Will Collingwood bounce back without their Brownlow Medal favourite?
Can Melbourne end Carlton’s seven-game run?
Will the Power ever come on again in Adelaide?
BetDeluxe breaks down an action-packed weekend of footy.
game of the week: Blues vs. demons
12th August 7:30PM
As Carlton motors towards finals on the back of one of the all-time form turnarounds, the question needs to be asked; when will it end?
Michael Voss, Patrick Cripps, and the Blues playing group have been unstoppable over the past two months with seven consecutive wins against teams the ilk of Port Adelaide, Collingwood, and St Kilda. Such has been their dominance; they’ve ranked first for points kicked, points against, clearances and goal efficiency since Round 14.
However, while they’ve rocketed into fifth position on the ladder, they must now face a Demons outfit on its own five-game winning streak. And they must do so while Adam Cerra and Sam Walsh remain on the sidelines.
With Clayton Oliver finally tipped to return from a hamstring complaint for his first game since Round 10, Simon Goodwin will have a full midfield contingent to choose from. He does have some issues up forward following Harrison Petty’s season-ending Lisfranc injury, but it could open the door for the Brodie Grundy forward experiment.
The market is siding with the Demons at $1.71 in this finals-like match-up, and we tend to agree based on the depth of each team’s midfield stocks. A must-watch.
TIP: Same Game Multi:
- Leg 1: Demons to win
- Leg 2: Over 167.5 points
- Leg 3: C. Petracca 2+ goals
- Leg 4: N. Newman 25+ disposals
- Total: $7.50
Magpies vs. Cats
11th August 7:50pm
The confidence of the Magpie Army took a major blow following last week’s shock 32-point loss to Hawthorn at the MCG. Things only got worse when Brownlow Medal fancy Nick Daicos was ruled out for six weeks with a hairline fracture in his knee. On the other hand, Geelong must replace Jack Henry (foot) in the wake of their season-saving win over Port. An MCG clash of the titans that should come down to the wire.
TIP: Magpies to win @ $1.76
Kangaroos vs. Bombers
12th August 1:45pm
A few emotions will be running around the North camp this week following the retirement of favourite son Ben Cunnington. Whether it’s enough to make any inroads against their north-west rival is another question, with Brad Scott’s men needing to improve from their one-point win over West Coast. The Bombers scraped over the Roos by just six points in Round 12, but the possible return of Jake Stringer will add much-needed goal-kicking assistance.
TIP: Bombers 1-39 @ $2.15
Swans vs. Suns
12th August 1:45pm
The scent of September action is getting stronger for the Swans as they look to extend their four-game winning streak against the Suns on Saturday afternoon. The old firm of Luke Parker and Callum Mills has taken inspiration from star young buck Errol Gulden and regained form at the right time of the year. The inconsistent Suns will welcome captain Touk Miller back from his squirrel grip-induced suspension, but it likely won’t be enough against those fired-up Swans.
TIP: Sydney/Sydney Half-Time/Full-Time @ $1.50
Lions vs. Crows
12th August 4:35PM
Two sides with finals on their minds, the Lions will enter Saturday’s clash as $1.30 favourites. Their quote seems unders given Brisbane’s last two weeks have resulted in a loss to the Suns and a three-point win over Fremantle. Oscar McInerney and Keidean Coleman will return from injury, while the Crows will be holding their breath over the fitness of Izak Rankine. The Gabba should prove the difference.
TIP: Lions 1-39 @ $2.20
Eagles vs. Dockers
12th August 8:10PM
Boy oh boy, we love a Western Derby. And what an edition we have ahead with the Eagles flying home after pushing Essendon to a solitary point last week. The Dockers were brave in their three-point loss to the Lions, with Luke Jackson taking his game to another level as sole ruckman. Neither side will feature in the finals, but we could still be in for a classic at Optus.
TIP: Under (-168.5) @ $1.88
Hawks vs. Bulldogs
13th August 1:10PM
The Hawks sent the AFL world into a frenzy following their incredible 32-point victory over Collingwood, and it wouldn’t surprise if they backed it up by pushing the Dogs to the brink this weekend. Alex Keath might be the only inclusion to a Dogs side that put Richmond to the sword. The big question revolves around who Nick Daicos tagging sensation, Finn Maginness, goes to in the Dogs midfield – Bont, Libba or Treloar?
TIP: Bulldogs to win @ $1.49
Saints vs. Tigers
13th July 3:20pm
The tightest match-up in the market and a season-defining clash for the Saints. While the Tigers will struggle to make finals following their embarrassing performance against the Dogs, the season is well and truly alive for the Saints as they try to hold onto a spot in the top eight. It was the Tigers who ran out 90-70 winners in Round 14, but the Marvel Stadium influence should swing things in Ross Lyon’s favour.
TIP: S. Bolton first goal scorer @ $11
Power vs. Giants
13th August 4:40PM
Another blockbuster to wrap up Round 22, with Port Adelaide needing to snap a four-game losing streak in their home clash against the Giants. Jeremy Finlayson, Miles Bergman, Aliir Aliir, Lachie Jones and Kane Farrell should all return to provide a chop-out for star duo Zak Butters and Connor Rozee, while Charlie Dixon is a wait-and-see. Adam Kingsley is on the lookout for small forwards following the unavailability of Toby Bedford (suspension) and Brent Daniels (suspension), but he will be buoyed by Tom Green’s game-high 38 disposals on his return against the Swans.
TIP: Power to win @ $1.44
