AFL Round 23 kicks off on Friday night with Essendon vs Sydney at Marvel Stadium. The Bombers’ finals hopes hang by a thread and they’ll need to dig deep against the ladder-leading Swans to keep their season alive. We bring you our full preview, best bet, and Same Game Multi for the clash below!
Also, Before You Bet will be providing free previews and betting tips for EVERY game in the 2024 AFL season, so make sure to head over to out our AFL Tips regularly to keep up to date with all of our free content.
2024 AFL Round 23 Preview & Betting Tips
Essendon vs Sydney
Saturday 7:40pm AEST, August 16th, Marvel Stadium
I feel for you, Essendon fans. Last season you looked finals bound and this season you looked even top 4 worthy, yet here you are on the outside of the top 8 looking in.
Last weekend’s result was another dagger to the heart with a Mac Andrew goal after the siren sinking the Bombers to their seventh defeat from their last 10 games. The Bombers are now two points outside the top 8 with two games remaining.
Nik Cox was concussed last weekend and will enter concussion protocols, while Alwyn Davey Jnr also missed. Archie Perkins and Sam Weideman will get their chance again at the senior level.
Sydney have had a whirlwind of a season. They got off to a blistering start which saw them lose only once through 15 rounds, yet here they are with six losses to their name after 21.
However, last weekend’s come-from-behind win against the Magpies just may have sparked a turn in form. The Swans looked dead and buried in the dying stages of the fourth term but managed to find a way in front of their home fans (89-86).
In unfortunate news, the Swans lose Chad Warner for this clash along with Robbie Fox, while Corey Warner and the much-needed Lewis Melican return.
Match Prediction: As good as the Swans have been this season, they love to lose the first quarter. They’ve won 15/21 games but have only led after the first change on 7/21 occasions and only twice since Round 9. However, they’re clearly special after half time and that’s where the Bombers have their issues. With that said, I’m keen to have a crack at the Any Other Results – Wire to Wire market, which means that no team will lead consecutively at the end of every quarter.
Wire to Wire: Any Other Result
$2.00 (1.5 Units)
Same Game Multi
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Errol Gulden 25+ Disposals – Comes off a rare quiet game and will be keen to sharply bounce back. I don’t expect him to receive the same level of attention he did by Sidebottom last Friday.
Nic Martin 25+ Disposals – Nic Martin loves playing at the Marvel venue and his stats back that up. He’s a ball magnet and should be able to rack them up again here.
Brodie Grundy 15+ Disposals – Gets a nice matchup against the Bombers rucks here. He also loves playing against them having recorded 15+ disposals in nine of his last 10 matches against them.
SGM Odds: $3.00 at BoomBet
