There’s a huge five-game slate of AFL on this Saturday for Round 16. There’s so many important fixtures set to play out and we’ve provided previews and best bets for all of them. Check them out below and good luck to everyone following!
Don’t forget, AFL Saturday will be our focus today, but you can head to our AFL Tips Page for a bunch of content for Round 16 in the AFL including preview and tips for EVERY GAME.
AFL Round 16 Saturday Betting Tips
Essendon Bombers vs Sydney Swans (1:45pm AEST, MCG)
The Bombers finals aspirations remain very real thanks to a tremendous come from behind win against the Giants last Thursday night. They trailed for the majority of the game after quarter time but were able to hit the front via a Cale Hooker goal in the dying seconds to win the match. It was their seventh win of the season and places them in 10th spot on the ladder.
The Swans were also victorious last weekend when they hosted the Suns at the SCG. It wasn’t the prettiest of wins but one that was more than necessary to keep their finals hopes alive. They started the season very slowly, but the Swans are now 6-8 and are in 12th spot on the ladder and just one win outside the top eight.
The Swans may have won their last three matches, but all three have been on their home deck in Sydney. They now must hit the road where they’ve only won two games this season and take on a Bombers side full of confidence. We expect them to find this a task a little too difficult to overcome.
Essendon Bombers -12.5
$1.91
Gold Coast Suns vs Richmond Tigers (2:10pm AEST, Metricon Stadium)
What a tough run it’s been for the Suns after such a promising start to the season. They won three of their first four games but have since gone on to lose an embarrassing 10 matches in a row. While they have been fairly competitive in most of those losses, a 3-11 record is simply not good enough, even if they do have the worst list in the competition.
The Tigers pulled off an inspired win over the Saints last weekend, defeating them by 33 points at Marvel Stadium. It was a see-sawing affair for much of the contest, but the Tigers showed some of the resilience we’ve become accustomed to over the past two-and-a-half seasons to put the Saints to bed. Now getting back some of their key players, Richmond would feel confident about their chances of success this season.
The Tigers trounced the Suns last time they played at Metricon Stadium and we’re expecting much of the same this time around. The Tigers need to keep winning to remain in touch with the top eight and should be far too strong for a poor Suns outfit.
Richmond Tigers -29.5
$1.91
Adelaide Crows vs Port Adelaide Power (4:35pm AEST, Adelaide Oval)
The Crows three-match winning streak came to an end last weekend. They travelled to GMHBA Stadium as huge underdogs against the Cats, and while they were competitive for the most part, they were simply outgunned. Despite the loss, the Crows remain in a good position to play finals with their 8-6 record placing them sixth on the ladder.
The Power were one of the most disappointing teams in Round 15 and remain one of the great enigmas in the competition. Beat the ladder-leading Cats one week, lose to the 14th placed Bulldogs the next. There’s no doubting their ability when they’re on song, but consistency remains the 7-7 Powers biggest downfall.
The Showdown is always an unpredictable fixture no matter where the two teams are placed on the ladder. It makes it especially hard when both are having pretty much the same season to date. What has remained consistent however, is that they’re nearly always high-scoring affairs. Only once since 2011 has the total score been under the 161.5 line it’s been set at for this match. The weather is supposed to be prime for footy, so take the overs.
Over 161.5 Total Points
$1.90
Western Bulldogs vs Geelong Cats (7:25pm AEST, Marvel Stadium)
The Bulldogs showed tremendous fight in deplorable conditions at Adelaide Oval last weekend when they defeated the Power by 25 points. Led by Marcus Bontempelli (27 disposals, 10 tackles) and Jack Macrae (37 disposals, one goal), the Dogs showed some of their best form in recent memory. They’re now at 6-8 and remain a genuine chance to play finals if they continue to show great fight.
The Cats bounced back from a loss to Port Adelaide with a win over Adelaide at the Cattery last weekend. They were tested for the best part of three quarters, but eventually showed their class and ran away with the four points. The Cats are now in a commanding position on the ladder where they are two games + percentage clear at the top.
Of all nine fixtures this weekend, this one has the most potential to be an upset. The Dogs were fantastic last weekend and will be desperate to back up their efforts with another win to keep their finals hopes alive, while the Cats may just get a little complacent with the position they find themselves in. Predicting an upset here, Dogs to win.
Fremantle Dockers vs West Coast Eagles (8:10pm AEST, Optus Stadium)
The Dockers have been one of the great surprise packets this season with their never say die attitude. However, last weekend they fell at home to the worst team in the competition in the Blues. It was one of the weirdest results of the season and would have been addressed heavily by the Dockers coaching staff. The Dockers remain inside the top eight but only just.
The Eagles were far from their best in their six-point win over the Hawks at the MCG last weekend. It looked like they were going to suffer their fifth loss of the season when they went behind in the fourth quarter, however, they showed their premiership qualities to wrestle back the lead and come away with the four points. The Eagles are in third place on the ladder and have a chance to jump up to second if results go their way this round.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Dockers respond from last weekend’s embarrassment. Even if they do show some of their best stuff we’ve seen from them this season, we don’t see them beating an Eagles outfit that has won each of the last eight Derby’s.
West Coast Eagles -17.5
$1.91
