Australian Football League R7 Carlton Blues Vs St. Kilda Saints 5/10 0520EST

With both teams playing vastly different styles of football this game should be a spectacle to watch. The Bulldogs had the life choked out of them in Round 6 by the Saints who went on to win, kicking 3 goals in the final quarter. They will look to continue doing this with the absence of Nick Riewoldt and misfiring forward Justin Koschitzke in what is shaping up to be a low scoring affair. The Blues who looked fleet footed, swift and composed in their Round 5 win over the Cats were given a football reality check last week against Colingwood. The result of this match will largely depend on which version of Carlton runs out onto the field.

In the absence of Nick Riewoldt, Saints forward Justin Koschitzke has failed to deliver on the form that saw him kick 48 goals in 2009, kicking only 2 goals in his last two games since coming back from suspension. If he can find his 2009 form then the Saintswill be a much more formidable unit. Years of development appeared to pay off for Carlton's Setanta O'hAilpin against Collingwood, when he booted five goals. The Irishman isn't the prettiest footballer to watch but he continually makes contests and gives his teammates an option. He will be looking to consolidate his good form against the Saints.

Will St.Kilda look to cut of the Cat's supply in the same way they did to the Bulldogs? The majority of fans might not like it, but that's what is working for them at the moment. Which is the real Carlton? The fleet-footed mosquito fleet that left Geelong for dead, o the inconsistent group that shone for a quarter against Collingwood before burning out?

To conclude, if the Saints can keep the Blues' key midfielders quiet enough for long enough, their defenders should easily quell the threat posed by O'hAilpin and Carlton's fleet of small forwards. Even if the Blues do break free for a period, they will struggle to get on top of the stingiest defence in the League and that alone should to see St. Kilda clear. My play here is St.Kilda -16.5 (+106) for 1 unit available at Pinnacle.






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