Sunday first AFL Round 22 match is between St Kilda Saints and Gold Coast Suns with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The opening bounce is set to commence at 1:10pm local time with home team St Kilda Saints currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between St Kilda Saints and Gold Coast Suns.

WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, 1:10pm AEST Sunday, August 25, 2013

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Opening odds comparison:

St Kilda Saints	1.83	1.77	1.75	1.77	1.83	1.85
Gold Coast Suns	1.97	2.05	2.08	2.05	1.97	1.98

Preview:

The first Sunday game is between St Kilda and the Gold Coast, kicking off at 1.10pm at Etihad Stadium. Despite the slight who-cares factor for this game, this could be a close one. The Saints are in big trouble at the moment, and the Suns could take their third victory on the road for 2013. Coincidentally, that is the same number of wins that St Kilda have managed all season, and while they will be slight favourites to win here, you would have to be brave to back them.

Teams:

St Kilda Saints:
B: Jack Newnes, Jason Blake, Jarryn Geary
HB: Sean Dempster, Sam Gilbert, Farren Ray
C: David Armitage, Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montagna
HF: Sebastian Ross, Nick Riewoldt, Clinton Jones
F: Stephen Milne, Tom Lee, Tom Curren
Foll: Tom Hickey, Nick Dal Santo, Jack Steven
I/C: Josh Saunders, Darren Minchington, Ben McEvoy, Cameron Shenton, Tom Ledger, Brodie Murdoch, Adam Schneider

In: C.Shenton, T.Ledger, B.Murdoch, L.Hayes
Out: D.Roberton (rested)

Gold Coast Suns:
B: Trent McKenzie, Steven May, Luke Russell
HB: Greg Broughton, Rory Thompson, Tom Murphy
C: Harley Bennell, Gary Ablett, Jarrod Harbrow
HF: Jacob Gillbee, Jared Brennan, Andrew Boston
F: Timmy Sumner, Charlie Dixon, Aaron Hall
Foll: Daniel Gorringe, Danny Stanley, Dion Prestia
I/C: Leigh Osborne, Jackson Allen, Michael Rischitelli, Liam Patrick, Karmichael Hunt, Josh Hall, Jaeger O’Meara

In: J.Brennan, M.Rischitelli, L.Patrick, L.Osborne, J.Gillbee, K.Hunt
Out: J.Hutchins (hamstring), D.Swallow (knee), S.Tape (concussion)

Suns coach says Hunt is still valued

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna says Karmichael Hunt is still a valued part of the Suns’ AFL set-up despite his difficult 2013 campaign.

Hunt has only made seven appearances this year for the Suns, his last AFL game coming in the round 14 loss to Adelaide in June.

The former rugby league international is battling with Michael Rischitelli to be David Swallow’s replacement for this weekend’s trip to Melbourne to take on St Kilda.

But McKenna conceded on Thursday the former Brisbane Lion has got his “nose ahead” of Hunt in the race to win selection for the Saints clash.

McKenna however bristled when asked if Hunt’s future at the Suns was in jeopardy.

“He’s on our list and he’s a valued contributor to our side,” he told reporters.

“He’s earned every minute for his time on the field.”

What McKenna did say was every one of his players needs to show they’re prepared to improve – Hunt included – if they’re to maintain a position at the club in seasons ahead.

“K would be the first to say in his particular case he still can’t run like an elite AFL footballer yet,” he said.

“He can do that for half a game, maybe three quarters of a game and that’s where the evolution of our football club is.

“For us to go from seven, eight, nine wins in a season to play finals football, we can’t carry anyone who can only play half a game.

“Whether it’s Karmichael Hunt, whether it’s Gary Ablett, whether it’s Jack Martin next year, for us to get better they have to be able to run out 120 minutes of football. Everyone will be on high alert for that.”