Fremantle v Bulldogs AFL Rd 6 betting tips – Friday, April 21

It’s the first time this year that an AFL round will open with a Friday night contest, as the Fremantle Dockers play host to the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium. Fremantle left ‘Gather Round’ with an excellent come-from-behind victory against Gold Coast, while the Dogs were left to rue a missed chance to keep their win streak going having lost to the Power.

It hasn’t come easy for either team to begin their 2023 AFL campaign. Touted as potential finals contenders, both have struggled to find their footing in the competition and sit with a record of 2-3.

It’s hard to say which team has been more disappointing. On one hand you have the Dockers, who were expected to rise to contenders as their young, exciting team have another year of growth; on the other, the Dogs were believed to have brushed off any structural weaknesses and live up to the hype that their list suggests of them.

The Dogs are probably the worse offender at the moment. They shouldn’t be where they are and losing to teams that they are losing to. All of their best players are in the prime of their careers, and they have topped up their list to accommodate their strengths and limit weaknesses. Something’s got to give, and the dam wall could burst soon.

The experience and skill of the Dogs midfield should get on top of the Dockers. In recent weeks, if not for the Dockers’ defence, then they could have easily lost the games they’ve won. Unfortunately, the Dogs’ forwards are some of the most talented in the business, and with their classy midfielders feeding them the ball all night, look for the Doggies to get back on the winners list at $2 with BetOnline.

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The Western Bulldogs have game-breakers all over the ground. Marcus Bontempelli and Tom Liberatore can tear any midfield to shreds, Bailey Smith operates the wing with aplomb, and Bailey Dale’s precision ball-use off half-back propels the Dogs forward. But it’s their big game-breaker inside of 50 who will be set for a big game.

Last year, Aaron Naughton enjoyed a life of goalkicking splendour; this year, he has taken a bit to get going. However, his potential opponents – one of either Brennan Cox or Luke Ryan – don’t have the ability to match him for either size, speed, or power in the contest. Given that the weather in Perth will offer great conditions for a key forward, Naughton should be able to get his hands plenty on the ball and slot a couple of goals ($1.60).

It will be the first encounter for these two sides since their elimination final last year. That game left a sour taste in the mouths of the Bulldogs’ faithful, as they watched their side squander a 41-point lead. Luke Beveridge and his players will be looking for a bit of payback as they head to Perth this Friday night. It won’t come easy, however, as the Dockers aren’t easybeats – especially when it comes to their home turf.

The crowd will be behind Fremantle, and with players like Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong leading the way, it should be a bit of an arm wrestle of a game. And given neither team have really shown this year that they will be prolific scorers, it’s fair to suggest that the total points in the game will not reach above 167.5 ($1.88).

Key matchup: Michael Walters v Bailey Williams

Michael Walters vs Bailey Williams

One of Ed Richards or Bailey Williams will get the opportunity to try and shut down the elusive Michael Walters. But given the form Walters is in, the Dogs will look to have the experience of Williams man him up on Friday night. Williams is a great defender; one-on-one he really gets beaten and he often looks to make his man accountable on the offensive end. But this Friday, he will most likely have one eye at all times on Walters, because you cannot give a player like that an inch or he will take the damn mile.

Walters is having a career renaissance of sorts. Having looked all but lost to the rigours of the modern game in the past two years, the man they call ‘Sonny’ has jumped well and truly out of the blocks this season. Averaging 2.5 goals a game, he is the Dockers’ most damaging forward. If Walters gets off the chain like he did last week, then he can cause some serious issues for the Western Bulldogs.

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