2017 AFL Community Series Week 4 Betting Tips

We’ve got a full slate of AFL games for the first time in 2017 this weekend as the JTL Community Series wraps up. Most teams will look to play a near full strength side this weekend before getting a well earned week off before the season kicks off on the 23rd of March. We take a closer look at some of the more fascinating matchups in this weekend’s fixture below.

Note: More games will be added to our preview once teams are released, so be sure to check back later in the week for Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s games!

AFL JTL Community Series Week 3 Betting Tips

Gold Coast vs Western Bulldogs (Thursday 5.50pm AEDT)
Two massive inclusions for their first games of 2017 will headline the clash between the Suns and Bulldogs on Thursday night. Superstars Gary Ablett and Marcus Bontempelli will return for their respective clubs and the majority of the hype will be around the fitness of Ablett and whether or not he can get through unscathed.

The former Geelong master suffered a season ending shoulder injury in round 16 of the 2016 season marking the third year in a row he has played under 16 games. At 32 years old one has to wonder whether his body is beginning to fail him after 15 years in the league. Bulldogs captain Robert Murphy will get his 2nd run of the pre-season after getting through his Round 1 tilt. Gold Coast have looked the goods in the pre-season going 2-0 so far. With the home field advantage, they could jag an underdog win here!

TIP: Gold Coast to win – $2.72 at Sportsbet

West Coast vs Melbourne (Thursday 8.40pm AEDT)
Another team that has gone 2-0 in the JTL Community Series so far is Melbourne. They’ll travel to Western Australia Thursday night to take on the Eagles who after being beaten convincingly by GWS in round one, backed up for a good win against Fremantle in round two. Besides the obvious injury to Nic Naitanui, West Coast will go into the game with a fairly strong side, with the core midfield brigade of Matt Priddis, Andrew Gaff and recruit Sam Mitchell all named in the side.

Melbourne will finally give Jack Watts a run as he is selected for his first game of the JTL Series along with gun midfielder Jack Watts. Former Essendon backman Michael Hibberd will miss through injury but apart from that both teams look to be going in fairly strong. Over in Perth, it’s hard to look past the Eagles regardless of Melbourne’s hot form to start the pre season.

TIP: West Coast 1-39 – $2.15 at William Hill

GWS vs North Melbourne (Friday 5.50pm AEDT)
North Melbourne were surprise victors over the Hawks in their last pre-season game a few weeks ago, and will be bolstered by the inclusion of defender Sam Wright, who has missed their two tilts so far through an ankle injury. They’ll be taking a near full strength team into this clash, with Ben Brown being the only certainty best 22 player missing.

GWS suffered a loss last week to their cross town rivals in the Swans in a very competitive match. Brett Delidio remains out of the GWS side due to injury, but apart from that the Giants look to have a fairly strong squad named. Although the pre-season has been throwing up some surprising results, we like the Giants to take this one.

TIP: GWS Giants 1-39 – $2.30 at Sportsbet

Fremantle vs Carlton (Friday 8.40pm AEDT)

After a massive loss to the Saints last week, Carlton’s spirits should at least be boosted this week with the return of key players Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and Matthew Kruezer. While they wouldn’t have expected to lose by that much, it was a scheduled loss for the Blues, who’s pre-season fixture meant that it was in the best interest of the veterans to sit out the middle game.

Fremantle claimed a fantastic 2 point win over Collingwood last week and will be excited by the inclusion of young gun Griggin Logue, who was selected 8th overall by the Dockers in this year’s draft. Apart from a few exclusions in Nick Suban and Harley Bennel, the Dockers look to have a full strength side this week and given the home field advantage we expect them to get a W here.

TIP: Fremantle -24.5 – $1.90 at Sportsbet

Richmond vs Collingwood (Saturday 1.10pm AEDT)

After a great win last week over Port Adelaide, the Tigers will attempt to make it 3-0 in the JTL Community Series as they host Collingwood at Ted Summerton Recreational Reserve on Saturday. The Tigers will sport a strong side with bookends Alex Rance and Jack Reiwoldt both selected as well as the all-star midfield trio in Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and recruit Dion Prestia.

Collingwood will also be fielding a near full strength side, with skipper Scott Pendlebury and gun midfielders Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar and Taylor Adams all getting the nod in the selection room. With it being the last week of the pre-season, we really have no idea what the coaches are thinking going into this one, whether or not they will be pushing development or aiming to win. Either way I think this could be a close game as so many games between these two super-clubs are.

TIP: Either team under 15.5 points – $2.63 at Sportsbet

*** BET ON THE JTL COMMUNITY SERIES ***

TIPS ARE SIMPLY THE AUTHOR’s OPINION. ALWAYS GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY