The following are previews with betting tips for Round 10 of the 2016 AFL season.
View and compare bookmaker odds for this round
View the form guide for this round
Friday, May 27
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Sydney v North Melbourne7:50PM AEST, SCG |
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Indigenous round – freshly named Sir Doug Nicholls Round – kicks off with the Kangaroos set to face their biggest challenge of the season on Friday Night, coming up against a rampaging Buddy-led Sydney outfit. A win at the SCG will silence many of their critics who still aren’t sure they’re a genuine premiership threat. Other than a slight hiccup against the Tigers a few weeks back, the Swans continue to cruise along and build towards what will no doubt be another top four finish.
I’m really looking forward to this one. It may not be the most exhilarating and flashy game of footy, but it will be a four quarter slog and the winning team will definitely have earned the four points.
In my eyes, the Kangaroos are a chance to win the flag, but I’d still have a few others ahead of them at the moment. One of those clubs is Sydney, so I’m backing the Swans to win a tough, absorbing game of footy.
Betting tip: Sydney to win @ $1.43 (Marathon Bet)
Saturday, May 28
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Brisbane v Hawthorn1:45PM AEST, Gabba |
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After an emotional week, the Hawks struggled to reach any great heights in what was a strange contest against the Swans. Other than the four points, I wouldn’t think either club would take too much out of that game. This week the Hawks have a much easier task ahead of them, heading up to the Gabba to do battle with the Lions, who will have mixed feelings after their loss to the Demons. The effort was there – and at times they even looked threatening – but they couldn’t convert and weren’t able to play for four quarters, so in the end suffered another heavy defeat. It’s going to take their absolute best efforts on Saturday arvo to stop this one from being another blow out, but unfortunately for the Lions, it’s almost inevitable.
Betting tip: Hawthorn by 40+ @ $1.78 (Palmerbet)
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Melbourne v Port Adelaide2:10PM AEST, TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs |
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The Demons are 5-4 and knocking on the door of the top eight. And they head into this game – against popular pre-season premiership fancy Port Adelaide – as favourites. A win here and the Demons’ train would be heading full-steam ahead, straight to Jolimont in September. OK, maybe that’s going slightly overboard. But I’ve got the feeling that another win on Saturday would send the Dees’ fans into overdrive. When was the last time they were 6-4? Who knows? No one has the time to go that far back in the history books. No doubt a Demons’ win would set the stage for next week’s clash with the Hawks to be hailed as a potential Grand Final preview. These are exciting times for the long-suffering Melbourne fans, and I reckon it’ll continue for another week with a solid win over the Power.
Betting tip: Melbourne to win @ $2.10 (TopSport)
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St Kilda v Fremantle4:35PM AEST, Etihad Stadium |
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You’ve got to think that a win is just around the corner for the Dockers, but the reality is that it’s probably just as far away as it was two months ago. They’re not going too well over in Perth. Injuries keep building up, and their unity and morale is surely taking a fairly substantial hit. They’ll consider themselves a chance against the Saints, but with the way they’re playing at the moment they absolutely deserve to be regarded as the worst team in the competition, who have no hope in hell of an upset. And let’s be honest, they’ll probably have one eye on next weekend, when they host the Bombers in Perth. The Saints will do it comfortably.
Betting tip: St Kilda to win @ $1.33 (Marathon Bet)
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Essendon v Richmond7:25PM AEST, MCG |
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Dreamtime at the ‘G is always a massive event on-and-off the field, but this year it’s probably going to be the off-field reasons that make this a big spectacle, because once the ball is bounced, the Tigers are going to run all over the Bombers. Essendon work hard, but with the Tigers starting to find some form, it’s more than likely going to be a blow-out. There’s not much else to say in regards to this one. Richmond to win by 40+. Look out for the Tiger army to begin to crawl back out!
Betting tip: Richmond by 40+ @ $1.95 (bet365)
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Adelaide v GWS Giants7:40PM AEST, Adelaide Oval |
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The Giants took care of one challenger on the weekend – easily dispatching of a depleted Bulldogs outfit – and now look forward to battling another top eight rival in the Adelaide Crows. This one won’t be as easy. First of all, they’ll be playing in front of a hostile Adelaide Oval crowd. The Crows are also much more ably equipped to match up on their potent forward line, and will present more than enough headaches for the Giants’ defence. Not to mention the fact GWS have lost key defender Tim Mohr to a hamstring strain. The Giants are playing some seriously good footy, but I’ve got a feeling the Crows might just get the better of them at the Adelaide Oval. It’s going to be tight, but the crowd might just get the Crows over the line in what should be a really entertaining game of footy.
Betting tip: Adelaide to win @ $2.10 (Sportsbet)
Sunday, May 29
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Carlton v Geelong1:10PM AEST, Etihad Stadium |
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The Cats will be bitterly disappointed in their effort against the Pies last weekend. They’ve lost their one game advantage over the two Sydney clubs in a game they really should’ve won. But what’s done is done; they now need to move their focus onto making sure it doesn’t happen again.
The Blues had their winning streak rudely interrupted by the unbeaten Kangaroos on Saturday night, and face an uphill battle to start another one this weekend against the Cats, who are a very good team when they’re on. And you’d expect them to be, considering last weekend’s disappointment. I reckon this might be a bit of a scrappy game, but the Blues really shouldn’t give the Cats too much grief.
Betting tip: Geelong by 25+ @ $1.36 (William Hill)
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Collingwood v Western Bulldogs3:20PM AEST, MCG |
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Are the Pies back, or did the Cats just have a bad day at the office? We’ll find out on Sunday afternoon when Collingwood host the Western Bulldogs at the MCG. Beat the Dogs, and suddenly the Pies – just weeks after Eddie apparently almost stood down as president – will be looking like a serious finals candidate. The Dogs look set to welcome back a few integral cogs in their back line – Marcus Adams and Matt Suckling – from injury, while Matthew Boyd and big Jack Redpath have each served their one game suspensions and will both return to the side. It is a much stronger side than the one beaten by the Giants, so the Pies will need to bring their A-game to get the points. I reckon it’ll be close, but can’t see the Pies getting up. Dogs by a few goals.
Betting tip: Western Bulldogs to win @ $1.48 (Marathon Bet)
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West Coast v Gold Coast4:40PM AEST, Subiaco Oval |
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The Suns can’t take a trick can they? A trip over to Perth to face the Eagles is probably the matchup they’d want least of all right about now. We all know what the Eagles do to weaker opponents in Perth. They don’t just beat them, they rub their face into the turf and then stomp all over them. It’s not going to be pretty. On a more positive note, the Eagles finally managed a win away from home against the Power in Adelaide, and while Port aren’t the strongest of opponents, they’ll be glad to get the monkey off the back and build towards challenging some better clubs on the MCG when the time comes.
Betting tip: West Coast by 40+ @ $1.22 (Palmerbet)
Best Bets of the Round
Melbourne to win @ $2.10 (TopSport)
Adelaide to win @ $2.10 (Sportsbet)
Season Tally
All Bets: +7.00 units
Best Bets: -1.49 units