Round 17 of the 2024 AFL Season continues on Saturday afternoon at GMHBA Stadium at Geelong when the Cats play host to the Hawthorn Hawks, with the game carrying significant importance for both sides, with Geelong wanting to push for top four as well as tighten a top eight spot while the Hawks are pushing hard to get into the eight.
Given the current form of both teams, it should be an intriguing match and we have you covered with a full betting preview for free below.
2024 AFL Round 17 Preview & Betting Tips
Geelong vs Hawthorn
Saturday 4:35pm AEST, July 6th, GMHBA Stadium
Once upon a time, playing Geelong at Geelong usually = a brutal afternoon/evening. But that is not the case anymore. They are beatable at home and have not maintained it as a fortress. They were in a form slump but found positive form last week with a win over Essendon, and yes, they did get the rub of the green from the umpires, but even allowing for that, they were the better side as the match went on, with the forward line looking much more dynamic minus Tom Hawkins, with Jeremy Cameron playing deeper and being effective, as well as Gary Rohan, who played one of his better games in recent times. Ollie Henry is back in and he will be a big in. The key stat is that whoever wins the clearance at Geelong has won the game this year.
It's been hard not to be impressed by Hawthorn. They beat West Coast last week, but in the fair dinkum stakes, I reckon my 12-year-old cat could have beaten West Coast. That said, the Eagles were there to be picked apart and Hawthorn did that, as every good team does. Couple of big ins for them this week, with Luke Breust returning, as well as gun forward Mitch Lewis, providing more dangerous options up forward. Their clearance work has been dynamic in recent weeks, going from 18th in the opening rounds of the year to now being one of the best teams.
Match Prediction: For me, this game hinged on the fitness of James Sicily, and the fact he has been ruled out does lean me towards Geelong. I think the likes of Cameron and Rohan could prove to be a real handful for the Hawthorn back six.
Geelong to Win
$1.55 (2 Units)
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Geelong -10.5: I think if the likes of Cameron and Rohan do get going, then they could do some proper damage and put this game to bed. The back six of Hawthorn are going to have their work cut out and I am hoping Ollie Henry in the midfield will plug up the Geelong clearance game.
Under 170.5 Points: Think the weather is fine-ish, but Saturday afternoon twilight, the ball will be greasy and I am not sure that this game will be high scoring. If the respective midfields take each other on, it could well become a slog.
SGM Odds: $3.60 at BoomBet
