Adelaide vs Geelong AFL Round 1 betting tips – 20/3/2021

Adelaide Crows vs Geelong Cats betting preview

Last year’s wooden-spooners and runners-up will clash in round one of the 2021 AFL season when the Adelaide Crows host the Geelong Cats this Saturday at a 75%-capacity Adelaide Oval.

It will not be an easy start for the developing Crows, but it will give them a good indicator for how close they are to the competition’s best teams, while the Cats will test out three new recruits for the first time.

All eyes will be on Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron up forward for Geelong as the pair of Coleman Medallists play their first official match together following the latter’s move from the GWS Giants.

Key matchup: Rory Sloane vs Patrick Dangerfield

These two best mates and former teammates have been stars of the competition for years, but they always seem to lift when they go against each other. Patrick Dangerfield has played his best footy since departing the Crows in 2015, while Rory Sloane has carried Adelaide in his absence. Dangerfield averages more disposals against the Crows than he does against any other side in the competition, and it might well be Sloane’s job to stop him this week.

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Adelaide Crows betting info

No side struggled more in 2020 than the Crows, but they did play well in the last four weeks of the season, winning three matches from rounds 15 to 17. Without Daniel Talia in the backline due to a knee issue, the Crows will be under-equipped to handle Hawkins and Cameron. It is no surprise to see them paying $4.20 for the win at online bookmakers, and some would say that price is under the odds.

AdelaideCrows

• Andrew McPherson
• Jordon Butts
• Luke Brown
• Will Hamill
• Brodie Smith
• Jake Kelly
• Lachlan Sholl
• Rory Sloane
• Paul Seedsman
• James Rowe
• Billy Frampton
• Ned McHenry
• Shane McAdam
• Taylor Walker
• Lachlan Murphy
• Reilly O’Brien
• Rory Laird
• Ben Keays
• Tom Lynch
• Sam Berry
• Harry Schoenberg
• Tom Doedee
• Darcy Fogarty (Emg)
• Chayce Jones (Emg)
• Mitchell Hinge (Emg)
• David Mackay (Emg)
• Coach: Matthew Nicks

Geelong Cats betting info

Shaun Higgins and Isaac Smith add excellent experience and depth to the Geelong midfield, while the aforementioned Cameron will be hard to stop going forward. The Cats finished with the highest percentage in the competition last season, and they could be set for a fruitful start to the 2021 campaign.

GeelongCats

• Luke Dahlhaus
• Tom Hawkins
• Gryan Miers
• Cameron Guthrie
• Gary Rohan
• Shaun Higgins
• Sam Menegola
• Joel Selwood
• Isaac Smith
• Jake Kolodjashnij
• Tom Stewart
• Tom Atkins
• Jed Bews
• Mark Blicavs
• Lachie Henderson
• Rhys Stanley
• Brandan Parfitt
• Patrick Dangerfield
• Mark O’Connor
• Zach Guthrie
• Jordan Clark
• Josh Jenkins
• Charlie Constable (Emg)
• Francis Evans (Emg)
• Jack Henry (Emg)
• Quinton Narkle (Emg)
• Coach: Chris Scott

Adelaide vs Geelong betting predictions

Jeremy Cameron to kick 3+ goals

The biggest trade in the offseason saw Cameron arrive at Kardinia Park, and now the time has come for him to prove his worth. The former Giant has a marvellous record in round one, kicking four or more goals in the opening week each year from 2014 to 2019, then kicking three against Geelong in shortened game-time last season. Expect a bag from Jezza this Saturday afternoon.

Patrick Dangerfield to get 25+ disposals

As mentioned earlier, Dangerfield thrives against the Crows, but even more so at Adelaide Oval. He averages his highest disposal counts at the South Australian venue, where he goes at a fraction under 28 touches per game. There is less incentive for Danger to go forward this year with Hawkins and Cameron up front, leading us to believe he will be huge in the midfield from the get-go.

Adelaide vs Geelong AFL same-game multi

The Crows are not ready to match it with the premier teams of the competition, and this will be a big loss to start their season. The Cats will look to punish Adelaide and get off to a blistering start, while Cameron should dominate the forward half and Cam Guthrie will take his footy to another level as Mitch Duncan misses due to a calf injury.