As we come towards the conclusion of the AFL regular season, it’s tight at the top of the ladder as the teams battle it out to make the top eight and reach the finals.
Melbourne Demons currently lead the way with just three defeats in their 17 matches to date, although the leaders have drawn one and lost two of their last five matches.
In-form Geelong looking good
It’s ten years since Geelong last claimed the AFL Premiership, but the Cats look to have every chance of ending that run in 2021.
Currently third on the ladder, they have won three on the spin going into this weekend’s clash with Richmond at the MCG – with Chris Scott’s men available at 20/57 on the Moneyline Result and the visitors are 2/1.
The remainder of the regular-season fixtures certainly favour last season’s beaten finalists, with the Cats playing just one current top-eight team in their remaining five matches – that is Melbourne in the final round.
Geelong had the leading goal scorer last term, with Tom Hawkins bagging 49, and the 32-year-old fired four goals and one behind in last week’s crushing 69-point win over Freemantle.
The Cats – who won the reverse fixture 63-126 back in May – are now 10/3 in the Outright market to win the title this year.
Richmond have high hopes of making the top eight and brought to an end a run of four straight defeats, with a win over Brisbane Lions last week.
They are unlikely to be blown away in the same way Freemantle were, but Geelong ‘To Win By 13-24 Points’ looks good value at 19/5.
Race for the Top Eight
Richmond are one of four teams currently sat on 32 after 17 matches, with Essendon the only one of those teams in the top eight due to superior points for tally.
The other two sides level on 32 points are Freemantle and St Kilda, who are set to be boosted by the return of key player James Frawley.
The veteran defender, nicknamed Chips, has only played two AFL games this term due to calf and shoulder problems and, if fully fit, Frawley’s return could be significant for St Kilda, who are 5/1 to finish in the top eight.
The Saints face a crucial clash on Saturday at the seventh-placed West Coast Eagles, who go into the game off the back of a comfortable win over Adelaide last week. The Eagles are 5/13 on the Moneyline while St Kilda can be backed at 37/20 to come out on top.
Top two collide at the MCG
The AFL game of the weekend comes on Saturday at Australia’s biggest stadium, as leaders Melbourne face the second-placed Western Bulldogs at the MCG.
Just two points separate the two sides going into the clash, with the Bulldogs out for revenge after a 28-point defeat to the Demons at the Marvel Stadium in late May.
Melbourne are available at 10/13 to do the double over the Bulldogs, who are Evens to claim the four points that would see them move to the top of the standings.
*All odds correct at time of writing