St Kilda Saints vs Brisbane Lions AFL Round 3 Tips - Premiers to rediscover mojo

Adam Cusworth

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Last updated: Thu 26 Mar 2026 10:29

Adam Cusworth 26 Mar 2026

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The game will be played at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, 28th March, with the bounce at 12:35 PM (AEDT)
Can the Premiers register first win in 2026?
Preview, expert analysis, stats, team news & best bet

St Kilda Saints vs Brisbane Lions, Round 3 2026 - Expert Prediction

St Kilda Saints vs Brisbane Lions, Round 3 2026 - Expert Prediction
Head to Head Stats
St Kilda Saints Form Analysis & Team News
St Kilda Saints Team News
St Kilda Saints Team List
Brisbane Lions Form Analysis
Brisbane Lions Team News
Brisbane Lions Team List

Brisbane will bounce back into form with a strong win over St Kilda at Marvel Stadium in Round 3.

The Lions are 0-2 after losses to the Western Bulldogs (by 5 points) and Sydney (by 44), while St Kilda are 1-2 after a 4-point win over GWS following earlier losses to Collingwood (12 points) and Melbourne (13). With key players returning and a more settled lineup, Brisbane’s scoring power and system should begin to click.

St Kilda’s path to winning centres around their front-half pressure and ability to control territory early in games. Jack Sinclair has been critical to that setup, recording 30+ disposals in each of his three matches this season, while their pressure-based style can generate scoring opportunities through turnover. If they can lock the ball in their forward half and play from in front, they can challenge Brisbane’s ball movement and disrupt their rhythm.

Brisbane’s strength lies in their ability to control possession and move the ball through the corridor, generating repeat inside 50 opportunities. Lachie Neale (67 disposals across two matches) and Dayne Zorko (30 disposals last game), should give them an advantage in ball use and territory over time.

Charlie Cameron remains a key scoring threat with six goals this season, while Oscar Allen’s strong record against St Kilda suggests Brisbane have multiple avenues to goal. If Brisbane can avoid early turnovers and settle into their possession game, they should be able to break the Saints’ pressure setup.

Brisbane to win, with Charlie Cameron among the goals and Oscar Allen a strong option for multiple goals.

Brisbane have won 12 of their past 14 matches at Marvel Stadium
Charlie Cameron has kicked six goals in his two matches in 2026
Oscar Allen (Brisbane) has kicked 2+ goals in his past three matches against St Kilda
Jack Sinclair has had 30+ disposals in each of his three matches this season

Head to Head Stats

Brisbane have dominated recent matchups, winning their past seven games against St Kilda by an average margin of 48 points. The most recent meeting at Marvel Stadium in Round 7 last season resulted in a 45-point win for the Lions.

Lachie Neale starred in that game with 31 disposals and three goals, while Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera had 32 disposals for St Kilda. Jack Sinclair has also performed strongly in this matchup, recording 30+ disposals in four of his past five games against the Lions.

St Kilda Saints Form Analysis & Team News

St Kilda are 1-2 to begin the 2026 season, with narrow losses to Collingwood (12 points) and Melbourne (13) before a 4-point win over GWS. Their performances have been competitive, built around strong defensive structure and pressure-based football.

Their game style is centred on front-half pressure and territory control, generating scoring opportunities through forced turnovers rather than sustained possession. This has been evident in their ability to create scoreboard pressure early, while Sinclair (30+ disposals in all three matches) and Wanganeen-Milera (27 last game) provide drive from half-back. Max Hall has also contributed with six goals across three matches.

However, their reliance on pressure can expose inconsistency. When unable to sustain territory or when momentum shifts, they can struggle to maintain scoring output. Their style is less effective if forced into a possession game, and maintaining intensity across four quarters remains a key challenge.

St Kilda Saints Team News

St Kilda will be without Anthony Caminiti due to a hamstring injury, impacting their forward structure and aerial presence.

Hunter Clark is a chance to return, which would provide additional midfield depth and support their contest and pressure game. Any inclusion here would help balance their on-ball rotation and improve ball-winning capacity.

Brisbane Lions Form Analysis

Brisbane are 0-2 to start the season, going down narrowly to the Western Bulldogs before a 44-point loss to Sydney. Despite the results, there have been underlying signs that their system remains effective once established.

Their playing style is built around controlled possession and corridor ball movement, using uncontested marks and midfield depth to generate repeat inside 50s. Neale (67 disposals across two matches) and Zorko (30 last game) have been key contributors, while Cameron has provided forward output with six goals this season. Their clearance strength remains a positive even with personnel changes.

The key issue has been cohesion and execution, particularly early in games. Brisbane conceded seven goals in the first quarter against Sydney, effectively losing the match early. Turnovers in defensive areas and a lack of uncontested marking early have disrupted their ability to control tempo, highlighting the impact of injuries and a disrupted lineup.

Brisbane Lions Team News

Brisbane are set to regain several key players, with Hugh McCluggage and Logan Morris expected to return, while Zac Bailey and Darcy Gardiner are available again following suspension. These inclusions significantly strengthen their structure and ball movement.

However, Harris Andrews remains unavailable, which impacts their defensive setup, and several players are still working back from injury. The returning depth should improve cohesion and allow Brisbane to better execute their possession-based game style.

St Kilda Saints vs Brisbane Lions Team List

St Kilda	POS	Brisbane Lions
J. Silvagni, C. Wilkie, D. Howard	B	K. Coleman, D. Gardiner, R. Lester
L. Stocker, B. Hill, N. Wanganeen-Milera	HB	D. Wilmot, J. Fletcher, D. Zorko
M. Windhager, M. Hall, D. Wilson	C	B. Reville, W. Ashcroft, J. Berry
H. Garcia, M. Wood, M. Owens	HF	C. Cameron, O. Allen, L. Ashcroft
J. Higgins, C. Sharman, R. Marshall	F	S. Draper, C. Rayner, T. Gallop
T. De Koning, S. Flanders, J. Sinclair	FOLL	D. Fort, J. Dunkley, L. Neale
D. Butler, J. Carroll, M. Phillipou, A. Tauru, L. Ryan	I/C	K. Lohmann, L. McCarthy, L. Morris, Z. Bailey, N. Answerth

St Kilda Saints vs Brisbane Lions AFL 2026 Round 3 FAQ’s

How to watch St Kilda Saints vs Brisbane Lions AFL 2026 Round 3?

You can watch the St Kilda Saints vs Brisbane Lions AFL 2026 Round 3 game via Fox Sports or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside of Australia the WatchAFL app is the perfect solution.