Saturday’s AFL 2018 Round 12 match is between St Kilda Saints and Sydney Swans. The opening kick is set to commence at 19:25 local time with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The away team Sydney Swans are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between St Kilda Saints and Sydney Swans.
When: 19:25 | Saturday 09/06/2018
Where: Etihad Stadium
Preview:
Saints tested the Eagles over in the west and one positive they will take from that game was their accuracy on goal finally improved.
Swans ruckman Callum Sinclair is coming off a strong game against the Blues and he has stepped up and he has had to because he is the only ruckman Sydney have left on their list.
Saints will handle Buddy Franklin with great difficulty and he’s due for a very big game.
KEY BATTLE: Tim Membrey v Dane Rampe
Membrey is fresh off six goals against West Coast and Rampe will get the job.
The Verdict
Sydney, who are 5-4 (55.6 percent) at the line as an away team in night matches since 2017, to hold on in a tighter game than most people expect.
Unibet Odds:
St Kilda at $4.60
Sydney at $1.20
Odds:
OFFER: Deposit $50 BET with $200 via this link – Ends Soon!
Tip: Sydney Swans at $1.26
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Will Hayward at $13.00
More Info:
Teams:
St Kilda Saints: 
B: Jimmy Webster, Nathan Brown, Shane Savage
HB: Hunter Clark, Logan Austin, Bailey Rice
C: Jack Newnes, Jack Steele, Ed Phillips
HF: Jack Sinclair, Paddy McCartin, Josh Battle
F: Jade Gresham, Tim Membrey, Jack Lonie
FOLL: Tom Hickey, Sebastian Ross, Jack Steven
I/C: Luke Dunstan, Daniel McKenzie, Nick Coffield, Maverick Weller
EMG: Billy Longer, Darragh Joyce, Ben Paton
IN: Nathan Brown, Josh Battle, Luke Dunstan, Nick Coffield
OUT: Jarryn Geary (inj.), Brandon White, Rowan Marshall, Jack Billings
Sydney Swans: 
B: Nick Smith, Heath Grundy, Jake Lloyd
HB: Jarrad McVeigh, Dane Rampe, Harry Cunningham
C: Zak Jones, Luke Parker, Oliver Florent
HF: George Hewett, Gary Rohan, Isaac Heeney
F: Will Hayward, Lance Franklin, Ben Ronke
FOLL: Callum Sinclair, Dan Hannebery, Josh Kennedy
I/C: Harry Marsh, Tom McCartin, Tom Papley, Daniel Robinson
EMG: Aliir Aliir, Kieren Jack, Nic Newman, Dean Towers
IN: Tom McCartin, Tom Papley, Daniel Robinson
OUT: Kieren Jack, Ryley Stoddart, Nic Newman
AFL News:
Sydney coach John Longmire believes ruckman Callum Sinclair has learned his lesson when it comes to staging.
Sinclair dominated Carlton in last Friday night’s AFL clash at the SCG, producing one of his greatest games in the red and white to help the Swans triumph by 30 points.
However, the 28-year-old’s performance was soured by an overt attempt to draw a 50m penalty that instead earned him a $1000 fine from the match review panel.
Sinclair was awarded a freekick for a ruck infringement. He was then rebuked by the controlling umpire for making the most of minor contact from Carlton’s Patrick Cripps.
“We don’t want to see too much of that in the game, so he copped the fine and we move on,” Longmire told reporters on Monday.
“I haven’t spoken to him today because I haven’t seen him today.
“If I think I need to, I’ll have a chat with him.
“But I don’t think I necessarily need to, I think he’s got the message.”
Sam Naismith’s season-ending injury and Kurt Tippett’s retirement in January means Sinclair will be one of the most important players in the Swans’ push for a premiership in 2018.
Longmire has already used 31 players this year, with Sinclair among the group to have featured in all 11 rounds.
Sydney, who sit fourth on the ladder and face St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, are yet to name an unchanged team this year.
That trend is likely to continue beyond this week, no matter what the club’s injury list is like. Longmire suggested the concept of a genuine ‘best 22’ is now outdated.
“It constantly changes,” he said.
“It doesn’t really get set in stone, you need to be flexible enough.
“The structure of the team changes in regards to (the mix of) talls and smalls … how you set up according to the opposition and who’s playing well in the reserves.”
Key-position players Sam Reid (quad) and Lewis Melican (hamstring), who have featured in a combined four games this year, aren’t expected to be available until after the mid-season bye.
Tom Papley, who was forced to skip the Swans’ last-start win over Carlton because of some minor niggles, will bid to prove his fitness at Thursday’s training session.
“Hopefully he’s OK. We won’t know until the end of the last training session,” Longmire said.
“His plan is to not do a great deal tomorrow, so we won’t really know until that Thursday.”
