Round 9 begins with three games held outside of the traditional Aussie Rules locus of Melbourne. The most significant being the Suns and Power encounter that takes place for the second year at Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai. With the game set to be broadcast on Chinese television, the AFL will be hoping for a close game and salivating at the prospect of cracking the Asian market.
Friday night footy heads to the city of churches as the Western Bulldogs come up against the Adelaide Crows. After a last-gasp defeat against the Power in the Showdown last week, Adelaide should be coming out fired up to show what they're really capable of.
While the Dogs are coming off three wins in-a-row, these victories have hardly been convincing. All three wins came at home against the Blues, the Suns and the Lions respectively, which is a different kettle of fish to playing the Crows away from home.
Key Ins: None
Key Outs: Mitch McGovern (Adelaide)
Key AFL Stats
The Bulldogs have lost 9 of their last 10 Friday night matches when coming in as underdogs.
The home team has won 7 of the last 9 meetings between the Crows and Bulldogs.
The Dogs have failed to cover the line in 8 of their last 9 night matches.
Betting Tip: Adelaide to cover the -35.5 point line @ $1.92
After coming within a whisker of taming the Tigers last week, the Kangaroos take this game to Tasmania, where they will look to give the injury-riddled Giants a belting. North Melbourne and GWS are both sitting just outside the top eight, and a loss for either team will heap more pressure on for subsequent games.
The Roos have been mightily impressive this season and look to be too strong for the Giants here. Playing at Blundstone Arena is a huge bonus, as the Kangaroos have a superb record when playing at their second home.
While North are relatively unscathed on the injury front, the Giants lose two more first-team players for this clash, adding to an already mini-crisis of injuries at the football club. It would be a mammoth effort if GWS can overcome the Roos here.
Key Ins: None
Key Outs: Phil Davis (GWS), Matt de Boer (GWS)
Key AFL Stats
The Kangaroos have won their last 3 games at Blundstone Arena, by an average winning margin of 50 points.
GWS have defeated North Melbourne in the last 3 matches between the two clubs.
The Giants have only won 1 of their last 5 games when coming in as an away underdog.
Betting Tip: North Melbourne to cover the -6.5 point line @ $1.92
After games in Adelaide and Hobart, the third game of Round 3 takes us to Shanghai in China as part of the AFL's planned expansion in Asia. This is the second time these two clubs will face off in the world's most populous city, in an encounter that is set to have a TV audience higher than any other AFL match in history.
The Suns will be hoping to put in a much better performance than their embarrassing 72-point defeat in this corresponding fixture last year. But after coming off a 69-point thrashing at the hands of the Demons last week, it doesn't look good for the Gold Coast franchise.
The Power appear to be too strong once again, and after their best win of the year against the Crows last week, they will be looking to go on a long winning streak. The one knock on the Power has always been their inconsistency, and this is a fantastic opportunity to put top performances back-to-back.
Key Ins: None
Key Outs: None
Key AFL Stats
Gold Coast haven't won a match outside of Queensland after coming off a loss in the previous round in their last 23 attempts.
Port Adelaide have won their last 8 matches with Gold Coast.
The last two encounters between these two sides have seen Port Adelaide win by 72 and 115 points respectively.
Betting Tip: Port Adelaide to win by a margin of 60+ points @ $3.25
May 17, 2018 12:57 PM
AAP
