Roar Guru
The Sydney Swans have coasted to an easy 71-point win over the St Kilda Saints on Saturday night.
Final score
St Kilda Saints 7.13.55
Sydney Swans 19.12.126
The final game of Saturday’s trio will be played in Melbourne, as a struggling St Kilda Saints host the Sydney Swans at Etihad Stadium. Join The Roar for live commentary and scores from 7:25pm AEST.
This shapes as an intriguing contest. The Saints’ year, once looking so promising, has eventuated into anything but.
They haven’t won since their Round 1 win, have drawn with GWS and lost everything else. That doesn’t bode well for them, given Sydney’s recent record against them.
However, despite the string of defeats, they have shown improved form lately – including periods of dominance against the premiers a fortnight ago, and surprising West Coast with a powerful surge late last week.
Sydney’s record has been a lot better – they’re sitting 8-3, but it’s impossible to say they’re at their best.
They’ve won their last two – over Carlton and the Lions – but neither victory was dominant, which might be giving their opposition some hope tonight.
The Saints’ midfield has nothing on the Swans – even though the Swans’ hasn’t been at their dominant best of late.
Jack Steven has been admirable lately, and youngster Ed Phillips has shown signs, but Sydney’s mids including Isaac Heeney and Dan Hannebery will outclass them.
Both teams have made changes aplenty. The Saints have sensationally dropped Jack Billings, while also omitting Brandon White and Rowan Marshall. Pressingly, they’ve also lost skipper Jarryn Gearry.
Nathan Brown, Luke Dunstan, Josh Battle and Nick Coffield return to the side.
Sydney has rested Kieren Jack, and omitted youngsters Nic Newman and Ryley Stoddart. Tom McCartin, Tom Papley and Daniel Robinson return.
Prediction
Sydney’s won the past eight clashes against the Saints – regularly smashing them in contests that are supposed to be close encounters.
I’m not expecting this one to be that close, though, and Sydney – by all conventional logic – should win.
Logic isn’t always the barometer for success in this game, however, and the Saints have shown improved form. Still, though, the Swans to win.
Sydney by 21 points
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:25pm AEST.