Australian Football League Prediction

🏈 St Kilda Saints vs Brisbane Lions - Match Preview

⏰ 23 June 2023 - 19:50 GMT +10

🏟 Stadium - GMHBA Stadium

Brisbane experienced some inaccuracies in front of the goal, as Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood both managed to score 2 goals and 2 behind each. In terms of midfield performance, Lachie Neale and Josh Dunkley stood out with 29 and 28 disposals respectively.

Chris Fagan's team will face the challenge of breaking through the St Kilda defence, which has allowed the second-lowest number of points this season. If players like Daniher, Hipwood, and Cameron can convert their opportunities, Brisbane should secure a victory. However, I anticipate a tough battle from the Saints in Friday night's match.

In Round 15, the 5th-ranked St Kilda will host the 4th-ranked Brisbane. St Kilda missed a valuable chance to compete for a spot in the top four in their previous game, suffering a 20-point loss to Richmond at the MCG. On the other hand, Brisbane managed to defeat Sydney by 16 points at the GABBA.

St Kilda started strongly against Richmond, scoring the first four goals of the match. However, the Tigers fought back and the wet conditions in the second half made it difficult for the Saints to close the gap. Despite notable performances from Dan Butler (who kicked three goals) as well as Brad Crouch, Jack Sinclair, and Bradley Hill (all accumulating over 30 disposals), St Kilda couldn't turn the tide.

St Kilda Performance

One aspect that has remained consistent for St Kilda, albeit frustratingly, is their pattern of following a win with a loss and vice versa. Despite these fluctuations, their position in the top eight remains relatively strong. Although currently sitting in fifth place, St Kilda has displayed notable inconsistency this season, particularly in their recent performances. The team has struggled to build on a victory with another win ever since their impressive four-game winning streak at the beginning of the campaign.

Brisbane Lions Performance

The Brisbane Lions and their supporters were likely filled with concern as they experienced the aftermath of their impressive seven-game winning streak, which was followed by losses to the Adelaide Crows and Hawthorn Hawks. However, their narrow 97-81 victory over the Sydney Swans provided them with a much-needed boost, allowing them to recover from their back-to-back defeats. Nevertheless, the Lions have encountered setbacks in their most recent two away matches, resulting in consecutive losses on the road.

⚡ Players to watch:

• In his previous three encounters against St Kilda, Lachie Neale has maintained an average of 28 disposals per game.
• Over the past three weeks, Brad Crouch has been consistently performing with an average of 31 disposals.
• Jack Sinclair has been impressive as well, achieving 30 or more disposals in three out of his last four games.
• Josh Dunkley has also showcased his skills, recording 28 or more disposals in his past four matches.
• Additionally, Jack Higgins has been a prolific goal scorer this season, netting a total of 25 goals. Remarkably, he has managed to score at least one goal in 11 out of his 13 matches.

⚡ Match Facts:

• Since the commencement of the 2023 season, St Kilda embarked on a positive note with four consecutive wins. However, their subsequent journey has followed a pattern of win-loss-win-loss, repeating in a frustrating sequence.
• As for their performance at Marvel Stadium this season, St Kilda has emerged victorious in five out of seven matches played. On the other hand, Brisbane has faced St Kilda twice at Marvel Stadium, securing a win and experiencing a loss in those encounters.
• In recent times, Brisbane has had the upper hand, emerging victorious in four out of their last five meetings with St Kilda, two of which took place at Marvel Stadium.
• Following Round 14, there is minimal difference between the two teams, with Brisbane holding a win-loss record of 9-4, while St Kilda closely trails with an 8-5 record.