<p>Sunday footy begins down at the Cattery as Geelong hosts St Kilda.</p> <p>The Cats, widely tipped to finish inside the top four again this season, keep on stumbling when they should be steadying.</p> <p>Last week's loss to the Giants won’t have too many significant ramifications on where the Cats finish, considering they play five teams in the bottom 10 to finish the season, but what it did do was cast that little bit of doubt over their bonafides against like types.</p> <p>Is it jumping the gun a bit?&nbsp; Are we just looking for chinks in everyone at this point of the year to find reasons why some clubs can or can’t win the premiership? Of course, we’re doing that!</p> <p>All told, the Cats were well below their best last Saturday as they dropped their second game in three weeks, and now they return home to face a team that has made a habit of beating them.</p> <p>The Saints, while not getting over the line against the Swans, slumped to their fifth straight loss last week, but have shown steady signs of improvement in the past month.&nbsp;</p> <p>The exposure of youth is certainly what’s been getting Saints fans excited at the moment. They got a look at another one on the weekend just gone, with the debut of Max Heath, the big key position/ ruckman who had been biding his time and developing, was finally unleashed.&nbsp;</p> <p>The return home should benefit the Cats, who get two weeks straight at GMHBA Stadium to set them on the path to the finals.&nbsp;</p> <p>On a selection front, the Cats played it safe with key defender Sam De Koning last week, but he is expected to be tested again and is seen as a chance to return against the Saints.</p> <p>Coleman Medal leader Jeremy Cameron is also expected to be passed fit to play the Saints, despite picking up a groin concern against the Giants last week.</p> <p>Fringe midfielder Ted Clohesy continues to hammer the door down at VFL level, collecting 31 disposals, 12 clearances, and a goal in a big win over GWS, and should find himself in with a chance too.</p> <p>At the Saints, Dan Butler will be replaced after his gruesome elbow dislocation last week against the Swans. Former Blue Paddy Dow is getting closer to an AFL return after getting through his first full game on unmanaged minutes for Sandy, another big tick in his comeback trail.</p> <p>Winger Darcy Wilson responded strongly to being dropped with 33 touches in the VFL and should find his way back in, too.</p> <p>For the latest team news, analysis, odds, and betting tips, check out our Cats vs Saints prediction and preview below.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Geelong vs St Kilda Predicted Teams</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Geelong Predicted Team List</h3> <p>B: Tom Stewart, Sam De Koning, Jack Henry</p> <p>HB: Connor O’Sullivan, Mark Blicavs, Zach Guthrie</p> <p>C: Ollie Dempsey, Max Holmes, Gryan Miers</p> <p>HF: Shaun Mannagh, Shannon Neale, Brad Close</p> <p>F: Patrick Dangerfield, Jeremy Cameron, Ollie Henry</p> <p>Foll: Rhys Stanley, Tom Atkins, Bailey Smith</p> <p>Int: Oisin Mullin, Mark O’Connor, Jack Bowes, Jack Martin, Lawson Humphries</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>St Kilda Predicted Team List</h3> <p>B: Liam Stocker, Anthony Caminiti, Alix Tauru&nbsp;</p> <p>HB: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Callum Wilkie, Jack Sinclair</p> <p>C: Darcy Wilson, Jack Steele, Bradley Hill</p> <p>HF: Mason Wood, Max Heath, Max Hall</p> <p>F: Jack Higgins, Cooper Sharman, Liam Henry</p> <p>Foll: Rowan Marshall, Jack Macrae, Hugo Garcia</p> <p>Int: Hugh Boxshall, Marcus Windhager, Angus Hastie, Hunter Clark, Aerie Schoenmaker</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Geelong vs St Kilda Prediction &amp; Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Head-to-Head Prediction</h3> <p>The Saints have won the past two clashes against the Cats and have historically matched up well against Geelong, splitting the last five head-to-head at five games each.</p> <p>While the Saints will fancy their chances, the Cats’ last five wins against the Saints have all been down in Geelong… a place that St Kilda has lost 12 games in a row at by an average of 45 points.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Cats, despite some minor slip-ups in recent weeks in the wins and losses column, are fine-tuning their game and leveling up for the business end of the season. They’ve elevated to the third-best overall profile and rank second for attack and third for defence in the competition.&nbsp;</p> <p>Ross Lyon will come with a plan, but we feel the Cats will be looking to course-correct properly here as they hit ‘Premiership mode’ and keep the home streak against the Saints going strong.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/geelong-cats-v-st-kilda-9386467">Cats</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Goal Prediction</h3> <p>Geelong’s fleet of small forwards is one of the most consistent in the competition. No one embodies that more than Brad Close.&nbsp;</p> <p>The sleeved 26-year-old small forward has delivered just under a goal a game this year, with 14 majors coming from his 17 games. We’re backing him for the first one of the afternoon here.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/geelong-cats-v-st-kilda-9386467">Brad Close</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Most Disposals Prediction</h3> <p>The trend of the past two Cats losses has been, restrict Max Holmes to below his season average of 26.2 disposals per game, and you’re on the way to beating Geelong.&nbsp;</p> <p>Will Ross Lyon deploy a run-with to Holmes or Bailey Smith?</p> <p>Holmes rarely has two bad ones in a row, so we’re picking him to fire again.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/geelong-cats-v-st-kilda-9386467"> Max Holmes 30+ disposals</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Geelong Cats vs St Kilda Saints Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday, July 20, 2025</p> <p><strong>First Bounce:</strong> 1:10pm AEST</p> <p><strong>Location:</strong> GMHBA Stadium, Geelong</p> <p><strong>How to watch:</strong> Fox Footy/Kayo Sports&nbsp;</p> <p><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;</p>