The match of Sunday AFL Round 9 matches is between St Kilda Saints and Gold Coast Suns. The game is set to commence at 4.40pm with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. Home team Gold Coast Suns go into the match as the favourites in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between St Kilda Saints and Gold Coast Suns.

Round: Round 9, Saturday May 18, 4.40pm
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
Weather: 21° Partly cloudy.

Featured Bookmakers:

[iframe_loader width=”690″ height=”310″ src=”https://www.sportsnews.com.au/odds/afl/match.php?id=1191761&sb&lx&b3″]

Odds Comparison:

St Kilda Saints	4.15	4.10	3.90	4.10	4.15	4.00
Gold Coast Suns	1.24	1.24	1.27	1.24	1.24	1.25

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Tips: Gold Coast Suns to win.

Preview:

ST KILDA has fallen in a bit of a hole after its encouraging start to the season. The Saints have lost the last three but have been heavily hit by long-term injuries to key players. Nick Riewoldt ground his way through Monday night’s 32-point loss to Carlton and picked up new sore spots when he was crunched by Marc Murphy, but continues to be in their best each week. Meanwhile, the Suns are flying and are sixth on the ladder, with the Saints’ 14th. They’ve had a week off and have won four of their last five games, including two in Melbourne.

LAST FIVE TIMES
R22, 2013, St Kilda 17.14 (116) d Gold Coast 10.10 (70) at Etihad Stadium
R1, 2013, Gold Coast 13.12 (90) d St Kilda 10.17 (77) at Metricon Stadium
R11, 2012, St Kilda 21.18 (144) d Gold Coast 7.7 (49) at Metricon Stadium
R2, 2012, St Kilda 21.13 (139) d Gold Coast 7.5 (47) at Etihad Stadium
R19, 2011, St Kilda 10/14 (74) d Gold Coast 6.18 (54) at Metricon Stadium

THE SIX POINTS
1. Riewoldt is in form and history suggests that will continue this week. He’s kicked 17 goals in four games against the Suns.

2. The Suns are ranked 10th in clearances but Gary Ablett is pulling his weight. He’s second in the competition with 55.

3. Gary Ablett has kicked 24 goals in 20 games against St Kilda for Geelong and Gold Coast (average 1.2) and polled 10 Brownlow votes (average 0.5 votes). This is, however, below his career averages of 1.33 goals a game and 0.739 Brownlow votes a game.

4. Tom Lynch has taken the most contested marks in the competition this season, despite the Suns struggling in the area.

5. However, the Suns have been strong in contested possessions; they’re ranked equal fifth in the League.

6. Unsurprisingly, Gary Ablett remains ranked No.1 in the Official AFL Player Ratings and Tom Curren is likely to get the job on him this week. Curren has been good against the likes of Patrick Dangerfield, Bernie Vince and Tom Rockliff this year so far.

Teams:

St Kilda Saints
B: Sean Dempster, Josh Bruce, Jimmy Webster
HB: Blake Acres, Luke Delaney, Cameron Shenton
C: Leigh Montagna, Lenny Hayes, Farren Ray
HF: Clinton Jones, Nick Riewoldt, Adam Schneider
F: Arryn Siposs,  Rhys Stanley, Jack Billings
FOLL: Billy Longer, Luke Dunstan, Tom Curren
I/C: Jack Newnes, Terry Milera, James Gwilt, Josh Saunders, Sam Dunell, Maverick Weller, Jack Steven
In: Terry Milera, Josh Saunders, Sam Dunell

Gold Coast Suns

Backs: Harbrow May Broughton
Half-backs:  Lemmens Thompson McKenzie
Centres: Shaw Ablett Rischitelli
Half-forwards: A Hall Lynch Stanley
Forwards:  Bennell Day Matera
Followers: Dixon O’Meara Swallow
Interchange: From: Smith Sumner Sexton Russell Prestia Warnock Murphy
In:  Murphy Warnock Smith Sexton Sumner
Out: Nicholls (knee) Kolodjashnij (knee)