Multi tips, bookie bonuses and value bets for AFL Round 23

WE enter the final round of the AFL’s home and away season and while the finals are almost upon us we cannot help but feel robbed following Friday night’s cliffhanger at Adelaide Oval.

The umpires admitted they got a crucial 50m penalty decision wrong against the Crows, which assisted the Swans in getting back into the contest and ultimately securing the win.

Thankfully the multi insurance deals on offer saved our bacon, but when a third straight winning dividend gets ripped away in that fashion it is hard not to feel aggrieved.

We are writing off last week as an unlucky turn as we search for a winning completion to the home and away season.

Selections for the Round 23 AFL multi of the week:

Brisbane Lions to beat North Melbourne (-188.68)
GWS Giants to win against Geelong (-105.26)
Richmond to beat St Kilda (-250)
West Coast to win against Adelaide (+151)

Combined multi value: +948 @ Sportsbet.com.au

Brisbane Lions vs. North Melbourne

Saturday, August 26 from 2.10pm AEST, GABBA, Brisbane

The battle for the number one pick in this year’s draft kicks us off this weekend as the Lions host the Kangaroos at the GABBA.

The Lions have been sensational in the second half of the year for a team not many expected to do well, and are desperately unlucky not to have recorded wins against the Bulldogs and Demons in consecutive weeks.

Their match against Melbourne last week was particularly good and showcases why there is plenty of optimism around the football club heading into the final game for the season.

North Melbourne have been competitive at the tail end of the season but seem to be running out of gas. In the last three weeks the Roos have been belted twice by bottom-10 sides Collingwood and St Kilda, also losing out to fellow strugglers Hawthorn.

We see this going one way and that’s the way of the Lions. We believe Chris Fagan when he said his team does not want the season to end, while Brad Scott’s boys look to be counting down the hours until it does.

Brisbane Lions to win – -153.85

Geelong vs. GWS Giants

Saturday, August 26 from 7.25pm AEST, Simonds Stadium, Geelong

The match of the round takes place under lights at the Cattery as Geelong host GWS in a battle which will dictate who hosts a home final in the first week of the post-season.

After teetering on the brink of slipping towards the bottom of the top eight, the Cats have bounced back to record three straight wins and assure themselves of a top-four finish.

GWS were looking equally as vulnerable, but after a strong month of football the Giants can leapfrog Adelaide into top position on the ladder if results go their way.

It looms as a terrific battle but we have to side with the visitors. Joel Selwood will not take part in the game, which swings the pendulum in the favour of the Giants.

The Cats will have a tough time quelling the influence of an on-ball brigade that should run riot throughout the night.

GWS Giants to win – -105.26

Richmond vs. St Kilda

Sunday, August 27 from 3.20pm AEST, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

It is all on the line for Richmond on Sunday afternoon.

A win will see the Tigers lock away a top-four finish for the first time in almost ten years, while a loss could see them face another elimination final – a hurdle at which they have stumbled on the last two attempts.

They face a St Kilda side desperate to give champion Nick Riewoldt the send off he deserves. The Saints were brilliant last week against the Kangaroos, smashing them off the park in a ruthless display that would have left fans asking: “Where was this a month ago?”

The Saints will be out to make a statement but Richmond cannot afford to lose here. They are the far stronger team across the park and should sweep aside St Kilda.

Richmond Tigers to win – -250

West Coast vs. Adelaide

Sunday, August 27 from 4.40pm AEST, Domain Stadium, Perth

The West Coast Eagles will know their fate at the beginning of this match, but if Essendon fail to defeat Fremantle earlier in the day, the home side will be playing for a finals position.

The Eagles blew their chance to keep their destiny in their own hands last week against the Giants, but they can sneak into finals if their Western Australian counterparts can upset the Bombers.

Trouble is, they are facing the league-leading Crows. However, there are questions as to how seriously the Crows will take this match.

A top-two position is all but assured, and with a finals campaign just around the corner, Don Pyke may elect to rest players heading into September.

We think that will be the case. In West Coast’s final match ever at Domain Stadium, we believe they will put on a show and farewell the venue in style.

West Coast Eagles to win – +151

AFL Round 23 Promotions

After being shafted by the umpires last week we have to give thanks to the online bookmakers who provided us with multi insurance deals that allowed us to retain our stake.

Sportsbet.com.au is offering multi insurance on the final round of AFL home and away matches, which means any multi for four or more legs that fails by one match will see your stake returned up to the value of $50 in bonuses.

Sick of your team getting up by a seemingly winnable margin only to cough up the win? Sportsbet knows your pain.

Place a head-to-head bet on any match in the final round of the season and if your team leads by 24 points or more at any stage Sportsbet will cash your bet out immediately, regardless of the result.