Round 7 of the AFL Premiership is headlined by huge game at the MCG on Sunday afternoon when arch-rivals Essendon and Carlton do battle.
The best bets for the rest of the round are in and there looks to be some good value.
Richmond vs. Western Bulldogs
April 30th 7:50pm
Richmond will be without Dustin Martin when it hosts the Western Bulldogs at the MCG.
Martin was concussed in the 34-point loss to Melbourne last week and as per concussion protocols he will sit out this important clash against the undefeated Bulldogs.
His exclusion against this Bulldogs team, which is stacked full of midfield talent, means the Tigers start outsiders in this game.
The Bulldogs finished like Chautauqua against GWS last week.
After keeping the Giants at arms-length for the majority of the game, the Bulldogs surged away late in the piece to record a 15.14.104 to 9.11.65 win to solidify their stronghold atop of the ladder.
Even though the task may seem an uphill battle for the Tigers, they are system-based team who rely on the next soldier to come in and get the job done.
Bulldogs win, but the Tigers will battle tooth and nail to cause the upset.
Prediction: Western Bulldogs by 17 points
Suggested Bets:
Western Bulldogs -10.5 at $1.89
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Western Bulldogs WIN
Leg 2: J.Bruce 2+ goals
Leg 3: J. Graham 25+ disposals
Combined odds = $9
Collingwood vs. Gold Coast
May 1st 1:45pm
The pressure continues to build on Collingwood head coach Nathan Buckley when his side meet the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday afternoon.
Collingwood find itself sitting second-last on the table with a 1-5 record and face a Suns team coming off a comprehensive 40-point thumping of Sydney.
Thankfully, the Pies will welcome back Jordan De Goey who will provide an offensive outlet inside forward 50 and at stoppages when required.
The last time these two teams met at the MCG it was a resounding 69-point win to the Magpies but the Suns are a much improved team since then.
Brodie Grundy should be able to dominate the ruck contest and provide the Magpies midfielders with first use, but the Suns’ midfield consisting of Touk Miller, Noah Anderson and David Swallow may have something to say about that.
Prediction: Collingwood by 5 points
Suggested Bet: Gold Coast Suns +11.5 at $1.90
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Gold Coast +20.5
Leg 2: J. De Goey 2+ goals
Leg 3: B. King 2+ goals
Leg 4: Collingwood WIN
Combined odds = $6.5
Adelaide vs. GWS
May 1st 2:10pm
Adelaide welcome the GWS Giants to Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon in a bid to rectify a close loss to Hawthorn last week.
The Crows charged to a 25-point half time lead in Launceston after kicking an incredible 14 goals straight to half-time, but the margin was slowly cut down and the Crows would fall by three points.
Meanwhile, the Giants’ lacklustre start to the year continued after being dealt a 39-point against the Western Bulldogs last week.
Toby Greene nailed four goals and had 19 disposals in the loss and it his form that gives the Giants some hope in this game.
If Adelaide can negate the influence of Greene, it will go a long way to coming away with the four premiership points.
Prediction: Adelaide by 7 points
Suggested Bet: Adelaide head to head at $1.86
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Adelaide 1-39
Leg 2: B. Keays 25+ disposals
Leg 3: J. Finlayson 2+ goals
Combined odds = $6.25
St. Kilda vs. Hawthorn
May 1st 4:35pm
Hawthorn meet St Kilda at Marvel Stadium in a bid to make it two-in-a-row after a stirring come from behind win against Adelaide last week.
The Hawks surged back from a 25-point half time deficit to come away with a 15.12.102 to 16.3.99 victory and now comes up against a St Kilda side desperate to rekindle some winning form after a shocking display against Port Adelaide.
St Kilda was simply no match for the Power and suffered 54-point defeat as it languishes in 16th place.
A return home to Marvel is probably what the Saints want and we fully expect them bounce back here against a much more inexperienced opponent.
Prediction: St Kilda by 15 points
Suggested Bets: St Kilda -8.5 at $1.91
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: St Kilda head to head
Leg 2: T. Membrey 2+ goals
Leg 3: B. Crouch 25+ disposals
Combined odds = $4
Brisbane vs. Port Adelaide
May 1st 7:25pm
Premiership fancies do battle when Brisbane host Port Adelaide at the Gabba.
Both teams recorded wins last week with the Lions accounting for Carlton by 18 points and the Power sweeping aside the Saints by nine goals.
Brisbane did get the better of Port last year with a 12.13.85 to 6.12.48 win but one would argue the Lions are not going as well as they were last season.
Now, without Lachie Neale, that may prove to be a valid point coming into this game.
Neale had 29 disposals and a goal against Port last year.
His omission against this Port team – whose only blemish was against West Coast in Perth – leaves a big hole in midfield that Ken Hinkley’s men will likely exploit.
Prediction: Port Adelaide by 17 points
Suggested Bets: Port Adelaide -4.5 at $1.90
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Port Adelaide -4.5
Leg 2: T. Boak 25+ disposals
Leg 3: C. Dixon 2+ goals
Combined odds = $3.6
Sydney vs. Geelong
May 1st 7:25pm
Geelong take the flight over to Sydney this weekend as it prepares for a big Saturday night clash against the Sydney Swans at the SCG.
The Cats buried West Coast with a 97-point shellacking at GMHBA Stadium last week but a game against this young Swans line-up will not be as straight forward.
Despite Sydney being disappointing in its 40-point loss to Gold Coast, a return to familiar surroundings and its adoring home fans will spark a response.
However, Geelong have the experience to deal with it even without Patrick Dangerfield.
The Swans backline will have to deal with Cats duo Jeremy Cameron and Tom Hawkins who worked well in the first outing together last wek.
Prediction: Geelong by 20 points
Suggested Bets: Geelong -12.5 at $1.87
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Geelong 1-39
Leg 2: J. Cameron 2+ goals
Leg 3: M. Duncan 25+ disposals
Combined odds = $4.2
NOrth Melbourne vs. melbourne
may 2nd
Melbourne is all but certain to keep its undefeated start to 2021 when it plays 18th placed North Melbourne on Sunday.
The Demons stamped their authority on the competition with a resounding 34-point win over the reigning premier last week and will have their eyes on a percentage boost.
North are yet to win a game in 2021 and that won’t change here despite improved performances against Geelong and Fremantle in the last fortnight.
Melbourne should be able to wipe the floor clean at Marvel Stadium with too much talent and too much momentum going for them to drop a game like this.
With the form Christian Petracca finds himself in, this could be another ugly watch for North Melbourne fans.
Prediction: Melbourne by 65 points
Suggested Bets: Melbourne -56.5 at $1.89
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Melbourne by 40+
Leg 2: C. Salem 25+ disposals
Leg 3: B. Cunnington 25+ diposals
Combined odds = $3.75
Essendon vs. Carlton
May 2nd 3:20pm
Essendon and Carlton square off for the 249th time on Sunday.
The Bombers took home the Anzac Day honours over Collingwood as Darcy Parish delivered a career best 42-disposal and two-goal effort in the 24-point win.
Parish took home the Anzac Day medal after being named the best-on-ground, while Carlton was left to rue a terrible second quarter as it went down to Brisbane by 18 points.
Carlton has failed at basically every litmus test thus far this season but has shown glimpses throughout.
Harry McKay continued his brilliant goal-kicking form against the Lions with a bag of six and it is his presence up forward that can take Carlton all the way in this game.
Prediction: Carlton by 3 points
Suggested Bets: Essendon +7.5 at $1.90
