFL clash with St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.

The 200cm former No.1 draft pick hasn’t played since fracturing his thumb in round three.

“If Kreuzer becomes available he plays. If he’s not available, Levi Casboult comes into the side,” Carlton coach Mick Malthouse said.

“We’ll see how he comes up from today.”

Malthouse criticised the process the required the Blues to name a side on Thursday for a game on the following Monday.

“The silly part really about selection on a Thursday, which we do on a Tuesday and Wednesday, for a Monday game (it) leaves all sorts of possibilities because the gap is just too big,” Malthouse said.

“You don’t know what side you’re going to end up on a Monday when you pick the side on a Wednesday.

“I just think it’s a little bit silly that we have to go through that process instead of getting it closer to the day and giving all of the people, our Carlton supporters in particular, the opportunity to see the side that potentially will run down without that interference of three or four days.”

The Saints have won their past three encounters against Carlton but have claimed only one victory in the first six rounds this season.

Carlton have rebounded from an 0-3 start to sit on three wins and three losses.

The Blues are boosted by the key inclusions of vice-captain Andrew Carrazzo (calf) and Kreuzer.

Carlton have, however, lost key forward Jarrad Waite to suspension, while the Saints are also without a tall forward following Justin Koschitzke’s ban.

St Kilda showed some fight in losses to Collingwood (26 points) and Sydney (16) in the past two rounds.

The battle between St Kilda’s triple All-Australian key forward Nick Riewoldt and Carlton’s in-form defender Michael Jamison will be crucial.

Malthouse paid tribute to the 30-year-old Riewoldt’s resilience.

“Nick’s a wonderful player. A lot of people have underestimated the resilience of a champion,” Malthouse said.

“We’re going to have to be very, very conscious of him.”

Tasmanian teenager Jimmy Webster has been named on the bench for his debut in one of four changes for the Saints.