Saturday’s AFL 2018 Round 17 match is between Gold Coast Suns and Essendon Bombers. The opening kick is set to commence at 19:25 local time with the game to be played at Metricon Stadium. The home team Gold Coast Suns are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Gold Coast Suns and Essendon Bombers.
When: 19:25 | Saturday 14/07/2018
Where: Metricon Stadium
Preview:
Suns couldn’t handle the Kangaroos’ talls and the Bombers’ talls are more down back but their forward line is still dangerous.
Bombers midfield has been extremely good during their recent run of good form and they have far too much experience and class for the Suns.
Orazio Fantasia was a late withdrawal against the Magpies and he was a costly omission last week and will be a huge boost if he comes back in.
The Verdict
Essendon should be far too strong for the struggling Suns.
The Bombers are probably the best team outside of the eight and will be too good for the Suns.
Gold Coast has a 3-7 (30.0 percent) line record in night matches at Metricon Stadium since 2016.
Unibet Odds:
Gold Coast at $4.50
Essendon at $1.21
Odds:
Tip: Gold Coast Suns at $4.20
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Jack Martin at $13.00
More Info:
Teams:
Gold Coast Suns: 
B: Harbrow, Thompson, Joyce
HB: Ballard, May, Weller
C: Swallow, Miller, Schoenfeld
HF: Powell, Wright, Holman
F: Ah Chee, Crossley, Sexton
FOLL: Witts, Brodie, Martin
I/C: Rischitelli, Lyons, Lemmens, Young
EMG: Heron, Lonergan, Scrimshaw, Leslie
Unchanged
Essendon Bombers: 
B: Hooker, Myers, Guelfi
HB: McGrath, Hurley, Heppell
C: Dea, Z.Merrett, McKenna
HF: Smith, McKernan, Goddard
F: Fantasia, Brown, Baguley
FOLL: Bellchambers, Langford, McDonald-Tipungwuti
I/C: Parish, Colyer, Saad, McNiece
EMG: Francis, Ridley, Green, Long
IN: Dea, Fantasia, Parish
OUT: Ambrose, Long, Stringer
AFL News:
It’s testing his patience, but David Swallow insists he has no regrets about staying loyal to the Gold Coast.
The club’s first No.1 draft pick, now a leader at 25, has worn the their colours since he was 16 playing in the Suns’ inaugural VFL campaign.
The Perth product has to cast his mind back to 2014, when the Suns sat as high as second, when referencing the “good times”.
Even then the side bombed after an injury to Gary Ablett to finish 12th, with Swallow then enduring two injury-plagued seasons of his own.
But it was the club’s backing during that time that has kept the hard-nosed midfielder in Queensland until at least the end of next season.
“It’s bit of a rollercoaster, you ride it up and down emotionally and of course I want to be part of a successful side and winning,” he said.
“I got a taste of it in 2014 with that winning roll and just how good it can be … the last few years there’s been a lot more downs, but personally try and see positives in (being fit again).”
Swallow is the only surviving member of a midfield that once boasted Harley Bennell, Dion Prestia, Josh Caddy and Ablett, and later included Jaeger O’Meara.
So far he’s resisted the temptation to follow them south or west, although a current 10-game losing streak is hardly helping justify that decision.
“I think people have their own personal circumstances as to why they’ve left,” Swallow said when asked if he ever regrets staying on the Gold Coast.
“The club was really good when I had some lean years with injury; I was really keen to repay the faith when they stuck by me.
“I was big on being loyal to the club and keen to see the people here get success.”
The Suns host Essendon on Saturday night, who sit 12th but led second-placed Collingwood into the final term before losing by 16 on the weekend.
“As hard as it is for fans to see, we really are working hard during the week to turn it around,” Swallow said.
