3 minute read
Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2022 AFL Season.
We'll endeavour to run through the form, incorporate appropriate stats and also supply a betting prediction which won't always just be who will win.
WESTERN BULLDOGS V MELBOURNE
Saturday 23 July @ Marvel Stadium
If you want to play finals you have to beat the best to get there. That is certainly something which afflicts the Western Bulldogs as they strive to make it into the playoffs once again.
So a second replay of the last Grand Final is the only way to get that feeling going.
After Melbourne, the Dogs play Geelong (A), Fremantle (H), GWS (H) and finish with Hawthorn (A). To be honest if they make it now they deserve to.
They at least got back on a little bit of the right track with a solid win over a pretty poor St Kilda lot last Friday. The game started in one direction and remained on it. It was the complete antithesis of the round before when Sydney jumped them. This time it was the Dogs jumping others.
It was also probably the first time all season Marcus Bontempelli got his A-Game flowing. 34 & 2 goals reflects that fairly nicely indeed.
When they win the contested ball and clearances as well, that is the one wood. Even without Aaron Naughton through protocols to aim at, they had enough cattle to cause problems. He is back now.
Assuming no more of those off-field matters this week, at least they have a direction well able to be followed.
However they run into their Premiership conquerors who did a reasonable job to get over Port Adelaide in Alice Springs without their own hero.
Without Clayton Oliver and his injury, there were alarm bells that this could have been a real red flag match. Port with much to play for and the Demons with potentially some other demons.
But with enough quality in and around the ball, plus a sprinkling of extraordinary talent from Kysaiah Pickett, the scoreboard moved enough to hold off the Power. They did have chances but couldn't take them and probably shot their overall hopes.
This doesn't mean the Premiers are well and truly in the loveliest of touch. Improvement is needed still forward of the ball. Missing Tom McDonald may end up the defining moment for them.
It appears Oliver will be back this week and that will even up the midfield talent. He is such a barometer. A 35+ disposal game from him usually results in victory.
In and around the contest, the Bulldogs must at worst cut square and at best win there. Should they do that, assuming a proper functioning forward line resumes, it spells some danger.
But there has to be some trust in Melbourne even at Marvel which they aren't as good at playing at against this team. They won last year during the Covid peaks but there are quite a few losses at the Docklands.
Still, Melbourne is the better team and something approaching that gets the job done. % is often a great indicator and they have 20 points on the rivals.
We'll take a Demons victory and Tom Liberatore has reached 30+ touches in 4 of his last 6 matches so let's plump for him again.
Match Selection: Melbourne by 23 points
Suggested Bets: Same Game Multi – Melbourne/Tom Liberatore 30+ possessions @ $4.50
