With the game of the round all sorted, we now move our attention to best of the rest in Round 17 of the AFL season.
Essendon and Adelaide lead us into another huge weekend of footy.
Essendon vs. Adelaide
July 9th 7:50pm
Essendon look to keep its slim chance of finals football alive when it welcomes Adelaide to Marvel Stadium.
Both teams were outclassed by superior opponents last week as the Bombers suffered a 41-point defeat to Geelong and the Crows left to lick their wounds after a 52-point loss on their home deck against Brisbane.
The Bombers got off a fast start against the Cats but struggled to sustain the pressure for the majority of the match.
It has been that way for either club this season with consistent four-quarter efforts being a problem as a final quarter fadeout proved costly for the Crows in Round 16.
The loss of Taylor Walker, currently sitting second in the Coleman race, will be significant for a young Crows team that relies heavily on his leadership and physicality.
Prediction: Essendon by 9 points
Suggested Bet: Adelaide +20.5 at $1.95
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Adelaide +20.5
Leg 2: J. Stringer anytime goalscorer
Leg 3: Total points scored over 161.5
Combined odds = $4.20
Hawthorn vs. Fremantle
July 10th 1:45pm
The bitter taste of a loss due to a inaccurate kicking still lingers in the mouth of Fremantle as it looks to restore its top eight bid against 17th placed Hawthorn.
Justin Longmuir would have been tearing his hair out at during 16-point loss to Carlton last week with the Dockers spraying a golden chance to lock itself inside the top eight.
Hawthorn, meanwhile, was no match for Port Adelaide and would ultimately go down by 34 points.
But Hawthorn have been the centre of attention for other reasons this week with a succession plan being announced which will Sam Mitchell take over as coach from Alastair Clarkson.
Good chance for Fremantle to catch Hawthorn napping with the off-field distractions.
Prediction: Fremantle by 16 points
Suggested Bet: Fremantle -5.5 at $1.92
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Fremantle -5.5
Leg 2: Total points under 155.5
Leg 3: M. Walters 2+ goals
Combined odds = $10
Carlton vs. Geelong
July 10th 4:35pm
Carlton has failed every litmus test thus far this year but get another chance to sit the assignment when it faces Geelong on the MCG.
The Blues made the most of their opportunities last Saturday to knock off Fremantle by 16 points with effervescent youngster Sam Walsh sealing the deal with an incredible goal.
Geelong got the business a day prior to Carlton with a comfortable 41-point victory over Essendon despite a slow start.
Chris Scott and his selection team have opted to rest Joe Selwood and were forced to omit Jeremy Cameron after a hamstring injury, while Carlton confirmed Patrick Cripps was a certain starter after hurting his foot against the Dockers.
Zac Williams is also a boost for the Blues has returns from suspension.
Carlton are as reliable as a Metro train schedule in 2021 but the line looks a solid bet.
Prediction: Geelong by 5 points
Suggested Bet: Carlton +19.5 at $1.90
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Carlton +19.5
Leg 2: E. Betts 2+ goals
Leg 3: S. Walsh 25+ disposals
Combined odds = $5.75
Brisbane vs. St Kilda
July 10th 7:25pm
Brisbane will welcome back Lachie Neale to the heart of midfield when it braces for contact with a resurgent St Kilda at the Gabba.
The Saints have somehow managed to keep their season alive with wins against Richmond and Collingwood but this game will prove to be the true test of character.
Zac Bailey stamped his authority on the competition with three goals and 26 disposals as the Lions held its spot inside the top four with a 51-point thumping of Adelaide.
This is the first time the Saints and Lions meet this year after the pair played at the Gabba last year in Round 13. The Lions came out with the goods on that occasion to the tune of 2 points.
Doubt the Saints have the class and form Brisbane currently possesses and this should be a comfortable result for the home team.
Prediction: Brisbane by 35 points.
Suggested Bets: Brisbane -27.5 at $1.90
Suggetsed Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: C. Cameron anytime goalscorer (SGM SPECIAL)
Leg 2: Brisbane 1-39
Leg 3: Total points under 157.5
Combined odds = $4.75
GWS Giants vs. Gold Coast
July 11th 12:40pm
GWS hunt for a spot in the top eight when it meets Gold Coast on Sunday afternoon.
The Giants, incredibly, are yet to drop a game against the Suns since 2014 and boast a 10-goal winning average in that period.
Thankfully for the Suns, the gap, at least this year, seems to have shrunk.
Gold Coast produced a stirring 10-point upset over reigning premier Richmond with Ben King kicking the match-winner with a minute to go.
It is the perfect form to bring into this game but the Giants got their biggest scalp of the year by staving off Melbourne by nine points at the MCG.
Two talented squads with reputations at stake.
Giants win this in a titanic struggle.
Prediction: GWS Giants by 18 points
Suggested Bets: GWS Giants -16.5 at $1.92
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: GWS Giants -16.5
Leg 2: Total points over 148.5
Leg 3: T. Greene 2+ goals
Combined odds = $3.80
Western Bulldogs vs. Sydney
July 11th 3:20pm
The much anticipated debut of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is finally here as premiership favourite Western Bulldogs take to Marvel Stadium ahead of its clash against Sydney.
Ugle-Hagan was rewarded for solid VFL form over the last fortnight but will face a tough, relentless Sydney side who will show him what the AFL is all about.
The Swans crushed West Coast by 92 points in Round 16, while the Bulldogs got the better of North Melbourne with a 16.12.108 to 11.13.79 win to hold top spot on the ladder.
Battle of the midfields is exactly where this game will be won and lost.
Suspect the Bulldogs, despite the Swans brilliant win last week, are just travelling slightly sweeter than their opponents this week.
Their midfield depth is what sets them apart from the rest of the league at the moment and Marcus Bontempelli is in Brownlow medal form.
Prediction: Western Bulldogs by 26 points Western Bulldogs -20.5 at $1.89
Suggested Bets: Western Bulldogs -20.5 at $1.89
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Western Bulldogs -20.5
Leg 2: J. Bruce 2+ goals
Leg 3: Total points scored under 164.5
Combined odds = $5
Richmond vs. Collingwood
July 11th 4:10pm
The old foes Richmond and Collingwood resume their rivalry, albeit not in the best form, at the MCG on Sunday.
Reigning premier Richmond are on the verge of missing out on the eight if it not cannot get its act together, while the Pies are yet to win a game under interim coach Robert Harvey.
The Tigers suffered a 10-point defeat to an inspired Gold Coast dropping to ninth spot on the ladder despite a five-goal from Tom Lynch.
Collingwood, too, etched out a similar fate against St Kilda going down by nine points despite a five-goal to zero last quarter in its favour.
Think the Magpies look the value in this game.
Prediction: Collingwood by 20 points
Suggested Bets: Collingwood head to head at $2.34
West Coast vs. North Melbourne
July 12th 7:40pm
After deciding the participation award was almost too hard to attain, West Coast seek forgiveness when it faces North Melbourne on Monday night.
The Eagles were simply deplorable in their 92-point loss to Sydney at GMBHA Stadium last week, while North took it up to the premiership favourite Western Bulldogs.
GMBHA has just not proven to be a hunting ground for the Eagles this year with their only other game their being a horrific 97-point loss to Geelong.
West Coast does deserve to be favourite for this game given its body of work in 2021 but given the way it stunk it up against the Swans it’s hard to be confident tipping them.
North Melbourne only has one win against West Coast in the last six outings between the club which does not inspire any conviction top the Roos.
West Coast responded strongly after their first thumping down in Geelong this year and the same should occur again.
Prediction: West Coast by 31 points.
Suggested Bets: West Coast -27.5 at $1.91
