Anzac Day weekend represents Round 6 of the AFL Premiership with the traditional Collingwood versus Essendon clash from the MCG.
The best bets for the Betdeluxe ‘best of the rest’ are in ahead of a huge weekend of footy.
GWS Giants vs. Western Bulldogs
April 23rd 7:50pm
A resurgent injury-plagued Greater Western Sydney face the might and bite of the undefeated Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval on Friday night.
The Giants produced a miraculous come from behind win against Sydney in the ‘Battle of the Bridge’ last week when Josh Kelly kicked the go-ahead goal late in the piece to improve his side’s win-loss record to 2-3.
Meanwhile, it was a procession for the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium as it crushed the Gold Coast Suns with a 62-point win.
The rivalry between these two teams has bubbled along nicely since that famous 2016 preliminary final and it boiled over to the point of a three-quarter-time bust up when the they last met each other in Round 3 last year.
That was a four-goal win to the Bulldogs who have since taken the AFL by the scruff of the neck this season to sit atop of the table after five rounds.
This is arguably one of the trickiest tests for Luke Beveridge and his men to overcome.
Prediction: Western Bulldogs by 3 points
Suggested Bets:
GWS Giants +19.5 at $1.90.
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Western Bulldogs head to head (SGM SPECIAL)
Leg 2: T. Taranto 25+ disposals
Leg 3: J. Finlayson 2+ goals
Leg 4: Under 153.5
Combined odds = $7.5
Gold Coast vs. Sydney
April 24th 1:45pm
After suffering defeat for the first time in 2021, the Sydney Swans now focus their attention to the battling Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium.
The Swans relinquished the lead late in their battle with the GWS Giants to go down by 9.17.71 to 10.9.69, while the Suns were left to console themselves after a 62-point hiding at the hands of the undefeated Western Bulldogs.
Both teams bring heaps of young yet inexperienced talent to the field in this game and there may be a sense of opportunity for the Suns to strike a weakened Swans team who will be without Lance Franklin.
The Suns did get the better of the Swans in Round 7 with a commanding 32-point win and now get the chance to repeat the dose on their home deck.
Even though the Suns are not in winning form, they can cover the line comfortably in this one.
Prediction: Gold Coast Swans by 2 points.
Suggested Bet: Gold Coast Suns +8.5
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Gold Coast 1-39
Leg 2: J. Bowes 25+ disposals
Leg 3: B. King 2+ goals
Combined odds = $4.2
Geelong vs. West Coast
April 24th 1:45pm
Patrick Dangerfield will take no part when Geelong play West Coast nor will he play any part in the AFL for at least the next two months after being ruled out following ankle surgery.
The Cats gain Jeremy Cameron for this important game against the Eagles who travel over to GMHBA Stadium on the back of a 27-point win over Collingwood.
Chris Scott will be hounding at this defence to keep a keen eye on the three-headed monster of in the West Coast forward line consisting of Oscar Allen, Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling.
With neither team playing anywhere near their best and missing a host of stars, the home ground advantage for the Cats will likely play a huge part in the result.
Prediction: Geelong by 16 points
Suggested Bet: Geelong -9.5 at $1.89
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Geelong 1-39
Leg 2: T. Hawkins 2+ goals
Leg 3: M. Duncan any time goalscorer
Leg 4: C. Guthrie 25+ disposals
Combined odds = $6
Carlton vs. Brisbane
April 24th 4:35pm
Carlton failed yet another litmus test against Port Adelaide last weekend and gets the chance to re-align its season against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday afternoon under the roof of Marvel Stadium.
The Lions outhunted and outclassed the Bombers in Round 5 with a comprehensive 15.12.102 to 6.9.45 win to improve its record to 2-3.
Last time the Blues and Lions met was at the Gabba in a game which marked Kade Simpson’s final game as a Blue.
It was the Lions who prevailed by 17 points but if we wind back to 2019, Patrick Cripps went berserk at this very venue to guide the Blues to a famous 15-point victory.
The inclusion of Daniel McStay seemed to straighten up the wayward Lions against the Bombers but the Blues have shown their ability to bounce back after disappointing losses this year.
This is going to be a very close match but the value seems to be with Carlton who played its best football of the year at this venue.
Prediction: Carlton by 13 points.
Suggested Bets: Carlton head to head at $2.22
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Carlton head to head
Leg 2: P. Cripps 25+ disposals
Leg 3: M. McGovern 2+ goals
Combined odds = $6.5
Fremantle vs. North Melbourne
April 24th 8:15pm
Fremantle get the chance to hoist itself into the top eight when it faces the destined wooden spooners North Melbourne.
Even though North Melbourne showed vast improvement in its five-goal loss against, a road trip to Western Australia is amongst the hardest challenges especially against a Dockers side coming off a steely 12-point victory against Adelaide.
The return of Nathan Fyfe after suffering concussion has the Dockers knocking on the door of the eight with only an inferior percentage to Geelong keep it out.
Expecting this to be a comfortable Fremantle win but the line looks enormous.
Prediction: Fremantle by 31 points
Suggested Bets: North Melbourne +42.5 at $1.94
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Fremantle 1-39
Leg 2: N. Fyfe 2+ goals
Leg 3: A. Brayshaw 25+ disposals
Combined odds = $13
Hawthorn vs. Adelaide
April 25th 12:30pm
Hawthorn make the dash down south to Tasmania when it welcomes the Adelaide Crows to UTAS Stadium in a bid to respond from a humiliating last quarter fade out against Melbourne.
The Hawks were poised to cause an upset over the undefeated Melbourne but capitulated to go down by 50 points after conceding eight goals in the final term.
Adelaide also showed its inconsistency after succumbing to a two-goal defeat to Fremantle at Adelaide Oval last week.
Coleman medal leader Taylor Walker was kept quiet on the goal front last week and faces stiff opposition here with the likes of Jack Frost and former teammate Kyle Hartigan likely to lockdown on him.
Hawks have Launceston a fortress for a quite a while and it’s hard to see anything changing here.
Prediction: Hawthorn by 20 points
Suggested Bets: Hawthorn -8.5 at $1.91
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Hawthorn -8.5
Leg 2: C. Wingard 2+ goals
Leg 3: J. O’Meara 25+ diposals
Combined odds = $7
Collingwood vs. Essendon
April 25th 3:20pm
Controversy off the field has taken the headlines ahead of the traditional Anzac Day game between Collingwood and Essendon.
A mobile phone mishap, injuries and poor form mean Collingwood are under enormous pressure to get the win against a Bombers side who were well handled by Brisbane at the Gabba last week.
Talented Magpies duo Jordan De Goey and Jeremy Howe have been ruled out of the game which gives Essendon a big chance to make it win number two for the season.
Despite the loss against West Coast last week, the Pies held up reasonably well given they lost De Goey and Howe early in the game but replacing those two is a task near impossible.
Prediction: Essendon by 1 point
Suggested Bets: Essendon +5.5 at $1.89
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Essendon 1-39
Leg 2: D. Parish 25+ disposals
Leg 3: J. Stringer 2+ goals
Combined odds = $5.5
Port Adelaide vs. St Kilda
April 25th 6:40pm
Port Adelaide return home to Adelaide Oval when it clashes with St Kilda on Sunday night.
Ken Hinkley’s men put on a professional display against Carlton last week to notch up its fourth win of the year and embed itself in the top four.
St Kilda, meanwhile, was insipid in its disastrous 86-point defeat against Richmond in Round 5.
The Saints conceded 20 goals on their way to a 20.14.134 to 7.6.48 loss as it continued its underwhelming start to 2021.
Port would have to completely drop off the face of earth to cough this one up and St Kilda would have to perform a form reversal akin to that of Lunar Fox in the Australian Guineas.
Prediction: Port Adelaide by 35 points.
Suggested Bets: Port Adelaide -27.5 at $1.90
