Another Thursday ngiht clash opens up Round 16 in the AFL this weekend as the Brisbane Lions host the Western Bulldogs from the Gabba at 7.20pm. Once again, we have you covered with a full preview and betting tips for the clash below.
Remember to head to our AFL Tips page for content on every game in Round 16 this weekend.
Brisbane Lions vs Western Bulldogs Betting Tips
Gabba, Thursday 30th June, 7.20pm (AEST)
Brisbane
Injuries: Darcy Gardiner (Out) Dayne Zorko, Jarryd Lyons (Test)
The Lions are looking extremely good on the injury front at the moment. Only Darcy Gardiner will remain on the sidelines past this week, with both Lyons and Zorko needinf to pass fitness tests to play on Thursday night.
Despite their clean bill of health, the Lions were taught a lesson by an undermanned Demons team on Thursday night in Round 15. After leading at quarter time, the Lions allowed 14 goals and kicked just four for the remainder of the game to go down by 64 points.
It's not all doom and gloom for the Lions, who sit in third place on theladder and have a relatively easy run coming up, with games against the Bombers, Giants and Suns following the game against the Dogs.
Western Bulldogs
Injuries: Josh Bruce, Taylor Duryea, Tim English, Charlie Parker, Ed Richards, Bailey Smith, Laitham Vandermeer, Mitch Wallis (Out)
Things are a bit more grim at the selection table for the Dogs. Bailey Smith remains out through suspension while Tim English will miss one more week through his concussion. Josh Bruce is nearing a return, which should bolster the Dogs forward line.
The Dogs were impressive on the weekend, recording a 42 point win over the Hawks after trailing for periods throughout the game. The Bulldogs midfield had a hold on the game in the 2nd half and finished with the top six disposal getters in the game in Macrae, Liberatore, Dale, Bontempelli, Dunkley and Treloar.
Match Prediction
Tough to see the Lions not having some kind of big response after the disappointing game last weekend, especially at home. They start as 13.5 point favourites here, which is a hard line to call either way, but I do think they win the game. The 1-39 margin seems more appropriate here.
The Lions have won their last six games in a row at the Gabba by an average margin of 39.3 points, which includes big wins against North Melbourne and West Coast.
Lions 1-39
$2.15 (1.5 Units)
Prop Bets
The Dogs have been a scoring machine of late, racking up an average of 117.4 points across their last five games. In fact, these two teams sit in 1st and 2nd place in points scored per game this season, so I think this has the chance to be a shootout.
Over 174.5 Total ($1.88 at Ladbrokes)
Jackson Macrae and Lachie Neale are the 5th and 6th ranked players in player ratings in the AFL this season. Macrae has had at least 30 touches in his last seven straight games while Neale has done so in four of his last six.
Macrae & Neale 30+ Disposals Each ($1.98 at Ladbrokes)
