The Saints and Bombers meet on Easter Saturday in Marvel Stadium in what should be an electric contest.
Best Bet
This is a gross match-up for a Bombers team that just refuses to defend.
As we have touched on in each Essendon preview this year, Brad Scott’s team continue to be a putrid defensive outfit, conceding 131 points to Sydney last week and 83 to Hawthorn the week prior. Expected scoring, however, had that total at 95 such was the Hawks’ inaccuracy.
There is probably no worse opposition for a team with this profile than the Saints, who have built upon the typically stingy Ross Lyon defence with electric ball movement, led by a group of elite kicks in Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Jack Sinclair and Brad Hill. The Bombers are going to get sliced up here.
Both sides are missing their full forwards in Max King and Peter Wright through suspension, while the Bombers will welcome back Darcy Parish and Mason Redman.
Essendon have failed to cover in four of their last five matches and don’t have the defensive application to match the well-drilled Saints.
Same Game Multi
Not a great game for same game multi options, especially with the uncertainty that Parish’s return has on Essendon’s midfield.
As below, Jack Higgins should be good for 2+, as should Tim Membrey who has hit that mark in his last three and will be targeted more with Max King missing.
Zach Merrett has had 25+ in his last seven against St Kilda and is a nice booster to any bet in this game at $1.26.
Value Bets
There’s nothing that Jack Higgins loves more than getting out the back for some easy goals, as he did last week kicking four against a disorganised Collingwood. He will get a big opportunity here as the Saints capitalise on the Bombers’ poor defensive set-up.
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