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St Kilda Saints vs Gold Coast Suns AFL Round 24 Tips - Suns to Finish on a High

ryan-tucker
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Last updated: Tue 18 Aug 2026 13:45

The final round of the AFL 2026 season sees the St Kilda Saints host the Gold Coast Suns in a clash with no finals implications. St Kilda, fresh off a big win but with several key injuries, faces a Gold Coast side looking to end a tough season on a high. Experts tip Gold Coast to cover the +13.5 line, expect the match total to exceed 180.5 points, and Touk Miller to kick a goal. Pride and future draft picks, not ladder position, headline this dead rubber.

Ryan Tucker 1 hour ago
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  • Both teams out of finals; pride and milestones only at stake.
  • Gold Coast tipped to cover +13.5; high-scoring match expected.
  • Experts predict Touk Miller to kick a goal at Marvel Stadium.
  • The game will be played at Marvel Stadium on Thursday, 20th August, with the bounce at 7:30 PM (AEST)
St Kilda Saints vs Gold Coast Suns
St Kilda Saints vs Gold Coast Suns


St Kilda Saints vs Gold Coast Suns, Round 24 2026 - Expert Prediction


This is about as pure a dead rubber as Round 24 produces. St Kilda's finals hopes are done now that Carlton has locked up the last wildcard spot, and Gold Coast have been out of contention for weeks. 

It's little more than pride for the Saints and a chance for the Suns to finish on a high after a disappointing year. Interestingly, a win would actually cost Gold Coast a bonus early draft pick under the league's new draft rules, an odd incentive hanging over a team already miles adrift of finals.

St Kilda enter in ominous form, thumping Richmond by 49 points at the MCG last week, with Bradley Hill collecting a career-best 41 disposals to win the Ian Stewart Medal in his 299th game. Gold Coast, by contrast, were run over by Brisbane in the QClash, going down by 42 points for their 11th loss in 12 matches. But prior to the Brisbane flogging, Gold Coast had 1 win and 3 losses by 13 points or less, pointing to an uptick in form.

The majority of the public money are backing St Kilda, but they are missing a stack of first-choice players to season-ending injury and likely rotating fringe personnel on a short turnaround. Grabbing the points with Gold Coast makes sense rather than expecting St Kilda to run away with it.

Take Gold Coast to cover the +13.5 line, the total to go Over 180.5, and Touk Miller to boot a goal at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.

  • Touk Miller has kicked 4 goals across his past three outings and also found the scoreboard in the earlier meeting with St Kilda this year.
  • Gold Coast's disposal and inside-50 numbers have actually held up reasonably well against St Kilda's per this season's team data, keeping the head-to-head tighter than the ladder gap suggests.
  • Both clubs are shuffling personnel with nothing on the line - St Kilda already managed Liam Ryan and Hunter Clark out of last week's win, while Gold Coast fields a farewell game for retiring veteran Nick Holman.
  • With both defences low on stakes and attacking players given extended opportunities, the total has scope to run past the market's 180.5 mark.

Head to Head Stats


St Kilda lead the all-time series 14 wins to 7 and have won 7 of the last 10 meetings, but Gold Coast's most recent win was an emphatic 29-point demolition at TIO Stadium in Darwin in Round 9 this year.

St Kilda Saints Form Analysis


St Kilda thumped Richmond 14.10 (94) to 6.9 (45) at the MCG last week, with Bradley Hill producing a career night with 41 disposals and the best-on-ground medal in his 299th game. Mitch Owens booted a career-best 5 goals and Max Hall added a personal-best 40 disposals of his own. 

The win kept the Saints' faint finals hopes alive for a week, but Carlton has since claimed the last wildcard spot, ending St Kilda's season with pride the only thing left to play for. St Kilda sit 11th at 10-12, with Bradley Hill set to celebrate his 300th AFL game this week, while James Barrat, Sam Flanders, Max King, Patrick Said, Jack Sinclair, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Mason Wood are all done for the season through injury.

Gold Coast Suns Form Analysis


Gold Coast were outclassed by Brisbane in the QClash, going down 6.17 (53) to 14.11 (95) at the Gabba, their 11th loss in 12 matches. Logan Morris kicked 4 goals but Touk Miller was held to 17 disposals and no goals after posting 23 disposals and 3 goals in a 2-point win over GWS the week before. 

Gold Coast sit 14th at 8-14 and have long been out of finals contention, the club will farewell veteran Nick Holman in his 154th and final game, hand extended opportunities to VFL performers Jai Murray and Zeke Uwland, while young forward Bailey Humphrey has just signed a new deal to stay at the club after attracting rival interest.

St Kilda Saints vs Gold Coast Suns Team List & News


St Kilda Saints Team News: Liam Ryan and Hunter Clark were both managed out of last week's win over Richmond and could return, though the Saints are already without James Barrat, Sam Flanders, Max King, Patrick Said, Jack Sinclair, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Mason Wood for the season, and further rotation is possible on a short turnaround.

Gold Coast Suns Team News: Sam Collins is a fitness test after leaving last week's game with sore ribs for the second time in three weeks, while Alex Davies, Will Graham, Elliott Himmelberg, Christian Petracca, Wil Powell and Lachie Weller have all finished their seasons through injury; veteran Nick Holman will play his 154th and final game before retiring.

(Full 22-man team lists to be added once officially confirmed by both clubs ahead of Thursday's game.)

St Kilda Saints vs Gold Coast Suns AFL 2026 Round 24 FAQ's

  • How to watch St Kilda Saints vs Gold Coast Suns AFL 2026 Round 24?

    You can watch the St Kilda Saints vs Gold Coast Suns AFL 2026 Round 24 game via Fox Sports or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside of Australia the WatchAFL app is the perfect solution.

  • How to buy tickets to St Kilda Saints vs Gold Coast Suns AFL 2026 Round 24?

    To buy tickets to the St Kilda Saints vs Gold Coast Suns AFL 2026 Round 24 game check the AFL website or the official St Kilda Saints site.

Verdict

Take Gold Coast to cover the +13.5 line, the total to go Over 180.5, and Touk Miller to boot a goal at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
Best Bet3: Touk Miller Anytime Goalscorer $2.10 at BetRaven - 1 Unit
Best Bet1: Gold Coast +13.5 Line $1.90 at Betraven (bets500) - 3 Units
Best Bet2: Over 180.5 Game Total $1.87 at Betfocus - 2 Units
Touk Miller
Anytime Goalscorer
$2.10 - 1 Unit

Bet at BetRaven
Gold Coast +13.5
Line
$1.90 - 3 Units

Bet at Betraven (bets500)
Over 180.5
Game Total
$1.87 - 2 Units

Bet at Betfocus

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