Round Two concludes in the west as the Eagles take on the Giants at Optus Stadium. Can the Eagles cause a major upset? Or will the Giants continue their hot start to season 2024?
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2024 AFL Round 2 Betting Tips & Preview
West Coast vs GWS
Sunday 6:50pm AEDT, March 24th, Optus Stadium
GWS travels to Perth on the back of an outstanding start to the season that sees the Giants as the premiership favourites. After knocking off Collingwood in Opening Round, the Giants followed up with an easy 39 point win over North Melbourne, in a game that they barely broke out of second gear. GWS kicked 17.19 in a scoreline that flattered the Roos, despite the Giants not being at their best.
A 50 point loss in Round One has been further compounded for the Eagles, losing co-captain Oscar Allen out for eight weeks with a knee injury. Experienced duo Andrew Gaff and Alex Witherden have been dropped after poor performances against Port Adelaide. Jermaine Jones, Ryan Maric and Harry Barnett have been called into the 23 for Sunday’s clash.
It’s much more settled for the Giants at the selection table, with Nick Haynes missing due to personal reasons, James Peatling has been brought into the side.
West Coast were competitive in the first quarter, before being blown away after half time, with the 50 point margin flattering the Eagles as Port Adelaide kicked 24 behinds. West Coast were smashed in all the key statistical areas recording -65 disposals, -52 marks, -17 inside 50’s, -9 tackles, -5 clearances and -5 contested possessions.
The Eagles conceded 40 scoring shots from 57 Port Adelaide inside 50’s in what was an alarming display of how far off the Eagles are at being competitive.
It’s no surprise how the Giants are sitting atop the AFL ladder when you break down the statistical profile of their side. GWS are the number one ranked side in the competition for disposals, number one in points for, number three for contested possessions and number five for centre clearances. GWS are dominating at the coalface, and giving their forward line easy looks at goal.
GWS have the league’s two leading goal kickers in Jesse Hogan (10 Goals) and Callum Brown (8), with the Giants high octane forward line converting 58.3% of their inside 50’s into scores against North Melbourne. If the Giants kick straight this week, this game could get ugly very quickly.
West Coast conceded 118 points per game in 2023, the most in the AFL and already from one game in season 2024 they’ve conceded 120 points. The Eagles have conceded above 120 points in three of their last four games, which is an alarming stat coming up against the Giants.
Match Prediction: The line for this clash is surprisingly only 46.5, which GWS are more than capable of covering against the worst side in the league. West Coast have lost eight of their last ten matches, with those eight losses coming by an average margin of 73 points. With Oscar Allen going out of the side, West Coast’s already struggling forwardline will only get weaker, furthering an already big gap between the two sides.
GWS will be looking to build after kicking 17.19 against North Melbourne last week, so there will be a ruthless streak about Adam Kingsley’s side this week. GWS have won six of their last seven games dating back to Round 23 last season, and It’s going to be one way traffic in this fixture.
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Tom Green 30+ Disposals: Tom Green has continued to place himself as one of the best players in the competition, with the 23 year old starting with 30 and 37 disposal games to kick off season 2024. Green has reached the 30 disposal mark in nine of his last ten games.
Lachie Whitfield 25+ Disposals: After an excellent end to last season, Lachie Whitfield has had an outstanding start to 2024, averaging 31 disposals across the opening fortnight of the season. Whitfield has benefited majorly under Adam Kinglsey’s system in the way the Giants use the ball out of defence, which has seen him record at least 25 disposals in his last seven games.
Jesse Hogan 2+ Goals: Jesse Hogan’s renaissance has continued into this year, with the former Demon and Docker leading the Coleman Medal race with 10 goals after two games. Hogan has kicked 27 goals from his last seven games, with at least two goals in five of those seven games.
Total Points Over 178.5: Both sides played in games last week that comfortably reached over 178.5 total points with GWS’s game reaching 203 and West Coast’s hitting 190. The Giants Opening Round clash against Collingwood hit 196 total points, and it’s clear these sides will play in high scoring fixtures this season for very different reasons.
SGM Odds: $4.00 at BoomBet
