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.
PORT ADELAIDE V WESTERN BULLDOGS
Friday 6 May @ Adelaide Oval
And they say the Floating Fixture is such a positive? I guess these two are last start winners and Preliminary Finallists from last year but it's not earth shattering on 2022 form angles.
One thing is for certain that Port will be looking forward and not backward given those happenings.
That game was over before it seemingly began and Port Adelaide gave up everything they had worked so hard for. In many ways this season has been a continuation of those four quarters.
What the Power do have is the teeniest amount of confidence coming off consecutive wins – the West Coast game just a training drill but the St Kilda effort much more in their domain.
It sure wasn't a pretty game – not one for the archives. And Cairns when it is slippery up north isn't conducive to free flowing football. But 9 goals between them from 40 scores meant it was tough watching. Even tougher for Saints fans who saw bad kicking let a game slip.
However right at that time of the season, with just the one win to their name, Port Adelaide would accept any good news.
They had a very even effort with ten players garnering 20 possessions or more. They are just starting to get more structure with Aliir back after a few games under the belt and more forward line impetus to back that up.
Can they reproduce that on a 'more normal' game in Adelaide than that up north?
Well they get the Bulldogs who can't really get much consistency of result nor effort. Poor to Adelaide the week prior, they were pretty good against a hapless Bombers team who themselves are bereft of self-assurance.
The Dogs do enjoy that flat track of Marvel and that allows the running halfbacks like Daniel and Dale plus their multitude of midfielders a chance to get the give-and-gos and handball it forward. Kicking isn't always their strong suit without huge targets bar Naughton and also when Bontempelli is up there – they sure miss Bruce.
Whoever loses here is probably gone for the season. Not necessarily from a numeric point of view in terms of making finals but psychologically they will find it hard to feel they are part of big picture.
The Bulldogs have played well in Adelaide of late too so that should hold no fears. But are they going well enough. Still as mentioned they aren't meeting the Demons.
Final line-ups will play a big role and the weather might too with rain possibilities. That won't suit the handballing game as territory becomes an issue. And the Dogs have rested Bont which takes that talismanic focus from them.
The Bulldogs defence still has a worrying look to it and so this offers Port some chances. Someone like Jeremy Finlayson could do damage – when he meets good defences he struggles but can get nice returns when he doesn't.
With that in mind going to back Port Adelaide to make it three on the trot and make the Bulldogs start to scratch the kennel for a lot of fleas.
Match Selection: Port Adelaide by 9 points
Suggested Bets: Jeremy Finlayson 2+ Goals @ $2.00
