The first of Saturday AFL Round 2 matches is between St Kilda Saints and Greater Western Sydney Giants. The game is set to commence at 1.40pm with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. Away team Greater Western Sydney Giants go into the match as the favourites in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between St Kilda Saints and Greater Western Sydney Giants.
Round: Round 2, Saturday March 29, 1.40pm
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
Weather: 23° Shower or two.
Featured Bookmakers:
Odds Comparison:
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| St Kilda Saints | 1.95 | 1.95 | 1.88 | 1.95 | 1.95 | 1.93 |
| Greater Western Sydney Giants | 1.85 | 1.85 | 1.96 | 1.85 | 1.85 | 1.85 |
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
Tips: St Kilda Saints to win.
Preview:
Upset winners from round one meet at Etihad Stadium on Saturday to fight over an unlikely 2-0 start to the season. St Kilda, undermanned and in the early stages of a long-term rebuild, beat Melbourne by 17 points with a depleted midfield, other experienced players out and three debutants. They look to have found a player in Luke Dunstan, who is this week’s NAB AFL Rising Star nominee, while Tom Curren looks set to play an important role this year. Greater Western Sydney’s round one triumph was more dramatic and caused bigger shockwaves, upsetting big brother the Sydney Swans with a 32-point win on March 15. Ex-Swan Shane Mumford showed why the Giants recruited him with a commanding performance in the ruck while Callan Ward, Stephen Coniglio and Adam Treloar were impressive and Jeremy Cameron kicked four goals – including the sealer – despite being well held by Ted Richards in the first half.
LAST TWO TIMES
R3, 2013, St Kilda 21.14 (140) d GWS Giants 10.8 (68) at Manuka Oval
R22, 2012, St Kilda 25.13 (163) d GWS Giants 5.5 (35) at Etihad Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. David Armitage is under an injury cloud after pulling up with knee soreness. The Saints could use his midfield grunt given he managed four goals and 31 possessions last time the sides met, winning him three Brownlow medal votes.
2. It was a lopsided result when they faced off in round three last year at Manuka Oval. The Saints ran out 72-point winners on a disappointing day for the Giants, who also lost forward Jonathon Patton to a torn ACL.
3. The Saints’ record at Etihad Stadium is tracking upwards thanks to three wins from their last three games. The Giants are searching for their first at the Docklands stadium after five tries.
4. The Giants shone in the midfield in round one. No team had more clearances than them with 55, while the Saints were ranked ninth with 40.
5. Neither side was impressive when it came to marks inside the forward 50. Both teams took eight marks for the game, which gave them an equal rating of 14th.
6. St Kilda midfielder and reigning best and fairest winner Jack Steven remains the highest-ranked player in the AFL Official Player Ratings from both teams despite being unavailable until at least round four because of a fractured foot. Ward showed some movement last week to rise to 28th after his impressive game.
Teams:
St Kilda Saints:
Backs: Dempster Delaney Geary
Half-backs: Wright Gwilt Roberton
Centres: Montagna Hayes Ray
Half-forwards: Jones Riewoldt Saunders
Forwards: Curren Maister Gilbert
Followers: Hickey Armitage Dunstan
Interchange: Stanley Newnes Templeton Savage
Emergencies: Dennis-Lane Billings Longer
In: Montagna Hayes
Out: Webster (groin) Billings
Greater Western Sydney Giants:
Backs: Plowman Frost Hampton
Half-backs: Hunt Haynes Shaw
Centres: Greene Treloar Scully
Half-forwards: Whitfield Patton Cameron
Forwards: Smith Giles Addison
Followers: Mumford Coniglio Ward
Interchange: Kelly Kennedy Townsend Bugg
Emergencies: Williams Tomlinson Hoskin-Elliott
In: Townsend Plowman Kelly
Out: Palmer (hamstring) Davis (kidney) Shiel (quad)
New: Joshua Kelly, 19, Sandringham U18
