Round 17 of the AFL gives us a full slate of games again this weekend as we start to look at the run home into the finals.
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Sydney Swans V Hawthorn Hawks – Thursday night, SCG @ 7.20pm
A possible Grand Final preview here with both teams in good form and no doubt looking to get one up on each other. The last time these two collided was in Round 9 and the Swans were able to get the better of the Hawks in a low scoring affair. We think it’s fair to say that the Hawthorn in Round 9 is not the Hawthorn in Round 17. They should sneak home.
TopBetta Tip: HAWKS
Suggested Tournament Bets:
Match Result: Hawthorn @ $2.20 – Not much between these two, but the Hawks are looking very good at the moment.
Highest Scoring Quarter: 3rd Qtr @ $3.25 – Both of these teams will be looking to get the big advantage going into the final term.
Fremantle Dockers V Geelong Cats – Friday night, Domain Stadium @ 8.10pm
The ‘bounce back factor’ will be in vogue for the Cats here. The Dockers have struggled all season and a drubbing from the young Demons doesn’t fill us with much confidence going into this game. Geelong will be filthy after the Swans took their game by the scruff of the neck last week. They will do the same to the Dockers in this one.
TopBetta Tip: CATS
Suggested Tournament Bets:
Handicap Result: Geelong (-30.5) @ $1.91 – The Cats will take out a few frustrations on Freo here.
Margin: Geelong (40+) @ $2.05 – See above.
Richmond Tigers V Essendon Bombers – Saturday afternoon, MCG @ 1.40pm
So close yet so far both teams last week. The Tigers almost got the better of the high-flying Bulldogs and the Bombers nearly did enough to snag their second win for the season against the Sainters. But, it wasn’t to be for either of them. Going off that form-line though, the Tigers look the goods for this match-up. If they’re not, there are going to be a lot more questions being asked in Tigerland.
TopBetta Tip: TIGERS
Suggested Tournament Bets:
Handicap Result: Richmond (-36.5) @ $1.92 – The Tigers looked a lot more like the team many envisioned at the beginning of the year last week. That should continue.
First Team to Score: Richmond @ $1.64 – The Tigers should start well and not look back.
North Melbourne Kangaroos V Port Adelaide Power – Saturday afternoon, Etihad Stadium @ 4.35pm
Tough game with North sliding down the ladder thanks to injury and the possible quality of opposition. Port Power are doing just enough to stay relevant but they need to convert a few games into wins if the Finals are a true possibility. This game is one of those. We think North are ripe for the picking after a deflating trip to Perth last week. Whereas the loss to Hawthorn for Port Adelaide had a bit of a “winning loss” to it. If that makes sense. It’s a big upset, but Port really needs this one.
TopBetta Tip: POWER
Suggested Tournament Bets:
Match Result: Port Adelaide @ $2.98 – A game that is much closer than the odds suggest.
Highest Scoring Quarter: 4th Qtr @ $3.20 – The final term may well be a high-pressure affair where each team go ‘goal for goal’ until the end.
Western Bulldogs V Gold Coast Suns – Saturday night, Cazaly’s Stadium (Cairns) @ 7.25pm
This one could be over before half-time. The Suns season is over and the trip to Cairns may well be seen as a holiday. The Dogs haven’t been beaten in Cairns as yet and they may well decide to put on a show for the locals in this game. They are more than capable of doing so.
TopBetta Tip: BULLDOGS
Suggested Tournament Bets:
Handicap Result: Western Bulldogs (-30.5) @ $1.82 – The Dogs should take the opportunity to boost their percentage.
First Team to Score: Western Bulldogs @ $1.65 – The Dogs should start well and establish a lead early.
Adelaide Crows V Collingwood Magpies – Saturday night, Adelaide Oval @ 7.40pm
The Crows find themselves in third place on the ladder and looking at making the Magpies their seventh straight victim. This game is also a bit more important than usual for the Crows with star midfielder Scott Thompson recording his 300th game this Saturday night. It’s difficult to see the Crows switching off for such a big game. Which means the Magpies will have to be up for this one like they were last week when they surprised the Giants and took them for a 32-point win. Travis Cloke had a huge impact last week and you’d have to think the same will be required of him again this week if the ‘Pies are any chance of another upset. Another issue for Collingwood will be trying to stop the best-attacking team in the competition from running riot. The Crows are currently tracking at 112 points per game, and if don’t think the likes of Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins and Tex Walker will be looking at this big occasion as a chance to increase that average, we think you might be mistaken.
TopBetta Tip: CROWS
Suggested Tournament Bets:
Margin: Adelaide 1-39 @ $2.15 – Wouldn’t surprise if this was a high scoring game but the Crows attack will be too good.
First Team to Score: Adelaide @ $1.66 – It’s a big game for the Crows, they’ll start us off.
Carlton Blues V West Coast Eagles – Sunday afternoon, MCG @ 1.10pm
Well, we thought the Blues were in trouble last week. Our opinion hasn’t changed after the Crows dropped a 60-point defeat on them. The Eagles shouldn’t have too many issues here.
TopBetta Tip: EAGLES
Suggested Tournament Bets:
Handicap Result: West Coast (-33.5) @ $1.92 – West Coast should be cruising home here.
First Team to Score: West Coast @ $1.62 – The good teams know how to put their stamp on a game when up against poor opposition.
St Kilda Saints V Melbourne Demons – Sunday afternoon, Etihad Stadium @ 3.20pm
Chances are neither of these teams will be playing finals footy, but this one should be an entertaining game nonetheless. Both teams like to play footy which is great, but that also gives both teams opportunities to run amok at different times. Looks like it will be an ebb and flow kind of game which will be won by the team who can take the big moments during the game. Winning the little battles should win the war here.
TopBetta Tip: DEMONS
Suggested Tournament Bets:
HT/FT Double: St Kilda/Melbourne @ $6.00 – Should be a tight game throughout but this is a ‘gut feel’ bet.
Margin: Melbourne (1-39) @ $2.30 – The young Demons should sneak home.
Brisbane Lions V GWS Giants – Sunday Afternoon, The ‘Gabba @ 4.40pm
The Giants defence would be having nightmares of Travis Cloke this week after he and his Magpie teammates did a job on them last week. The focus at training would no doubt be on what went wrong and how it went so badly wrong. The good thing is that the Lions won’t give them much more than a training run this weekend. It’s going to be a long evening for Brisbane. Again.
TopBetta Tip: GIANTS
Suggested Tournament Bets:
1st Quarter Handicap: GWS (-12.5) @ $1.90 – So you don’t have to watch the whole game.
First Team to Score: GWS @ $1.53 – See above.
This article first appeared on TopBetta HERE