3 minute read
Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2021 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 CARLTON
Friday 30 July @ Marvel Stadium
Like the most ghoulish thing you can think of, the AFL, almost forced by hand having to program St Kilda against Carlton on the Friday night, makes Freddy Krueger look like a saint.
It's like that famous David Attenborough narrated documentary of the baby iguana avoiding the horde of snakes. You think you know the outcome and you don't really want to know the outcome but you are compelled to keep watching it.
St Kilda hasn't been able to grasp any of its chances yet still are half a game off eighth spot. Carlton is effectively a rabble and is only one game further back.
With a win, the Saints will sit inside the Eight, if likely for only a day but it is a measure that you should never give up on a season unless it is mathematically impossible.
The incentive of Finals needs to be a carrot chased. Even if you lost the first one, that experience can be learned from and used as a tool to drive the next season.
St Kilda isn't winning the 2021 Flag from the last spot in the Finals (he says with trepidation after 2016). But they have enough good players to cause a few teams troubles in any one game.
They were in danger at five goals down of throwing in the towel in Perth. But they fought back to be pretty close at the siren. Much of it was due to the clunking and kicking of Max King.
He has tantalised all year that that was possible but when he marks it, he hasn't kicked straight. And then there has been some days when he couldn't make the entries stick so it didn't matter how he was kicking.
That Friday night back against Geelong was maybe the make or break time. To his credit he didn't let that define his season. Even if carrying some injury, he fought through it to get to his high point of 2021 – figuratively and literally.
The reality though is they still lost and are now in the position where the tough run home will haunt them. Though that starts next week as you could never include Carlton as a tough side.
They were deplorable against the Kangas. You could use many words not fit for publication to replace deplorable but that will do.
The views that have been sprouted were they can't beat those above but at least they've put away the lesser echelon. Lo (and lower) and behold, they took on last placed North Melbourne and got it handed back to them in spades.
Perhaps more damaging to the coach and the Internal Review taking place, was that things were near level at half time.
The second half was 13 goals to 6. Again this was against the 18th placed Roos. Defensive pressure was aloof, attack on the ball was non-existent and skills were horrific.
Sure they missed the Coleman leading McKay, but the art of coaching and leadership is to swap things around and play a different way to overcome.
Walsh always tries hard but Cripps can't get things going this year, the backline failed to hold up and those expensive half backs Saad and Williams offered little. Those recruiting decisions are potentially a significant impediment in time if improvement/results aren't sharp.
With that all said, if McKay is back then there is no reason they can't give this a shake. It's not like they are destitute of talent, if not the will to play well. And the Saints defence is gettable.
And there is the sugar hit of Charlie Curnow so that normally is all it takes for Carlton to lift.
In all likelihood St Kilda will get it done and with a little to spare. Just ride on Max King's back but he must get help. Weitering will be a contest at the very least.
Marshall returns so the contest around the ball will be of better focus (just need Ryder to play too). Off that basis they can win going away.
Match Selection: St Kilda by 21 points
Suggested Bets: St Kilda -16.5 @ $2.05
