3 minute read

Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2023 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.

GWS v WESTERN BULLDOGS

Saturday 6 May @ Manuka Oval

Winning when not expected is a great motivational tool. Winning when you look to have no hope is an even better one.

That is how GWS get to confront their next game after giving the cross town rivals a kick in the nether regions.

And boy what a game it is. While Sydney is built up as their true opposition, their biggest battles have been against the Bulldogs. Nothing more so that that famous Prelim at the Olympic precinct when it was decided in the last two minutes.

Following on from that, GWS has lost 5 of their last 6 to them. They will want Manuka to help them but even that hasn't been kind. They were there but two weeks back and got beaten by the Lions. They tried hard but never looked likely.

Taking that genuine effort to the SCG, things were competitive but in the end were grim until half way through the last.

Then Toby Greene took over and the Sydney defence, down on troops and experience, could not withstand. Even accounting for some decision making by players and others, to deny GWS credit is to deny the reality.

They also welcomed Tom Green back. His work inside was a difference. Consider also their defenders were light on so even though not a Finals contender, they did very well.

However they have to repeat that against a much bigger forward structure in Canberra. The Bulldogs were not great against Hawthorn but took over in the final third of the match and drew clear.

While the drivers off half back got most of the touches, they missed Liberatore in the middle as the milestone man Bontempelli was happy to see others take control.

Should that be repeated, Naughton, Ugle-Hagan and Lobb could aggregate another 8 goals and that goes some way to winning this game.

A cold night in Canberra in May is not necessarily one that engenders a free flowing, exciting match. More so a tight, ground gaining battle which provides GWS some hope.

Hard to be confident and the Giants are definitely not out of this but perhaps the Dogs – Just. The start is worth the play on GWS.

Match Selection: Western Bulldogs by 5 points

Suggested Bets: GWS +9.5 @ $1.90