Free tips & exotic specials for Hawks vs. Dogs on AFL Friday

ONLY a single spot separates them, but nowhere on the AFL ladder is there a bigger gap than the one between Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs.

The Hawks had hoped to carry slim finals chances into the last round of home and away fixtures, but an upset defeat to Carlton has left them in no man’s land.

As they are six points adrift of 11th place and four ahead of 13th, the only way is down for Alastair Clarkson’s men.

However, that is not to say they have nothing to play for.

Luke Hodge and Josh Gibson bid farewell to AFL football this week, so you can bet the Hawks will be up and about for their long-serving premiership stars.

Hawthorn fans won’t be the only ones waving goodbye to their heroes on Friday night.

Bob Murphy leaves the game this year not only as a Western Bulldogs great, but as one of the most popular and widely admired footballers of his generation.

It is also the last hurrah for Matthew Boyd, although it remains to be seen whether or not the premiership winner will be granted a send-off game.

There is space in the 22 after Jake Stringer broke down once more in the Dogs’ defeat to Port Adelaide last week.

That result has all but ended their flag defence, although they could still scrape into the eight if Essendon, St Kilda and West Coast each lose.

As the Bombers are playing a Fremantle side that has copped consecutive 100-point defeats, that looks unlikely.

All the Dogs can do is win on Friday and see what happens around the grounds.

Tom Mitchell specials

• 140+ AFL Fantasy points – +175 at William Hill
• 40+ disposals for the match – +188 at Sportsbet
• Most disposals for round 23 – +275 at William Hill
• 35+ disposals and Hawthorn to win – +275 at Ladbrokes
• To win the Brownlow Medal – +500 at CrownBet

With Patrick Dangerfield and Zach Merrett out of the running, Tom Mitchell might be Dustin Martin’s only legitimate rival for the Brownlow Medal.

A best-on-ground performance in the last round of the season would certainly make things interesting come AFL Grand Final week.

You can bank on Mitchell to have 30 touches or more – a feat he has achieved in all but two outings this season.

He is averaging bang-on 36 per game, so why not back him to have 35 or 40?

Round 23 AFL bookie bonuses

• Early payouts at Sportsbet.com.au if your team leads by 24 points or more at any time
• Boosted odds on all first goalscorer markets at Ladbrokes.com.au
• Up to $50 back in CrownBet Rewards for AFL multis that miss by one
• +275 at Ladbrokes for Marcus Bontempelli two goals and Bulldogs to win
• +2200 at William Hill for Jarryd Roughead to kick most goals for round 23

Hawthorn vs. Western Bulldogs match tip

This is a difficult one to call outright.

The Hawks will be back in the mix next season, but the only reason to get up this week is for their fans and their retiring stars.

That is a moot point, however, as the Doggies are in the same boat with Murphy and possibly Boyd.

Of course, Luke Beveridge’s men also have the faintest glimmer of a finals push to play for.

With the Eagles and the Saints facing tough games, and with Essendon emerging as the competition’s biggest chokers, the 2016 premiers have to at least put themselves in the picture.

We are leaning towards the Dogs in a tight, seesawing affair at their favoured venue.

Western Bulldogs by 1-24 points – +240 at Sportsbet