AFL Betting Tips: Sunday footy Round 2 Season 2019

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• Author: Alex Christodoulou
  Mar 29, 2019 07:01 PM
• AAP

Clarko's Hawks keen for another flag

Surely Hawthorn couldn't win another premiership. Surely.

They take on the Bulldogs in Sunday's highlight game, where both teams will look to continue their impressive starts to the season.

Our other AFL betting tips cover the Kangas vs Lions clash, and Freo's trip to the Gold Coast.

 

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Brisbane Lions

AFL Odds: Kangas $1.80 (-3.5) / Lions $2 (+3.5)

This match-up pits two teams that surprised the AFL world with their season-openers up against each other.

While plenty predicted the Lions to have a good year, nobody could have foreseen the 44-point mauling of the Eagles last week.

The Kangaroos surprised punters by just how poor they were, succumbing to a 82-point thrashing at the hands of the Dockers.

 

Why Kangaroos can win

Alarm bells were surely blaring out at North Melbourne H.Q. after they were dispatched by a monster 82-points in Round 1.

Many were asking how a defeat as heavy as that could occur in the opening round, when players are supposed to be excited and ready for the new season.

North fans will be hoping that this was just a one-off, their team needing an extra hit-out before clicking into gear.

Back at home, and with one of their best looking squads in recent years, look to the Kangas to bounce back.

They'll have to cope without defender Ed Vickers-Willis though, who was the third player to suffer the dreaded ACL rupture last weekend.

 

Why Lions can win

All the Lions need to do is play half as well as they did last week to get the win.

The problem is that this is easier said than done.

Brisbane showed last year that they are a completely different team when playing home and away.

And the bookies seem to be of a similar mind, installing the Lions as underdogs in the AFL odds, despite how good they were in the opening round.

The young Lions will be looking to new recruits and close friends Lincoln McCarthy and Lachie Neale to replicate their performances to inspire a big away win here.

• The Roos have won all of their past 6 games against Brisbane: North Melbourne to win @ $1.80

Reasoning: The Kangas may or may not improve, while there are still too many question marks over Brisbane's away form.  

 

Hawthorn Hawks vs Western Bulldogs

AFL Odds: Hawks $1.40 (-16.5) / Bulldogs $2.82 (+16.5)

Sunday's feature game sees both Melbourne-based sides looking to start their 2019 campaigns with two successive wins.

It's hard to say which upset win was more impressive, Hawthorn's effort over Adelaide or the Bulldogs' triumph over Sydney.

Based on how the Hawks responded after losing reigning Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell in the off-season, you'd have to lean towards them. 

 

Why Hawks can win

Hawthorn have the perfect blend of youth and multiple-premiership experience in their side.

This is all overseen by master coach Alastair Clarkson, who engineered another famous win to kick-start Hawthorn's 2019 campaign.

The Hawks were dominated in just about every key stat against the Crows, and yet still managed to prevail by 32 points.

They are drilled to make the right decisions again and again, which is why they should prove too strong for the Dogs here.

 

Why Bulldogs can win

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the Bulldogs' victory over the Swans was Tom Liberatore's return to form.

"Libba" was a crucial cog in the Dogs' title win in 2016, before his game entered an unexpected dip for two straight seasons.

If Libba can have another good game, he'll help the likes of Lachie Hunter and Marcus Bontempelli establish a dominance in the midfield.

But with a few key players still out, the side from Footscray will need to be near-flawless to get the win.

• The Hawks have won 4 of their last 5 games against the Bulldogs: Hawthorn to win @ $1.40

Reasoning: The Hawks weren't even near their best last week and they trounced the Crows by 32. The Dogs should be worried. 

 

Gold Coast Suns vs Fremantle Dockers

AFL Odds: Suns $3.98 (+25.5) / Dockers $1.22 (-25.5)

Round 2 concludes on the Gold Coast, where the Suns will be looking to give their home fans something to smile about.

They almost did this in Round 1, before falling agonizingly short against the Saints down in Melbourne.

Freo meanwhile couldn't have started the season any better. They walloped the Roos by 82, and could do the same to the Suns here.

 

Why Suns can win

Gold Coast can take plenty of positives from last week's game.

Their inexperienced team displayed plenty of exuberance and fight to push the Saints right to the death.

Considering they started as $4 outsiders in the AFL odds, this was a superb effort.

If they can find another gear at home, and Freo become complacent, then Gold Coast might pick up an unlikely win.

 

Why Dockers can win

Fremantle and Ross Lyon have been slated in recent campaigns for playing too conservatively, and not scoring enough points.

Lyon has always been renowned as a defence-first coach, who doesn't seem to favour expansive, attacking play as much as other sides.

However that all changed in Round 1, where the Dockers notched up a league-high 141 points.

And this was while keeping their trademark defence as stingy as ever, just conceding 59.

Look for Fyfe and Co. to bully the Suns here.

 Key AFL Stat

• Gold Coast have lost their past 10 AFL home games: Fremantle to win @ $1.22

 AFL Betting Tip: Fremantle to cover the -25.5 point line @ $1.90

Reasoning: You couldn't tip anything else based on the form and players.