AFL Preliminary Finals Tips & Preview

The Magpies and Giants yet again meet in a Preliminary Final and the way both teams are placed heading into this game, it could be just as tense and thrilling as what we witnessed back in 2019.

There’s no doubt that Collingwood has been the best side all year, but one could argue, that right now, the GWS Giants are the in-form team of the competition having won nine of their last 11 and living up to everything that is anyone, anywhere, anytime.

These two sides only played once this season, way back in Round 9 when the Pies did it easy over the Giants by 65 points at the MCG.

The Pies were already the premiership favourites and the prospect of the Giants playing finals was only a dream that the AFL ladder predictor could come up with.

Fortunately for Adam Kingsley and his men, their dreams have come true recently.

It was a stellar team performance from the orange team last week, dominating Port Adelaide for most of the game with the likes of Tom Green, Josh Kelly, Cal Ward, Kieran Biggs and the returning Stephen Conigilo all playing a vital role in the Giants 23-point win.

For all but an 11-minute blitz from the Power in the third quarter, GWS was in full control and the game never looked in doubt.

Collingwood has enjoyed a week off and if they can resume that grit and determination that we not only saw against Melbourne in the Qualifying Final but all season long, the Pies rock-solid defence of Darcy Moore and Issac Quaynor can prove a challenge to the Giants all attacking forward line with the likes of skipper Toby Greene and Jesse Hogan.

Along with the fact that Brayden Maynard is playing after footy’s equivalent of the OJ Simpson trial and quite possibly Nick Daicos will return from injury.

The MCG will be packed to the rafters with the black and white faithful, and the Pies will be well rested. They open the betting as $1.57 favourites, however, the Giants ($2.45) fear no one and will take it up to them.

Don’t rule out an upset.

Six of the last eight finals the Magpies have featured in have been decided by 15.5 points or less, making the tri-bet option outstanding value for this match.

You can’t help but admire and respect the performance of the Carlton Football Club in this finals series.

One could even be excited about the Blues being back in town, and I’m not just talking about their long-suffering supporter base.

In the second half of the year, the Blues have won 11 out of 12, including two epic finals wins that have shaken the foundations and decibels of the MCG over the past fortnight.

No matter what happens from here, Carlton fans will be talking about the heroic efforts of Sam Walsh and Blake Acres this September for many years to come.

Many Carlton fans are forking out a lot of money for extremely overpriced airfares from Melbourne to make the trip to Bris-Vegas this Saturday night with the hope that the Baggers are one game away from being flaggers.

However, this is a betting preview and we’ve got to find value and more importantly, winners.

I’m afraid to say – it won’t be Carlton.

Brisbane at the Gabba is the hardest trip in the AFL right now.

The Lions have a perfect 12 from 12 record at the future Olympic Stadium this season and you may recall they smashed Port Adelaide in the Qualifying Final with a party atmosphere featuring epic sing-a-longs of Country Roads.

If Charlie Cameron and Joe Daniher click, not to mention should Cam Rayner sneak in a couple of snags, it could spell danger for Carlton.

Carlton has played two bruising, epic finals and if they can find a way to get the ball in the hands of Tom De Koning, Harry McKay, and Charlie Curnow, they might be in with a chance but you can’t help but ponder if the Blues are spent.

This game is Brisbane’s to lose, they won’t stuff it up.

Expect the Lions to book themselves a spot in the Grand Final for the first time since 2004, and this same game multi of a 25+ point win with a couple of goals from Cam Rayner is a nice bit of value.