The final game in Round 1 of the 2021 AFL season sees the West Coast Eagles squaring off against the Gold Coast Suns from 6.10pm! The Eagles are fancied by many as one of the premiership favourites this season, can they get their year off to a winning start at home?
Check out our full preview and betting tips for the clash courtesy of PuntingInDanger below and remember, you can view our preview and tips for every game in Round 1 and beyond of the AFL season, just be sure to head to our AFL Betting Tips page for regular updates.
AFL Giants vs Saints Betting Tips
Optus Stadium, Sunday 21st March 6.10pm (AEDT)
Two teams at different stages of their development will square off on Sunday. The Eagles, who are one of the top contenders in the league and the Suns, who will be looking to take that next step and elevate their young core.
Match Prediction
There has been a few upsets already in Round 1 with the Crows defeating the Cats on Saturday afternoon followed by an exciting young Swans team defeating Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturdya night. If the Suns are to add another upset win to the Round 1 results, they’ll need to overcome a massive 27.5 point line at Optus Stadium.
The Suns are looking pretty good on the injury front coming into their Round 1 clash, with only Zac Smith and Rory Thompson out for the foreseeable future. It’s a bit different for the Eagles though, who will be without Jake Waterman, Luke Shuey, Mark Hutchings and Willie Rioli while some others will need to pass a fitness test to play in the likes of Tim Kelly, Josh Kenedy, Zac Langdon and Elliot Yeo.
What’s happened throughout Round 1 so far really has me leaning towards the Suns at this high 27 point line. When the two teams last met, Round 2 of last year, the Suns were massive 44 point winners as young star Matt Rowell racked up 26 touches and two goals.
27.5 points is just a little too high for my liking given the Suns will be on the up this year with a talented young core. Back them to cover the spread here.
Suns +27.5 (1.5 Units)
$1.91
Eagles Prop
Andrew Gaff was an accumulating machine last season, racking up 24.28 touches per game, one of just 10 players to average over 24 with the shortened quarters. Gaff has played 10 games against the Gold Coast in his career and in those games, he averages 26 touches per game including last season when he managed to rack up 29, three more than the next highest in the game.
Gaff Most G1 Touches
$2.50
Suns Prop
Matt Rowell played just five games last season before he was struck down by injury, ending his rookie year early. Just four of those games were full games, and in those four he kicked six goals. Seems a real prodigious talent at getting the ball to foot quickly in the packs around goal so could become a regular goal kicker. Back him to find the scoreboard here.
Rowell Anytime Goal
$1.74
