First goal betting for AFL Friday, Port Adelaide vs. Essendon

Friday, April 8, 2016, 7.50pm AEST, Adelaide Oval, watch on Seven Network, Fox Footy

Ladder position
Port Adelaide Power: 12th
Essendon Bombers: 13th

Season record
Port Adelaide Power: 1-1
Essendon Bombers: 1-1

Head-to-head match odds
Port Adelaide Power: $1.07 with CrownBet.com.au
Essendon Bombers: $8.50 with CrownBet.com.au

Line betting
Port Adelaide Power: -50.5 ($1.92 with CrownBet.com.au)
Essendon Bombers: +50.5 ($1.92)

FRIDAY night footy throws up a clash that could end up being a lot closer than many tipsters might think.

The sides sit 12th and 13th, with a win and a loss each after two rounds.

Both Port Adelaide and Essendon of these teams have had their dramas to start the season, but finding a decent avenue to goal has not been one of them.

Their fired up goal kickers have been splitting the big sticks and we’ve taken a look at the list to pick out a couple of good chances for the man who will boot the first major on the night.

First goal scorer tips for Port Adelaide Power

Rolled gold: Robbie Gray ($8 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Smokey: Travis Boak ($21)

Consider: Chad Wingard ($7)

Robbie Gray is a superstar. One of the best in the competition. Win, lose or draw, the Power gun just delivers. He backed up a huge four goal, 26 disposal performance against St Kilda with a monster 37 possession game in a losing effort against Adelaide. Might have even nicked the Showdown Medal if the game was a bit closer. This guy is good. Real good. While he goes through the middle a lot, he is one of the best goal kicking midfielders in the game and will always give you a chance in first goal scorer betting markets. His mate Chad Wingard is just as dangerous when the ball gets near the big sticks and, while he was well below his best against the Crows, you get the feeling that makes him even more dangerous for the Bombers. Wingard is up there with Eddie Betts and Cyril Rioli in the best small forward discussions and he is expected to get plenty of opportunity in this one. If you’re looking for an outsider who might be on the hunt for a little redemption, look no further than Boak. He has, at times, been a prolific goal kicker, but the Power no possesses a ton of fire power and he tends to defer to the more accomplished attackers these days. Has thrown up a pair of sub par efforts and he is at $21 for obvious reasons.

First goal scorer tips for Essendon Bombers

Rolled gold: Joe Daniher ($12 with sportsbet.com.au)

Smokey: Zach Merrett ($26)

Consider: Kyle Langford ($21)

How good was Joe Daniher against the Demons on the weekend? He went from rags to riches in a half of football, booting four behinds and two out on the full, before slamming home two match winning bog ones after the long break. Daniher played the best game of his career against the Dees, ripping down 15 marks, seven of those contested, and picking up 21 disposals. He was the match winner and he is the man who all the Essendon midfielders will be looking to hit up if and when they find the football in the middle. He could be one of the best forwards in the game in a couple of year’s time and the $12 looks insane value – it’s more reflective of Essendon’s expected struggles than a knock on his considerable talents. If you don’t like Daniher, the vastly improved Zach Merrett could provide some serious value for the Bombers. Arguably the club’s best player through two rounds, Merrett has taken on a leadership role and is managing to find plenty of the footy, while bobbing up in front of the big sticks. He had 32 disposals and eight tackles on the weekend and managed to kick two goals, backing up his 31 possession effort in round one. Gets plenty of it and should have opportunities. Langford has only played 10 games, but has already shown a propensity for bobbing up with a goal. Has kicked a goal in each of the first two games this year and, at $21, he seems a touch short compared to Merrett, but he could be one to keep an eye on as the first bounce draws near.

Match predictions

Match result: Port Adelaide wins ($1.07 with CrownBet.com.au)

Line: Essendon Bombers +50.5 ($1.92)

If this was the start of the season, you’d probably be tipping Port by 100 points against a side that has been decimated by the supplements saga that ripped their heart and soul out. But footy can be a funny beast and the top up players the Bombers signed have somehow transplanted a little ticker back into the fold, while Port Adelaide has been nothing short of lacklustre in its two outings so far. Many were tipping the Bombers to go through the season winless, but they have egg on their face after just two rounds, the red and black sash doing the business against the Melbourne Demons last week, 11.14 (80) to 10.7 (67). And while they go into this one with the winning feeling, Port will have anything but, after succumbing to Adelaide by 10 goals in the Showdown, 22.12 (144) to 11.20 (86). It was a dismal effort from Port which makes this match very important. Many had the Power penned in for a top four finish in 2016, but they had their troubles against St Kilda and the wolves will be at the door if they don’t whack the understrength Bombers. If Essendon’s rag tag bunch can produce a similar attack on the footy they did against Melbourne – and Daniher can kick straight – we reckon they can keep it under 10 goals – but bet with caution on the line.

First goal scorer odds

Charlie Dixon ($6)

Chad Wingard ($7)

Jay Schulz ($7)

Robbie Gray ($8)

Justin Westhoff ($9)

Joe Daniher ($12)

Brendon Ah Chee ($13)

Dougal Howard ($15)

Aaron Young ($15)

Jake Neade ($17)

Sam Gray ($17)

Matthew Stokes ($17)

Jackson Merrett ($19)

Brad Ebert ($19)

Travis Boak ($21)

Mitch Brown ($21)

Kyle Langford ($23)

Ollie Wines ($23)

Ryan Crowley ($26)

Zach Merrett ($26)

Orazio Fantasia ($26)

Adam Cooney ($26)

Jimmy Toumpas ($29)

Patrick Ambrose ($29)

Darcy Parish ($31)

Brendon Goddard ($34)

Jared Polec ($34)

Matthew Lobbe ($34)

Matthew Leuenberger ($34)

Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au