This is it! The last round of the 2014 AFL season… Luckily it’s shaping up to be a great finals series. Before we get there though, there is still an exciting Round 23 to look at. In fact, there are still a few games that will shape the top eight. Be sure to check out our latest AFL betting tips with our Round 23 preview, tips and advice.
2014 AFL Round 23 Preview
Round 23 kicks off on Friday night with Collingwood Magpies Vs. Hawthorn Hawks. While this will likely be quite a one-sided affair, a massive crowd is still sure to head to the MCG. Collingwood fans will of course still be clinging on to the hope that they can make the finals. If that is any chance, they need to beat the Hawks. Tough ask any time of the yea. Even tougher when at least half a dozen of your best 22 are on the sideline. The Magpies also have a pretty terrible record against the Hawks, losing the last five by at least 29 points. Hard to see Magpies keeping it closer than five to six goals.
The first game on Saturday for Round 23 is Carlton Blues Vs. Essendon Bombers. This one is also at the MCG and should also see a bumper field. The Bombers have already secured their place in the finals after beating the Suns last week and will be hoping to keep the momentum going. Meanwhile, you wouldn’t blame the Blues if they were already planning their Christmas holidays. The last time these two sides met, in Round 3 of this year, the Bombers won by 81 points. You would expect the Blues to be more competitive than that, but considering last week, you wouldn’t think they would be all that much better. Happy to back the Bombers in for a solid win, especially if they do have Dyson Heppell back in the side.
Arguably the biggest game of Round 23 is Fremantle Dockers Vs. Port Adelaide Power. The winner of this game will finish in the top four, making it very hard to win the Grand Finals. The last time these two met it was at Adelaide Oval in Round 8 and Port won by 18 points. This time the game is at Patersons Stadium, which is different story all together as the Dockers have dominated Port at their home ground. Port were prolific against the Blues last week, kicking 20 goals and having 40 scoring shots overall. They were in their element. The Dockers will not let the Power play like they did last week. This is going to be a tough, tight game. If the Dockers can play like they did against the Hawks a fortnight ago, the Power will struggle to keep up. The consensus is that the Dockers are really firing up at the right time of the year. The same could be said about the Power, but you just have to lean towards the Dockers at home here.
Saturday afternoon is the game everyone is talking about – Sydney Swans Vs. Richmond Tigers. This could be the fairy-tale game for the Tigers. If they win, they turn what was a 3-10 record ten weeks ago into a finals berth. Unfortunately for them they have the best side in the AFL standing in their way. Some would argue that the Swans don’t have anything to play for as they have already secured the top spot. Richmond, of course, have everything to play for. Definitely lean towards the Swans being too strong – in the midfield, up forward and have enough in the backline to stop Richmond’s forwards. However, you just never know how strong the adrenaline and momentum and the hope of September will be for a team in this position. Happy to sit this one out, betting wise, and instead enjoy what should be a cracking game.
One of two games on Saturday night is North Melbourne Kangaroos Vs. Melbourne Demons. Not too much to say about this one. The Kangaroos are resting plenty of players, but that won’t help the Demons chances. You would hope, for the sake of Demons fans, and heck, even fans of the AFL, that the Demons show some fighting spirit in the last round. Unfortunately even that probably won’t be enough for a win, but still expecting a closer game than some.
Geelong Cats Vs. Brisbane Lions takes place at Simmonds Stadium on Saturday night. The Cats have already secured a top four spot, while the Lions will be looking to finish the year off strong after showing some promise in recent weeks. The Cats have a few outs, which will suit the Lions. The Cats have plenty of depth though and will make this tough for the Lions, especially down at their home ground. The six-goal line seems a bit too high, but expecting a comfortable Cats win.
The first game on Saturday is Gold Coast Suns Vs. West Coast Eagles. This one is a very important game for the Eagles. Well, it will be as long as the Magpies lose to Hawthorn and Richmond lose to the Swans. If that happens (which is likely), then the Eagles just need to win this and they will be in the finals. These two teams met back in Round 13 and the Eagles won in a thrilling three-point game. That game was at Patersons, while this one is up at Metricon. Expecting a desperate and tough Eagles to win this if the finals are up for grabs. If this game begins with the Eagles not able to make the finals, tend to think this is a tougher game to pick.
Sunday afternoon sees Adelaide Crows Vs. St Kilda Saints take place. It’s apt that this game takes place after the Suns, Tigers, Eagles and Collingwood game as the Crows are still a chance at making the finals, but everything depends on all four of those games. A lot needs to go right for the Crows to make the eight. If you think Richmond, Collingwood and the Eagles all lose, then maybe take a look at the ‘Making the Top 8’ markets at the sports book and get on the Crows at around $4.5. They will win this one quite comfortably regardless as the Saints look to farewell Lenny Hayes and start planning for a better year next season.
The least consequential game of week, and the final game of the 2014 AFL season, is Western Bulldogs Vs. GWS Giants. The young pups at the Bulldogs have looked weary of late. They will be looking to step up one more time in 2014 as they will help farewell Bulldog veteran Daniel Giansiracusa in his last game. The four-goal line looks right around the mark, but lean towards the Bulldogs being strong enough to cover that line.
Round 23 Best Betting Tips
Essendon at the line (-16.5) - $1.92 at Ladbrokes **
Geelong Cats Under 39.5 (Margin 1-39) - $2.45 *
North Melbourne Under 39.5 (Margin 1-39) - $2.45 at Ladbrokes *
Western Bulldogs at the line (-23.5) - $1.92 at Ladbrokes **
(*The stars represent the confidence level – three stars is high confidence, two is a medium level of confidence and one is a low level. These could be considered as the “units” of the betting play for those who follow sports betting bankroll management.)
Before You Bet Round 23 Tipping Advice
The final round of the year can mean many different things in a tipping competition. It can either mean you are so far behind that you already over it and barely remember to get your tips in on time, or you are so close to the top that you make a few risky picks to gain on the leader. Or, you yourself are the leader and you just pick the favourites and hope not to falter at the end of the finish line. Regardless, let’s see how we go with our Round 23 tipping advice! Remember, this isn’t betting advice, just what we would pick in a tipping competition at the local pub or in the workplace.
Hawthorn (Collingwood)
Essendon (Carlton)
Fremantle (Port Adelaide)
Sydney (Richmond)
North Melbourne (Melbourne)
Geelong (Brisbane)
West Coast (Gold Coast)
Adelaide (St Kilda)
Bulldogs (GWS)
Score last round: 7
Total score: 132
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
