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.

CARLTON V ST KILDA

Friday 1 July @ Marvel Stadium

If last week was all about 'Inside the 8' match ups, this week is almost the opposite. However the Friday night fixture will have repercussions that will disappoint the loser greatly.

As much as many of the neutral viewers hate to see it, Carlton is playing well, playing with a nasty streak and are pretty good to watch too.

And they will be even more sustainable when Weitering comes back to sure up the backline. He was the marshal behind the ball before he hurt himself.

Carlton has managed to get through so far relatively unscathed losing tough ones to Collingwood and Richmond and winning the rest.

They have done a lot of that with their pressure inside the Forward 50. Their smalls have been able to hold the ball in, providing the much vaunted midfield the chance to prosper.

If they then provide Cripps, Walsh, Cerra and Hewett more touches of the ball, the law of averages suggests goals will ensue. And holding the ball consistently there leads to a physical strain on the opponent's defence as well.

Then, you tack on having Curnow and McKay, who chase the Coleman, and scoring will probably not be the reason Carlton can't win the flag (if they can't).

Michael Voss has enveloped the side with a cutting edge, much in his own demeanour. They are happy to play on it so it will be up to St Kilda to not fall for any of those tactics.

However that is the least of the Saints issues. They went into the Sydney game off the back of a tough defeat at the hands of Brisbane and then a shocker to Essendon. That is not getting it done in September.

You would think they'd be primed for the Swans and it was touted they would be too. Well they were insipid. 2 goals kicked to ¾ time and a full forward bereft of supply meant Sydney didn't even have to be at their best to win by 8 goals.

Without Ryder there and Hill out as well, their x-factors were null and void. There was a sameness to their play, their delivery horrid and the spark lost.

Can they pick it up inside one week? They haven't picked a great opponent to try it on. Then again if they could repeat the Geelong performance they'd be a tremendous hope.

What they do need is all their troops back. Always judge a team when that is the case. So if those aforementioned do come back in as advertised, it will be Carlton who must adjust.

But the Blues have this insatiable desire at present. Even if they can have a spell in a game where the opponent makes a run at them, they get the crowd behind.

You would normally say playing at home offers that luxury but it is also the Saints home ground so that is mollified.

Not sure St Kilda has enough midfielders with defensive capabilities to stop Carlton's. If they did they would be some hope but not at present.

Charlie Curnow is totally on top of his game at present, kicking multiple goals with regularity. We'll back him to do that again and consign the Saints to a potential 2022 peril.

Match Selection: Carlton by 24 points

Suggested Bets: Charlie Curnow 4+ goals @ $2.60