3 minute read

Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2022 AFL Season.

We'll endeavour to run through the form, incorporate appropriate stats and also supply a betting prediction which won't always just be who will win.

ST KILDA V FREMANTLE

Saturday 9 July @ Marvel Stadium

Two last start winners match up in Melbourne and where they end up before the Finals start could well be funnelled through these next four quarters.

They already played once this year and St Kilda went over the nation to cajole a 10 point win – something that is not easy to do given the form lines now.

That was a tense, tight and tough battle – just 120 points scored in aggregate. St Kilda kicked just 9 goals and all bar one came from Max King and Jack Higgins.

The pressure of that day was again on show last Friday night when they upset Carlton. It was never that they weren't capable. It was that they didn't do it enough.

After a shocker the week before, you could tell they were up for the contest from the start. Tackling, harassing, shepherding etc was there for all to see.

Could they sustain for the entire match was the key. Well they almost did, however Carlton even hit the front not that far from the end. But the Saints turned that around as well.

Their tough midfielders, led by Jack Steele back now, got in a few faces and the Blues couldn't handle it. It also helped with Ryder and Marshall back together and back playing well. That is their MO. They need both ruckman in the game – rucking or floating forward.

And that theory is a good chance to be successful again this week. Fremantle has to return to the scene of where they got run over by Carlton themselves only a fortnight back.

Bad memories are one thing – recent bad memories are another.

At the very least they enter the arena off a win, albeit one where the finger nails were lowered against Port Adelaide.

Having gotten behind early, they stormed through the middle half of the match. 10 goals to 5 in that period put the winning touches on surely?

Well maybe not as a near seven goal lead was whittled right away. Some late matters could have even made it more worrisome.

You can always tell an intense match when there is so little scoring late. The last 10 minutes hardly saw any.

In the end, while Port will rue that and likely end their 2022, it provided Fremantle a nourishment to think they belong. They just have to bring it East where they are less fearsome.

This is St Kilda's final right now. Can they put two performances back to back? It's no certainty. But with Ryder and Marshall, they have ruck stocks to match Freo and if they contest and play the Dockers much as Carlton did they can win.

They really need Membrey to play well. Curnow and McKay worked wonders two weeks back. The Saints need him and King doing same. That defence does need to hold up with necessary changes made.

If they do they are a huge hope. So Saints to lift themselves back into the Eight and Membrey to kick a few while he's on a roll.

Match Selection: St Kilda by 14 points

Suggested Bets: Tim Membrey 3+ goals @ $2.90