2017 AFL Round 23 Betting Tips
It’s been a great regular season in the AFL but we are starting to get excited for the finals with just one round to come this weekend! We take a look at the key matchups for Round 23 and offer our betting tips below.
AFL Round 23 Betting Tips
Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs (Friday 7.50pm AEST)
The Dogs most likely squandered their last chance to play finals when they went down to the Power in Ballarat on the weekend. There’s still a slim chance to sneak through but to do so they’ll need to defeat the Hawks here and hope that the Bombers, Eagles and Saints all lose their Round 23 matchups. The Dogs still have a extensive injury list which really showed on the weekend as Port Adelaide’s big forwards were able to get on top.
Even though they’re already out of finals contention, it’ll still be a massive game for the Hawks, who will want to send off legend Luke Hodge with a win in his final game of AFL footy. Western Bulldogs champ Bob Murphy will likely be playing his final game as well.
The Dogs have only played at the MCG twice this year and while they have won both games, neither have been in convincing fashion. Their game is much more suited to Etihad but they have been fairly good in must win games over the past year or so, so we like them to get over the line here.
TIP: Western Bulldogs to win – $1.78 at Sportsbet
Geelong vs Greater Western Sydney (Saturday 7.25pm AEST)
Interesting matchup on Saturday night as the Cats host the Giants at Simonds Stadium. If the Cats win they’ll pinch 2nd spot from the Giants, and if the Giants win theres a chance they could finish on top of the ladder. Both teams have the potential to drop to fourth as well with a loss, providing Richmond beat St Kilda by a considerable margin on Sunday.
The Giants have looked on another level over the past few weeks as they have finally started to get most of their core back from injury. The fact that arguably one of the best midfielders over the course of the year, Josh Kelly, has been playing mostly on a wing or forward flank speaks to their ridiculous midfield depth. The likes of Coniglio, Ward, Scully, Shiel and Whitfield make up the best midfield in the league and they’ll be extremely tough to beat Saturday.
The Cats just got over the line against the Pies on the weekend but with no Joel Selwood in the line-up you have to question their depth to matchup with the Giants. The Giants have won their last four games against some quality opponents and we like them to end the season with a win here and potentially challenge for the top spot.
TIP: GWS to win – $1.95 at Ladbrokes
Richmond vs St Kilda (Sunday 3.20pm AEST)
The heartbreaking final second loss to the Power a few weeks ago is really hurting the Saints now. If they had have won that game they would currently be a game clear inside the top eight and coming up against a team who they thrashed just a few months ago. The Saints still have the slimmest of chances to sneak in, but they’ll need to beat the Tigers on Sunday and pray that the Bombers and Eagles both lose their matches. It’s likely that the Saints, like last year, will miss the finals on percentage once again as the Bombers match up against the dreadful Dockers.
The Tigers currently sit 4th and can climb as high as 3rd with a win here, while a loss would almost guarantee they fall to 6th as both Port Adelaide and Sydney, who trail by 4 points, have easy matchups and a better percentage.
One thing is for sure, when the Saints come out with pressure and a willingness to hunt and tackle, they can be one of the most damaging teams in the league. We saw it the last time these two teams played and St Kilda will likely come out fired up with the potential for this to be Nick Riewoldts last game. It’s also a game that has a Tigers choke written all over it.
TIP: St Kilda +18.5 – $1.92 at Sportsbet
West Coast vs Adelaide (Sunday 4.40pm AEST)
West Coast put up a great fight against the Giants on the weekend and will have to win this by a hefty margin or hope the Bombers lose if they hope to play finals in 2017. Adelaide were less than convincing against the Swans on Friday night and while they are still favoured to win the flag, some chinks have started to appear in the armour.
The Eagles were carried by veterans Josh Kennedy and Matt Priddis on the weekend and will likely need another massive performance from them if they want to win this one. The Crows could be without defender Daniel Talia for the matchup, which will be a massive advantage for the West Coast bigs in Darling and Kennedy.
All in all the Eagles are probably a few quality midfielders short of being a really good side though, and will lack the depth to go with the Crows here. A 34 point line against the Giants was way to many last week, but it’s more conservative this week at just 10.5, which we think the Crows cover.
TIP: Adelaide -10.5 – $1.92 at Ladbrokes
TIPS ARE SIMPLY THE AUTHOR’s OPINION. ALWAYS GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY
