The four game AFL Saturday slate is back! After a few weeks of non-stop footy and reduced slates on the weekend, Super Saturday has returned and with it, an interesting four game slate which gets underway at 1.45pm!
As usual, we have a full preview and tips for all four games and remember to check out our AFL Betting Tips page for the rest of the Round 13 action.
AFL Round 15 Saturday Betting Tips
Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne
Metricon Stadium, 1.45pm (AEST)
Many thought that the Demons season was doomed after back to back losses to the Lions and Power in Rounds 8 and 9. However, since then, they have bounced back to win three games in a row, albeit against pretty poor opposition in the Crows, Kangaroos and an out of form Magpies side. Saturday will be a big test for them and a good measuring stick against a side that sits level with them on the ladder with six wins on the season.
The Bulldogs lost three games in a row to tough opposition in the Tigers, Power and Lions but bounced back on the weekend to record a big 57 point win over the Crows at Metricon Stadium. The win got their season back on track but they’ll need to be impressive in the run home if they want to make finals, especially with games coming up against the Cats and Eagles following this week.
The Demons start as 4.5 point favourites here, which seems about right given they are coming off three wins in a row. They are still yet to beat a quality team though, with five of their six wins coming against bottom seven sides and the other coming against what was essentially a Collingwood reserves side. The Doggies have decent scalps this season, with wins over the Giants, Bombers and Suns and have shown they play at another level in good conditions, which is what it is forecast to be on Saturday at Metricon. Back the Doggies to win here.
Port Adelaide vs Hawthorn
Adelaide Oval, 4.35pm (AEST)
After three big wins in a row against the Demons, Bulldogs and Tigers, Port Adelaide were taught a bit of a lesson on the weekend by an in-form Geelong side. They went down by 60 points to the Cats and will be desperate to bounce back against the Hawks. They still sit atop the ladder with a 9-3 record, but now have the Lions, Cats, Eagles and Saints all nipping at their heels.
Luckily for the Power, this Saturday will be a great chance to secure four points and in fact, their run home should give them ample chance to finish 1st with games against Sydney, North Melbourne, Essendon and Collingwood to come after this week. The Hawks have lost their last two on the trot to the Dockers and Eagles and currently sit in 16th place on the ladder with a 4-7 record.
The Power should roll here. They have looked shaky at times this year against the better sides in the competition but when they get the opportunity to play against the minnows, they have usually feasted. They have an average winning margin of 50.3 against bottom six clubs this season and play another one in the Hawks on Saturday. Should cover the 24.5 point line.
Essendon vs Richmond
TIO Stadium, 7.45pm (AEST)
It will be a special edition of the ‘Dreamtime’ clash this year as both Essendon and Richmond head to TIO Stadium in Darwin for their annual game. The Tigers will come into the game on the back of a gritty win over the Suns, but plenty of heat will be on forward Tom Lynch after some questionable acts on the field over the last few games. The Tigers are still without some key players who have not yet joined the team in the hub, but seem to be making do with what they have at the moment, currently sitting in 6th place with a 7-5 record.
The Bombers depth doesn’t look as great at the moment. It’s pure carnage on their injury list, with the likes ofDaniher, Fantasia, Heppell, Hooker, Laverde, Zaharakis and Smith all on the sidelines. The outs have been insurmountable over the last few weeks, with the Bombers not having won a game since a three point win over the Crows back in Round 8. They are hopeful to get forward Jake Stringer back this week.
Can’t see the Tigers losing this one to the undermanned Bombers team that will run out there on Saturday. Richmond might have looked a little shaky against the Suns in Round 12, but they still won that game by 21 points and that Suns side stacks up much better than the Bombers do at the moment. Back the Tigers to dominate this one.
Fremantle vs Sydney
Optus Stadium, 8.10pm (AEST)
Unders, unders, unders.. That’s all you need to think about for this game. The Swans and Dockers are the 16th and 17th ranked teams in the competition this year for points scored per game at around 54 and 49 points respectively.
In Freo’s last six games, the average total score has been just 70.6 points and in the Swans last two the average has been just 91. These two teams sit back and defend and play a slower style of play and to make matters worse, the conditions are looking a little overcast in Perth on Saturday.
We don’t have much more to say about this clash. There’s a possibility that this one might even be turned off before half time. Back the unders.
