In the blink of an eye the first month of footy is over as we head into Round 5 for the ‘best of the rest’ best bets and previews.
It’s all headlined by a huge Thursday night clash under the roof of Marvel Stadium between Richmond and St Kilda.
St Kilda vs. Richmond
April 15th 7:20pm
Richmond will look to arrest a two-game slide when it faces a resurgent St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
The Tigers pushed a wounded Port Adelaide right to the wire last Friday night but were unable to come away with the premiership points going down 11.13.79 to 11.11.77.
Meanwhile, the Saints produced a stunning comeback victory over the West Coast Eagles to put their 75-point loss against the Bombers in the rear view mirror.
After trailing by just over five goals halfway through the third, St Kilda would go on to kick the last eights goals of the game to run away with a 15.12.102 to 13.4.82 win.
While the Tigers represent a completely different challenge, St Kilda would certainly be buoyed by the big win it had in the same fixture last season as well as the burning desire to get one back on the Tigers after they were knocked out of the finals by them.
With that in mind, Richmond have not lost three games in a row for quite a while now and Damien Hardwick will surely have his men at their best for this one.
Prediction: Richmond by 5 points
Suggested Bets:
St Kilda +14.5 at the $1.90
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Richmond 1-39
Leg 2: D. Martin 1+ goals (SGM SPECIAL)
Leg 2: S. Bolton 25+ disposals
Leg 3: J. Steele 25+ disposals
Combined odds = $9
West Coast vs. Collingwood
April 16th 8:10pm
We all know the script for this one; everyone writes off Collingwood, it travels to Western Australia to play Perth with its backs against the wall, it’s four points to the Magpies.
This has all the makings of the 2020 elimination final with West Coast expected to defeat the Magpies who are definitely struggling at this point in time.
It seems a lightyear away since the Magpies dominant win over Carlton in Round 2 but an after the siren loss against Brisbane followed by a 30-point defeat against a depleted GWS Giants has Nathan Buckley scratching his head.
We were none the wiser as to how the Eagles would fare this year after handing up what looked to be an unassailable lead against St Kilda last week.
West Coast has definitely shown the better form compared to Collingwood this year and was expected to win comfortably in that famous 2020 final.
Suspect this will be a big rebounding win for West Coast.
Back home at Optus Stadium, Friday night under the light show.
Prediction: West Coast by 29 points
Suggested Bet: West Coast -22.5 at the $1.91
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: West Coast -22.5
Leg 2: J. Darling 2+ goals
Leg 3: J. Kennedy 2+ goals (SGM SPECIAL)
Leg 4: D. Sheed 25+ disposals
Leg 5: A. Gaff 25+ disposals
Combined odds = $4.75
Western Bulldogs vs. Gold Coast
april 17th 4:35pm
The Western Bulldogs are aiming to go 5-0 when it takes on the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday afternoon at Marvel Stadium.
The momentum down at Whitten Oval this season is building beautifully and much to the chagrin of the red, white and blue faithful, the Doggies kept their winning start to the season intact with a hard fought 10.13.73 to 8.6.54 win over the Brisbane Lions last week.
The Suns, meanwhile, played out a scrappy affair against Carlton and just fell short at final hurdle to gown by 11 points.
It’s been a tough start to the year for the Suns and a game against a Bulldogs squad, who are irresistible to watch at the moment, is probably not what they want given the injury plagued ruck situation coach Stuart Dew must deal with.
Expect Tim English and Stefan Martin to assert their authority on this game and give the deep Bulldogs midfield first use all day.
This could be another percentage booster for the Dogs.
Prediction: Western Bulldogs by 45 points
Suggested Bet: Western Bulldogs to cover the -36.5 line.
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Western Bulldogs -36.5
Leg 2: B. King 2+ goals
Leg 3: T. Miller 25+ disposals
Leg 4: J. Bowes 25+ disposals
Leg 5: J. Macrae 25+ disposals
Combined odds = $10
Sydney vs. GWS
April 17th 4:35pm
The battle of the bridge could not be more intriguing than what it will be this weekend when the 4-0 Sydney Swans take on the battling 1-3 GWS Giants.
The Swans held on for a three-point victory against Essendon last Thursday with Lance Franklin being the man to haunt the Bombers again after he kicked the sealer, while the wounded Giants put pay to lacklustre Collingwood to win by five-goals in the upset of the round.
There was a slight easing of the pressure valve on Giants coach Leon Cameron but it will be nowhere near content with the first month of this season.
With injuries continuing to mount, it’s tough to make a case for the Giants to back up their performance last Saturday with a big effort against a Sydney time who look near unbeatable in its current form.
Predicting a close game, given the talent the Giants still do have on the park but the Swans should go 5-0.
Prediction: Sydney by 10 points.
Suggested Bets: GWS to cover the +15.5 line at $1.90
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: GWS +15.5
Leg 2: T. Taranto 25+ disposals
Leg 3: T. Taranto anytime goal scorer
Combined odds = $4.33
Carlton vs. Port Adelaide
April 17th 7:25pm
Carlton welcome Port Adelaide to the MCG for a Saturday night cracker under the lights.
The Blues evened their season ledger at 2-2 with a grinding 11-point win over the Gold Coast Suns last week, while Port Adelaide survived a battle royale against Richmond to prevail by two-points in a high-pressure physical battle.
Port Adelaide was left to lick its wounded after the win with Xavier Duursma (knee) and Zak Butters (ankle) to miss a large chunk of the season.
The Power will welcome back Tom Rockliff and the Blues are likely to include boom recruit Zac Williams and Mitch McGovern into the squad.
The MCG and home crowd are certainly factors which will favour Carlton but the class and midfield power of Port just looks an echelon above anything the Blues have mustered up this year.
The heartbreak of Robbie Gray’s goal will sting deeply and will provide some added motivation for Blues but Port are a professional outfit.
Prediction: Port Adelaide by 7 points
Suggested Bets: Port Adelaide to cover the -6.5 handicap at $1.87
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Port Adelaide 1-39
Leg 2: H. McKay 2+ goals
Leg 3: C. Dixon 2+ goals
Leg 4: S. Docherty 25+ disposals
Combined odds = $6.25
Adelaide vs. Fremantle
April 18th 1:10pm
It’s Sunday afternoon football when Adelaide face up against Fremantle at the Adelaide Oval.
Adelaide survived an inspired third quarter surge from bottom-placed North Melbourne last week to come away with a 41-point victory.
Coleman medal leader Taylor Walker sailed along on his merry way to kick three goals, while the Dockers bounced back after disappointing 45-point loss to Carlton to dispatch Hawthorn 13.18.96 to 12.9.81 at Optus Stadium.
The margin would have been much greater if not for inaccurate kicking in front of goal by the Dockers, but nevertheless they got the four points they deserved.
This is going to be a really close game of football between two young, inexperienced but well drilled teams.
It’s a matter of who, out of Walker and Nathan Fyfe, can get on top in the contest for their respective teams.
Fremantle definitely showed enough against Hawthorn to suggest it can make it two in a row.
Prediction: Fremantle by 6 points.
Suggested Bets: Fremantle head to head at $2.25.
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Fremantle head to head
Leg 2: N. Fyfe 25+ disposals
Leg 3: N. Fyfe 2+ goals
Leg 4: T. Walker 2+ goals
Combined odds = $5.75
Hawthorn vs. Melbourne
april 18th 3:20pm
A 5-0 start is on offer for Melbourne when it contests Hawthorn at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.
Christian Petracca dominated in midfield for the Demons with a best on ground performance gathering 36 disposals, two goals and nine clearances in their 12.13.85 to 9.6.60 win over Geelong last week.
Hawthorn, however, decided rocking up in the first quarter against Fremantle was all a bit too much and it would cost them dearly as a five-goal to zero opening stanza proved too much to chase down.
The 13.18.96 to 12.9.81 loss leaves Hawthorn sitting second last on the table.
A return to the MCG should spark a much more improved performance from the Hawks but the Demons momentum is irresistible.
Demons to remain undefeated but this is going to be a titanic struggle.
Prediction: Melbourne by 11 points
Suggested Bets: Hawthorn to cover the +24.5 line at $1.89
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Hawthorn +24.5
Leg 2: C. Petracca 25+ disposals
Leg 3: C. Salem 25+ disposals
Combined odds = $6.25
Geelong vs. North Melbourne
April 18th 4:40pm
This game has the feeling of a potential massacre when Geelong host the winless North Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday evening.
North Melbourne have not done much this season to proven its knockers wrong having lost all four games by an average of 65 points.
A trip down the highway to Geelong is not exactly what this struggling team need, but it will be for the home team who look set to commit the ‘easy kill.’
Patrick Dangerfield will make his return from suspension and he will add some explosiveness and creativity to a Geelong midfield who has lacked spark in the last few weeks.
Geelong win. North will likely play to protect the scoreboard but this could be a repeat for the Good Friday loss.
Prediction: Geelong by 75 points.
Suggested Bets: Geelong to cover the -55.5 line at $1.87
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Geelong -55.5
Leg 2: T. Hawkins 2+ goals
Leg 3: G. Rohan 2+ goals
Leg 4: M. Duncan 25+ disposals
Leg 5: A. Hall 25+ disposals
Combined odds = $8
