2018 AFL Round 23 Betting Tips

The 2018 AFL season has been one of the most exciting in recent memory, as we approach the last week of the regular season before shifting our focus to the finals! Like we’ve been doing all year, we’re providing our best tips for the weekend, which is AFL Round 23. Good luck if following!

Port Adelaide vs Essendon (Friday, 7:50PM AEST)
The final round of the regular season begins in Adelaide with a clash between the Power and the Bombers.

The Bombers season ended last weekend when they couldn’t quite get over the line against the Tigers, while the Power are holding onto the slimmest of finals chances, but can at least hold their end of the bargain with a win on Friday night.

Both Essendon and Port Adelaide’s seasons have been a tale of two halves. The Bombers certainly had their fair share of struggles in the first half of 2018, highlighted by their mind-boggling 13-point loss to Carlton in Round 8. For the Power, well, their second half of the season, in particular their last 6 games (where they’ve lost 5), have been a disgrace.

Verdict
This one could really go either way and the result will solely depend on which version of the respective teams decides to show up. However, the Power still have roughly a 0.00001% chance of making the finals, in the (extremely) rare case that the Suns knock off the Cats at GMHBA Stadium, so we’ll be taking the Power here.

TIP: Power at the line (-8.5) – $1.92 at Ladbrokes

Sydney vs Hawthorn (Saturday, 7:25PM AEST)
For mine, the match of the round is happening over in Sydney on Saturday night between the Swans and Hawks.

Both sides are locked into the finals and will enjoy a week off next week, but not before they go to war on Saturday night in what looks like a battle for the final spot in the top 4.

There’s a big question mark over the fitness of Swans superstar Buddy Franklin, which could play a huge part in the final result of the match. He’s expected to play, and will want to play, as he’s still a sniff of winning the Coleman.

Interestingly, in the 7 times these two sides have met since their clash in the 2014 Grand Final, the away team has won 6 times.

Verdict
It’s another game that’s hard to pick the result of, but not for the same reasons as the one previously. Both teams will be desperate to win and lock up a double chance in this year’s finals, so we expect it to go down to the wire. The Hawks have been the more consistent team this season and usually travel well, whereas the Swans have struggled to defend their home ground. For these reasons, we’re leaning towards the Hawks by a small margin.

TIP: Hawks at the line (+6.5) – $1.92 at Sportsbet

Melbourne vs GWS (Sunday, 3:20PM AEST)
If the Hawks vs Swans game is the best of the round, then the Demons vs Giants at the MCG on Sunday is a close second.

Like the previous match, both sides featuring in this one have locked up a finals spot and the winner of this has a chance to make the top 4.

Melbourne put their ‘Demons’ to bed last weekend as they made the finals after a gutsy win against West Coast in Perth without star forward Jesse Hogan. 2018 will be their first chance to play in the finals in 12 years.

The Giants have also proven critics wrong in the back half of 2018 after being written off by many experts midway through the season.

Verdict
This match has all the makings of a thriller and should go right down to the wire. Very surprised that the Giants start at long odds, so we’ll be taking the value at the line in this one.

TIP: Giants at the line (+16.5) – $1.92 at BetEasy