When and Where:
7.45pm at MCG
Overall Head-To-Head:
Geelong – 123
St Kilda – 82
Draws – 0
Last Time They Met:
St Kilda 12.11 (83) defeated Geelong 11.13 (79), 2010 qualifying final at MCG
Key Players:
Footy experts are running out of adjectives to describe Joel Selwood. Tough, courageous, inspirational, classy, workmanlike – in short he’s developed into one of the finest midfielders in the competition. The 22-year-old won the club’s Best and Fairest ahead of Gary Ablett in 2010 and should only improve this season, despite Ablett’s well publicised absence. With skipper Cameron Ling to miss this game due to injury, Selwood will captain the Cats for the first time and will be keen to impress, especially with Ling’s career gradually coming to an end.
It’s going to be a big night filled with mixed emotions for ex-Geelong player Ryan Gamble. The 23-year-old will officially run out in St Kilda colours for the first time in his career, ironically against the team he struggled to break into. Gamble showed flashes of brilliance during his time at the Cats, kicking 31 goals from 24 matches. But his inconsistency meant he never cemented a spot in the side’s best 22 players. However the small forward is likely to be a regular feature in the Saints’ forward line this season and should provide an excellent partner in crime for skipper Nick Riewoldt.
New Players:
Geelong – Cameron Guthie (18-years-old, Calder Cannons)
St Kilda – Ryan Gamble (23, Geelong)
Who Wins?
Almost every match of the opening round of the 2010 season should be tight and even, but this Friday night blockbuster might just be the best of the lot.
St Kilda has endured one of the worst off-season’s you could possibly think of. Not because of injuries or on-field performances, but because of some annoying and unnecessary off-field issues. First the nude photo scandal, then the suspension of four players in New Zealand and finally the recent king-hit on Sam Fisher at nightclub. It can’t have gone much worse.
However the Saints now have a wonderful opportunity to put all of those unwanted controversies to one side and return to playing footy – the thing they do best. With guys like Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo, Leigh Montagna, Clinton Jones and the versatile Brendon Goddard running through the midfield, they are capable of beating any team on any given day. The addition of Gamble and Sam Gilbert to the forward line will only benefit Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke too – although the latter will miss the opening few rounds of the season due to injury.
Without Ablett and former coach Mark Thompson, the Cats have a lot to prove in 2011. But despite an ageing list, the calibre and skill of those players means the Cats are still capable of anything.
New coach Chris Scott is an impressive man. He seems to have united the playing group once again and clearly has the support of the club’s board and supporters. Scott will make the host of Geelong veterans as hungry as ever for premiership success, but it may take some time for them to adapt to Scott’s new game style.
But the Saints might have a bit more hunger to win this game. With a few Geelong players missing due to injury and a few fitness concerns over some key players, the Saints should shut their critics up quickly and begin 2011 with a close win, in what should be a cracking game.
Suggested Head-To-Head Bet:
St Kilda by 1-24 ($3.80 – Sportingbet)
Other Suggested Bets:
First Goal Scorer – Ryan Gamble ($12.00) or Mathew Stokes ($15.00) on Centrebet
Most Disposals Group 1 – Jimmy Bartel ($5.00 – Centrebet)
Also Sportingbet Australia are doing a first goal scorer special on the AFL, on top of the usual first goal scorer payout. If your first goal scorer bet scores the second goal, the guys at Sportingbet will pay you out as well! If he kicks the first two, they will pay you double! Get on!