Essendon vs Gold Coast AFL tips, odds & value bets – Rd 18, 2022

With both teams coming off uplifting wins, who can keep the momentum rolling when Essendon Bombers clash with the Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium in round 18 of the 2022 AFL season?

The Bombers have found some compelling late-season form in recent weeks, knocking off the Saints, Swans, and Lions. Essendon fans can only dream of what might have been had their side shown greater consistency in 2022. The Bombers get another chance to play the spoiler here and dent the Suns’ flickering finals aspirations.

The most pleasing aspect of this revival has been the Bombers’ ability to kick a big score. Teams that can readily accumulate 100 points are difficult to beat, and the Bombers have been around the magic number in each of their last four outings. This has been led in part by the emergence of Peter Wright as a major goalkicking force.

The stark difference between winning and losing could be seen in all its drama when the Noah Anderson kicked a goal after the siren to hand the Gold Coast Suns a remarkable comeback victory against Richmond in round 17. The Suns players were beside themselves with unbridled joy after they hauled themselves back from a 40-point deficit to grab the improbable win.

The Suns had been on the wrong side of two cliffhangers, losing by two points to the Power and five points to the Magpies, so the relief was understandable. The young squad will be bursting with confidence going into this game as the Suns strive to squeeze into the top eight.

Key matchup: Wright vs Chol

Essendon key forward Peter Wright looks like a superstar in the making. If he doesn’t grab Coleman Medal honours this year, pencil him in as a red-hot chance for 2023. The towering 25-year-old runs some very nice lines, leads well at the footy, and knows how to grab an overhead mark and kick truly through the big sticks. Wright is averaging 5.6 marks and 2.5 goals at 63% accuracy this season and looks hungry for more.

Gold Coast key forward Mabior Chol is another goalkicker that has emerged this season. Also 25-years-old, Chol is averaging 2.9 marks and 2.1 goals at 62% accuracy this year. Chol is also deceptively fast and agile at ground level for a big man. We might just witness a shootout under the Marvel Stadium roof.

Essendon vs Gold Coast AFL betting strategy

AFL bookmakers have judged this game a coin-flip, with the Suns the skinniest of possible favourites. The line has been set at 0.5 points. We are betting on a shootout unfolding here and will be taking over the total points line of 172.5. The Suns welcome back Izak Rankine, who will only add to the scoring threat at either end of the field. These teams are almost impossible to split, but if forced to choose, we would lean with the Suns to sneak home in a close one.

Essendon vs Gold Coast Rd 18 multi tips

For those looking to wring some extra value out of this contest, we will be linking the total points over 172.5, into Peter Wright 2+ goals, into Mabior Chol 2+ goals, into Noah Anderson 25+ disposals. This ambitious combo will return $5.42 courtesy of Ladbrokes.

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