St Kilda v North Melbourne Preview, Marvel Stadium

Just when it appeared things couldn’t get any worse for the Kangaroos, they were thumped
by Adelaide in Hobart in what had shaped as a winnable game. North have slumped to 0-7
with no light seemingly at the end of the tunnel. But St Kilda are not firing on all cylinders,
either, with a giant drop in their pressure rating over the last two weeks. The Saints have lost
three-straight matches, and their last win came in unconvincing fashion against Richmond in
Gather Round. There simply has to be a response from Ross Lyon’s team after dropping to
2-5. Star Saints forward Max King is set to return from a knee issue to extend the
under-sized Kangaroos defence.

TIP: St Kilda by 22 points, Brad Hill to have 25 or more possessions

The recent form guide shows St Kilda holding a clear edge over North Melbourne under the roof, but the Kangaroos have shown a heap more fight in their current campaign. Looking back at their last few meetings at Marvel Stadium, the Saints’ defensive structure usually smothers North’s younger midfield, forcing costly turnovers in the corridor. However, the Roos have managed to string together much better patches of pressure football lately, meaning this won’t be a walk in the park. Punters tracking the evolving AFL betting odds will notice a tightening line. Our AFL Expert Tips favor backing a low-scoring first half.