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Adelaide Oval, Thursday 7.20pm AWST
The finals kick off with a Thursday night blockbuster for the second year in a row. This year, the best team of the home and away season, Adelaide, take on the pre-season premiership favourites in GWS.
The Crows were brilliant during the home and away season, but still have question marks over them in finals, while the Giants finally have a near full list to choose from following an injury ravaged season.
Adelaide gave the Giants a lesson in round one, bringing the flag favourites back down to earth a thud thanks to a 56-point thumping.
Finals is a different game and will be played at a frenetic pace. Both sides possess potent forward lines, but lot will hinge on the midfield battle, with Rory Sloane looming as a key figure.
The star Crows’ mid has surgery during the week to remove his appendix and is touch and go to take his place in the team.
With Sloane the Crows have a chance to win the midfield battle against some of the most talented onballers in the competition. However, if Sloane misses, the Giants could gain control in the middle of the park.
However, the Crows are very tough to beat at Adelaide Oval, winning nine of 12 games at the venue this season. They also have a 7-1 record over the Giants.
Veteran Steve Johnson is likely to be dropped for the Giants.
Adelaide is favourite to advance straight to the preliminary final, paying $1.53 with UBET, while the Giants are currently at the juicy odds of $2.50.
Tip: Adelaide by 12
MCG, Friday 7.50pm AEST
Geelong’s clash with Richmond looms as the most anticipated match of week one of the final series.
The Tigers are in the best form they have been in the past decade and have their best chance of winning a final since 2001.
But Geelong has the edge over them, winning the past 13 clashes between the two sides. Richmond has also not beaten Geelong at the MCG since 1999.
But the 2017 Richmond side has shown this year it can match it with the best, finishing third with the same number of wins as the first and second placed Crows and Cats. However, finals is a different game and Geelong has been there and done it all before and has a combined 185 games of finals experience compared to Richmond’s 65, which could prove telling.
The most pressing question for both coaches going into the game will be whether or not tag star midfielders Dustin Martin and Patrick Dangerfield. Whichever star gets lose could well be the difference in the match.
The Tigers are $2.10 with UBET to cause an upset and force the Cats into a semi-final clash with Sydney or Essendon.
Tip: Geelong by 22
SCG, Saturday 4.20pm AEST
The Swans go into this one as $1.17 favourites and arguably the most in-form team in the competition.
After starting the season at 0-6, the Swans have won 14 of their last 16 games.
Essendon on the other hand finished the season at 12-10 and had to wait until the final round of the round of the season to officially secure a finals spot.
The Swans have won their past seven against the Bombers, but their last clash went right down to the wire and a shock upset is not beyond the realms of possibility. After leading by 19 points at the 23-miute mark of the final quarter, Swans stagged an incredible late comeback to win with a kick after the siren.
The Dons know can they match it with the Swans, however, they must get off to a fast start. If the Swans can get a run on early, they have the ability to tear teams apart in a short period of time.
Essendon can give the Swans a run for their money, but Sydney’s final experience should prevail.
Tip: Sydney by 18
Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7.20pm ACST
Not many people are giving the Eagles much of a chance after just managing to scrape into the finals.
However, despite West Cost’s inconsistent form and Port’s home ground advantage, the Eagles have every chance of causing an upset.
West Coast’s poor record away from home is well documented, particularly when travelling to Melbourne. But Adam Simpson’s side has a brilliant record at Adelaide Oval. They have won five of six games at the venue and are yet to lose to the Power in three meetings there.
The last time the two sides met was in round 16 at Domain Stadium, with the Power running away 32-point winners.
The Eagles were missing Josh Kennedy on that day, as Charlie Dixon booted five goals up the other end for Port, while Brad Ebert (31 disposals) and Ollie Wines (28 disposals) led all comers in the midfield.
Meanwhile, Mark LeCras and Jack Darling both kicked four goals in Kennedy’s absence.
Port won its final three games of the home and away season and go into the finals with plenty of momentum and should get over the line.
Tip: Port Adelaide by 13
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