The best bets and the best same game multis for the qualifying finals and elimination finals have landed.
What a spectacular weekend of finals football we are in for as the best eight teams in the land begin their quest for premiership glory.
Port Adelaide vs. Geelong
August 27th 7:50pm
What a way to kick off proceedings this weekend when two of the most entertaining teams in the competition do battle at Adelaide Oval.
Port Adelaide venture into this game off the back of a resounding victory against Western Bulldogs to catapult into premiership contention.
Geelong, meanwhile, could only watch on as Max Gawn kicked a goal after the siren to seal a monumental come-from-behind victory.
It all looked roses for the Cats when they led by over seven goals in the third quarter, but the damn wall busted in the last.
The Geelong defence without Tom Stewart has looked vulnerable.
With the Port Adelaide forward line boasting Charlie Dixon and Mitch Georgiades, the danger signs in the Geelong defence are worrying enough to suggest Port Adelaide possess the advantage here.
But Geelong may have some reprieve with Georgiades in doubt with a hamstring injury.
The battle of the midfield is going to be where this game is won and lost.
Ollie Wines and Travis Boak have combined like a World Championship tag-team duo in the heart of midfield this year, and it will be left to Patrick Dangerfield and Cameron Guthrie to match it with them and beat them.
Port will attempt to run Geelong off its feet with their sharp, slick and uncontested ball movement.
The Cats, however, will attempt to force Port wide and poach the aerial ball going inside defensive 50 and use that to counter the Port Adelaide defensive zone on transition.
Prediction: Port Adelaide by 8 points
Suggested Bet: 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. Guthrie 25+ disposals
Leg 4: C. Dixon 2+ goals
Combined odds = $4.75
Sydney vs. GWS
August 28th 3:20pm
The Battle of Bridge, but this time it’s down in The Apple Isle of Tasmania.
Cross-town rivals Sydney and Great Western Sydney will resume hostilities in this do-or-die elimination.
Sydney enter this clash having exceeded the expectations of many pundits this season, while the same could be said for GWS given the 0-3 start and an injury list longer than the Nile River.
But here we are, two enemies going head to head on neutral territory.
Lance Franklin is on the verge of kicking 1000 career goals as he continues to wind back to the clock with some vintage goal-kicking form that would have Leon Cameron and his defenders nervy.
The Giants will build their game around the brilliant transition from defence to offence which slices teams up, while the same could also be said for a Swans team who many perceive as a tough and dour contested football team.
John Longmire, under the guidance of assistant Don Pyke, has released the offensive shackles this season and looks ominously dangerous forward of centre.
Tasmania is set for a treat.
Swans get the job done by a the skin of their teeth.
Prediction: Sydney by 2 points.
Suggested Bet: GWS Giants +8.5 at $1.89
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: GWS +8.5
Leg 2: L. Franklin 2+ goals
Leg 3: J. Hopper 25+ disposals
Leg 4: Total points over 155.5
Combined odds = $7
Melbourne vs. Brisbane
August 28th 3:20pm
The Demons, minor premiers, pinched top spot with a victory over Geelong after an incredible after-the-siren goal from Max Gawn capped off a remarkable seven-goal comeback.
Brisbane, meanwhile, scraped into the top four by percentage after doing enough against West Coast last week.
For how good the Lions looked offensively against the Eagles as they piled on 19 goals in the 38-point win, this test against the best defence in the league is what will have Lions’ coach Chris Fagan pondering.
Jake Lever and Steven May are arguably the in-form defender in the league and will be tasked with the job of stopping Joe Daniher and Daniel McStay.
The Demons have already quelled the Lions this year with a barnstorming second-half back in Round 12 helping them produce a 22-point victory.
Christian Petracca was on fire that night with his 26 disposals manufacturing two goals and nine clearances.
The Demons have the runs on the board and look the safe play here.
Prediction: Melbourne by 18 points.
Suggested Bet: Melbourne -5.5 at $1.91
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Melbourne -5.5
Leg 2: J. Lyons 25+ disposals
Leg 3: C. Petracca 25+ disposals
Leg 4: B. Fritsch 2+ goals
Combined odds = $4.75
Western Bulldogs vs. Essendon
August 29th 3:20pm
Western Bulldogs now face an elimination final against Essendon after a huge form dip to finish off the season.
The Bulldogs looked on track to lock away its double chance, but three losses in a row to end the year now has it up against an Essendon mob who is cock-a-hoot full of confidence.
It would have been a qualifying final for the Western Bulldogs had it held against Port Adelaide last week, but a final quarter fadeout saw the Bulldogs cough up fourth spot.
Essendon will fancy itself to knock off the Bruce-less Bulldogs having done the job on them only two weeks ago at Marvel Stadium.
Finals is always a different atmosphere and the pressure gauge from Luke Beveridge will be turned right up to fever-pitch.
The Bombers are capable of eradicating that dreaded time frame without a finals victory.
Darcy Parish and Zac Merrett will be tasked to lock horns with the Bulldogs midfield led by Brownlow fancy Marcus Bontempelli.
Prediction: Essendon by 1 point
Suggested Bets: Essendon head to head at $2.45
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Brisbane head to head
Leg 2: M. Bontempelli 25+ disposals
Leg 3: P. Wright 2+ goals
Combined odds = $6.25
