3 minute read

Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2020 AFL Season while the games go on.

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 COLLINGWOOD

Friday 20 March @ Marvel Stadium

Two fascinating teams line up in the first of the Friday nights of the season.

The Bulldogs will be a big watch in 2020. They rattled home in the 2019 season only to fall at the final hurdle in the finals. In fact they flattened the Tozer Road double to be more accurate.

GWS caned them with a mixture of skill and unadultered pressure on the ball – something the Dogs pride themselves on.

What the red, white and blues have done is add at both ends of the ground. Alex Keath over the backline and Josh Bruce to compliment the forward line has to help.

But their strength of 2019 came in the centre as the likes of Macrae, Hunter, Wallis and Dunkley got leather poisoning on occasions.

The key then becomes how much influence Marcus Bontempelli has over entire games. When he is involved he's almost unstoppable. Sides could well try a double hard tag.

But then does that midfield dominate as a result of the outnumbering?

Collingwood have had a preparation which seemed to be going OK until Scott Pendlebury was interrupted over the last week.

You'd think he plays but should he not, that will immediately harm the magpie hopes. His presence and composure allows others to freewheel from the forward 2/3rds of the ground.

Treloar and Adams will have to get more pressure on ball if the skipper isn't playing.

The Pies fluidity up forward is all about the mobile nature of the forward line rather than big targets. Perhaps early in the season that is a major positive when touch isn't at its ultimate.

However gee the Western Bulldogs look some value. They are at home on their favoured fast deck and Collingwood at the same time don't tend to play this ground as well.

At least one of their midfield army has to get plenty of it and suggesting Buckley tags Macrae and Dunkley first. So the bet could be Lachie Hunter to have plenty of the pill.

One betting factor to start the season is the reduction in game time could make larger possession numbers more difficult to achieve.

Match Selection: Western Bulldogs by 18 points

Suggested Bets: Western Bulldogs @ $2.00