Essendon vs GWS Giants AFL Round 10 betting odds & tips

Essendon vs GWS Giants betting preview

The final match of round 10 will see the Essendon Bombers take on the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Metricon Stadium.

This Friday night clash is going to be crucial in shaping the AFL 2020 ladder, as the Bombers are currently ninth with a game in hand, while the Giants are seventh and have the bye next round.

Many former GWS players will face their old teammates, as Essendon could field as many as four players that once plied their trade at the AFL’s newest expansion club.

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Nothing separates these teams in the recent head-to-head results; both have won two of the last four meetings, with the Bombers winning the most recent battle by a slim six points.

John Worsfold and Ben Rutten have some questions to answer after a string of underwhelming Essendon performances, the worst of which resulted in a 63-point defeat to the Brisbane Lions in round nine.

Toby Greene and Matt de Boer will both miss this game with hamstring injuries, so the Dons’ defence and their star midfielders can breathe a little easier knowing two of the Giants’ most valuable players are out.

Essendon vs GWS Giants disposal tips

We expected more from Dylan Shiel in his first match back from suspension last week, but much of the Essendon squad played poorly. Shiel has collected a total of 47 touches against the Giants in his two matches against them, but we will back him to dominate the disposal count now that GWS is without its best tagger.

Averaging 32 touches in his last three clashes with the Bombers, Stephen Coniglio is the man to get around in the disposal betting for the Giants. After a few quiet games early in the year, the GWS captain has lifted with over 20 touches in each of his last five games.

Essendon vs GWS Giants goalscorer betting

Like Shiel, Devon Smith is one of the Essendon stars that used to call Greater Western Sydney home. The 2018 Crichton Medal winner has kicked six goals this season, including two of his team’s three goals last week. Smith needs to lead the way up forward while the likes of Joe Daniher, Jake Stringer, Orazio Fantasia and Jayden Laverde are out injured.

After kicking 44 goals last season, Jeremy Finlayson has hit the scoreboard in every match this year and sits inside the top 15 goalkickers in the competition. Although he played as a defender in his first game against the Bombers in 2019, the tall swingman kicked two against them later in the year. He will be hard to stop if the GWS midfielders get on top of the Bombers.

Essendon vs GWS Giants match predictions

A common trend in the recent games between the Dons and Giants is the explosive last quarters. Essendon averages nearly five goals in the last three final terms between these two sides, while GWS has also stormed home in bursts over the past few clashes.

We can’t see the Bombers rolling over like they did last week, but we also find it hard to see the Giants dropping this opportunity. Stephen Coniglio, Josh Kelly and Lachie Whitfield have all found form in the last fortnight, so GWS should be too strong for Essendon in the final game of round 10.