Round 4 of the AFL 2013 season looks to be a cracker with some very competitive matches throughout the round none more so than Friday nights game between last years winner Sydney and the ever competitive Geelong. We preview each match during the round and give our tips and selections.
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SYDNEY v GEELONG (SCG) – Friday April 19th, 7:50pm
What a great way to kick of round 4!
The Swans were gifted a good start to this year’s draw with Gold Coast and GWS their first two matches, which they duly won by 41 and 30 points respectively. The took on North Melb last week and despite being slow out of the blocks, reeled in the Kangaroos to win by 41 points.
Geelong has produced outstanding come-from-behind performances to defeat Hawthorn, North Melb and Carlton at their three outings for 2013 thus far, proving that there is still plenty of life in this champion side.
Makes for a cracking match – as has been the case the last four times these two sides of met with honours split two apiece.
Sydney’s two wins have been by six and thirteen points and come up against their stiffest test to date this season.
Recommended bet: Either team Under 15.5 points at $2.70
HAWTHORN v FREMANTLE (Aurora Stadium) – Saturday April 20th, 1:45pm
Hawthorn has clearly had the better of the Dockers in recent times, having won the past three encounters between the two clubs by 22, 51 and 56 points.
The Hawks weren’t able to defy their Geelong hoodoo in round one but have looked very slick with big wins over West Coast (50 points) and Collingwood (55 points) in the past two weeks.
Fremantle started the season well with wins over West Coast (28 points) and Western Bulldogs (28 points) and were on track to make it three on the trot last week when hosting the Bombers, leading by as much as 37 points but a sensational comeback and last quarter effort by Essendon saw them victorious by four points.
That would’ve taken a lot out of the Dockers and it won’t get easier for them this week taking on Premiership favourites.
Recommended bet: Hawks to cover the -30.5 @ $1.90
RICHMOND v COLLINGWOOD (MCG) – Saturday April 20th, 2:10pm
What a start it has been to the season for the Tigers who have beaten Carlton, St.Kilda and Western Bulldogs in their first three weeks.
Each performance has seen Richmond build in confidence and they couldn’t be in better shape as they meet Collingwood at the ‘G’ Saturday afternoon.
The Pies haven’t lost to Richmond since Round 19 2007, five encounters ago now. They had to fight hard in their first two rounds against North Melb and Carlton to secure victory but had no answer for the Hawks last week, losing by 55 points.
This will be a great game and like the way Richmond are travelling at present; they’ll be keen to confirm that they are legitimate finals contenders and will not get a better chance to do so than this weekend.
Recommended bet: RICHMOND 1-24 @ $3.80
ST. KILDA v ESSENDON (Etihad Stadium) – Saturday April 20 th, 4.40pm
It wasn’t a great start to the season for the Saints who went down to Gold Coast in the opening round (90 – 77) and were on the wrong side of the scoreboard in round two against Richmond (99 – 82).
A much needed win was secured last week, albeit against the GWS but, they still aren’t firing on all cylinders for mine and come up against a Bombers who, whilst haven’t enjoyed the best of times off the field in recent months, haven’t let these issues effect their footy and have recorded win over Essendon, Melbourne and Fremantle in their opening rounds.
The wins against Adelaide and Fremantle were achieved on the road, proving that they are in good enough form to beat the Saints here.
Recommended bet: ESSENDON 1-39 @ $2.30
GOLD COAST v PORT ADELAIDE – (Metricon Stadium) – Saturday 20 th April, 7:40pm
Who would’ve thought that Port would be undefeated three rounds into the season?
They met the poorly performed Melbourne in the opening round and recorded back-to-back wins after meeting GWS in round two but it was last week’s win over big brother, the Crows that grabbed people’s attention. Will they be able to live up to expectations this week?
Gold Coast couldn’t have started the season in better style when they beat St. Kilda here at home in round one before running into the Swans in the second week before pushing the Lions all the way, here at home again, when losing by 2 points last week.
Showing some tenacity in their play the Suns and their past performances at home have been good enough to suggest that, with the start of 13.5, they should give a good account of themselves.
Recommended bet: GOLD COAST +13.5 @ $1.90
WEST COAST v CARLTON – (Patersons Stadium), Sunday 21st April 5:40pm
Generally and especially recently, little separates these two teams on the scoreboard at the conclusion of their matches, with the Eagles having won the last two by three and ten points.
After losses to Fremantle and Hawthorn in the first two weeks, the Eagles were afforded the opportunity of playing the Demons last week and duly handed the struggling club a 94 point hiding.
Carlton, are still searching for their first win of the season after having been bettered by Richmond, Collingwood and last week, Geelong. However on each occasion the Blues were more than competitive and the final margins were five, seventeen and sixteen respectively.
Their form reads better than it is presented on the ladder and the $3.00 on offer is tempting but going with:
Recommended bet: EITHER TEAM UNDER 15.5 points @ $2.70
MELBOURNE V GWS – (MCG), Sunday 21st April 1:10pm
Where to start in this game?
Combined, these two sides have lost their past twelve matches and from a punting point of view, you wouldn’t go near it with borrowed money.
It is D-day for the Demons who have lost their three matches (against Port, Bombers and West Coast) this season by a collective 321 points!!
The GWS have lost their three matches (Sydney, Port and Adelaide) by an average of 52 points.
Only because the future of the club relies on it, the Demons to win, I don’t want to think of the ramifications for the club if it doesn’t.
Recommended bet: DEMONS to cover 9.5 @ $1.92
ADELAIDE v WESTERN BULLDOGS – (AAMI Stadium), Sunday 21 st April 3.15pm
The Western Bulldogs have won four of the past five clashes between the two sides and travel to SA on Sunday afternoon in the hope of adding to that record.
They started season well with a strong 68 point win over the Lions by have been average at best in the two weeks since, going down to Fremantle and Richmond.
Adelaide haven’t been in sparkling form either and after losing to Essendon in the opening round, struggled to a win over the Lions at the Gabba before coming up short by nine points in the local derby again Port.
They get their chance here, at home, to put the sluggish start behind them and get back to establishing themselves as final contenders.
Recommended bet: ADELAIDE 1 – 39 @ $2.50
NORTH MELBOURNE v BRISBANE – (Etihad Stadium), Sunday 21st April 4.40pm
It has been a tough start to the season for the Kangaroos; not only in terms of the draw, but in the way the final results of each game have been achieved.
They’ve met and led, Collingwood, Geelong in Sydney in their three opening matches only to be run down in the final stage of each game.
Their form is much better than their 0-3 record would indicate and they get the chance to get on the board for 2013 here.
The Lions looked set for better things than that have produced so far this year after winning the pre-season NAB Cup.
They were handed a hiding by Western Bulldogs in the opening round, were better in their lost to Adelaide in round two and had to dig deep to hold off the Suns last week.
They need to improve plenty on those efforts to win this.
Recommended bet: NORTH MELBOURNE 1 – 39 @ $2.25
