The third of today’s AFL Round 4 matches will be played at Etihad Stadium between St Kilda Saints and Essendon Bombers. The opening bounce is set to commence at 4:40pm local time with the home team the away team on the day Essendon Bombers are the favourites in the market and have been well supported to continue their unbeaten record this season. View our live scores and results for the game between St Kilda Saints and Essendon Bombers.
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Saturday April 20, 4:40pm
St Kilda Saints $2.60 vs Essendon Bombers $1.52 at Sportsbet Australia
St Kilda Saints $2.60 vs Essendon Bombers $1.51 at Luxbet Australia
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Preview:
St Kilda take on Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Saturday at 4.40pm, with the Bombers unbeaten in 2013 and the Saints with a single win against GWS. This match might be closer than it looks on paper however, with St Kilda ruckman Ben McEvoy in fine form last week against GWS with 30 hit-outs and 18 disposals. Essendon go into this encounter as big favourites though, with some gutsy victories behind them and new player Brendan Goddard ready to prove himself as he faces his former club for the first time.
St Kilda Saints:
B: Nathan Wright, Tom Simpkin, Dylan Roberton
HB: Jarryn Geary, Rhys Stanley, Sam Gilbert
C: Nathan Dal Santo, Lenny Hayes, Sam Fisher
HF: Leigh Montagna, Nick Riewoldt, Terry Milera
F: Stephen Milne, Beau Maister, Ahmed Saad
Foll: Ben McEvoy, David Armitage, Jack Steven
I/C Arryn Siposs, Clint Jones, Tom Lee, Farren Ray
Emerg: Tom Hickey, Sebastian Ross, Trent Dennis-Lane
IN: Simpkin, Siposs
OUT: Blake (omitted), Newnes (jaw)
Essendon Bombers:
B: Courtenay Dempsey, Jake Carlisle, Mark Baguley
HB: Cale Hooker, Tayte Pears, Brent Stanton
C: Jason Winderlich, Jobe Watson, David Zaharakis
HF: Ben Howlett, David Hille, Stewart Crameri
F: Alwyn Davey, Michael Hurley, Brendon Goddard
Foll: Tom Bellchambers, Dyson Heppell, Heath Hocking
I/C: Jake Melksham, Jackson Merrett, Michael Hibberd, David Myers,
Emerg: Travis Colyer, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Scott Gumbleton
IN: Hille, Winderlich, Pears, Baguley, Merrett
OUT: Ryder (Suspension), Colyer (Omitted), Kommer (Suspension), Kavanagh (Omitted), Fletcher (Groin)
Essendon ready for clash with St Kilda
The angry reception for Brendon Goddard from his old fans is one of many hot issues for Essendon in Saturday’s AFL match against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
Goddard will be the focus of attention in a match that is ripe for an upset Saints win.
While the Bombers will start warm favourites after their 3-0 start, they are coming off last Friday night’s emotional win over Fremantle.
They also have just five days after the St Kilda game before the Anzac Day blockbuster against Collingwood.
Essendon players are also about to be interviewed over the club’s ongoing supplements investigations.
On top of all that, they have lost ruckman Patrick Ryder (suspension) and veteran defender Dustin Fletcher (groin) among five changes for the Saints match.
But coach James Hird says whatever the circumstances, his team will be ready.
“We’re playing a very good opposition that knows Brendon Goddard very well and knows how he plays,” Hird said.
Asked about the potential for a letdown after last Friday night’s epic win, Hird said: “You train hard, you work hard and you work through emotion as it comes.
“In terms of our training, we’ve trained very well this week.
“I’m happy we’re ready to play tomorrow.”
Goddard has admitted he is anxious about coming up against his old club.
The star utility was the biggest name to swap clubs late last year under the league’s new free agency system.
The Saints hierarchy was clearly unimpressed about his move and their fans will give him hell.
But Hird is not worried about what Goddard’s former team-mates might have in store for him.
“There might be a bit of banter, but that’s about it,” Hird said.
Hird added the loss of Ryder, Fletcher and Nick Kommer (suspension) will be a good test of the club’s player depth.
He is particularly pleased that defender Tayte Pears will return to the team after his shocking run of injuries over the last three seasons.
“Tayte Pears’ story – if he gets back to some reasonable football at AFL level – it’s one of the great stories,” Hird said.
David Hille and Jason Winderlich are two experienced players also returning to the senior side.
Hird said Fletcher could be recalled for Anzac Day.
“What is he? 55? And the body doesn’t recover as quickly when you’re that age,” Hird joked about the 37-year-old.
“Dustin’s a chance – we’ll be careful.”
Meanwhile, Hird said the club had sorted out an issue where video of his post-match speech from the Fremantle game was made public.
Goddard has said the video should have remained in-house.
“I can understand where the players are coming from and I can also understand the club’s point of view,” Hird said.
“The players and the club have had a chat and it’s all sorted now.
“It will be fine, it’s not a big issue … it won’t happen again.”