No Thursday night game this week, which means we have to wait until Friday night for the Round 6 opener, which sees the GWS Giants hosting the Western Bulldogs from 7.50pm. As usual, PuntingInDanger has you covered for the clash with a full preview and betting tips below.
AFL Giants vs Bulldogs Betting Tips
Manuka Oval, Friday 23rd April 7.50pm (AEST)
After a 0-3 start, this Round 6 matchup between the Giants and the Dogs had the makings of a big of a snooze fest, however, the Giants have won their last two games and breathed life back into this rivalry which has become one of the best in the league over the last five years.
Match Prediction
These two teams have played in some fantastic games over the past few years, dating all the way back to that thrilling prelim final in 2016 which saw the Dogs advance into the big game and win the premiership. There’s plenty of bad blood between the two teams as well, particularly the two players who will meet in the middle of the ground for the toss, Dogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli and Giants stand in captain Toby Greene.
The Doggies were too good for the Giants when they met last, claiming a 24 point win as they held their opponents to just 33 points in the game. Over the course of the Giants short history in the AFL, these two teams have played 13 times with the Dogs winning 7 and the Giants 6.
The Giants are absolutely ravaged on the injury front, which makes their last two wins over Collingwood and Sydney even more impressive. They are without captain Stephen Coniglio, Phil Davis, Matt de Boer, Adam Kennedt, Daniel Lloyd, Braydon Preuss, Sam Reid and Lachie Whitfield for this clash, with midfielder Harry Perryman the only player who is a chance to come back into the side this week.
The Doggies are a lot more settled on the injury front. They will get youngster Laitham Vandermeer back from injury this week, leaving only Ryan Gardner, Toby McLean, Ed Richards and Bailey Williams on the list of absentees.
If this game was played in Round 4, I expect the line would have been at least 30 points. Due to the resurgence of the Giants over the last few weeks though, it has come into just 19.5 points. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’ll be enough for the Giants. Their injury list is just too long and the Dogs are arguably the best team in the league at the moment and have been blowing out teams, maintaining a 46.4 point winning margin through their 5-0 start.
Dogs -19.5 (2 Units)
$1.90
Giants Prop
Tim Taranto has been in great accumulating form so far this season, racking up numbers of 27, 34, 32, 23 and 26 in his five games so far. Is still decent value to pass the 25 disposal mark this week and we are putting him in a same game multi with Harry Perryman, who should come back into the side from injury. In Perryman’s only two games this season he has had 26 touches and the Giants desperately need the help in the middle this week.
Taranto & Perryman 25+ Disp.
$2.00
Bulldogs Prop
If big Timmy English kicked straight on the weekend then our player prop of him to kick 2+ goals would have cruised home. We backed him before the news came out that Stefan Martin would miss the game, forcing English back into the ruck for the majority. With Martin coming back in this week, I love the value of English to float forward and find the scoreboard again. Back him to kick 2+.
