After a week of the biggest upsets of the year we are back with more AFL predictions. It looks like there is plenty of value to be found this weekend, so be sure to read on and check out our AFL Round 7 betting tips.
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Essendon Bombers Vs. North Melbourne Kangaroos (Friday, May 15 at 7:50pm AEST)
Round 7 kicks off at Etihad on Friday night as the Bombers take on the Kangaroos. Both teams are 3-3 and both will be looking to start living up to their potential.
Of course, the big talking point this week has been the performance enhancing drug saga resurfacing. Will that hurt the Bombers performance? Or will it even pump them up? It’s impossible to guess what sort of affect the off-field nonsense will have on the game, so we are going to simply go on form and we think that swings the game into the Kangaroo’s favour.
Essendon will miss Zaharakis to an ankle injury here, while the Kangaroos are pretty much full strength. The Kangaroos looked solid last week against the Tigers, while the Bombers never really looked a chance against Fremantle. The Bombers have struggled to score this year, averaging only 71 points, while the Roos average a solid 94. The Roos also have a great record against Essendon, especially at Etihad. Happy to get on the Roos at the line..
Tip: Kangaroos at the line (-11.5) - $1.92 at Ladbrokes
Adelaide Crows Vs. St Kilda Saints (Saturday, May 16 at 1:15pm AEST)
The early game on Saturday is Adelaide Crows Vs. St Kilda Saints and it’s shaping up to perhaps be more interesting than once thought.
The Saints’ confidence is at an all-time high after staging the fifth biggest comeback in AFL history against the Bulldogs last week. The Crows, meanwhile, looked solid against the Suns, getting a much-needed win after a couple of shaky weeks.
The Saints will be happy to see the Crows lose Rory Sloane, especially considering he polled three votes the last time these two met when the Crows won by 79 points. While we do think the Crows will win, with Sloane out, we will be taking the Saints at a five-goal line.
Tip: St Kilda at the line (+30.5) - $1.92 at CrownBet
Hawthorn Hawks Vs. Melbourne Demons (Saturday, May 16 at 2:10pm AEST)
Who would have thought we would come into this game with the Hawks at 3-3, just one win ahead of the Demons? Don’t worry though, it will be 4-3 after this game.
The Hawks are coming off a tough loss against the Giants last week and history this year so far says they won’t lose two games in a row. In fact, the last two times they lost the Hawks came back and punished their opposition the next week.
The simple fact here is that Melbourne have not been competitive against the top sides this year, with Sydney making it look easy last week and Fremantle destroying them the week before. The Hawks will still miss Lewis and Hodge, but Frawley is back in and this team will bounce back and bounce back strong.
Tip: Hawthorn at the line (-41.5) - $1.92 at Ladbrokes
Carlton Blues Vs. GWS Giants (Saturday, May 16 at 4:35pm AEST)
There was a stark contrast between the Blues and the Giants last week, with the former sinking to new lows and the latter new highs. The questions here are – will the Blues bounce back? Will the GWS continue to build on their victory over the Hawks?
The Blues would like that this game is at Etihad, though the Giants have won their past two games at the stadium. The Blues have some handy ins with Yarran, Menzel and Carrazzo, but whichever way you look at this the Giants’ midfield is just way, way ahead of the Blues. It’s a big call, but I would go so far as to say that the Giants third or fourth best midfielder is on par with Carlton’s best. It’s going to take a lot of grunt work for the Blues to win this and we just can’t see that happening.
Tip: GWS at the line (-11.5) - $1.92 at Ladbrokes
Sydney Swans Vs. Geelong Cats (Saturday, May 16 at 7:20pm AEST)
‘The Cats are back!’ came the cries after their victory over the Pies last week. And now they take on the Sydney Swans for a bit of a reality check. Perhaps not as much of a reality check as last year when the Swans won by 110 points, but a reality check nonetheless.
The extra day’s rest will benefit the Cats, but that is probably negated by the fact this game is at ANZ Stadium. We do think the Swans will win, but with an extra spring in their step after the Pies win, they should be competitive.
Tip: Sydney Swans by 1-39 points (under 39.5) - $2.10 at Sportsbet
West Coast Eagles Vs. Gold Coast Suns (Saturday, May 16 at 5:40pm AWST)
Can you ever see the Suns turning their season around? They might, but we certainly don’t think it will be against the Eagles out west this weekend.
Once again the Suns go into a game making lots of changes and while they welcome back a couple of important players in McKenzie and Bennell, there is no looking past the fact their list is in shambles. The Eagles, meanwhile, look great sitting at 4-2. The only solace the Suns will take is that the Eagles have had a day-less break and are coming off a tough win against the Power. The Eagles should certainly win this game, we just don’t know how to touch the 42-point line so will be fading this one.
Tip: No Bet
Western Bulldogs Vs. Fremantle Dockers (Sunday, May 17 at 1:10pm AEST)
The Fremantle Dockers look unstoppable so far in 2015 and we don’t think the Bulldogs will be the one to stand in their way.
This one will be all about the midfield and while the Dogs have some talented youngsters, the combination of Lachie Neale, David Mundy and Nat Fyfe is the best in the competition at the moment. Oh, and the Dockers have a player called Aaron Sandilands who cannot be stopped and certainly not by the worst ruckmen in the competition at the moment in Ayce Cordy.
Being at Etihad won’t worry the Dockers who have won the last two at the stadium. The Dockers don’t look like they have broken a sweat yet, while the young Dogs looked tired in that notorious loss to the Saints last week.
Tip: Fremantle at the line (-24.5) - $1.92 at CrownBet
Richmond Tigers Vs. Collingwood (Sunday, May 17 at 3:20pm AEST)
The MCG should be packed on Sunday for this big match between the Tigers and the Pies. Well, it should be, but we wouldn’t blame the Tigers fans if they wanted to stay home after such a putrid start to the year.
The Pies were easily beaten by the Cats last Friday night with nowhere near their usual pressure around the contest we have come to see this season. The Tigers, meanwhile, looked just as lousy as usual against the Kangaroos.
The Pies have won the last five games against the Tigers (all at the MCG) and they look like the value of the week with the 24 point buffer at William Hill.
Brisbane Lions Vs. Port Adelaide Power (Sunday, May 17 at 4:40pm AEST)
The Lions surprised us with a thrashing of the Blues last week, while the Power surprised us by losing to the Eagles. That’s what makes this game perhaps a little more interesting than some might expect.
There is no doubt the Lions looked better last week, helped in part to Rockliff finding his feet again and Dayne Beams starting to build some momentum. We can’t get carried away, however, and need to remember they only beat the Blues last week. The fact this is at the Gabba will help the Lions, but the Power should prove too slick. In saying that, the five-goal line looks tough to touch.
Tip: No Bet
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Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
