Port Adelaide vs Melbourne betting odds & match preview, AFL Rd 4

The undefeated Melbourne Demons will kickstart round four of the 2022 AFL season this Thursday night against the winless Port Adelaide Power at Adelaide Oval.

Ken Hinkley and Port Adelaide Power will be furious with themselves after an extremely slow start to their 2022 campaign, but there is still hope the South Australian franchise can storm home and finish in the top eight.

There is not much more the Melbourne Demons can do at this point in time, as the squad has registered three straight wins due to an even on-field contribution across the board.

The likes of Luke Jackson and Jake Bowey are flying for the Dees, while Trent Rivers and Kysaiah Pickett are also playing an important role despite being just 20-years-old.

Injuries have taken a huge toll on the Power so far this year, as the forward mix is not functioning without Charlie Dixon and Orazio Fantasia, while Aliir Aliir’s ankle injury has also left the backline vulnerable against tall forwards.

Ben Brown missed the Melbourne Demons’ round three clash in isolation, but his understudy in Sam Weideman looked outstanding with a game-high four goals against the Bombers.

Weideman looms large for the second consecutive week, while Max Gawn is another tall target the Power need to worry about, as the Melbourne captain is both a threat going forward and with his ability to pick up disposals around the ground.

Key matchup: Ollie Wines vs Christian Petracca

Ollie Wines may be the reigning Brownlow Medallist, but he needs to look out for Christian Petracca at the stoppages this week. Petracca has started his 2022 season in dazzling form, averaging 33 touches per game and kicking a goal per contest. Wines is a see-ball-get-ball type of operator in the middle, but he may need to dial it back this week to quell the red-hot Petracca.

The Melbourne superstar has been inaccurate in front of the big sticks so far this year, kicking 3.5 in the opening three rounds. If Petracca can find some space inside 50 and kick truly, he should threaten to kick a bag against the defensively inadequate Power. Wines may rack up the disposals, but Petracca is clearly the more damaging of the pair.

Port Adelaide vs Melbourne betting tips

Melbourne Demons to win by 1-39
If the Power could not defeat the Adelaide Crows while holding a three-goal leading halfway through the final term, we cannot see them beating the reigning premiers this Thursday. Clayton Oliver is another midfield star who is off to a brilliant start this year, while a majority of the Power players are out of form. We are backing the in-form Dees to win on the road this week, but Port Adelaide will make it a tight contest.

Christian Petracca to kick 2+ goals
It is hard to look past Christian Petracca after watching the way he has started the season, as the Demon superstar is tearing matches apart off his own boot. Petracca should be too strong for the Power and burst forward with a pair of goals, similarly to how he kicked 3.1 against them in round 17 last season.

Power vs Demons AFL Same game multi, Round 4

The cream should rise to the top this Thursday night in what originally looked like a marquee matchup, as the Dees are clearly better than the Power heading into this contest. Trust Christian Petracca and Max Gawn to control the contest and have a big impact for Melbourne.

More AFL betting tips