St Kilda vs Collingwood AFL Friday betting tips – Round 1, 2022

The first Friday night game of the 2022 AFL Premiership season is a big one, as Craig McRae will coach his first senior match with Collingwood against an up-and-coming St Kilda outfit at Marvel Stadium.

There is not a lot of expectation surrounding the Magpies following their 17th-place finish in 2021, while the Saints are pressing for a spot in the top eight and are under plenty of pressure already.

Considering the growth of the Saints’ list and their brief foray into the finals in 2020, Brett Ratten needs to produce more wins this season and push higher up the ladder or his job could be at risk.

One of the most exciting young prospects in recent years is set to debut for the Magpies, as Nick Daicos has already cemented his position in the best 22 after a top-notch preseason performance.

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Collingwood will be an interesting team to follow this year under McRae, specifically in regards to how the team will implement new strategies in the post-Nathan Buckley era.

Both teams are already in the wars heading into this contest, so neither side will be at full strength.

Brayden Maynard is suspended for the opening two matches of the season after a wayward high hit in the pre-season practice match, which is a huge bonus for the St Kilda small forward brigade.

As such, the likes of Dan Butler, Jade Gresham and Jack Higgins should provide valuable avenues to goal for the Saints in this clash.

Paddy Ryder could be a huge missing piece of the puzzle for St Kilda if he is not fit by Friday, as it would allow Brodie Grundy to play solo against Rowan Marshall out of the ruck.

Key matchup: Jack Steele vs Jordan De Goey

Two of the strongest midfielders in the competition may go head-to-head this week if Jack Steele and Jordan De Goey lock horns. Steele is a proven champion after finishing fifth in the 2021 Brownlow Medal, while De Goey has a lot to prove after an off-season filled with scandal.

When De Goey plays in the midfield, he is a force to be reckoned with that can easily rack up 30 disposals. The Magpies midfield bull collected 32 touches and kicked a goal against the Saints in his last match against them, yet he is paying just $1.72 to hit the 20-disposal mark this Friday and $4 to collect 25 or more.

St Kilda vs Collingwood match prediction

Although the Magpies have had the wood over the Saints in recent years, this is a new Collingwood coaching plan that could take some time to flourish. We are going to back in the Saints to get first blood this Friday, as St Kilda forward Max King should do a bit of damage while Jordan Roughead is sidelined for the Pies. The equation does get easier if Paddy Ryder plays, so keep an eye out for the team line-ups.

St Kilda vs Collingwood goalkicker betting

Jack Higgins has a terrific record against the Magpies since bursting onto the AFL scene 2018, having kicked 10 goals in six games against the black and white. Higgins kicked a goal in 16 of his 19 matches last season, which is a very consistent output for a small forward. The excitement machine should use his high footy-IQ to get dangerous inside 50 and punish the Magpies’ mistakes.

St Kilda vs Collingwood same-game multi

The Saints will march into a strong round-one victory over the young Magpies under the roof at Marvel Stadium, where Jack Higgins will kick a couple of snags and Jordan De Goey will begin his redemption season with over 20 disposals.