Port Adelaide will take on West Coast in the middle game of the Round 5 Saturday triple header in the AFL. Check out our full preview and betting tips for the clash from Adelaide Oval below.
Remember, you can view our betting tips for all nine matches in Round 6 of the AFL season by heading to our AFL Tips page.
Port Adelaide vs West Coast Betting Tips
Adelaide Oval, Saturday 23rd April, 4.35pm (AEST)
Port Adelaide
Injuries: Orazio Fantasia, Josh Sinn, Ollie Wines, Trent McKenzie, Charlie Dixon (Out) Xavier Duursma, Scott Lycett (Test)
The Power were dealt some blows throughout last week, particularly the loss of skipper Ollie Wines, who is battling complications with his heart. They are in line to get a few key players ack this week with Scott Lycett and Xavier Duursma eyeing returns.
What a tough road it’s been for Port Adelaide so far this season. After finishing in the top four and making a prelim final for the last two seasons, they have fallen to a 0-5 start this year and their finals chances are all but dashed. After going down by almost 10 goals to the Blues on the weekend, they were actually gallant as they fought back to bring it back to just three points at one stage, but ultimately went down in a tight game.
The absence of a front-line ruckman has killed them through the early stages of the year, so a potential return of Scott Lycett will be super important as they come up against an Eagles team that will be missing Nic Naitanui.
West Coast
Injuries: Oscar Allen, Tom Cole, Andrew Gaff, Nic Naitanui, Dom Sheed (Out)
The Eagles got some key players back last week in the likes of Yeo, Shuey and Kelly, but they are still without a host of best 22 players, most notably Naitanui, Gaff and Sheed.
It’s been a season to forget both on and off the field for the Eagles so far. They were absolutely ravaged by COVID through the early stages of the year and injuries are still really taking their toll. They are trounced by the Swans on the weekend, going down by 63 points at home.
There hasn’t been a lot for Eagles fans to get excited about, but the form of recruit Patrick Naish has certainly been impressive. He was one of the Eagles best in the loss on the weekend along with Liam Duggan and Jack Redden.
Match Prediction
If the Power play anything like they did in the 2nd half against Carlton then they should record their first win at home on Saturday afternoon. They looked like a completely different team after the half-time break, outscoring the Blues nine goals to two as they fought for their season.
Although they lost and are now 0-5, coach Ken Hinkley still believes they can play finals and if they playing group are still behind him, you’d have to think they’d come out with similar vigour at Adelaide Oval in a winnable game.
Power -17.5
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
Prop Bets
Hinkley swung Travis Boak into the forward line and left the responsibility of the midfield battle to his young stars on the weekend. They stepped up, particularly Zak Butters, who racked up 32 touches and a goal in the loss. He will have an increased role with Wines out and Boak spending time forward. Back him 30+ again on the weekend.
Butters 30+ Disposals ($2.85 at Ladbrokes)
Robbie Gray returned to the Port Adelaide line-up with a decent outing, kicking three goals on four scoring shots. He is a permanent forward in his later years and when he last faced the Eagles, he kicked 3.0.
Gray 2+ Goals ($2.45 at Ladbrokes)
