Port Adelaide v Melbourne AFL betting tips – Round 10, 2023

May 17, 2023 5:48 pm.by Jackson Swan

Power v Demons AFL Rd 10 preview


Port Adelaide Power v Melbourne Demons AFL Betting Odds & Game Info
Best odds	Port Adelaide $2.17 at BetOnline \| Melbourne $1.69 at BetOnline
When	Friday, May 19 \| 7:20pm ACST
Where	Adelaide Oval, South Australia
Last time they met	Melbourne 12.11.83 – Port Adelaide 10.9.69 (Rd 18, 2022)
Watch live	Seven, Fox Sports, Kayo

The first match of round 10 in the 2023 AFL season sees the Melbourne Demons head across to Adelaide Oval to face off against the Power in a clash between two top-four sides hoping to continue their form so far this season.

After a tight first quarter against North Melbourne in Hobart, Port Adelaide kicked away to win by 70 points last weekend thanks to a great team effort. A particular standout on the day was Zak Butters, who gathered 32 disposals and racked up the most score involvements on the ground.

Since their disappointing showdown loss in round three, the Power haven’t looked back, winning their last six games. Throughout this run they have proved they can win close games, with three wins coming by under eight points.

Last Saturday, Melbourne faced off against the 18th-placed Hawthorn, winning comfortably by 54 points. It was a midfield domination from the Demons as the usual suspects Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Jack Viney all gathered over 30 disposals, while goals were spread throughout the team.

Their second trip to Adelaide Oval this season, the Demons will be looking to make amends after their disappointing loss to Essendon in round five. A wakeup call for the Demons, since then they have won four in a row to sit second on the AFL ladder. However, all of these wins have come against teams sitting outside the eight, so this week looms as a challenge and a chance to make a statement to the competition.

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Melbourne have been the number one offensive team this season, yet they have done so largely without the presence of a dominant key forward. For an opposition team, the Demons are impossible to defend against as their fluid forward structure causes constant matchup mismatches that eventually create chances. This season the likes of Jacob van Rooyen and Kade Chandler have emerged as reliable forwards for the Demons, averaging over a goal and a half a game. For Port Adelaide this weekend, this spread of scoring could prove too much for their defence to handle.

This match is between two of the premier midfields in the competition and one name particularly stands out — Clayton Oliver. The Melbourne midfielder is having a career-best season as he averages 33 disposals and is second in the competition for contested disposal. Comparing the ruck duos, the Melbourne pair Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy should be far superior to Scott Lycett and Brynn Teakle, meaning Oliver will have increased chances in the middle. Expect Oliver to continue his form with 30 or more disposals ($1.40).

When looking at goalscorers for this game, it’s hard to go past Bailey Fritsch. Averaging 2.1 goals a game this season, it is hard to see his form being halted. His ability to create goal out of nothing is a constant threat to defences, as even on his quiet days he finds a way to hurt the opposition. Back Fritsch to be a handful for the Port Adelaide defence, kicking two or more goals ($1.52).

Despite having won their last six games, there are still doubts over whether Port Adelaide are serious premiership contenders this season. This weekend’s match is set up as an opportunity to knock off one of the premiership favourites and establish themselves in the top four. However, injuries to key forwards Todd Marshall and Mitch Georgiades mean they come into this game undersized up front, which could prove too big of a task. Expect the Demons to be too good for the Power on Friday night as they prove their premiership favouritism ($1.69).

Key matchup: Dixon v May

Charlie Dixon

Steven May

32	Age	31
200cm	Height	193cm
110kg	Weight	101kg
196	Games	200
323	Goals	23

In order for Port to win this weekend, a big performance is required from some of their key players — none more so than Charlie Dixon. Recently struggling with injury and missing last week, Dixon is expected to play this Friday and there are few tougher tasks for a key forward than taking on Steven May. In order for Dixon to impact the game he doesn’t just need to kick goals, but also will need to impact most contests, bringing the ball to ground and allowing the small forwards to get to work.