AFL Friday Giants vs. Bulldogs player exotics & free betting tips

Friday, April 28, 2017, 7.50pm, Manuka Oval, Canberra, watch on Fox Footy, Seven Network

REVENGE!

That will be on the Greater Western Sydney Giants’ minds when they host the reining premier Western Bulldogs, which bundled them out of last year’s AFL finals series in the preliminary final.

After losing in Round 1, the Giants have been absolutely torching teams, while the Doggies might have a slight premiership hang over, but have still been doing what it takes to win.

The Giants flogged their big brother Sydney in the Battle of the Bridge on Saturday night, 15.15 (105) to 9.9 (63).

The Swans actually came out breathing fire, booting four goals in the first five minutes of the match. But it didn’t take long for the Giants to kick into gear, booting nine straight goals and holding the Swans goal less in the second quarter.

Wizard Toby Greene had an absolute peach, booting four goals from his 16 touches, while key man Jeremy Cameron (2.4) was in everything, collecting 24 disposals and could have finished up with six goals, were it not for errant kicking.

Captain Callan Ward led from the front with 27 touches, while Nick Haynes continued his meteoric rise with 10 marks and 24 possessions.

It was another ominous performance that broke an SCG hoodoo for the Giants and sent yet another message to the competition that this is the team to beat.

The only black mark on this game was the controversy surrounding a sledge from Giants’ defender Heath Shaw.

After being put in a headlock by Sydney’s Tom Papley, Shaw was picked up by the Fox Footy mics calling the young gun a “f***ing retard”.

That sparked plenty of discussion this week, dividing the football community.

The gun former Pie issued an apology on Sunday morning.

The Western Bulldogs looked in all sorts of trouble against the Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon, but came from behind to win by five goals in legend Bob Murphy’s 300th game, 17.20 (122) to 14.6 (99).

Like the Giants, the Dogs had to battle back after Brisbane wrested the first half ascendency, taking a five goal lead into the main break.

But the Dogs were never going to lose for Bob, piling it on in the second half to boot 12 goals to two in a celebration of their much loved champion.

The Dogs had plenty of prime movers in Jack Macrae (29 touches), Norm Smith Medallist Jason Johannisen and Luke Dahlhaus (28 each), while Josh Dunkley and mercurial forward Jake Stringer booted three goals each.

Defender Marcus Adams was a brick wall in defence, ripping down 10 marks, while Liam Picken, who has signed a new contract with the Dogs, had 26 and was among the best.

First goal scorer tips

Greater Western Sydney Giants:

Toby Greene ($8 with Sportsbet.com.au)

After avoiding suspension for head butting Isaac Heeney, Toby Greene is free to unleash his special brand of attacking footy on the Bulldogs. And, after piling it on the Swans with four of the best, they’d be very worried about this talented fella at the kennel. The problem is that the big guns like Jeremy Cameron and Jonathan Patton attract the best defenders, leaving Greene to his own devices. Devastating on his day, he’s been in hot form and we think he can continue that.

Western Bulldogs:

Josh Dunkley ($26 with Sportsbet.com.au)

The young Dog is under rated and knows how to bob up for a goal or two. Appears to be the man who has most benefitted from Travis Cloke’s absence and, if he can perform anywhere near as well as he did up forward against the Lions, he could carve out a permanent spot there. Back him at big odds to do the job for the Bulldogs.

Player possession tips

Callan Ward to collect 25 disposals or more disposals ($1.53 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Ward has had an up and down start to the season, with three games over 25 disposals and two with 21 or less. The $1.53 is good enough for us to back the captain to break through the mark again. Especially against his former club.

Marcus Bontempelli to collect 25 or more disposals ($1.80 with Sportsbet.com.au)

The Bont has only been thereabouts this season. But he needs to get a ton of it for the Dogs to be a chance. Nearly even money for 25 disposals or more – which he has only done twice this season in five games, is too juicy to resist.

Match predictions

Match result: Greater Western Sydney Giants to win ($1.32 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Line betting: Greater Western Sydney Giants -20.5 ($1.90 with Sportsbet.com.au)

For all the Doggies’ good work last year, they have now become the hunted and just haven’t quite looked up to it – even if they are 4-1. They could well be Owen Five after some really patchy play against sub standard opposition. But they know how to win and have just been doing enough. That run of getting out of jail free ends against the juggernaut that is Greater Western Sydney. What a luxury it is to have so many stars across every line. They just do not have a weakness. If the Dogs dish up some of the junk they have in recent weeks, this one could get ugly quickly. We think they will hang about, but the Giants should be able to get home in Canberra by six or seven goals.