Sydney Swans vs Melbourne Demons
April 11th (Thursday 7.20pm) SCG
Thursday night football at the SCG to start a huge week of football. The Demons are 0-3 this year and if they lose this game it will just about be season over for them. They put in a solid performance vs the Bombers last weekend but their defence, which is ranked 18th in points scored against, was again their weakness. The Swans on the other hand got the job done vs Carlton last week and will take a lot of confidence away from that game. Here is a stat that will also scare the Demons fans Lance Franklin is 15 wins from 15 games vs the Demons in his career!!!
Best Bet
Swans win $1.70
Swans 1-39 $2.25
H2H
Swans have won the last 3 games vs the Demons
Collingwood Magpies vs Western Bulldogs
April 12th (Friday 7.50pm) MCG
After a disappointing display last week, the Pies will look to bounce back vs the Bulldogs this Friday night. The Pies last week vs the Eagles were beaten all across the ground especially in the midfield where they let the Eagles gun mids get on top early and that made their back man work over time. De Goey was again best afield for the Magpies. The Dogs on the other hand were shocking vs the Suns last week kicking 16 behinds in a game they should have won. I can’t see the Dogs kicking a score to beat the Pies this week. Their forward line lets them down and the Pies have a solid defence were they can counter attack all night. Pies will be to strong for a young Dogs side.
Best Bet
Pies 40+ $2.35
Geelong Cats vs GWS Giants
April 13th (Saturday 1.45pm) Geelong Stadium
Geelong are the form team of the competition and last week knocked off Adelaide in Adelaide which is no easy task. Their midfield is elite, led by Dangerfield and Selwood and now Tim Kelly; it is very difficult for the opposition mids to beat them one on one. The Giants last week smashed the Tigers and Jeremy Cameron had 30 touches and 7 goals. If he does that again this week vs the Cats it will go a long way to beating the Cats in Geelong. Bonus for the Giants they welcome back Callan Ward for his first game of the year.
Best Bet
Giants +14.5 $1.90
H2H
The Giants have never beaten the Cats in Geelong.
Essendon Bombers vs Brisbane Lions
April 13th (Saturday 2.10pm) MCG
I don’t think anyone had the Brisbane Lions 3-0 to start the season but they well and truly deserve to be unbeaten. They had a gutsy win last week vs the Power in a game which they most likely would of lost last year. They go back to Marvel stadium where they beat the Kangaroos two weeks ago and will take a lot of confidence from that victory as they had to come from behind and do it tough. The Bombers last week beat the Demons and beat them well. Their mids and forward were starting to gel and they looked very silky coming out of defence. Dylan Shiel had 30 touches and Stringer kicked 3 goals. If that happens again they will be too tough for the Lions. Will be a close game but the Bombers will be to strong on their home ground.
Best Bet
Bombers win $1.75
Port Adelaide vs Richmond Tigers
April 13th (Saturday 4.35pm) Adelaide Oval
At the start of the year I would have pencilled this game in as a easy win for the Tigers but injuries to their key players have made this game a very tough ask. No Martin, Cotchin and Rance makes it tough for the Tigers to compete in this game. It is a big week for Tom Lynch they paid big money to get him to the Tigers. If he stands up the Tigers can win this game as he is a genuine match winner. The Power got beaten by a red hot Lions side last week and will love being back at Adelaide Oval as they play very fast football there. They need to expose the Tigers small back line. I am tipping an upset here the Tigers are a top 4 side and will give everything in this game.
Best Bet
Tigers win $3.35
North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Adelaide Crows
April 13th (Saturday 7.25pm) Marvel Stadium
Two teams that have been less than impressive this year. The Kangas are yet to win a game this year and the Crows have only won once. The Kangas looked good in patches last week vs the Hawks but again fell away in the last qtr. While the Crows fought back vs the Cats but ran out of gas and lost by 20 points. The Kangas can win this game if Ben Brown performs. Has been blasted in the media all week for his lack of intent on the football. The Crows made a big statement when selecting their side this weekend by dropping Bryce Gibbs who had 27 touches last week. Tipping the Kangas just because it is at Marvel Stadium and they play the ground very well and the Crows to me are a very slow basic football side.
Best Bet
Kangas $2.05
West Coast Eagles vs Femantle Dockers
April 13th (Saturday 8.10pm) Optus Oval
This game has the potential to be a fiery affair with Gaff vs Brayshaw. We all know what happened last year so expect some fireworks. The Eagles were ultra-impressive last week vs the Pies and looked unstoppable with their forward line firing. A player that flies under the radar is Jamie Cripps he kicked 4 goals last week and his pressure in the forward half is elite. The Dockers will be without their captain Nathan Fyfe who is out of the game with concussion. Eagles will be too strong for the Dockers in the midfield with Fyfe out they will look to exploit their young mids.
H2H
The Eagles have won the last 7 games vs Fremantle
Best bet
Fremantle +36.5 $1.90
Gold Coast Suns vs Carlton Blues
April 14th (Sunday 2.40pm) Metricon Stadium
The Gold Coast are in a bit of a purple patch this season they played great last week vs the Dogs last week winning by 5 points but were in control of the game. They have found a goal kicker in Alex Sexton who is in the form of his life. Jack Martin has found a good run of form playing on the wing then pushing high forward. The Blues are winless but I don’t think they are far off getting a win they have great young players who are gaining a lot of experience playing early in the season they will test the Suns this week up on the Gold Coast but the Suns will be to strong for a team that will take a lot of confidence if they can win again this week.
Best bet
Suns win $1.56
Suns -12 $1.90
St Kilda Saints vs Hawthorn Hawks
April 14th (Sunday 3.20pm) Marvel Stadium
The last match of the round looks to be a tough contest. These two sides have had up and down starts to the year. The Saints were unlucky in Perth last weekend and would of won if there was an extra 2 mins left last week. Jack Billings is in some great form and his polish has been setting up a lot of his sides attacking movement. The Saints are a faster side than the Hawks so they will look to run and carry the ball. The Hawks would be licking their lips with the way Chad Wingard played last weekend with 3 goals to his name and Tom Scully running for 12km and 20+ touches. I am tipping an upset here with the Saints winning in a thriller. Marvel stadium is ground the Saints play well and will be up for the fight this weekend.
Best bet
Saints win $2.75
Saints +13.5 $1.90
