Week one of the AFL Finals is set to get underway on Friday night in Adelaide with Port Adelaide hosting Geelong in the first qualifying final. Like all four finals on this weekend, we bring you our best betting tip and Same Game Multi for this clash right here!
2021 AFL Finals Port Adelaide vs Geelong Tips
Adelaide Oval, Friday 27th August 7:50pm (AEST)
On the back of some fine margins in both of their Round 23 matches, it will be the Power who will host the first qualifying final at Adelaide Oval. As a result, they’ll start as the slight favourites in the head-to-head market.
Match Prediction
Port Adelaide capped off another impressive home and away season with a clutch victory against the Western Bulldogs on the road last weekend, which saw them move into second spot and earn a qualifying final on their home deck. The Power finished the season having won six straight and nine of their last 10 matches, making them the form team of the competition heading into the finals.
After being riddled with injuries to key players for much of the home and away season, Port Adelaide will sport a near full-strength team in the first week of the finals. Of players potentially in their best 22, only Orazio Fantasia, Hamish Hartlett and Mitch Georgiades are under injury clouds and all three will face tests to prove their fitness.
Geelong looked almost certain to finish as the minor premiers when they lead the Demons by 32 points at three-quarter time last weekend, but they absolutely capitulated in the final term to eventually lose by four points, which saw the Demons finish on top of the ladder and the Cats slip to third. Despite that heartbreaking loss, it’s been another great season for a Cats team that just continues to contend for premierships.
Geelong have been blessed with a lack of injuries for the major part of the year to date and that remains true leading into their first final. The Cats will be without just Tom Stewart and Zach Tuohy from their best 22 on Friday night, with Mitch Duncan expected to return from a knee injury that has kept him out since their Round 14 clash against the Bulldogs.
Last time they met: The only meeting between these sides this season came in Round 13 when Geelong ran home 21-point winners (112-91) in a shootout at Adelaide Oval. The Cats three key tall’s in Tom Hawkins, Jeremy Cameron and Gary Rohan combined for 12 goals, while Connor Rozee and Charlie Dixon kicked nine goals between them for the Power. Travis Boak (27 disposals) and Ollie Wines (29 disposals) were the two clear standout disposal-getters on the ground in that match.
Prediction: While the shootout we saw when these teams met a couple of months ago was great, we can’t see it happening when the 2nd ranked and 3rd ranked defences meet again this Friday. In fact, the last time they met was the only time from their last 10 meetings where the score has gone over the total match points line, which leads us to believe it may well be an anomaly. We expect normality to resume on Friday night and for this to be a really tough low-scoring affair that could see either team get the chocolates.
Under 151.5 (1.5 Units)
$1.90
Same Game Multi
We’ll continue to bring you our best Same Game Multi’s during the finals and this game is no exception. For the first of three legs we’ll be taking Robbie Gray for 20 or more disposals. The Power superstar was pivotal in their win last weekend with 25 touches and six clearances and you can guarantee he’ll be in amongst it once again. Secondly, we’ll be locking in Travis Boak for 25 or more disposals, which he achieved in all but two games this season and in both where he missed, he had 24. Finally, we’ll be taking Patrick Dangerfield for 25 or more disposals. He had 31 two weeks ago and had 23 last weekend, but was controversially rested for more than half of the final quarter in a game they ended up losing. All in all, we’re happy to be on these three superstars to get plenty of the ball in what will be a battle of the contested beasts.
Robbie Gray 20+ Disposals
Travis Boak 25+ Disposals
Patrick Dangerfield 25+ Disposals.
PA vs GEE Same Game Multi
$4.00
